“Anna, thanks, but you know I couldn’t accept that,” she replies quietly. “I have some money saved away, you don’t need to worry about me anymore.”
“I know.” I sigh. “But I’m always here, no matter what you need.”
Considering Rake’s money was sitting in my bank because I was too stubborn to use someone else’s money, I could see where she was coming from. However, my circumstances were a little different than hers; I had only myself to worry about and a brother who would give me the world.
The music chooses that moment to turn on, Sam Smith playing through the car.
“See, Ronald is good to us sometimes,” I say, making her smile.
“He has his moments.”
* * *
After my second smashed glass, I hear Reid mutter something about a “clumsy scientist.” His twin Ryan, on the other hand, laughs and tells me not to worry about it. Ryan is easy to be around, and extremely laid-back. Reid is kind of grumpy, and a little scary. I was told that he’s a badass MMA fighter, which is why no one messes with him.
Summer arrives and takes over my training, thank God. Reid was getting on my last nerve.
“It gets pretty busy on the weekends,” Summer is saying. “Will you be able to work Saturday nights?”
“Yeah, no problem,” I tell her. “What other days will you need me?”
She tilts her head to the side, thinking. “Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays would be perfect. We have a girl who does Friday nights now, so that’s covered.”
“Those days work fine for me,” I reply.
She nods, then smiles. “I think we’re going to get along just fine, Anna.”
“Thanks for giving me the job, I know he isn’t so thrilled,” I say, nodding my head toward Reid, who is scowling in my direction.
Summer laughs. “Actually the reason he didn’t want to hire you was . . .”
She glances at Reid, then back at me, and lowers her voice.
“Summer,” Reid calls, walking over and kissing her on her brow. “I’m sure Anna has work to do.”
I cross my arms over my chest and stare him in the eye, not backing down. “Why didn’t you want to hire me? Tell me the truth.”
He raises an eyebrow. “A bit bold for a woman who just got hired thirty seconds ago.”
He is right, but I still want to know what the hell is going on. I decide to goad him. “Fine, I guess you’re scared.”
“Of what?” he growls.
I shrug nonchalantly. “Of whatever you won’t tell me.”
He grits his teeth. “You don’t know who I am, do you?”
Is he famous or something? I have no idea who he is except for extremely hot and even more rude.
I bite my bottom lip. “No, but if I had a woman as hot as Summer in my bed I’d be a lot less grumpy.”
Summer bursts out laughing.
Reid, on the other hand, sighs and rubs his chin. “I know who you are, that’s why. You’re trouble.”
“And who am I?” I ask, confused. “I’m not trouble. I’m an upstanding citizen and a well-educated woman.”
I hear Summer’s laughter but ignore it.
“You belong to the Wind Dragons; don’t play dumb,” Reid replies, crossing his arms over his impressive chest.
My mouth drops open. “I don’t belong to anyone, thank you very fucking much.”
He studies me, looking amused. “Babe, you may as well have ‘Property of Wind Dragons MC’ tattooed on your forehead. Anyway, I wanted to ask them if they were cool with you working here, but they haven’t been in in a while.”
“You know them?” I ask, my eyes widening.
Fucking hell.
This city is too small.
“’Course I do,” he says without smugness, just pure fact. Reid obviously knows a lot of people.
“It’s a job, why would they have a problem with it? They don’t own me.”
Assholes.
Reid chuckles deeply. “You don’t know how the club works, do you? It’s a bar. You’re a beautiful woman. Do the math.”
I narrow my eyes, ignoring his compliment. “Summer works here; she’s hot.”
His lip twitches. “No one will touch Summer.”
I roll my eyes and look at Summer, who is grinning. “And no one will touch me either, even if I don’t have a scary fighter for a boyfriend. Let me worry about me.”
I’ve been doing it for so long anyway.
“They’re a possessive bunch, Anna; you know it and I know it. To be honest, I didn’t want the drama, but Summer said she wanted you to work here, which is why you’re standing here right now.”
“But this isn’t fair. I need a job, and just because my brother is a Wind Dragons member doesn’t mean I should be discriminated against.”
Reid shrugs. “Just being honest with you like you asked.”
I sigh. “Yeah, you’re right.”
“Once word gets out who you belong to, I think the men will stay away anyway. I just don’t want anyone trying to get at you to make the club angry.”
“What do you mean?” I ask, frowning.
“Let’s say someone wants to start shit with the club; they know that if they go near you it would accomplish just that,” he explains. “I didn’t want that drama in my bar, because then it becomes my problem.”
I rub my temple, a headache starting to appear. “I’m just going to serve drinks and not worry about things I have nothing to do with.”