Harm's Way: Riot MC Biloxi by Karen Renee (best e book reader .TXT) 📕

two from afar since it reminded me of watching a silent movie. Brute held up a finger and then his face looked like he was pleading. She shook her head a little, but the look on her face said she didn’t mean it.

I heard Har sigh, but I couldn’t tear my eyes from the bar. “You gotta stop bein’ so nosy, baby. A president’s old lady knows to leave other people’s business alone.”

“Anybody else, I wouldn’t care, Michael. But, you just proposed to me. Love is in the air! And something about the way that woman watched Sammy makes me want to see what happens.”

He tucked a lock of hair behind my ear, murmuring, “Again with the name changes.”

I chuckled. “It’s reflexive.”

Then my jaw dropped. Brute smiled at the woman who was speaking to him, and while she was still talking he laid a kiss on her that almost made my toes curl.

Har’s hand turned my face to him. “Okay, that’s more than we need to see. Let’s go.”

“We haven’t paid,” I protested.

He grinned. “The waitress can stick Brute with the bill. Like you said, we just got engaged.”

Even though he pushed against me to move me out of the booth, I held firm. “No way, man. I saw how she watched him talk to Corinna. This could be—”

“Not your business, Combes.”

I turned to him and glared. “He’s my stepbrother.”

He tilted his head back and laughed. It was a sight to see, but this wasn’t funny.

He righted his head and said, “When using my full name doesn’t work, you’re gonna play the family card. A card that doesn’t play too well, seeing as y’all didn’t keep in touch after your parents divorced.”

I pursed my lips, then said, “He’s still the only brother I’ve ever had.”

Before Har could respond, Brute slid into the bench seat opposite us. “You two have to be the only couple I know who can go from laughing to arguing in fifteen seconds flat.”

I turned angry eyes to Brute. “Are you trying to say we won’t stay married?”

He held a hand up, but I ignored it.

“Actually, don’t answer that. Why are you back here? You put quite the kiss on that blonde, you should be with her right now.”

He gave Har a look, then locked eyes with me. “I should not be with her right now, and that shit isn’t your business. If I had to guess, that’s what y’all were arguing about. But since I know how stubborn you are, I’ll tell you she gave me her number and we’re gonna get together next week.”

“Really?” I asked, smiling.

Brute rolled his eyes. “Really.”

“You should’ve seen the way she was watching you.”

Har shoved against me again. “On that note, you want me to leave you some cash, brother? Don’t know where that waitress ran off to, but—”

Brute shook his head. “Forgot to tell you. I settled the bill. Consider it my engagement gift to you, Prez.”

Har

HAR AND STEPHANIE SPLIT ways in the parking garage, and he told her he’d meet her back at the house.

First, he had to drop by his shop. Stephanie had been right last year. He now had a part-time administrative assistant. Taking Stephanie’s advice, he offered his brothers the chance to work with him and Gamble produced his sketch book full of designs. The business was growing, but it wasn’t enough to bring the other brothers on board and certainly not enough to give the club extra revenue.

When he rode up on the shop, Gamble strolled out of the garage wiping his hands on a rag. “She say yes?” he asked.

Har swung off his bike, put his helmet on his seat, and grinned. “She did.”

“Congrats,” Gamble said, shaking Har’s hand.

“Thanks man. How’re things? You need me to—”

“Fuck, no. You got better things to do today. Get outta here!”

Cynic came out of the office, and Har arched a brow. If he didn’t know better, the man had something for Julie, their administrative assistant.

When Cynic came closer, Har said, “I thought you had plenty to do at the Twisted Talons?”

After the club exited the drug business, they had a stroke of luck when the city approved the permit for their new bar. Cynic volunteered to manage the business, and with his former years of experience as a bartender, he ran it like a tight ship. They hadn’t seen much of a profit in the first few months, which was to be expected with a new business. But revenues were increasing at a rapid clip, and this month the bar was on pace to out-perform the marijuana income.

“Whatever, Har. You know I’m determined to make that bar bring us more money than the drugs ever did. I don’t have to be there until—”

“Brother, I don’t fuckin’ care. I like givin’ you grief.”

Cynic smiled. “Speaking of grief, your woman say yes to being the ball on your chain?”

He laughed. “She said yes, but not to being any kind of ball and chain. You need to find a healthy relationship, ’Nic.”

The sun made Cynic’s grin seem devilish. “Life’s too short for relationships, man. It’s like I always say, I’m not here for a long time, just a good time.”

Har slapped ’Nic’s bicep. “Whatever you say man, just make sure that good time lasts long enough for the rest of us.”

Twenty minutes later, Har rode his bike up the drive to his mother’s house. Since his bike was anything but quiet, she opened the front door by the time he strode up the walk.

“What brings you by, honey?”

He smiled. “Mom. You got a minute?”

“Of course,” she said, opening the door wider.

In the kitchen, he asked, “You talk to Ben lately?”

Her face went guarded before she lowered her gaze to the floor. “No.”

“Well, if he should reach out, you can tell him, I’m getting married.”

Her eyes shot to his. “Are you serious? Stephanie said yes? What am I asking? Of course she did. Honey! This is such good news!”

Before he could respond, she wrapped her arms around him and