CHAPTER THIRTY

Danielle

I squirmed. “That doesn’t scare me,” I said, a little confused.

“What if I never did this again?” Another suck.

I raised my head to look down my body. “Are you saying that if I don’t keep away from Hawk, you won’t ever do that to me again?”

He shrugged and I pushed away from him.

“Babe.”

“You know how we have the nothing rule?” I snapped.

He sighed, but didn’t acknowledge the question.

“We’re also going to have the no withholding rule.”

“I would never actually withhold anything from you, Dani.”

“Then don’t threaten to.” I pulled my knees up to my chin and wrapped my arms around my legs. “If you don’t want me to be best buds with Hawk, then I don’t have a problem with that. I’m on your side. Always. However, I’m an adult and I’m fully capable of making up my own mind on who I choose to associate with, and the bottom line is that his little girl is adorable and sweet, and he is at least part of the reason she’s that way. So, I will be distantly polite to Hawk because I’m Team Booker all the way, but I will never ostracize a little girl because of who her father is.”

He cocked his head. “Team Booker?”

I forced myself not to smile. “All the way.”

He crawled up the bed, tugging my arms from my legs, and settling his chin on my knees. “I’m sorry, baby.”

“Thank you,” I said, and slid my legs apart. “Now, make it up to me.”

He grinned and did as he was told.

***

WE ARRIVED AT the compound earlier than we’d planned. Austin’s sister was apparently on her way and he wanted to see her before Hawk could, which meant we got there before six so Austin could convince her to stay with him.

Austin had gone off with Mack and Hatch, and I was in the kitchen with Susie and a couple of the other ladies, including Hatch’s sister, Cricket, helping with food. I wasn’t there long before a tall, stunningly beautiful Hispanic woman walked in and studied me. She looked a little like Penelope Cruz and she held herself with a confidence I envied. She wore tight, dark jeans, knee-high black motorcycle boots and a black lace cami under a silver blousy top. Her glossy dark hair hung in straight sheets down her back, stopping at her waist, and she had heavy liner and dark red lipstick that worked with her skin coloring.

“Annie!” Cricket exclaimed.

Susie pulled the younger woman in for a motherly hug. “You look hot, girl.”

Annie giggled. “Thanks Suz.”

“Is Bullet with you?” Cricket asked.

Annie shook her head. “Just me.”

“Good for you.”

“You must be Dani,” Annie said, and hugged me. “Booker won’t shut up about you, so I think I’d know you anywhere.”

I blushed. “It’s nice to meet you, finally.”

“Where is my big brother?”

“You didn’t see him when you came in?” I asked.

Annie shook her head.

“Maybe he’s in his room,” I said.

“Let’s go see,” Annie said, and took my arm. “Be back.”

“Take your time,” Susie said.

Annie and I walked upstairs and down the hall to Austin’s room. I knocked and turned the knob… it gave. His door was usually locked, so I figured he must be in there and pushed it open, my stomach turning at what I saw. Tiffany lay on the bed, naked, as though waiting for him.

Annie hissed. “What the fuck are you doin’ here?”

“I’m waiting for Booker. He’ll be here any minute.” Tiffany faced us, her head in her hand, and gave me a smug look. “What are you doing here?”

Tiffany had what most would consider a kickass body. Long legs emphasized her five-foot-eight slender body, and her large breasts, albeit fake, sat perfectly in the middle of her chest mostly because that’s where they were designed to be. She had a belly button ring and was shaved completely… down there. I was reminded that this is what Austin was used to. Not me with my extra weight and my overly large breasts that often got in the way most days. Not to mention my legs that I’d always referred to as tree stumps. I was short. Really short in comparison to Tiff.

I backed out of the room and Annie followed, pulling the door closed with a slam. “You okay?” she asked.

I shook my head and tried to swallow the bile threatening to spill.

“Dani, my brother does not cheat. This can’t be what it looks like.”

“How would she have gotten in there if he hadn’t planned it?” I challenged. “Only a few people have keys.”

Before Annie could respond, heavy footsteps sounded in the hallway.

“There you are. Been lookin’ everywhere for you,” Austin said, and then stopped and frowned. “What’s wrong?”

I blinked back tears and bit my lip.

Austin moved Annie out of the way and squeezed my arms. “Babe. What’s wrong?”

“Your... um,” I swallowed, “whore is waiting for you.”

“What the fuck?”

“Tiff,” Annie said.

He shook his head. “Not following.”

“Tiff is on your bed, naked and ready, Booker.” Annie crossed her arms. “She told us she was waiting for you.”

“What the hell?” Austin snapped. “I’ll deal with this.”

He released me, shoved open his door, and closed it behind him. Annie rolled her eyes and pushed the door open again.

“How the fuck did you get in here?” Austin bellowed.

“Buzz let me in,” Tiffany answered.

“And why the fuck would he let you in my room, Tiff?”

“I told him I was meeting you here.”

“Why would you tell him that?”

“Because I figured you’d be happy about it,” she said.

“Get the fuck out.”

“Baby, I know you miss me,” she purred. “What the hell can that little goody two shoes do for you? She probably doesn’t even know how to give a decent blow job.”

Annie wrapped an arm around my shoulders as I burst into quiet tears. Tiffany was right. I wasn’t enough for Austin.

“You’re a fuckin’ idiot, Tiff,” Austin snapped.

“We could share,” she offered. “I wouldn’t mind. She’s pretty in a Little House on the Prairie kind of way. A little chubby, but still kinda pretty.”

It was like the woman was in my mind, saying out loud every insecurity I’d ever had. Before I could fully break down, Austin was pushing a very naked Tiff out of the room, his hand wrapped around the back of her neck.

“What the hell, Booker?” she squealed, trying to cover herself with her arms.

With his free hand, he pulled out his cell phone and put it to his ear. “Buzz, get the fuck up here. Now!”

It wasn’t long before Buzz was rushing towards us.

“You let this skank in my room?” Austin snapped.

“She said you wanted her to wait for you,” Buzz answered.

“On notice, yeah? If she ever shows her face within a hundred miles of anywhere Dogs related, I will ruin her.”

Tiffany’s face went white. “What?”

“You get me, Buzz?” Austin asked.

“Yeah, Booker. Sorry,” he stammered.

“But, it was just a joke,” Tiffany rushed to say. “I meant it as a joke. Everyone knows you’re with Dani. I wouldn’t have done anything.”

“One fuckin’ night with you and I’ll regret it forever,” Austin said, his face contorted in rage. “It wasn’t even good, but I tried to be respectful anyway. Can’t believe I wasted my time on you when just a few days later I was given someone near perfect.” He still had his hand wrapped around the back of her neck. “You’ve gone through pretty much everyone here, Tiff, so you can head on downstairs and see if there are any other takers before you get the fuck out of here for good.”

“I’m not going down there naked, Booker,” she snapped.

“Why the hell not? You said you’d share. So what makes me so special all of a sudden? You want a threesome so bad, go see if anyone wants to take you up on it. But it’s your last chance, Tiff, so make it count, because I see you anywhere near the club, me, or my woman again, you’ll find out what I’m like when I’m pissed. Got me?”

She nodded and he shoved her away in disgust.

“What about my clothes?” she asked.

“You wanna play the whore, babe, you don’t need clothes.”

I covered my mouth with my hand, both liking the way Austin was standing up for me, but also a little sad at another woman’s humiliation… even if she did bring it on herself.

“Buzz, no one in my room except me or Dani, yeah?” Austin demanded.

“Yeah, Booker. Sorry.”

Austin scowled at Tiff. “What are you waiting for? Fuck off.”

She started down the hall, her head bowed, her countenance very different than it had been a few minutes ago. I stood in stunned silence, Annie’s arm still around me, and watched as Austin stepped back into his room and emerged holding Tiff’s clothes. He shoved them at Buzz and then grabbed my arm and pulled me inside. Annie followed.

He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me against his chest and I couldn’t stop myself from crying into his shirt.

“Baby. It’s okay,” he whispered.

“I thought… I…”

“I know.”

“I’m so sorry. I should have trusted you.”