Page 40 of Rain or Shine

He’s not wrong. I’m the one who told the little white lie in front of the whole town that got us into this mess. I could try and backtrack tomorrow, but it won’t do any good. Once the rumors start around here, there’s no stopping them.

Maybe Shane is right. We could use this to our advantage.

“How would this work exactly?” My lips purse. “The town might believe it outright because they’ll believe anything scandalous, but my family… your club? Are we lying to them too?”

Simply suggesting it has my stomach in knots. It’s one thing to lie to the town, but my family is another story.

Shane’s eyes narrow as he thinks. “I don’t lie to my brothers. They need to know what we’re dealing with to keep you safe.”

Safe.

His word choice turns my mouth to sand.

“You think whoever tried to hurt me tonight might do it again?”

His jaw works, but he doesn’t answer.

“Got it,” I say, hoping my voice doesn’t wobble.

I swallow my emotions. There’s no time to worry about that problem when there are too many others that take precedence. Ransack, the issues at Will’s ranch, Dad’s heart. The last thing I need is something else to think about.

“Hey.” Shane steps closer, and he smells so good it’s annoying. “They’re not getting to you. I promise.”

“You can’t promise that.”

“I can and I will. Especially if you’re here. I’ll take care of it.”

“Why? You don’t owe me that. You don’t owe me anything.” I meet Shane’s gaze, and he’s quiet for a moment, which is when I remember what he said. This is just a deal. An arrangement that will benefit us both. “Right, because of your reputation. You’ll help me, and I’ll help you.”

“Harloe—”

“Let’s do it.” I step back because I need some distance.

I need a gulp of air that doesn’t smell like him.

My feelings have no place in this conversation, especially when Shane has made it clear he’s returning to Vegas the moment he’s done with the clubhouse.

It’s fine. I don’t need more entanglements.

“You’ll tell your club the truth.” I pace the room, running through the plan. “And I’ll deal with my family. I don’t want to lie to them, but either way, they’re going to think something about me staying here, and that’s fine. They can think what they want, and if they ask me outright, I’ll decide what to say then.”

“If that’s what you want,” Shane agrees.

“It is.” I nod, clutching the towel to my chest. “But this is only temporary. I need to sort things out with the bar, and you need to deal with your club. It’s basically a business deal. No strings.”

“No strings.”

I hate how quickly he agrees with me, even though I’m the one who said it.

“On that note, I need to get the smoke off me.”

Before he can say anything else, I dip into the bathroom and shut the door. If I’d just agreed to let the police call Will, I wouldn’t be in this mess. I wouldn’t be here.

But I couldn’t because I’m tired of relying on my family to fix everything for me. For once, I’m going to do this myself.

My back tenses as I step into the shower, and the thick scent of smoke mixes with the steam quickly filling the room. I scrub my skin, trying to erase the stench—the memories of being trapped in my apartment.

If Shane hadn’t been there tonight, I might not have gotten out. Whoever sealed me inside wanted me to burn.