Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 83236 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83236 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Tonight is that important.
“You think so?” I ask, turning my attention back to my sister. As I respond, I stare at the way my cream dress hugs my body. As a woman that is not stick thin, I’m usually scared to wear clothes that flaunt my curvy figure. Tonight, though, I want to show Torin that I’m not a little girl. I want him to see me as a woman. This dress is the first step to proving that to him. There’s no way he can look at my body tonight and think I’m just a little girl.
“You do. You’ll be lucky if Dad doesn’t throw his cut over you and make you come back home to change, though.”
“I’m not changing. This dress isn’t showing anything. Besides, it’s just dinner at the new steakhouse the club has opened. Only family will be there,” I point out.
“Well, family and members of the club, since this technically is their grand opening,” she qualifies. “Why did you insist on having it there, anyway?”
“Well, I wanted Dad, Uncle Dragon, and Dancer there. This just seemed to be the easiest answer since I knew they’d want to be at the grand opening anyway.”
“You’re right. I just figured you’d rather have your birthday dinner at the Gondolier. You love that fancy Italian menu, and you know it.”
“Mostly I like their desserts and I’m pretty sure that you can tell—thanks to my dress—my ass can’t handle that,” I joke.
“Oh, please,” Thea says, rolling her eyes. “I’d love to have a curvy body like yours.”
“Says the chick with the killer modeling career.”
“Whatever,” she laughs. “If you’re ready, let’s get going. Everyone else is already there waiting for us.”
“I could have driven myself, Thea.”
“I wanted to take you. I’m dreading tonight.”
“Dom?”
“I don’t want to talk about him, Skylar.”
“He’s not worth your time, Thea. He’s a boy trying to be a man. You need someone—”
“I don’t need anyone. I have Deke. You promised to forget that I was ever hung up on Dom.”
“I don’t talk about it with anyone but you. Besides, all I’m saying is that you could do loads better. I’ve only met Deke a couple of times, but Thea, you have to know, you can do much better than him, too.”
“Let’s change the subject,” Thea grumbles and I shrug, letting it drop, and following her out of the room.
Someday, my family may listen to me. Thea should. It’s clear I have better taste in men than she does. Torin is a real man. He’s hurt me, but I know that if he would just give into his feelings for me, that would stop.
I just need him to admit he’s mine.
Chapter 6
Joker
“What is up with you tonight?” Breaker asks.
“I don’t want to be here,” I mutter. “I have shit to do.”
“Man, you can leave after we eat. It’s the club opening. Besides, my kid sister is looking forward to this dinner, so suck it up.”
“What’s Joker sucking now?” Killer asks as he walks up. I roll my eyes and throw up my middle finger at him.
“Asshole,” I growl, as Breaker laughs.
“Dad and Dragon are motioning for me. Killer, make sure Joker doesn’t run out of the dinner like a little bitch.”
I close my eyes and pinch the bridge of my nose. “If he knew how much you want to bone his little sister, he wouldn’t be trying to keep you here,” Killer mumbles, leaning against the bar.
“Why did I think I could talk to you?” I mutter. Killer recognized that I had gotten to the point I was drinking heavily at night so I could pass out. One night, drunk off my ass, I confessed to him I couldn’t get Skylar off my mind. I wanted to claim her for my own. When I sobered up, he tried to talk about it. I told him it was nothing, explaining that I was drunk. I played it off like it was just stupidity that I spouted and thought that would be the end of it. I should have known better. The bastard realized I was pushing the twinkies away more and more. Hell, these days, I can’t even touch them unless I’m drunk.
It’s pathetic.
“Cause I’m a fucking delight to be around,” Killer laughingly answers me, and I force my thoughts away with a growl under my breath—which just makes him laugh harder.
“Don’t you have some woman to annoy or something?”
“You’re more fun,” he counters with a smirk.
“I always knew you looked at my ass the wrong way.”
“You wish. Your ass couldn’t handle my dick,” Killer responds.
“My ass has a no entry sign on it. It’s permanent. Don’t get any ideas, idiot.”
“Seriously. If the bitch is in your head that much, go grab some chick and fuck her out of your mind, so you can get through the party. Easy-peasy.”
“Don’t know why I didn’t think of that,” I answer, drolly. Fucking other women hasn’t helped to get Skylar off my mind in the last year. It’s to the point I’ve just quit trying. Any fucking I do is from behind, with eyes closed, and thinking of the one woman I want but can’t have. It’s pathetic. Hell, I’m pathetic. I should not be fantasizing about a damn teenager. I should just tell Bull so he can put me out of my misery.