Total pages in book: 130
Estimated words: 125517 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 628(@200wpm)___ 502(@250wpm)___ 418(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125517 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 628(@200wpm)___ 502(@250wpm)___ 418(@300wpm)
Gathering every ounce of courage she had, Arden left the car when all she wanted to do was dive back inside and get the hell out of there. Using all her invented acting skills, she nonchalantly pretended as if visiting a motorcycle club was an everyday occurrence for her as she strode toward the door.
The biker raised a questioning eyebrow at her as he firmly placed his back against the door to keep her from entering. “This is a private club. If you’re looking for directions, there’s a gas station down the street.”
Only the thought of her father’s reaction to Luc’s drastic change of plans for his future kept her feet rooted to the spot at the biker’s intimidating stare. “I’m not lost. I want to go inside.”
“Fuck off.”
Noticing the straining seams of the leather jacket, Arden knew she didn’t stand a chance of forcefully moving the muscled biker from the door. Any appreciation of how handsome he would be if he weren’t succeeding in intimidating her away from the club went up in smoke. His menacing expression, combined with the harsh look in his eyes, was meant to scare her away, and it was working.
She was about to take a step back when the memory of her mother crying into her pillow as she had left flashed across her mind. Instead of retreating, she took a step forward. Giving him a glare that matched his own, she jutted her chin out. “Listen here, I’m here to see whoever is in charge of this…” She raised a hand to motion at the motorcycles parked around the building. “Now.”
The biker stared at her doubtfully. “You’re here to see Wizard?”
“Yes, I am. Now, please move out of my way,” she ordered huffily. Arden actually thought she might vomit at his feet she was so nervous. There wasn’t a confrontational bone in her body. She wasn’t a pushover, yet she would seek other avenues to get the results she wanted. Unfortunately, politeness was not going to get her inside the club before Luc returned.
“You want to see Wizard?” the biker asked again. “He isn’t in the best mood tonight.”
“Neither am I,” she said grimly.
The biker opened the door without turning around, stepping backward as it was opened.
Arden was given a first look inside. Composing herself not to appear frightened, she was relieved to see several women sitting at some of the tables or moving around the bar area. The bar was larger than she had expected from the outside.
“Wizard!”
The shout from the biker who had opened the door nearly gave her a heart attack. Placing a hand over her heart, she looked to where he was staring.
A dark-haired biker turned his head to look over his shoulder. Blue-gray eyes met hers.
“What does she want?”
“I don’t know. She said you were expecting her.”
“I didn’t exactly say he was expecting me,” she muttered.
A fierce frown formed on the biker next to her. “You said you were here to see Wizard.”
“I didn’t say I had an appointment,” she countered.
The crowded bar broke into laughter.
A large hand landed on her forearm. “Get your ass out,” the biker ordered.
Arden jerked her arm away. “Don’t touch me.” She determinedly avoided the hand that reached out to grab her again and made it a couple of steps inside before a long leg came out to block her way.
She looked up at the owner of the black-jeaned leg, then wished she hadn’t. Cyan-colored eyes caught her gaze, silently warning her that she wouldn’t be able to shake his hand off if he touched her. She guessed him to be in his thirties, and his ruthless features set off yellow flags, urging caution. From the long length of his legs, she guessed his height to be over six foot three, if not more. If he was this alarming sitting down, she didn’t want him getting up.
“Wizard, you wanting company?”
Wizard didn’t bother turning around again. “No. Tell her to get lost. My appointments are filled for the rest of the night. Isn’t that right, Margarita? Doom, take her number. I might have something available if Friday night is a slow night with Expo going on.”
As the room broke out in laughter again, Arden was aware she had become the brunt of a joke. Disparaging laughter, she was used to. Contrasted to other women, she would never get men’s notice other than how fast she could approve their surgery. Working in a medical office for four surgeons, she was surrounded by male coworkers and clients, and in the evenings, she moonlighted as a hostess at a local restaurant. At both jobs, she believed once she was out of sight she was out of mind.
“Friday won’t do. I need to talk to you tonight.”
Long Legs rose to his full height to tower over her. “Want to leave on your own steam, or you want me to offer my assistance?”