Page 12 of Rough Return
“For me? Do tell.” Kye had no real clue what went down when Fiona came for them, why he hadn’t fought leaving with her. She’d made him an offer he couldn’t refuse. A lot of that going on in the last few days.
“Never mind. It isn’t important.”
“So, tell me which one of you is wearing the dress? You know you can’t wear white, right?” He let Kye go on for a few more jibes. “Does Max know you’re not still a virgin?”
“You about done?”
Kye laughed again. “Hard to tell.” He cleared his throat. “You can always come back to the island, you know. We’ll figure a way to get you out safe.”
He wouldn’t even make it to the plane before Hamilton took him out. And really, did he want to go back? Sure. Belize had been nice. Except for the lonely nights when he’d had too much time to think. Too much time to worry. Too much time to remember. Remember Fiona whether he wanted to admit it or not. What he wanted was what Kye and Eliana had, the friendship, the intimacy, the security of always having someone who wanted them around.
“I think I’m going to see how this plays out.” If he needed to go, he would. Eventually.
“Just don’t get her knocked up. Their hold on you will kill you if you do.” Sage advice from someone who was knee-deep in the thought of making a family.
“How so?”
“Running out on Fiona is one thing. You could do that. But could you run out on your kid?”
Kye knew him better than anyone. Was the only friend he had left in the world.
“No. You’re right. No little Grier.” No problem since Fiona didn’t seem to be interested in anything except getting his signature on their marriage license.
“I’m always right. If you people would just get that through your heads, the world would be a much better place.” He laughed. “Hey, Eli’s calling me. Let me know how it goes, Mrs. Strong.”
Grier signed off with a “fuck you” and hung up. But Kye was right. A baby would tie him to Pine Hill for the rest of his life. And to her, which was the less disturbing of the two propositions.
Good thing Fiona rejected him this morning. Might have stung then, but no way they would’ve stopped with a single kiss. They would have ended up rolling around her bed probably fighting over who got to be on top. And he didn’t have a single condom to his name.
He climbed out of the car and walked past the line of bikes in front of the clubhouse. Damn. He missed riding. Missed the wind in his hair. The speed. The freedom.
He walked in, and Sage, a guy who’d come in just before Grier left with Kye and Eliana, stood. He was about Grier’s age with sleeve tattoos and spiky black hair he kept short. “Hey. We need to go collect some past due rents.”
“Take somebody else. I have to get ready for my wedding.”
“Ham said Max told him it needed to be you.”
Of course, he did. He needed Grier to re-establish himself in the business.
Grier nodded. “All right. I need a bike.”
“Where’s yours?” Sage closed one eye and considered Grier as they walked outside.
“Gone? Parted out I guess?”
Sage laughed. “When did she do that?”
“She who?” God, he missed the quiet of the island, the not having to deal with people and figure out what the hell they were talking about.
“When you left, we were gonna strip it down, but Fiona wanted it so Max let her keep it.”
“Fiona has my bike?” Well, well, well. Wasn’t that interesting?
“Hey, man. All I know is she wouldn’t let anyone touch it. Max neither.” He frowned. “That’s how we knew you were actually on club business.” He shook his head. “Even Fiona wouldn’t have been able to stop Max from destroying it if you’d run out on us.”
That lying little minx. “Hey, don’t mention that you told me.” Not because it would matter. She’d probably only kept it to make him watch her set fire to it if he ever came back anyway. But now that he knew, maybe he could at least have a last look.
“What the hell do you mean there’s a three-day waiting period?” Max might not make it three more days. And if he died before the wedding, Grier could turn tail and run. Even though she’d told him a hundred times what would happen if he did.
