Hardy Read online

  He was jumping for joy inside. His woman still loved him. Anything else she had to say he could more than handle.

  “What is it?”

  “I’ve not filed for divorce yet. I’ve still got the papers. They’re safe.”

  “We’re not in the process of getting a divorce?” he asked. This was all he needed to give him the shot of winning her back. If he didn’t have a ticking time bomb of their divorce, he could get her back.

  “Technically we’re still getting a divorce. I’ve got to file the papers with my lawyer. Until we know what’s going on with this thing.” She pressed her hands to her stomach. “I thought I’d give him a call, and ask him to hold off.”

  “We can do that. I want to see where this goes.”

  “This isn’t going to change much. I want us to try again, but to do this, I want us to remain on dating terms. We have rushed into everything else in our lives, and we’ve ended up here. I don’t want to rush anymore, and make mistakes. We’ve got a baby on the way, and I don’t want to rush that. I want us to take time for us as well.”

  “Me neither,” he said. “We can take our time. Get to know one another.”

  She gripped the back of her neck, smiling. “Great.”

  He wanted to kiss her, to reach out, and touch her. Resisting the urge, he took a step back. “I’m going to leave you to get dressed. I’ll see how Baker is handling the food.”

  Rose chuckled. “Would you even know what you’re doing?”

  “I’ll know if it’s burnt. I know you don’t like anything burnt.”

  “You know me well.”

  Hardy left her alone, happy for the time being that he had a chance to make everything right with her.

  Baker was handling everything fine, looking downright happy with himself. Hardy took a seat, snagging one of the hot pastries. They were to die for, so buttery, sweet, and delicious. He’d never had anything like it.

  Rose joined them ten minutes later in a red summer dress that matched her hair, which she’d pulled back into a ponytail.

  “Eva called. Ladies are going shopping at the mall. Fighter and Ink will be with us, and I want to head out, too.”

  “Okay, do you want me to come with you?” Hardy asked.

  “You’re kind of creeping me out in a seriously stalkerish fashion, Hardy. Two prospects is more than enough to take us shopping. You don’t need to follow me everywhere. I’m content to go with the girls. It has been too long since I had a date with the girls.”

  “I wonder where that leaves me,” Baker said, piling eggs onto a plate and handing them to Rose.

  “You are going to work on Millie. We’re still going to do dinner, right?”

  “Yes, that’s the hope.”

  “Then go and see her. See what she likes, report back to me, and I’ll work on getting her invited for dinner,” Rose said.

  “What about me?” Hardy asked.

  “You do whatever it is you do.” She took a pastry, biting into it. “If I wasn’t already married, I’d ask you to be mine, Baker. Seriously, these are delicious.”

  “Hey, I’m sitting right here,” Hardy said. He wasn’t annoyed as he’d caught the wink Rose sent Baker.

  “Don’t worry, baby, you’ve got many good qualities.”

  He laughed unable to resist her teasing.

  ****

  Gash stood around the back of the club smoking a cigarette. Whizz couldn’t find him anything, and he wasn’t prepared to give Gash exactly what he wanted. There were two people in this life, and they were going to pay. He needed them to pay for setting him up. Going to prison for something he didn’t do was really fucked up.

  First, he didn’t rape that fucking bitch. Gash couldn’t even bring himself to think of her name. He knew her name, and he had remembered every single detail of her. She’d been begging for his dick, practically fucking him out in the open she’d been so desperate. Gash didn’t rape women, and he didn’t murder boyfriends either. The bitch he fucked didn’t have a boyfriend come in halfway through.

  Gash had fucked up though, leaving evidence of his presence in the room. He had a past history of violence, and lashing out, and even Gash had started to wonder if he’d blacked it all out.

  No, he hadn’t done what he’d gone away for five years for. He’d not fought every single day on the inside for himself not to get revenge. The Skulls had arranged protection on the inside, but it hadn’t always been sunshine and roses for him. Gritting his teeth, he recalled the time he was cornered in the shower by three men who were bigger than he was, which was fucking saying something seeing as he was scary.

  They’d wanted to make him very aware of the fact he owned an asshole. Fortunately, he’d been saved as The Skulls had bought off one of the guards. He’d made sure Gash wasn’t hurt, and that was how it became for him. Those battles that the guards couldn’t help him with, he fought out of. Years of wondering if his cell mate had been bought off had plagued him, but he’d gotten through it.

  “I thought I’d find you out here,” Angel said, coming to stand beside him.

  He threw the cigarette to the floor and stubbed it out.

  “You didn’t have to do that.”

  “You don’t like it.”

  “So, you were smoking, and I was invading your space. You shouldn’t have put it out because of me.” She rubbed her hands together and leaned against the wall. “Why are you out here all alone?”

  “I’m thinking.”

  He liked Angel, and respected her. She was a strong woman who a lot of people mistook for being weak because she didn’t resort to violence. Angel rarely swore either. When he first met her, he’d really thought it was a joke that Lash had married someone so placid. Her temperament was like her name. She was an angel, through and through. After getting to know her, he saw the charm she possessed. He wanted to help Lash preserve her innocence of the world, and to bottle it up so no one could destroy her. She was beautiful inside and out.

  “What are you thinking about?”

  “Life.”

  “On the inside? Do you miss it?”

  “No, I don’t fucking miss it. I fucking hated that place.”

  “I’m sorry.” She held her hands up in surrender. “You’re out here all alone. I noticed you talking with Whizz a lot just lately.”

  “Are you being nosy, Angel?” he asked, finding her adorable.

  “I’m worried about you. Can’t I be worried about you?”

  He wrapped his arms around her shoulders. “You don’t need to be worried about me.”

  She gave him a squeeze, and Gash released her.

  “I, er, I know you went through hell at the prison, and I really wish there was something I could have done to stop whatever awful things happened, but I just want you to know that you’re cared about.”

  Gash frowned, staring at her.

  Angel was blushing.

  “What are you trying to say?”

  “I don’t want you to go and do something stupid that lands you in trouble, Gash. I like you.”

  “I’m not going to.”

  “I heard Whizz and Tiny talking. I know you’re going to do whatever it is you think you need to do.” She touched his hand. “I didn’t live through everything that you did, so I don’t know how important it is, but I know you’re important to this club. Don’t do anything to risk your life.”

  She gave him a smile, and left him alone.

  With her words ringing in his head, Gash didn’t know what to do. The woman was a witch, and she did this to him on purpose. He was more than willing to kill the fucking bitch who’d done this to him. Now, he didn’t know what to do.

  Chapter Five

  “It has been too damn long since we had a girl day,” Tate said, whooping as they entered the mall. All of the women had arrived in two cars, one driven by Fighter, the other by Ink. The prospects kept a good distance, which Rose was grateful for.

  “I hear you,” Eva said.

  Angel, Sophia,
Prue, Lacey, Eva, Tate, Emily, Kelsey, and Sandy were all there. All of the women of The Skulls, apart from Sandy. She was a sweet-butt turned something else. Stink had a thing for her, but as yet nothing had happened.

  “I’m surprised you’re on your own,” Rose said, linking her arm through Sandy’s.

  Sandy released a sigh. “Tell me about it. Stink’s keeping a close eye on me.”

  “A close eye? That guy is in love with you, and has been for so damn long, I’m surprised he can see straight,” Tate said. “When are you going to put the guy out of his misery?”

  “I’m not trying to make him miserable. Believe it or not, I didn’t know he had a thing for me. I know he liked me, and we were good friends. I never knew he wanted anything more from me.” Sandy shrugged. “There’s nothing I can do about it.”

  “He’s told you?” Rose asked.

  “Yeah, he’s told me, and I don’t know what to do.”

  Rose gave her a look. “You really don’t know what to do?”

  “Well, part of me wants to dive in with him, and see where it goes. Then another part of me is terrified of losing what I’ve found with him. I care about Stink. What if us being together ruins our friendship?”

  Biting her lip, she and Sandy walked a little behind the other women. They were talking amongst themselves.

  “Do you love Stink?”

  “I don’t know. Would I be upset if anything was to happen to him? Of course I would. I’ve never been in love, Rose. I don’t know what it feels like, nor have I ever wanted to be bound by someone,” Sandy said. “I’m so fucking confused right now.”

  “I can imagine.”

  “I know he’d be so fucking hot in bed. I just know it,” Sandy said.

  “Is that all you care about? Him being hot?”

  “Well, it’s not about him being hot. It’s Stink, and he’s a Skull. He’s going to be so damned hot in bed. I’ve heard some of the sweet-butts talking about him. He’s supposed to be like a machine in the sack. I never actually slept with him though.” Sandy sighed looking lost in her world.

  “I really don’t need to hear this.”

  “Come on, I bet Hardy is so fucking great in bed. I wonder how you can even look at another man.”

  Rose blushed recalling exactly how good Hardy was in bed. He could go for hours, and have her panting for him within minutes of his touch. Last night he’d only needed to kiss her neck, and she’d been more than ready to jump him.

  “I knew it. I knew Hardy was good in bed.”

  “You’ve never actually slept with him, have you?” Rose asked.

  Sandy paused, and a frown came across her face.

  “Forget I said anything,” Rose said, stepping away from Sandy.

  The other woman wasn’t going to let her go easily.

  “Do you really think I’d do something like that?” Sandy asked.

  Rose detected the hurt in the other woman’s voice, and she felt like the worst kind of person in the world.

  “I don’t know.”

  “I fucked the men who were available, Rose. I never fucked any of the married men. Even if Tiny had been married at the time, he wouldn’t have been on my list of men to sleep with. In fact, I didn’t have a fucking list, okay? I slept with whoever wanted me, and who I was willing to fuck.”

  “Okay, I get it.”

  Sandy’s hand tightened on her arm. “No, I don’t think you do get it. Hardy hasn’t touched another club whore since you found him all of those years ago.”

  Rose smiled. “Don’t worry about it.”

  “No, I do worry about it. I get that you’re pissed at him, and whatever you’ve had going on in your life, but I swear to you, Hardy loves you. He doesn’t want anyone else but you. You are the love of his life.”

  The rest of the women had stopped and were watching them.

  Tears sprang to Rose’s eyes. “I don’t want to do this.”

  “I think it’s time you did do this.” Sandy looked back toward the other women. “I’ve got this.”

  “Are you sure?” Angel asked, stepping forward.

  Rose waved them on. “Yeah, I need to eat something. I’ll be fine.”

  They nodded, reluctantly leaving them. Fighter followed them while Ink took to guarding the rest of the women. They went to a coffee shop within the mall. Rose stayed outside while Sandy got them some drinks and something to eat. Fighter sat a table behind them.

  Rose liked Fighter even if he talked when she really didn’t want him to. He had a mind of his own, and wanted people to know it as well.

  Sandy came back ten minutes later, placing down a tray filled with snacks.

  “Right, I’ve got everything, and I even snagged some napkins that we can use as tissues in case this becomes emotional for you. Did I ever tell you women with a bun in the oven get over emotional? With your situation I’m surprised you’re not drowning in tears.”

  “My situation?” Rose asked, filling her tea with lots of sugar. She didn’t know if she wanted to understand what her situation was.

  “You know, dealing with Hardy and all of his crap.”

  Releasing a sigh, Rose stared somewhere past Sandy’s shoulder.

  “I don’t think so, missy,” Sandy said, clicking her fingers. “I could be trying on new sexy underwear, and yet I’m here talking to you about your husband.”

  Rose let out a sigh. “I know. I’m sorry.”

  “Honey, Hardy loves you.”

  “He cheated.”

  “A long time ago, and I know it’s no excuse, but this is a little outdated for your outrage. Weren’t you pissed off when it happened?”

  “Of course I was. I was so damn angry, and hurt. I mean, I’ve never been with anyone but him, and yet he’s fucked everyone.” Rose pressed her lips together. “I’m sorry.”

  “What about? I understand where you’re coming from. It’s a little late to be pissed off, but again, I can understand why you are. A lot of women would be pissed. Then the bitch goes and kills herself and the baby. It must have hurt.”

  “Part of me was glad,” Rose said, admitting the truth to Sandy that she’d never admitted to anyone else.

  “Glad?”

  “Yes, I was glad.” Tears filled her eyes, and she tried to wipe away her tears. “What kind of person does that make me?”

  “I take it you were glad the bitch was dead, not the baby.”

  “I wanted the baby, Sandy, but I would have known every single day that she wasn’t mine.”

  “Honey, you’re not a mean person. You wouldn’t ever have hurt that baby. I know what you wanted. You wanted the bitch who had your man, and who could give him a baby when you couldn’t. That I can understand more than Angel’s niceness.” Sandy reached across the table and took her hand.

  “She had been fucking him, and then she was pregnant with his kid.” Rose shrugged. “I guess I was afraid that in time I’d have been pushed aside as a nuisance. Hardy could have a woman like her, and a kid. What need did he have with me?”

  “Is this why you started dressing up for the club, stripping off, showing off your body without anyone touching?” Sandy asked.

  “Yes. A club whore is fair game. I became the next element. I was the temptation that no one was allowed to touch. I thought it would keep him.”

  “It did, it has, and when it comes to Hardy, you’ve got nothing to worry about.”

  “I don’t know.”

  “I’ve known Hardy a long time. I’ve been to most of the club parties, I can promise you, he’s never even looked in another woman’s direction. He loves you, and he’s not going to be stepping out on you anytime soon.”

  “How do you know? How do you have that kind of faith?” Rose asked. She wanted to understand as she wanted that kind of faith. She wanted to trust him again, and to never worry that if she felt like being a couch slob for a day, he would be looking for someone else.

  “From the moment you walked out on him, demanded a divorce, Hardy has been a
shell. He’s hurting, and it’s not because someone took away his favorite toy either. That man loves you. I’ve seen it with my own two eyes.”

  “Yeah, but the club whores haven’t exactly been putting him to the test.”

  “Are you for real? I wouldn’t fuck the married ones. There are some club whores who will. They’d fuck anything in the club, and Hardy has been approached. He just doesn’t want anything to do with them. I promise you. He loves you.”

  Rose ran a hand down her face. “I hate myself right now.”

  “Don’t hate yourself. Learn to trust, and to love him again.”

  “I never fell out of love with him. I wanted to. I wanted to hate him, but I can’t. Does that make me weak? Does that make me a doormat?”

  “No. It makes you strong. You love Hardy, and now you’re making him fight for you. Don’t look at it as being something you’ve got to change. Look at it as being something that you’ve lived through.”

  Rose took a deep breath. “I want to trust him.”

  “Then give him a chance. Make him earn you back. If Hardy loves you the way I think he does, then it doesn’t matter how hard you make it for him, he’s going to come back to you.”

  ****

  Gash was climbing onto his bike when Hardy pulled into the parking lot of The Skulls’ clubhouse. Climbing out, he walked over to the large biker. He’d been out of prison a couple of years now, and seemed to appear like the Hulk at times. The guy was so damn big, huge even. Women would be swooning all over him, but Gash only fucked who he wanted, and punished the women who tried to touch him when he didn’t want.

  Getting sentenced to a rape he didn’t commit would do that to a guy.

  Hardy would have been so pissed if something like that had happened to him.

  “What’s going on?” he asked.

  “I’m heading out for a ride. I need to clear my fucking head.”

  “Want some company?”

  “Yeah, it’s going to be a couple of hours,” Gash said, finally looking up.

  “What’s going to be a couple of hours?” Steven asked, coming out of the clubhouse.