Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 74022 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 370(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 247(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74022 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 370(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 247(@300wpm)
I sigh. “I’m trying to keep this away from him, not just for his sake but my own. It’s getting hard, you know? Seeing him. Trying to get over this stupid flood of feelings I have for him. I know he’ll want to protect me, but I am also trying to create distance. I don’t know how I’m going to do both those things if he finds out.”
Saskia nods, fully understanding. “Let me think on it, okay? Don’t say anything else, to anyone. I’ll see if I can come up with a better way, but please know, I’m not going to let that asshole of an ex hurt you, because you saved my backside. I won’t...”
I grin at her. “Girl, I know you won’t. I’ve seen you in action.”
She laughs, and glances over at the table, and her eyes flash. “Well, look what the cat dragged in.”
I turn and see all the bikers, and the three new brothers, walking into the bar. My eyes zone in on Boston, and my chest aches to see he’s looking at Penny. She smiles at him, and he nods at her. He hasn’t looked around for me. I want to slap myself for being so damned pathetic, but it kind of hurts. Doesn’t he even want to know if I’m here?
“Baby girl,” Saskia says, clicking her fingers in front of my face. “You’re Chantelle. Chan-fucking-telle. Don’t ever let me catch you looking at a man like that again, with pain in your eyes, thinking you’re not enough. Because honey, you’re more than fucking enough and if he can’t see that, it’s his loss. You find that spark, you hold your head high, and you show that ass what he’s missing.”
I laugh at her, because damn, what would I do without her?
But she’s right.
I’m not going to let him see me hurting.
He’s not doing this on purpose, I fully understand that, and I’m not about to make a game out of it. But at the same time, if he wants me to move on, and he wants to move on, then I have to get my Chantelle back, and stop letting this hurt.
So, that’s what I’m going to do.
I’m worth it.
I’m damn well worth it.
~15~
NOW – CHANTELLE
Damon.
Middle brother.
Hot. As. Sin.
Also, an incredibly great guy.
Malakai introduced us to the brothers when Saskia and I finally made our way back to the table with our drinks and some for the rest of the girls. I’d already met Lincoln, the night I was at Mason’s house, but Damon and Finn. Holy lord. They’re just as good. All of these brothers were blessed with some incredible genetics. Finn is the youngest, but even then, he’s so masculine it’s hard to see him as anything but manly and powerful.
He’s got these sky-blue eyes, olive skin, and thick, dark, long hair. His body is all muscle, but he’s not got a drop of ink on him. Clean skin and gorgeous. Damon looks a lot like Finn, with the same eyes, only his hair is a little lighter, more a dark brown than black, and it goes to the base of his neck, curling up at the ends. He’s got ink, all up his arms, and no doubt on his body, but not as much ink as Lincoln.
Lincoln is the top dog.
The alpha.
Followed closely by Slater. It’s clear to see those two run the show.
Slater is a whole different dimension, the broodiest, the darkest, the most broken.
Damon came over and introduced himself to me when I went to get some more drinks, and the conversation flowed easily. It’s a nice distraction, because the tension between Boston, Penelope and I, could be cut with a damned knife and I’m finding it hard to breathe around it. So, I’ve been doing the drink runs.
After we delivered the drinks back to the table, Damon and I got chatting, about life in general. He’s the loudest of the brothers, and definitely the most playful. And he manages to do all of this, while keeping that incredibly masculine, powerful feel he lets off when you’re around him. It’s out of this world. And the perfect balance.
“Are you the only girl here not tied up with one of these bikers?” Damon asks as we sit at a side table, drinking beers.
“No,” I laugh. “Penelope isn’t with any of them. It’s a long story, but I’m starting to think it’s just too complicated for me.”
He studies me, those eyes almost mesmerizing. They practically glow against his olive skin.
“Like a good story, darlin’.”
“I’m sure you do,” I grin at him.
“Prettiest fuckin’ girl in this room, don’t know why anything would be complicated when it comes to you.”
I laugh and nudge him with my shoulder. “That’s where you’re wrong.”
He shakes his head. “Not wrong. Not even close.”
I smile at him and he grins back. I like him, yeah, a whole lot. It’s nice to feel okay, even just for a second, because lately I’ve felt nothing but confused and uptight. I take a sip of my drink and glance over to see Boston watching me, the moment our eyes meet, his flash and he looks away. He doesn’t look agitated, he just looks ... empty. Like he doesn’t feel anything, and that sucks.