Viper winced for him. “I hope you’re exaggerating.”
“Not by my much. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to have children after I went up the steps.”
“You should have used the back entrance.”
“I remembered it too late.”
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Arin and Jewell listening to their conversation.
“When did you remember?”
“The first step.”
“Why didn’t you go back and walk that way then?”
“I figured, if it hurt that bad going up, it would castrate me going backward.”
Was he imagining it or was there a small thawing in Arin’s and Jewell’s expressions?
“Have you heard the storm warning for this afternoon?”
“Core told me.”
“You going to stay or take your chances with the weather?”
Feeling Jewell’s threatening glare on him, Hennessy targeted her back with his impassive one.
“I wanted to try and get ahead of the storm, but Core told me his ass is frostbitten. If it’s cool with you, we may need to stay a few days for him to recuperate.”
He had planned to rest up today, despite Jewell’s warning. He wasn’t drunk still, and he’d given the bitches their free shots. If they came at him again, however, they would get more than they bargained for.
Besides not wanting to give the vindictive bitches what they wanted, he wasn’t as anxious to leave as he had been before he had stepped into The Last Riders’ club. Dark brown eyes had him reassessing the situation.
It wasn’t a change of heart, Hennessy told himself; it was a more of a curiosity than anything else.
“You and Core are welcome to stay as long as you want. If you want to earn some cash, the married brothers could use the time off from the factory to spend with their families before Christmas. I was going to call the temp agency this afternoon.”
“I’ll ask Core. We have that Florida job in January. We were going to spend Christmas there, but we’ll talk it over and see what he wants to do,” Hennessy said as Shade took a seat with them.
“Let me know what you decide. I’d be willing to pay extra for you and Core to work. I’d rather not have any new employees around the club during the holidays. You’ve worked there before, so we wouldn’t have to spend any time training you.”
The money wasn’t the temptation that was starting to sway his mind. It was the curvy cutie with a button nose that had his ass wanting to stay.
Noticing the women had fixed themselves a plate and had gone into the dining room, he fished for the deciding factor that would prompt him into staying.
“The club seems packed full; Core and I wouldn’t want to impose.” If Winter wasn’t sitting at the table, he would come out and ask what he wanted to know instead of beating around the bush for the information.
“Several of the brothers are here to become full members,” Viper explained.
“Do I get to watch?”
“Not unless you want to become a Last Rider, then you get a front-row seat.”
Hennessy shook his head. “No, thanks. I prefer the Road Kingz.”
“Figured. If there’s anything we can do to change your mind, the offer is always open. You would be an asset to The Last Riders.”
“I’m more of a leader than a follower, but you know, anytime you need the Road Kingz to take your back, we’ll be there.” Hennessy reached out, and the men shook hands again, sealing a bond between the two clubs.
“How many are trying to become full members?”
“Six.”
“How many have you chosen to take on?” Hennessy asked curiously.
“Only one.”
“Which one?”
“Jack.”
“Jack? I haven’t met him yet.”
“He’s the blond heading toward the dining room.”
The man had long hair and black tattoos going up his arms and neck. He was taller but half of Viper’s size.
“That shouldn’t take long.”
“Don’t be taken in by his good looks. He got his nickname because the brothers watched him fight. They say he can jack you up so fast you won’t know what hit you.”
Hennessy changed the subject at Winter’s concerned expression. “More women here than I remember.”
A knowing glint appeared in Viper’s eyes. “We closed the Ohio factory in December. Most of the members there have families they go visit—those who don’t, come here to spend the holidays. Jewell also has a friend visiting. I heard you met her last night.”
“I did. I got off on the wrong foot with her.”
“I heard it wasn’t your feet that you were having trouble with.”
Winter’s voice, laden with humor, had Hennessy giving his own account.
“We are riding low on funds, so we didn’t have money for a hotel room. I hadn’t slept for three nights, my motorcycle was an ice cube, and by the time we got here, I was, too. Then I did the worse thing I could do when we got here—I got drunk off my ass instead of taking a hot shower. I didn’t represent myself in the best light.”