Diamond sighed as Zak joined them. “D! Really. If she’s with Axel, she’s fine.”
“Fuck that pig. Gonna go find her.”
Diamond turned pleading eyes to Zak. “Z...”
Zak shrugged. “D wants to flatten my asshole brother, then more power to ‘im.”
Kiki felt like she should be shoving her fingers in her ears and singing, “La la la la!” She did not need to hear about anyone being flattened, put six feet under, or being threatened with a head cracking.
With a grunt, Diesel shoved his way out of the group and headed out of the clubhouse.
She glanced over her shoulder at Hawk. “He’s going to end up back in jail. Especially if he assaults a cop.”
Hawk’s eyes dropped from his brother’s retreating back to Kiki as he contemplated her words. “Right.” He sighed. “Stay here.”
Then he followed his brother out of the door.
“I’m going to go,” Kiki said to no one in particular.
Zak turned to her. “Hawk said to stay here.”
Kiki raised her eyebrows at him. “I heard him.”
She pushed herself from the stool, checked to make sure she had her key fob then hurried past them all before someone stopped her.
She had enough drama for one day.
Chapter Twelve
She knew Hawk wouldn’t be happy that she left the clubhouse last night after his command to stay there. In fact, without a doubt, she knew he’d be pissed. But she needed to leave. She needed to think.
The problem was, as much as she tried to convince herself that they were no more than a hook-up, she was afraid it had become so much more.
She couldn’t deny the attraction between them, even though it still surprised her. She also couldn’t deny the desire to spend more time with him.
The scary part was that she caught herself thinking about a future with the man. To do that, she’d have to tie up any loose ends.
The biggest one being her ex-husband who really wasn’t her ex. At least, not yet. And not for a lack of trying. She’d been pleading with him to sign the divorce papers for the last two years. In fact, ever since she filed them with the court.
They had no children, each of them had well-paying jobs which meant neither needed spousal support, they had equally divided the furniture when she left, so he had no reason to not sign and close out that chapter in their lives.
He simply didn’t want to let her go.
He’d said that too many times to count in the past couple years. Still, she had no idea why he wanted to hang on to something that had been irrevocably broken the day she came home to find him fucking their neighbors’ nineteen-year-old daughter in their bed. In their house.
Had he apologized? Sure.
She might be able to forgive, but even if she dug deep she couldn’t ever forget what she saw. Especially in the position she caught them in.
Which, she had to admit, wasn’t very flattering for Landon, her hopefully soon-to-be-ex.
Tonight would be her last push at getting him to sign the papers. She had bitten the bullet and invited him for dinner. She figured it was better to meet him in a public place than at her condo, his place, or the office. This way she could walk away if she needed to.
She cleared her throat and straightened her skirt as she saw Landon approach the table.
Dressed to impress, his suit was top of the line, his blond hair trimmed and gelled perfectly, his gait confident.
He looked better than ever and it reminded her why she had been attracted to him in the first place. He had swept her off her feet and it wasn’t long after they had started dating that he proposed. At the time, they were both up and coming attorneys who planned to conquer the world. Or at least the city of Pittsburgh. And they planned to do it together.
“Hello, sweetheart,” he greeted, a large smile on his face.
She pinned her lips together and frowned when he slid his hand under her hair and curled his fingers around her neck, leaning down and brushing a kiss along the top of her head.
“Landon.”
“Yes?” he murmured near her ear.
“Sit, please.”
He gave her a look, his green eyes narrowed with his impatience. She bit back a sigh of relief when he finally complied.
“Can I order you a drink?” he asked, his gaze crawling over her face, hair and then her breasts, where he lingered.
He’d always been a breast man. Karin, the neighbor, had some young, perky ones. Or at least she did two years ago.
“Yes, please.” She was going to need one.
He waved at a nearby waiter, who rushed over. “Glenlivet Eighteen on the rocks for me. Vodka martini for the lady.”
“No.” Both sets of male eyes landed on her. “Whiskey, neat. Thank you.”
As the waiter rushed off, Kiki met Landon’s surprised eyes. “Really?”
“Yes, I’ve acquired a taste for it.”
“Since when?”
“Since...” She took a breath. “Landon, things are different now. I...” Oh good lord, how did she explain any of this to him? He certainly wouldn’t understand and might recommend her doing a stint in the loony bin. “Although, I invited you to have dinner at one of our favorite spots, I... I’m here asking for the last time for you to sign the papers. Please don’t drag this out any longer.”
He frowned and leaned forward over the table, grabbing her hand. “Kiki. Jesus. I’ve asked for your forgiveness. I’ve asked for you to take me back. I made a mistake. A grave one. I realize that. I... Well, I had a weak moment.”
A weak moment.
“Right,” she murmured.
“But what we had was something good.”
“Not good enough apparently.”
Landon closed his eyes for a moment then blew out a breath. “I was hoping with time, you’d see the error of your ways.”
“The error of my ways?” The last two words came out a little higher pitched than she expected.
The waiter returned in a rush, placing a glass filled with dark amber liquid in front of her and sliding another one with ice in front of Landon. She gave the waiter a half-smile of thanks. After Landon’s words, that was all she could muster.
“What’s bringing this about now?”
Now. Like she hadn’t been bugging him forever.
“Well, how about this... It’s been two years. I’m tired of asking. And...” She drifted off as she took a deep inhale to bolster herself.
“And?”
“I’m seeing someone.”
He sat back in his chair, reaching for his expensive scotch and downing almost half of it. She couldn’t miss the gold Cartier watch on his wrist as he did so. When he placed his glass back down on the table, she noticed his nails were still neatly manicured. She bet there wasn’t a speck of dirt under even one of them. “Who? Do I know him? Is he part of the bar?”
At his question, she paused her glass halfway to her lips. “Not the bar you’re thinking of...” She took a sip and the warmth she was quickly getting familiar with slid down her throat. She waited for the burn to subside before continuing, “He’s not a lawyer.”
“Oh.”
“You definitely don’t know him.”
Landon pursed his lips as he studied her, mindlessly fiddling with one of his cufflinks as he did so. “Do I get to meet him?”
Kiki’s head jerked and she blinked at him across the table. “What? Why the hell would I have you meet someone I’m seeing?”
“Because I worry about you.”
“You weren’t worried about me when you were,” she leaned closer and lowered her voice, “on your knees behind Karin giving it to her good. Not to mention you were telling her how she was the best you ever had. I also can’t forget how you were telling her how tight her—” Kiki stopped abruptly. Not only because her blood pressure was starting to rise, but she looked around to remind herself where they were.
He frowned and cleared his throat. “Sweetheart, I
’ve apologized a million times.”
Kiki ignored his term of endearment. “I know.”
“If I could take it back, I would.”
“I know, Landon, but you can’t.”
“And once again, I’ll say that I’m sorry that I hurt you.”
Though he sounded sincere, she believed he was more sorry about getting caught.
A clearing of a throat that was not Landon’s came from next to them. “Sorry to interrupt, would you like to hear our specials?”
Kiki rolled her eyes when Landon said, “Of course.”
The waiter proceeded to rattle off the overpriced specials of the night. Though, she had to admit, the food was top quality here, even if a little pricy.
The waiter looked her direction. “Ma’am?”
As Kiki opened her mouth, Landon cut in. “The lady will have the filet, medium rare, with a spinach salad, house dressing on the side, and the grilled asparagus. I’ll have the squab with the roasted vegetables and a Caesar salad.”
“Very good, sir.”
Kiki held up a hand. “Uh, no.” She narrowed her eyes at Landon. “You need to stop ordering for me.” She tilted her head toward the waiter who, as professional as he was, managed to keep a blank expression. “I’ll take the lobster risotto, and a house salad, please and thank you.”
“Very good, ma’am.” The waiter gave a sharp nod and scooted quickly away.
“Seriously, Landon.”
“Sorry, sweetheart. Old habits and such.”
“It’s been two years.”
“So, tell me about... him.”
She hesitated. Maybe she could make a deal. “Only if you agree to sign the papers. I’d like to call you my ex-husband and have it be true.”
“Can I hear about him first and then decide?”
“No.”
Landon’s lips twitched. “Can I change my mind after I hear about him?”
“No.”
With a shake of his head, he reached across the table, snagging her hand and squeezing. “Keek, I still care about you. More than I can express. I only want what’s best for you.”
Great. If she told him about Hawk, he definitely wouldn’t think that man was best for her. Hell, she couldn’t even say that. But, no matter what, it wasn’t his decision.
“He’s a successful businessman.”
Landon’s eyebrows rose. Out of surprise or jealousy she didn’t know or care.
“Yes? And what type of business?”
If she was thinking about any kind of future with Hawk, she couldn’t be embarrassed to talk about him. He was who he was. He never claimed he’d change and she would never ask that of him. For the millionth time she told herself she needed to accept him as he was or move on. Or at least after a few more rounds of awesome sex.
Landon squeezed her hand harder and it brought her back to the restaurant’s table.
“He owns a bar.”
“Like a piano lounge? A cigar bar?”
Oh good lord. “No. Like a bar bar. With pool tables and... stuff.”
“In Pittsburgh?”
“No, Shadow Valley.”
Something she didn’t recognize slid across Landon’s face. It was there, then it was quickly hidden. “I’ve been to that town a few times.”
She looked at him in surprise. “You have?”
“A client had a real estate transaction there. Cute town, but I heard there’s a biker gang that owns quite a few properties there. I advised my client against the purchase. He argued that he didn’t think owning an apartment building next to a gang-owned business would affect the value. I beg to differ.” He shrugged. “What’s the name of the bar?”
Oh shit. “I’m sure you wouldn’t recognize it,” she quickly answered.
He tilted his head. “Try me.”
Her heart did a thump and a skip. “It’s a roadhouse.”
“A roadhouse...” He frowned.
Jesus, just rip the Band-Aid off, Kiki. “Yes, it’s The Iron Horse Roadhouse.”
Suddenly, Landon released her hand, dug into the interior pocket of his suit jacket, and pulled out his phone. He activated the screen, hit a few buttons, typed something in as Kiki watched frozen from her seat. His gaze scrolled over whatever he pulled up. And then his eyes hit her.
Hard.
He turned the phone toward her. She stared at the website for The Iron Horse where it was clear—so clear it was crystal—that it was a biker bar and that motorcycle clubs were welcome.
“Are you talking about this roadhouse?”
“Mmm.”
“What was that?” His eyes tipped back down to his phone, he swiped, tapped, swiped, then froze. He lifted the phone closer to his face and scowled.
Kiki’s stomach flipped as she waited for him to show her his screen. She didn’t have to wait long.
“Kiki,” he breathed. “Is this him?”
Kiki opened her mouth then snapped it shut as she stared at a photo of Hawk, clearly wearing his club’s colors, clearly sitting on his Harley, clearly in front of The Iron Horse. And, of course, he had his bulky arms crossed over his wide chest, muscles bulging and his tattoos clearly on display. She’d be remiss in not noticing the really cool set of dark shades that covered his deep brown eyes.
Oh shit.
Well, at least he looked hot in the photo. Her heart did a little flip again, but for a totally different reason. She’d have to ask Hawk for a copy. Her eyes flicked up to Landon’s as she lifted her glass to her lips and took a long, long sip. “Maybe.”
“Are you delusional? He’s in a freaking biker gang, Kiki.”
“Club.”
He waved a hand. “Semantics. He’s dangerous.”
She stared at the liquid in her glass as she swirled it around. “A complete kitten.”
Landon slapped his palm on the table, making the silverware jump. “Have you lost your mind?”
His question made her snap, “Great orgasms tend to do that to me. It had been a while since I had a good one. I tend to lose my mind when I do.”
Kiki glanced up at the waiter holding two salads, a spot of red in both cheeks. Whoops.
The server slid the plates in front of them, then scurried off like his pants were on fire. She stared at her almost empty glass and realized she really, really needed to order another round. Or two.
“Do you think you could wave that poor man back over here and get me another drink?”
He made a noise of disbelief. “Do you think this is humorous?”
It sure didn’t feel like she was laughing. She wasn’t even finding any of this slightly amusing. “Not at all. I also don’t appreciate you insulting a man you know nothing about.”
They both ignored their salads and Landon scooted his chair closer to the table to lean toward Kiki. “How the hell did you meet him?”
“He’s a... client.”
At her words, Landon slapped a hand over his eyes and shook his head.
Honestly, he was acting way too dramatic. She scowled at him.
“Not a surprise he’s been arrested. And I’m sure more than once.”
No point in fudging the truth about something that was public record. “Sure has.”
“He wears a black leather vest with dirty patches all over it.”
Landon wasn’t telling her anything she didn’t know. “Not when he’s naked.”
His eyes narrowed at her answer. “He’s solid tattoos.”
“Not completely.” She wiggled her eyebrows at him trying to lighten the mood, though failing miserably. She scanned the busy restaurant for their waiter. She’d flag him down herself if need be. But right now, water wasn’t going to cut it.
“Jesus, Kiki.”
There he was, hiding in a corner. Kiki waved her hand at their server in an attempt to get his attention.
“No, not Jesus. But Hawk does make me call out Jesus’ father’s name sometimes. Well, a lot, actually.”
“Hawk. What’s his real name?”
“Hawk.”
“Who names their kid Hawk?”
Who names their daughter Kiki? “A biker named Ace.”
“Does he have a brother named Falcon?”
“No... Diesel.”
“Get the hell out of here,” Landon muttered.
She’d had enough of this line of questioning. They needed to get back to the reason for her dinner invitation. “Landon, please. I’m done talking about this. I brought the papers for you to sign. Will you do that for me, please?”
“Kiki...”
“Landon, no. You’re out of my life, or will be when you finally sign the papers. What I do is no concern of yours. Who I’m with isn’t either. I’m not stupid.”
“I don’t like it, sweetheart.”
“I’m sure you don’t.”
“I only want you to be happy.”
“Then sign the papers.”
Landon leaned back in his chair and sighed. “After we eat. If this is our last meal together, I want to enjoy it.”
Kiki grabbed her fork and stabbed her salad. “Then let’s eat.” Though she doubted she was going to enjoy one bite.
* * *
After she ignored his demand to stay put last night, Hawk fought the temptation to chase after her. Even though he had no fucking clue where she lived. In the time they’d spent together, she had never once revealed that information or invited him to her place.
Which was telling.
So, last night despite his instinct to find her, throw her over his lap and spank her for not listening, he let it go. If she wanted him, she knew where he lived, where he worked, where he played.
But today he finally broke down and asked Ivy to do her Internet magic. To dig up her address. And if she couldn’t or wouldn’t, then he’d get one of Diesel’s connections to dig up the information he needed.
Surprisingly, Ivy complied. He had expected her to give him a bunch of shit since the women tended to stick together and have each other’s backs. Which was good for them. Not so great for the men.
His first mistake was going to Kiki’s condo in Pittsburgh. He couldn’t get into the lower level parking garage since it was keycard access only. From outside alone, he knew she was paying a pretty penny to live there.
Down & Dirty: Books 1-3: Dirty Angels MC Series Box Set Page 52
