Page 43 of Creed

Her teeth dig into her bottom lip, and she slides closer. My eyebrows dip and I turn to face her. Something about her stance doesn’t scream “fuck me.”

“Can I ask you something?”

I frown. “Yeah.”

“Do you think the club would help me start a shop now that I have my license?”

A laugh almost escapes me, thinking it’s one of those throwaway questions the girls ask before reaching for our belts. But the earnest expression on her face sobers me a bit, and I think the conversation is as serious as she is.

“A shop? Like what?”

She blows out a nervous breath. “Like a beauty shop. Cutting hair, doing nails, or maybe even waxing. Like a one-stop shop for anything of that type. I was going to ask Judge, but he keeps pushing appointments off in his office. I just—do you think it’s a bad idea?”

I smile, trying to ease the nerves in her body language. I’ve never known Daisy to be shy, but I can tell she’s a little scared or maybe insecure asking this. “No. We paid for your license. Gage assumed you’d do all the brother’s hair and what not. Another business under the club name is a perfect idea, and I assume you’d hire some of the other girls to work with you.”

The brothers might not be happy with some of the women being less available, but at the end of the day, they work for the club in any capacity, and if that means on their feet instead of spreading their legs, that’s their choice. There’s no shortage of women in town; the brothers will just have to work on their charm to get in their pants.

Daisy grins wider. “Yeah. Bambi is so good at waxing. She’d just have to get the certificate, and Wendy is great at nails. Though I don’t know if she’ll want to do it for work.” Her eyebrows furrow while she thinks about it.

“You can always hire people in town too. Bridge the gap.” Not that the people in our town are in a hurry to work for us.

She nods. “Yeah, but it would be finding a spot and not running into problems getting it. I heard Nash complaining about liquor licenses for the restaurant.”

I sigh, slouching down onto the stool. “Let us worry about it. Why don’t you get a business plan together and then present it to the council? I’ll text Judge that your appointment is about club business and he shouldn’t blow you off.”

Daisy rises on her tiptoes, kissing my cheek. “Thank you, Creed!”

Steel raises his eyebrows, watching as Daisy takes off. “How’d you get her so happy without taking her clothes off?”

I choke on my beer, laughing. “Oh fuck, kid. That’s fucking funny, and I know you’re being serious.”

He scowls at me. “Fuck you, Creed.”

I smirk. “Come here. I’ll whisper the secret.”

Unable to help himself, Steel leans over the bar top, and I lift up to whisper into his ear.

“I respected her”—I push his face away—“dipshit.”

Steel rolls his eyes. “I respect her.”

I raise my eyebrows. “Like you breaking the rules and jeopardizing both of your spots?” He got caught getting a blowjob when prospects aren’t supposed to fuck around with any of the girls until they’re patched in.

His cheeks flames, and he scratches the back of his neck. “I didn’t mean…”

I snort. “We know. That’s why you’re both still here.”

Steel sighs. “Thanks. I really want to patch in with you guys.”

Sliding off the stool, I clap his shoulder. “In due time. You got a solid head on your shoulders. We need more men like you. Hard working, but can party just as hard.”

I wink at him, because I mean it. Most men know how to work hard, it’s bred into them, but it’s the other end that builds loyalty. We need to enjoy the fruit of our wins, especially as a club. Not that any of us would ever admit it, but watching Steel manipulate the prospect rules impressed us more than anything else. A devious mind isn’t one to ignore, and one you want on your side rather than against.

With the party raging on, it’s easy to slip out of the club unnoticed, not that I have to answer to anyone. Fox is at the gate tonight, and he’ll let Gage know who’s coming and going without a second’s hesitation if he asks.

I drive to my spot, a parking space a block from her apartment, and then walk briskly to eat up the distance. When I get to her door, I knock gently, not wanting to attract the neighbors’ attention. After a few minutes go unanswered, I try again before taking out my lockpick. It’s been a minute since I broke this out, but it’s like riding a bike, and I slip inside her apartment in no time.

It’s dark, and I know it’s empty immediately. With a heavy sigh, I slink deeper, perusing through her bedroom and debating if it would make me a sick bastard to sniff the panties on the bed. I leave them and head into her bathroom, frowning when I see the new prescription of birth control.