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“He’s your brother, so you can get away with what you just did, but—”

I turned my face to him. “But, what?”

“But you don’t buy my food either.”

“Is this like the driving thing?” I asked.

He rested an arm along the back of my chair. “This is about the fact you might not have a job after word gets out about us.”

I nodded. “Right. I’ll cross that bridge when I get there.”

“Did you hear me when I said not to put Ricochet in the middle?”

I took a deep breath. “Yes, but—”

“Family is everything, Mick. He’s in a tough spot now, too. You giving him a guilt trip doesn’t help either of us.”

I frowned. “You’re right. I shouldn’t have let myself get carried away.”

“We need to hit the road.”

I stood and grabbed my purse. “Were you serious when you told him you’re gonna have Abby order a cut?”

He tipped his chin down to look me in the eye. “Yeah. Or are you rescinding your proposal to be my old lady?”

I grinned. “Not a freaking chance.”

The Biloxi chapter rolled into town around four in the afternoon. I knew because they were all warming barstools at On a Lark. Although a handful of brothers stayed back in Mississippi to take care of Twisted Talons and Har’s Body shop.

It was awesome and grueling serving Dad and most of his brothers. Awesome because the music selections shifted drastically to songs by Slightly Stoopid (Dad’s favorite band) and tons of blues by Taj Majal, John Lee Hooker, and Buddy Guy.

Tiny, whose road name was tongue-in-cheek because of his hulking stature, stared at me while I pulled a pitcher of beer for one of Killian’s tables. “There’s been a shift in your aura.”

I laughed. “Tiny, you don’t really believe in auras.”

His blue eyes continued to assess me. “Button, don’t try to change the subject. You look different. What gives?”

I set the pitcher on the serving tray. “Nothing gives. If my aura looks different, I’m just happy. It’s a new year and it’s been a good month - even with the slowdown that happened at the beginning of the year.”

Cynic, who sat next to Tiny, pointed a finger at me. “You gotta expect that every year.”

Since he ran Twisted Talons, the bar owned by the Riot MC Biloxi chapter, I’d gone to him for pointers before approaching the Jacksonville brothers with my business proposal.

I grinned at him. “You’re right, and I had it written into the plan. It’s still strange to see that dip happen.”

“Rumor has it, there’s a man to thank for your new happiness,” Block said from the other side of Cynic.

Oh boy. Did Heidi say something to him?

I shrugged. “I don’t know where you’re hearing these rumors, but does it matter?”

“If he’s a scumbag, then yeah,” Block said.

Duane came into the main room and stopped short. His eyes widened as he glanced through the crowd.

There were three empty stools at the end of the bar, and he took the one in the middle.

I strolled to him. “We got a special happening this evening, Duane. Drafts are half-price. Do you want to stick to a bottle of Natural Light?”