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I turned and tilted my head back to look at him. His expression was wary, unsure, and I realized that he wasn’t sure how I felt about any of this. “It’s a lot, without a doubt,” I answered honestly. “But in the best possible way.” He didn’t look assured to I turned fully to face him and took his hands in mine. “The last time anyone did something like this for me, just for me, was the night Sara took me out and I met you.”
His expression darkened. “I hate that things have been so fucking difficult for you, Em. You deserve this and so much more.”
I smiled. “I deserve a breakfast bar after spending a night in jail?”
His lips tugged into a reluctant smile. “Damn straight. And a lunch bar. Dinner bar. Dessert bar. Bar bar.” His expression was so fierce, so protective that my heart hammered against my chest.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” His smile was soft and sweet, but it turned protective as he scanned the clubhouse until his gaze landed on Ash. Another, gentler smile spread and when he was sure she was fine, he turned back to me. “How are you really, Emma? You’ve put on a brave face for Ash but talk to me.”
I knew he was itching to ask me about last night and I’d been steadfastly avoiding answering. But he deserved an answer. “That question requires a drink to answer.”
His smile bloomed. “I can do that.”
I kept my gaze on Slate as his long, lean body ambled towards the bar where some of the MC girls worked to mix drinks other than shots and beers for the guys. He moved gracefully, efficiently. His long limbs moved with such ease it was beautiful to watch.
“Somebody’s got it bad.” Peyton’s teasing voice sounded behind me.
I turned with a smile. “Got what?”
Her blue eyes were lit with mischief when I turned to face her. “It. Love. The hots. Whatever it is, you’re in it big time with our resident tech geek.”
I shook my head, not to deny the words but because the denial was instinctive. “I have too much going on to worry about that.” How could I even think about a man, about falling in lovewhen there was a better than good chance that I could lose my freedom.
“That’s exactly when love smacks you right in the ass. I was running from a killer when I got smacked.” She flicked her red hair off her shoulders and smiled again. “Gotta go.”
“One tequila sunrise with an extra shot of tequila for the lady.” When Slate smiled, really and truly smiled, he wasn’t just handsome. He was magnificent.
“Thank you.” I took a long, fortifying sip and smacked my lips loudly. “I needed that.”
Slate’s eyebrows shot up briefly, but his expression was patient and kind.
“I’m doing fine,” I assured him easily. “Honestly. I’ve never been in jail before so that was an experience. Massey was there and he was an asshole but that seems to be his default.”
“Yeah, he doesn’t like that Cross isn’t a sworn enemy of the MC, feels like we get away with too much shit even though that’s not true.”
“No?” It seemed to me their cozy arrangement was very beneficial to the MC.
“No. When we step out of line, he’s the first to let us know it, but we do a lot of community outreach and we have the same goal at the end of the day, keeping Steel City safe and clean for the people who live here.”
He was a unicorn, a bad boy who was a good man. “Friendly but not friends?”
He smiled again. “Something like that.”
“So,” I began slowly, hesitant about whether or not to share my concerns with him.
“So?”
“Kira said something to the sheriff and I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it. And it would explain why Massey has been so hostile towards me.” It, along with the buzz of the fluorescent light above the cell, had kept me up all night. “Do you think there’s some connection to Alex at the Sheriff’s Department? Or Mark since he used to be a cop?”
“It’s always a possibility. Back in the day we had a few cops on our payroll, but Cross doesn’t do business like that. He got rid of those guys and let it be known that he only has time for cops who want to enforce the law.”
“Admirable but he can’t be everywhere at once.” Just because the sheriff was clean didn’t mean his cops were. “And Mark was a cop which I think matters more than the fact that he was a dirty cop.”
“True,” Slate agreed.
“Kira also mentioned a life insurance policy that listed Mark as the beneficiary. Sheriff Cross seemed shocked about it, but that makes Mark as good a suspect as me, if not better.”
