And yes—I’m jealous.
When I first met Tracker I had to watch them together. He wasn’t mine then, and I never thought he would be, but I still liked him, so it hurt, although I kept my feelings to myself because I’d never go after a man who was taken.
Tracker, glancing up and seeing me, smiles widely. Rushing to me, he sees my face and slows his pace. “What’s wrong?”
He couldn’t be that stupid, could he?
“Nothing,” I say. “I’m just leaving.”
He looks back to Allie, then winces. “We went out. She needed a ride. It doesn’t mean anything, Lana.”
Any of the other men could have given her a ride.
Any.
But no, he had to.
I turn to Anna and kiss her cheek. “I’ll see you.”
“You want me to come home with you?” she asks, brow furrowing.
“No go spend time with your man,” I reply, forcing a smile. Ignoring Allie’s smug look, I walk to my car, Tracker following behind me.
“Lana,” he says patiently. “You’re overreacting.”
Unlocking my door, I open it, then look at him. “So if I ride with any of the other men that’s okay with you?”
His nostrils flair. “Fuck no. And they’d know better than to let you.”
“Exactly,” I snap. “She’s your ex, you were with her for years and she’s still acting like she’s yours. I didn’t want to get involved with you, Tracker, not because I didn’t want you but because I want you so much. So don’t fuck with my feelings. Either you want me and only me, or you don’t. I think you need to decide—because it kind of looks like you liked the chase, but now that you have me, you aren’t sure what to do with me.”
“I have you?” he repeats, scowling. “We haven’t even slept together.”
Wow, okay.
“So no sex means what? We aren’t anything? Okay, good to know.”
“That isn’t what I meant,” he says, sounding frustrated, reaching his arm out.
“It sounds like it’s exactly what you meant,” I snap. “I knew something like this would happen, but even I didn’t think it would be this soon.”
“Lana—”
“What, Tracker? Tired of the chase already? Well, let me make it easy for you. I’m done playing this game.”
I get in my car and lock the doors just before he tries to open them. I start my engine and watch as he steps back.
I drive off, and he lets me.
* * *
When I get home, I lose myself in my book. I write about a man who can be amazing one second, a complete jerk the next. I write about perfect kisses, swimming in the ocean, and slutty ex-girlfriends. I write about the complications of romance.
And of unsure endings.
TEN
THE problem with working for Faye is that I can’t avoid Tracker. I shat where I ate, and now I’m going to have to face him. I’m not at all surprised to see him standing there, arms crossed over his bare chest, when I walk into the clubhouse the next morning.
“You’re in trouble,” he rumbles, taking me by the upper arm and pulling me to his room. Closing the door he points to the bed. “Sit.”
I don’t sit.
He sighs and sits down, then pulls me onto his lap. “You can be stubborn, you know that?”
“Pretty sure you’re meant to be apologizing right now,” I grumble, moving my face away when he tries to kiss my cheek.
“I should be. But so should you,” he says, gripping my chin and moving my face to his. “I won’t let her on my bike again. I fucked up, yes, but you didn’t handle the situation properly. Number one, our shit stays private—don’t be turning your back on me in front of my brothers. You wait until we’re alone, then if you need to, you can give me hell. What you don’t do is give me the cold shoulder in front of my MC.”
I never even thought of it that way. “I was upset, and I just reacted. I wasn’t thinking about how you looked in front of your brothers. In that moment, I didn’t really care. I was hurt, Tracker. It might seem like something small to you, but Allie isn’t someone I want to see you with. You know she was one of the reasons I didn’t want to be with you. History shows that eventually you’ll be back with her.”
“I know,” he whispers. “I know she’s a sore spot for you, Lana, but fuck, when I see her, I feel nothing. She’s just someone I used to know and fuck, all right? You’ve clouded my mind, Lana, I don’t see anyone else. You have no reason to be jealous.”
“Still,” I grumble. “I didn’t like it.”
“I know you didn’t. It won’t happen again, but neither will your tantrum in front of the others. Deal?”
“Fine,” I reply ungraciously, still upset. “What you said about us not having sex . . .”
His eyes soften. “I was pissed and said stupid shit too. I didn’t mean it. You don’t wanna rush into sex? Then I’ll walk around with a fuckin’ hard-on until you decide to let me in you.”
“Really?” I ask dryly. “You sure you aren’t getting action whenever I leave here?”
Another worry. Can Tracker be faithful to me? I didn’t want to sleep with him just because I was worried he would sleep with someone else. That isn’t a valid reason to sleep with someone. Did I want to have sex with him?