Widow's Undoing (Ruthless Sinners MC #4) - L. Wilder Page 0,4
All the brothers knew what Stark was up to and how he intended to take down the club, but that was club business and club business was never discussed with our women—no matter how tempting it might be. Hoping to change the subject, I asked, “You heard any more from Kate or your folks?”
“No, and I’m not planning to either...especially now that the truth has come out about Eric.” Marlowe shrugged. “I’m sure Kate is done trying to one-up me ‘cause there’s no way I could ever one-up that.”
“Ah, you never know.” I chuckled as I replied, “Give Rafe a little time. I’m sure he’ll step up to the challenge.”
Marlowe threw her hands up as she shrieked, “Oh, no! There’s been no challenge declared here! I’m good with things just the way they are.”
“I understand.”
Lisa, our veteran bartender, came over and smiled. “Hey there, handsome. Can I get ya a beer or something?”
“A Coke would be good.”
“You got it.”
Lisa winked as she turned and went over to make my drink. She was filling the glass with ice when Marlowe leaned over the counter and whispered, “Lisa’s really sweet, isn’t she?”
“Yeah, she’s one of the best.”
“She’s really pretty, too.” Marlowe quickly glanced over her shoulder, making sure Lisa couldn’t hear as she whispered, “She’d make a great catch for somebody.”
“Umm-hmm. You gettin’ at something, Lowe?” I asked, knowing good and well she was trying to set me up with Lisa.
“No,” she lied. “I was just making an observation.”
“Um-hmm.” Lisa was a pretty girl. She had a knockout figure and an ass that wouldn’t quit, but there was no way I’d ever tangle up with her. Lisa was the kind of woman who was looking to settle down. In fact, she’d had a thing for Hawk and was hoping to settle down with him until he hooked up with Delilah. She’d never say anything, but I knew that shit hurt. And the last thing I wanted to do was hurt her even more. That didn’t mean I was going to miss the opportunity to fuck with Marlowe. “So, you’re not trying to say that I should make a play for Lisa?”
“I was just thinking you two could really hit it off.”
“What makes you say that?”
“I don’t know. I just thought since you’re a nice guy, and she’s...”
“Make no mistake, Lowe. I’m not a nice guy,” I warned. “Lisa can do far better than me, and she knows it.”
“I don’t know. If you ask me, she seems pretty interested.”
I didn’t respond. There wasn’t any reason to. I knew Marlowe had good intentions, but I wasn’t a relationship kind of guy. Lisa came back over, smiling ear to ear as she placed my drink on the counter. “Let me know if I can get you anything else.”
“Thanks, Lisa.”
“Don’t mention it.”
Lisa gave me a flirty smile, then turned and went back to work. I was about to get up to do my rounds when someone walked up behind me. I didn’t have to turn around to know it was Rafe. I could tell just by looking at the expression on Marlowe’s face. Her lips curled into a warm smile as she said, “I wasn’t expecting you to come by tonight.”
“Not staying long. Need to check in with Menace, and then we’re headed back.” Rafe eased forward and gave Marlowe a brief kiss before asking, “You having a good night?”
“Pretty good.” Marlowe motioned her head towards the empty tables in the corner as she continued, “Kind of slow tonight.”
“It’ll pick up after the game.”
“Yeah, Widow said the same.”
At the mention of my name, Rafe turned his attention to me and asked, “Everything running smooth tonight?”
“So far so good.” I’d barely gotten the words out of my mouth when Country came over and plopped down on the stool next to me. I looked over to him, and then back to Rafe as I mumbled, “Until now.”
“The party has arrived.” Country scanned the room as he chuckled, “And it looks like I arrived just in time.”
“I think that’s my cue to go find Menace.” Rafe gave me a brotherly slap on the shoulder as he turned and started towards the back office. “You three try to stay out of trouble until I get back.”
“What’s the fun in that?” Country snickered.
Rafe didn’t respond. Instead, he just shook his head and continued towards the office. I was taking a drink of my Coke when I overheard Marlowe asking Country about his grandmother Gladys. Marlowe had worked with her down at