Total pages in book: 64
Estimated words: 59146 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 296(@200wpm)___ 237(@250wpm)___ 197(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59146 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 296(@200wpm)___ 237(@250wpm)___ 197(@300wpm)
There was a sheet cake so big it took up half the bar, welcoming Zero back from his lengthy hospital stay and rehab. The first slice was already cut and ready for Zero, who came limping in the front door like he was returning from a war zone. He wore his new cut proudly, the vest proclaiming him a full member of Kiss of Death MC. He moved slowly but under his own power, without assistance. I flagged him down and shoved the first wedge of cake into his hand.
“Congratulations, Zero,” I said, giving him a hug. “Good to see you back.”
He blinked down at me, then smiled. “Thank you, ma’am.”
“Don’t call me ma’am, Zero. My name is Juniper.”
“You’ll call her ma’am,” Inferno said from the end of the bar. Everyone laughed.
Zero grinned at me. “Ma’am.” Then he walked off into the arms of an aggressive club girl. I had to laugh as the first thing she did was unbutton his flannel to see the scar on his upper chest. Zero took full advantage, looking like he could barely get around. Until he got the woman in his lap, then a huge smile split his face, and she laughed as she kissed him.
I made my way to Inferno with a piece of cake. The pride in his eyes when he looked at me gave me a heady rush. He had a beer in front of him and he moved his other hand to my thigh, just under the hem of my skirt, as I sat behind him. The club roared and howled, tossing back shots, making as much noise as the jukebox.
“Shut up, you degenerates!” Darby yelled before hiccuping as she swayed slightly. Somehow, everyone did hush up. Beer in her hand raised high, she slurred out a toast to me. “Raise a glass for Juniper. She didn’t just keep her damn head when most people would have burned the fuck down, she also makes the best sourdough a bitch could ask for.” It made no sense, but everyone cheered.
It should have ended there, but Darby never did know when to shut up and didn’t care that she didn’t know. “She also,” Darby went on, “fucks like she’s got something to prove and bakes with her own motherfucking hands, which means if you come at her, you’re gonna get your face kicked in and a Goddamn croissant down your throat.”
I sprayed beer out my nose, laughing. Inferno’s hand tightened on my thigh, but he laughed right along with me. Darby knocked back her shot and dropped off the chair, straight into Sully’s arms.
Turning my head, I smiled at Inferno. When he pulled out a palm-sized box from his jeans pocket, he flipped it open and held up a silver flame charm on a delicate chain.
He didn’t say anything. Just fastened it around my throat and looked at me like there was nothing and no one else in the world. I turned and threw my arms around him, kissing him. The charm warmed against the hollow of my throat and I touched it reflexively.
The first time I’d kissed him, it was defiance. A fuck-you to Brett and the whole Goddamned city. I kissed him now because he was mine, and I wanted the whole of Nashville to know it.
Someone whistled and Darby yelled, “Get a room!”
Inferno broke off the kiss, bit my lower lip, and leaned in. “I love you, baby,” he murmured. The words were so low I barely heard them over the noise. Last call was shouted by Mike somewhere down the line, and the whole club roared again. Inferno laced his fingers through mine and dragged me off my stool. I grabbed another piece of cake for the road, one hand scooping a generous mouthful before shoving the plate at Darby on the way out.
We didn’t look back. Inferno’s bike sat waiting at the curb, chrome all polished up special for the night. We walked out together, climbed on his bike, and rode off into the night, the moon bathing the city like a silvery neon sign.