I smile gently—he really is trying. “Okay, dinner sounds good.”
Tracker nods his head and gives me a look of approval. I really don’t get these men. They’re always giving one another shit, but at the same time always looking out for one another. I grew up around men who looked like them—rough, covered with tattoos and leather. But the men my mom dated didn’t act like them. Growing up without a father was hard. It sucked. Having a shit mom didn’t help, of course, but I always wondered what my life would be like if I’d had a good dad and not the men my mom brought home to try and fill her void. The sad truth is, besides Rake, I haven’t known many good men in my life. Maybe that’s why every relationship I’ve ever had has failed miserably.
The Wind Dragons MC members are good men. I could tell that as soon as I met them, by the way they welcomed me into the family just because I was Rake’s sister. There were no questions asked—Rake was a brother, and by extension I was their family too. That was the moment I understood why Rake had turned to an MC lifestyle—it offered him the family we never really had growing up. I know the Wind Dragons aren’t saints by any means. They’re badass men, and I can only imagine the shit they get into, but they don’t mix me up in it and I get to come here and enjoy the perks of sexy men and good food. I simply feel safe here. I can’t explain it, I just do. Home is wherever Rake is. I missed him while I was away, some days wishing I’d never left. I know they probably do illegal shit, but to me they’ve been nothing but amazing. As long as I don’t see any women or children being hurt, I don’t really care what they get up to. I know that my brother wouldn’t get involved in anything too bad; he has a heart of gold.
I turn my head to see Arrow watching me over the rim of his glass. Nice to see he decided to use one. “Who was the boy talking to you today after class?”
I narrow my eyes. I feel my brother’s gaze on me, now curious.
“A friend,” I reply. “Am I allowed to have those?”
Tracker smirks. “You’ve got those.” He points to himself, and I can’t help but grin.
“You don’t count.”
He puts his hand over his heart in mock distress, then gives up the pretense and picks up his glass again.
“If you’re going to date anyone,” Rake says, “I want to meet him before things get serious.”
I purse my lips and stare at my brother with defiance in my eyes. “And why would I do that?”
“Because I will let you know if he’s worthy of you or not,” he says in a casual tone, shrugging his broad shoulders.
“And if he’s not . . .” Arrow adds, his brown eyes gleaming. “We will handle it.”
We?
We?
Arrow wants to protect me when he spends most of his time ignoring me every time I’m around him? I don’t even know what to say right now, so for once, I shut my mouth.
“No comment?” Rake asks, eyebrows raising.
“I’m not dating anyone right now, so there’s nothing to discuss,” I reply as my eyes scan the room before landing on Arrow.
I don’t miss the way his gaze darts to my breasts and then quickly away before he downs the rest of the gold liquid in his glass. He slams the glass down on the table with more force than necessary, then walks out of the room without another word.
Okaaaaaay then.
“How’s he doing?” Rake asks Tracker quietly.
I lean closer to hear what they’re saying.
“He’s angry. And still feeling guilty, I think. I hope he’ll come around,” Tracker tells my brother.
Guilty? About what?
Rake looks down. “Fuckin’ hope so. All he seems to be doing is drinking and fucking.”
I grit my teeth at that, apparently not liking the thought of him with other women.
He isn’t mine, I remind myself, yet it doesn’t soften the blow.
“Sounds like an average Friday night,” Tracker adds with a smirk.
They both laugh.
I don’t.
Rake finishes his drink, then looks over at me. “What do you wanna eat? I know this place close by that Faye always likes to go to.”
Yeah, no, thanks.
I raise an eyebrow that says You know exactly what I want to eat. Rake cringes and turns to Tracker. “Coming to grab a bite with us?”
Tracker chuckles. “I just saw that look. What is she making you eat?”
“Sushi. It’s always fuckin’ sushi,” he grumbles, scrubbing a hand down his jaw.
I smile, loving that he remembers. “Don’t pretend you don’t love it.”
He gives me a gentle look, then looks down into his empty glass.
“All right then, let’s go and get you fed.”
I slide off my stool and sling my handbag over my shoulder. Rake and Tracker start talking quietly, so I walk out front and stand next to Rake’s bike. When I hear steps behind me, I turn around, expecting to see my brother, but instead I stare into Arrow’s handsome face. He doesn’t say anything for a few seconds, just studies me with a penetrating gaze. I start to shuffle my feet, feeling uncomfortable under his scrutiny.
“Do I have something on my face or what?” I blurt out.
He doesn’t look amused. “You with that guy I saw you with?”
Not this again.
“No, I told you I wasn’t.”
He shrugs. “If you like him, you’ll stay away from him.”
I scowl. “I don’t get you. You can’t tell me what to do, Arrow.”
“Just stay out of trouble, Anna,” he says suddenly, narrowing his gaze a little.
“Why do you care?” I ask, raising an eyebrow. He’s being downright chatty today. At least by his standards.
He makes a soft scoffing sound and shakes his head. “I don’t. I’m just looking out for Rake. Last thing he needs is to worry about your spoiled ass.”
Spoiled?
I’m a lot of things—some of them not good—but none of them are spoiled.
“Don’t pretend you know me,” I reply while staring him down. “I love my brother. I don’t know why you have a problem with me, but I don’t think it’s justified.”
I don’t like the gleam that enters his eyes. “I’ve had grown men too scared to talk back to me.”
I stand straighter. “I know you won’t hurt me. Rake wouldn’t allow it.”
Arrow leans forward, his gaze lowering to my mouth. “You like talking to me. Why?”
My eyebrows furrow. “What do you mean?”
“Every time I’m around you. You don’t ignore me. You keep yapping away like I’m your fuckin’ friend or something.”
I purse my lips. “You are my friend.”
Kind of.
Sort of.
Okay, not really.
His lips quirk. “Don’t wanna be your friend, Anna, that’s the whole problem here.”
Well. Okay. The man is honest. Wait, did he mean he just didn’t want to be my friend, or he wanted to be more than friends?
My eyes widen at the possibility.
“Whatever you’re thinking right now, you need to stop.”
“Why do you go to Toxic so much?” I blurt out, wanting to know. There are always available women in the clubhouse, and it’s not like he couldn’t get anyone he wanted.
“Women there know what to expect,” he replies, looking away from me.
“To expect?”
He nods sharply. “They get what they want, and I get what I want. Problem solved. I’m not looking for anything, Anna.”
“Oh,” I reply, feeling stupid.
His finger reaches out and runs down my cheek. I suck in a breath as our eyes connect, confused by what I see there.
Desire.
“You’re beautiful, do you know that? If I was another man, I would be all over you.”
So many questions flash through my mind. Why only if he was another man? Why not now?
I open my mouth, trying to think of a reply, when Rake walks out. Arrow instantly drops his hand from my face and steps away. Rake slaps Arrow on the back in a friendly gesture, then walks over to me.
“Let’s do this,” he says, handing me a helmet. “But next time I get to choose the place.”