His brows lower. “What? No, these guys were just hungry, and I’d been bragging about your cooking.”
Some of my anger evaporates.
Some.
“Well, I’ll happily feed all of you, but I’m not moving to the clubhouse,” I tell the lot of them, then turn my back and check on the chicken in the oven. When I close the oven and turn around, I come face-to-face with Sin. He’s a handsome man, nicely built with dark hair and eyes that see through you.
“You’re staying with us for a couple of days, and that is that,” he says, looking down at me. “We got some club business going on and I need Rake’s head in the game, not worrying about where his mouthy little sister is, you got me?”
I open my mouth, but then snap it shut. Rake had warned me about this—I needed to respect his president. I didn’t really respect him, because he’d done nothing to earn it from me, but I could fake it.
“A couple of days,” I grit out in reply, swallowing my pride. If I hear the words club business again I am going to stab someone.
Sin’s eyes soften. “Good. Faye will be there; she’ll take care of you.”
Faye and I don’t even know each other.
This was going to be awkward.
EIGHT
DINNER was a huge success, and the four of them cleaned their plates. Arrow was quiet throughout the meal, answering only when spoken to. I pretended he wasn’t there and eventually relaxed and enjoyed myself. I start to clean up and surprisingly, they all help. Even Sin—looks like Faye trained him right.
“Thanks for dinner,” Arrow says, coming to stand next to me.
“You’re welcome,” I reply, keeping my tone even.
“Even better than Mom’s, sis,” Rake tells me, coming behind me and wrapping his arms around me. I swallow hard at his casual affection, after wanting it for so long and finally getting it. The kisses on the forehead started a few weeks ago, and now this.
Progress.
“Thanks, Adam,” I say quietly. “I’m glad you enjoyed it.”
“I more than enjoyed it,” he says, then looks next to me at Arrow. “We should get back. Jill must be waiting for you at the clubhouse.”
Jill?
Who the hell is Jill?
I look at Arrow, who cringes slightly and rubs the back of his head. Oh, right, my woe-is-me eyes. I avert my gaze, not wanting him to feel guilty. He isn’t mine, and he can be with whomever he wants, even this Jill. I hate that she has a name, and that I now know it, but it isn’t his fault I’m stupid and can’t seem to stop myself from wanting him. I don’t even know him. I think I’ve been reading one too many romance novels.
“Jill does what she wants,” Arrow mumbles. “She isn’t mine.”
Rake chuckles. “I heard you were keeping her busy.”
“Is this what I’m going to have to listen to when I stay at the clubhouse? If so, I’d rather take my chances here,” I say, regretting it as soon as I say it.
Great, let him see just how much it affects you.
“Calm down,” Rake tells me. “It’ll be fun, I promise.”
“Define fun,” I say. “You guys get to fuck and drink and screw around; I don’t get to do any of those things.”
Rake clears his throat, suddenly looking extremely uncomfortable. “You can drink.”
I spin around and shoot him a glare. “Thank you for your permission.”
He frowns. “What is this really about, Anna?”
I throw my hands in the air. I can’t say what this is really about, which is the fact that I am angry and hurt over the fact I have just heard that Arrow has someone and that I am going to have to face this woman. I am jealous, and the thought of Arrow with another woman is killing me. Burning me from the inside out.
“I have no freedom,” I tell him.
Which is also true, but I am overreacting and I know it.
Sin looks to Rake. “I went through this with Faye. Give her a little space, brother. I know you want to protect her, and we all will, but she’s young and needs to live a little too.”
I smile gratefully at my unlikely savior. “Thank you, Sin.” He just earned my respect.
“You have freedom,” Rake says, looking between Sin and me.
“Really?”
“Yeah,” he replies. “You go to school and do your thing. I’m not with you all the time.”
“College is my freedom?” I ask in a dry tone. “What about with men?”
Tension fills the room.
“Like I said, I’m not around you all the time. You have freedom.”
“No, I don’t. I can’t even have a boyfriend who I don’t have to hide.”
Three voices come at me, speaking over one another. “Who the fuck are you seeing?”
“What boyfriend?”
“The fuck?”
“See?” I yell. “Do you see what I have to deal with?”
Rake sighs heavily and scrubs a hand down his face. I notice his knuckles are busted up again. “You’re my sister, I can’t even think about you—”
“Fucking?” I add dryly.
He grimaces. “Yes, that.”
“Well, I’m your sister and I don’t want to know about you being into bondage and shit, but I still hear it around, don’t I? And I’m alive.”
“No men are allowed in the clubhouse unless they’re a brother,” Sin says as he grabs another beer from the fridge.