Gio (Steel Demons MC #6)

Chapter 7

Harper

“I still don’t get why you have to go as my date?” The sixteen-year-old girl inside of me screamed in defiance, wanting to know why in the hell I was questioning this good fortune. Back then, all I wanted was to go out with Gio who’d never given me the time of day. But the reality was that my sixteen-year-old self was a hormonal idiot and didn’t realize that this was all fake. Sure, the suit was real, and he looked damn good in every cut and color of suit we tried on, but I refused to let myself get wrapped up in a man that I couldn’t have and who probably still saw me as a kid.

“Because,” he began, catching my gaze in the three-way mirror where he tried on a dark blue suit that looked good. Too good.

“Oh, because? Great answer. I accept it,” I answered, heavy on the sarcasm.

“Because I need to stick as close to you as possible and a madly in love, possessive boyfriend is the most believable.”

See? Fake. This fake date was why we were shopping together, like a happy couple. “Do you even know how to be a madly in love boyfriend?”

Gio turned to face me with a wolfish smile. Step-by-step he drew closer to me and laid his hands on my shoulders, so close I could see the whirlpool of gold that circled the green and brown flecks in his eyes. His full lips had me mesmerized, hell the whole damn package was mesmerizing. “You’re a beautiful woman with a killer body and I happen to think you’re pretty fucking fantastic. Not much pretending to do.” He took a step back and spread his arms wide. “So what do you think?”

I think he looked hot as hell. The blue designer suit was made for his perfectly built body, lots of muscle but the lean, wiry kind. His tattoos were visible at the neck and throat, and it was too damn sexy for words. “You’ll do,” I told him and laid my hands on the black lapels, ignoring the way his pecs danced under my palm. My body was overheated, and I felt the moisture dampen my panties. I needed an hour or two alone with my vibrator which was back in California. An oversight on my part. “Yep, you’ll do nicely.”

He wrapped an arm around me and pulled me flush against his hard chest and harder abs. “Just nicely? I don’t do anything nice, Harper.”

“That’s too bad because nice is kind of my thing.”

“Bullshit,” he whispered. “How about you tell me all about this nice thing over a meal while they tailor this monkey suit for me?”

“Sounds good.” I wasn’t sure extra time with Gio was wise. Chances were good it would only revive my teenage crush, and I couldn’t handle that. Not now. Not ever.

“Perfect.” Gio leaned in close, and I heard the smile in his voice when he spoke. “I’ll go change. Want to come enjoy the show?”

Yes, please. I just knew he looked damn good in nothing but a pair of snug boxer briefs. “No thanks.”

“Liar.” He wore a smile, and his laughter sounded as he headed back to the dressing room.

“Food,” I mumbled to myself. “All I want is food.” Food and nothing else. No big, sexy, tattooed bikers that I used to pine after in my teenage years.

I stared out the shop window and watched all the people passing by, laughing and smiling, holding hands. Some walked with a purpose, and some seemed angry at the world. The main difference between them and me was that they could be oblivious. They could afford to be a little bit careless or reckless. I couldn’t just step outside to get a fresh breath of air because life was unfair and ridiculous, and it was all mine.

“What are you thinking about?” Gio’s voice startled me and when I turned, he was so close that my breasts brushed against his chest sending electric shocks from my nipples right down to my clit.

I swallowed a moan and blinked away my embarrassment. “Just that things are all screwed up now. You take for granted things like being able to step outside to get fresh air.”

Sympathy flashed in his eyes and a small smile lit up his face. “Come on, I’ll get you an extra dose of that fresh air and you can tell me all about your fancy life in California.”

“Fancy?” I rolled my eyes. “It’s hardly fancy but I live in Santa Barbara in a small one-bedroom apartment. It’s about two miles from the beach not that I have any free time to go, but every week I promise myself to get there.” The job kept me too busy to make use of my bathing suit, beach towel and sun hat.

“That’s sad,” he said. “So close to the beach but you never dip your toes in the water.”

We walked along the sidewalk chatting for a bit until Gio pointed to a steakhouse, “Sound good to ya?”

“Sure,” I said.

We went inside where we were seated immediately, I couldn’t help but notice the way the hostess’s eyes looked him up and down. Gio had that effect on women. Once we we’d gotten comfortable and ordered drinks, he turned to me and said, “Do you love your job that much? I mean you’re risking your life going to this damn gala.”

“Yes, I love it, but it’s also incredibly demanding. People spend a lot of money on events, and they are often for a good cause. I deal with high-strung people who are incredibly demanding which means long hours, double, and triple-checking everything.”

“Pretty sure if you love something it isn’t a yes, but kind of thing.” He smiled and turned his attention to the menu. “Appetizer?”

“Might as well indulge.” If those bikers killed me, I’d hate to have skipped out on the crab cakes. “Tell me Gio, how is my brother?”

“He’s good. Thriving after the Army and in the club. But I think he’s itching for a woman to settle down with.”

I laughed at that. “There are women everywhere in your club, it shouldn’t be too hard.”

“Wrong.” His eyes sparkled as he leaned in close like he was telling me some big secret. “There’s ass everywhere. If you want a good fuck, an easy fuck? That’s everywhere. The only real women around the MC are with our brothers.”

It should’ve been a turn off to hear him talk about women that way, but I appreciated his honesty. “Are you seeing anybody?”

“Nope. You?”

I wanted to ask more but I shook my head. “Nope. No time or desire.”

“Bad relationship?” His voice softened and that made me open up more than I otherwise would have.

“Terrible. He got angry about six months in and sent a backhand flying at my cheek. I left about sixty seconds after that, and I never looked back.” And I’d been gun shy about men ever since.

“What’s his name? Where does he live?” Gio’s jaw clenched tight. “Actually just give me his name, Slate can find the rest.”

I threw my head back and laughed, having a good time with him despite the constant fear that thrummed in my chest. “Are you gonna beat him up?”

His smile slipped into that serious tone that was lethal and hot. “If he’s lucky all he’ll get as a beating.”

Whoa. “That’s violent but oddly sweet and comforting.”

Gio wiggled his brows, a playful smile on his face. “Thanks.”

“I appreciate you coming through for me like this, Gio. I’m sure it screws up your personal life so, thanks. Even if you are bossy as hell about it.”

He laughed at that. “I’ll always come through for you Harper.”

Of course he would. “Because I’m like a sister to you?”

“No,” he sighed and fell back against the booth, taking a long pull from his beer even though his gaze never left my face. It was dark and dirty, and it made me feel funny. “I definitely don’t think of you like a sister, but I do give a fuck about what happens to you. Nobody gets to threaten you while I have breath to do something about it.” He shrugged. “And I promised Cole,” he added as if he realized he said too much.

I allowed it because I wasn’t sure what to think about that admission. Not a sister. It shouldn’t have filled me with relief.

Damn him.