“Lily called earlier. Have you heard from Lang?”
“He texted yesterday—loves Paris and his new wife.”
“I know,” she said. “Can’t wait to see them again.”
“Lang’s considering rejoining the club.”
That made Tina nearly choke on her water. “Really?”
“Appears Mrs. Anderson has changed her view on the charter.”
“There’s no point in Lang trying to deny who he is,” Tina observed. “I never really understood why he retired his patches.”
“The girls.”
“Sure.” Lang’s parents were killed in an accident a couple of years ago, leaving him with the responsibility of raising his three younger siblings. A heartbreaking situation. “But he was a member when his parents died. A third-generation member—that was all he’d ever known. And from what Lily has told me, the girls are well adjusted and don’t suffer for it.”
Their eyes locked. “You’d date a Brother?”
Tina suppressed her laughter. Hadn’t she been hinting at that for three days now? “Depends on the man.”
“I’ll remember that.”
She threw a piece of lettuce at him. It hit his chin and fell on the table. “I have some wonderful news to share.”
He stuffed a fry in his mouth and took a sip of coffee. “I’m all ears.”
“After I graduated from high school, my parents took a couple of years off and traveled and partied. But after that got old, they returned to Illinois and applied to become foster parents. A dozen kids have been cycled through their house. Last year Dustin showed up on their doorstep in need of emergency shelter. What started as a temporary situation turned into a permanent placement. Well, Mom called today to let me know they’ve decided to adopt him. I officially have a little brother.”
He wiped his mouth on a napkin, then crumpled it in his hand. “I wish more people would do the same. What an incredible gesture of love. Congratulations, big sister. Are you going to take a trip home?”
“Actually,” she started on a smile, “my family is coming here for Thanksgiving. Which gave me an idea.”
He shifted in his seat.
“If you’re not busy for the holiday, would you like to join us for dinner?”
“On one condition. After we spend time with your family, you’ll have dessert at the clubhouse.”
She leaned forward, resting her chin on both hands. Did it count as a formal date? She struggled to keep from smiling like a fool. “Only if I get to ride on the back of your bike.”
He smirked. “If you ever end up on my bike, Tina, you better be prepared to wear my patch.”
Chapter 12
Vincent never allowed women on the back of his bike. Some Brothers viewed it casually, and used it as an opportunity to show off their latest conquest. Although he meant what he’d said, he regretted letting it slip. It suggested he’d already pictured her as old lady material—if he were in the market for one. Which he’d emphasized a dozen times he wasn’t. But she knew better. What a monumental fuck-up. How could he explain this one?
“What are you trying to say?” she asked.
His eyes were firmly set on her. “Pretty sure I didn’t mince words. My bike is sacred territory. The honor of sitting on the back is reserved for the next woman I fall in love with.”
At first his answer didn’t seem to faze her; she wrapped her soft lips around the straw in her water glass and sucked so hard it made a slurping noise. After she finished drinking, she frowned. “I’m not sure if I should be impressed by your righteous claim or insulted because I’m not that woman.”
“Shit.” The girl knew how to spin things. Or didn’t she get it? Falling in love with Tina might be the easiest thing he’d ever do, if he ever let it happen. He certainly couldn’t control the overwhelming desire to give in very well. And her incredible green eyes undressed him every chance they got. “Stop complicating things. You’re everything a man could want—beautiful and intelligent—definitely soft in all the right places—and hard where it counts.” He winked, hoping to ease the renewed tension between them.
She snapped her mouth shut, obviously surprised. “So are you.”
His cock twitched to life as he remembered how it felt when she touched him between the legs at the park yesterday. He couldn’t ignore the obvious. Maybe the only way to get her out of his system was to fuck her. All night. He checked the wall clock near the deli counter. No matter how he felt, this wasn’t the time or place to explore it. “I have club business to attend to.”