Out of the Ashes (Sons of Templar MC #3)(63)

We were pulling up to our store and I couldn’t help but smirk. “You know, if the wind changes your face will freeze like that,” I remarked lightly.

Lexie, who had been gazing out the window, turned to look at me. “Like what?”

I grinned at her. “Like a little lovelorn girl, wistfully waiting for her one and only to send that fated text,” I teased.

She didn’t even roll her eyes or frown at my statement. She just smiled slightly and retreated back into her head.

I was taken aback. No usual witty banter? Wow, one date and he had her mute. Oh God.

I parked slightly down from the kick ass vintage store Lexie and I had found when exploring Hope weeks before. Since Lexie not only had dates with her new man-boy and gigs with her band, she needed new duds. I also needed new clothes...well, just because. My eyes rested on motorcycles lined up slightly down from us. I wondered if the Sons of Templar liked vintage shopping too. I grinned at the prospect.

“Zane coming over tonight?” Lexie asked hopefully, finally regaining her cogitative skills as we got out of the car.

I chewed my lip and linked my arm with hers as we walked toward the store. Zane had left last night before Lexie had returned home, declaring he had “club business.”

“That little shit is even a minute later than her curfew, you let me know,” he had demanded.

I’d rolled my eyes slightly at this. If he was a minute late I’d barely be ringing the alarm bells. I had kissed him instead of answering.

“Mia,” he had warned after kissing me soundly.

“Yes, O Macho One, I shall do as you command,” I told him seriously, with a hand on my heart.

At this he had shaken his head, given me a firm kiss and left. I had not seen nor heard from him since then. I told myself not to be worried or pissed off, yet I was both.

“Not sure yet, Doll,” I answered instead. Then I decided that I would not be waiting around for his call. “How about we make an afternoon of this? Head to dinner and a movie later?”

Lexie’s eyes brightened. “Can I call Kill and ask him to come?” she asked.

I stopped us, right there in the middle of the street, raising my eyebrows. “You want to have a second date with the boy you’re daydreaming about with your mom as a tagalong?” I asked in disbelief. “Tellin’ you now, kid, such boys do not appreciate chaperones while they commence broody looks at pretty young girls. I’d cramp your style,” I informed her.

She grinned at me. “Kill needs to know, sooner rather than later, my mom’s my best friend. He already thinks you’re cool. He won’t mind—he doesn’t have a choice anyway.” She added the last bit thoughtfully.

I gave her a proud look. “You go, girlfriend. Tell him who wears the pants.”

She smirked at me. “I’ll call him now,” she declared, rifling through her purse.

I grabbed her hand. “Now?” I asked in shock. “But the shop is right there,” I pointed to the window, only a few feet away. “You’re willing to delay shopping in order to talk to a boy?” I asked in horror.

Lexie merely patted my arm and shook her head, walking slightly away from me to make her call.

I shook my own head. “Never thought I’d see the day when a boy came before fashion,” I muttered to myself.

My attention was diverted when four huge bikers sauntered down the street in my direction. I glanced at the bikes, which were parked in front of me. I deduced they were why the bikers were walking toward me, not so they could rob me. They got closer and I knew for sure they weren’t anyone in the Sons. Not that I knew them all, but I was pretty sure their cuts were different, and on closer inspection these guys looked slightly rougher than the bikers I had come into contact with. And nowhere near as hot. I stepped back instinctively, going closer to Lexie, who was smiling into the phone. Unfortunately, I felt their eyes on me as they approached.

“Hey, darlin,’” one drawled, looking me up and down in a decidedly skeevy way.

I gave a quick glance behind me Lexie had her back to me and the bikers, for now.

“Um hey,” I greeted back, unsure of what to do when half surrounded by mean-looking bikers. I guessed the smartest thing to do would have been run a mile. But I couldn’t exactly do that in broad daylight. That would look pretty stupid. Plus, I couldn’t run in these heels. I had to believe these guys meant no harm. Not in the middle of a reasonably busy street, in the middle of the day, anyway.

He continued to give me a look; this time there was something more working behind it, as if he recognized me. He wasn’t exactly bad-looking. His shaggy hair touched his shoulders and was in need of a wash. His beard definitely needed trimming, but his face was handsome, in a mean kind of way. He was tall, and he seemed to be using his height and considerable muscles to intimidate me. His friends were a mixture. Some older and decidedly not attractive, others younger and not bad. It was the way they were looking at me that made them unattractive. In a way that made my skin crawl.

The guy’s face lit up like he had placed me. “I know you,” he declared with a smile. One that I did not like. “You’re my buddy Bull’s woman, right?” he asked, folding his arms.

I did not know how to answer this. I didn’t exactly know if I was Zane’s “woman” considering we only recently had the “you are mine” conversation. I didn’t exactly want to discuss this with these men. I’m sure they wouldn’t offer any helpful insight. I also found it hard to believe this guy was Zane’s buddy. From what little I knew the men at the club were the only friends Zane had. They weren’t buddies; they were brothers. But who was I to say? I knew precious little about the man that shared my bed. But in this situation, my instincts were screaming at me to be careful.