Rome's Chance (Reapers MC #6.6)(3)

I jerked my hand out of his, mortified, then turned on Lexi. The little rat smirked. I was going to kill her. Kill her dead. With my bare hands.

As for Rome, he seemed to be biting back a laugh.

“And what kind of options is she keeping open?” he asked.

“All of them,” she responded, snapping her gum. “Consider me her agent. In charge of booking appearances and such. You asking her out?”

“Lexi, shut up!” I hissed. Rome burst out laughing. A real laugh, deep and every bit as sexy as I remembered.

“I was thinking about it,” he said. “Although usually there’s a little small talk first.”

Lexi gave him a slow once-over, biting her lip thoughtfully. “You got a job?”

“Lexi, seriously. You need to stop talking right now,” I told her.

“Yeah, I got a job,” he replied. “And a condo. Not married, no kids. Used to have a beta fish, but it died. Is that a deal breaker?”

“Rome, this is ridiculous. You don’t have to answer—”

He smiled at me, and my words trailed off, because I’d forgotten just how beautiful he was when he smiled. Not that he was classically handsome, not at all. But there was something about him. His eyes were almost… kind.

Which didn’t make sense.

I knew he was in a motorcycle gang—and I was pretty sure that the Reapers were a gang, despite what Tinker insisted—and the guy was clearly a badass.

Yet he’d been gentle with me eight years ago, that was for sure.

Looking back, I could see how easy it would’ve been for him to push, but he hadn’t. Not even when I wanted him to.

“Randi, I’d like to take you out tonight,” he said, the words formal, even while his eyes danced with laughter. “Assuming your agent here will allow it.”

“You can pick her up at seven, and I expect you to take her somewhere nice. Eleven-twenty Maple Street. Unit C. You keep her out past two in the morning and I’m calling the cops. I’m also taking a picture of you and your license plate before you go.”

Rome and I both turned to her, startled by the ferocity in her voice.

“What? I take my job seriously,” Lexi said, rolling her eyes. “Now scoot. She needs time to get ready and we got more stuff to buy.”

With that, she grabbed the condoms from the cart and studied the box carefully. Snorting, she put them back on the rack, and picked out another style. Ribbed, for her pleasure, according to the packaging. Then she caught the cart handle and started pushing it down the aisle, ass wagging in a way that was unmistakably sexy.

“Your sister is trouble,” Rome said, his voice more serious. I glanced up, wondering if I’d find judgment in his face. Everyone else certainly seemed to judge her. Our entire family, actually. But there wasn’t anything ugly in his expression, and he wasn’t staring at her butt, either. He was looking at me, giving me his full attention.

“I know,” I admitted, frowning. “I don’t know what to do about it.”

“She’s getting a reputation. Not a good one.”

“Like you can talk?” I said, taking a step back. Rome shrugged.

“Boy her age can fuck as many girls as he wants, and nobody cares,” he said flatly. “But girls? They get labeled and then they get used. Trust me on that.”

“That’s bullshit.”

“That’s reality,” he countered, holding my gaze. “Not saying it’s right. Just calling it like I see it. She loves you and she’s not afraid to stand up for you. I respect that—respect it enough that I’d hate to see her being passed around my club in a couple years, trailing babies behind her.”

My mouth dropped. “I can’t believe you just said that.”

“I can’t believe you don’t see it coming,” he replied. My eyes narrowed, and while deep down inside I could admit he had a point, I still didn’t like his tone.

“My sister was mistaken,” I said, my voice tight. “I’m busy tonight, and while I’m flattered that you’d ask me out, I’m only in town a few days and there’s no way I could make the time. It was nice seeing you.”

With that, I turned away and started down the aisle after Lexi. I made it about two steps before he blocked me, arms crossed over his chest. I looked back to find middle aged women pushing carts side by side turn toward us, effectively ruling out escape in the other direction.

“Let’s start over,” Rome said. “I shouldn’t have said that and I’m sorry.”

I stared at his chest, trying to decide if I should accept the apology. On the one hand, what he’d said was hateful. On the other, it was true. I’d been thinking it myself. Not that it was fair or right that people might look down on Lexi for the way she dressed and carried herself… That was straight-up misogynist bullshit. But he was right—there were people who would take advantage of the fact that despite her tough act, she was just a kid.

“I accept your apology,” I said, still staring at his chest. He reached out, putting a finger under my chin and slowly pushing it up until our eyes met. His had grown serious but there was still that hint of kindness, mixed with a little heat.

“Then I’ll pick you up at seven, okay?”

“Okay,” I agreed, feeling a small smile steal across my face. I tried to hide it but it was too late. Triumph flared in his eyes, mixed with more heat. My cheeks flushed again. Then he put one big hand on each of my shoulders, leaning down toward me. Was he going to kiss me? I remembered what it felt like to kiss him, and without thinking I licked my lips.