“I don’t have a spare, okay. The one on it now is my spare. I’ve been so busy lately I forgot to replace it.”

Jackal took out his cell phone. “I’ll call a tow truck.”

“Don’t bother!” Penni stepped around Jackal, opening her trunk and reaching into it. She came out holding a can in her hand.

Stepping around Jackal again, she shook the can in her hand several times before crouching down next to her flat tire, pressing the spout to the valve.

“What in the fuck is that?” Max asked Jackal, who stared back at him in confusion.

“Fix-A-Flat.” Penni answered, standing back up and brushing her skirt down. Throwing the empty can into the trunk, she slammed it closed. “Thanks for stopping, but as you can see, I handled it just fine by myself.” She got back inside her car then pulled out into the traffic with an airy wave at them.

Jackal growled.

“Don’t do it,” Max warned, walking back to his bike.

“You don’t even know what I’m thinking.”

“Yes, I do.” Max laughed. “By the way, what was that weird expression on your face when I pulled up?”

Jackal paused, getting on his bike. “I was smiling at her, trying to be friendly and shit. You saw how well that went.”

“Brother, I have a piece of advice.”

“Like I’d take any advice you’d give,” Jackal jeered.

“Who gets more pussy than anyone else in the club?”

Jackal hesitated as he started his bike. “Okay, what’s your advice?” he said between clenched teeth.

“Don’t smile. It’s scary as fuck. The look doesn’t suit you, and it makes you look like a serial killer. If you want that sweet thing, you’re going to have to do a better job than that.”

Chapter 8

Casey stared around the crowded clubhouse. Music was blaring in the background as she watched her mother and stepfather dance. Moving her eyes away from Renee’s flamboyant moves, she saw Max playing pool with Jackal.

She didn’t recognize most of the women, as the men liked to change them frequently, but several faces she did know kept their distance.

“Hi!” Casey smiled at Grace’s friendly greeting. She dropped down in the overstuffed chair next to the one she was sitting in, nearly spilling her drink.

“I saw you dancing with Ice. You’re very good,” Casey complimented her, feeling self-conscious next to the stylish woman. Both of them were wearing jeans and T-shirts, but Grace had a scarf draped around her neck and a pair of boots that Casey wasn’t ashamed to admit she was envious of.

“I love to dance. Unfortunately, Ice doesn’t.” She made a face at her husband, who raised a brow at her as he began to play an undefeated Max.

“CeCe couldn’t make it tonight?” Casey questioned, trying to appear uninterested.

“Her and Max broke up,” Grace told her, frowning at the man in question.

“I’m sorry. Is she very upset that he broke up with her?”

“She broke up with him, actually. CeCe isn’t afraid of a little competition, but at this stage in her life, she wanted more of a commitment than Max wanted to give her. She’s already dating someone new and is very happy.”

“I’m glad. I like her. Max brought her to several of the dinners at the Pizza Shack. She probably broke up with him so she didn’t have to eat there anymore,” Casey joked, and both women burst out laughing.

“What’s so funny?” Their laughter died at Max’s question.

The two women only shook their heads.

“I thought you were playing pool with Ice.” Casey said, trying to change the subject, then wished she had kept her mouth closed. Her words showed she had been watching him.

“I decided I felt too good after beating Jackal to take an ass-whipping from Ice.”

Grace stood up. “I guess I should make sure he has some competition, then.”

“You play pool?” Casey asked in surprise.

“My father taught me. I’m pretty good.” She gave a saccharine smile.

“She’s a pool shark,” Max stated bluntly.

“I wouldn’t go that far.” Grace shook her head at the big man.

“I would. I lost two hundred bucks before I was smart enough to stop.”

“A smart man would have figured it out after the first fifty,” Grace taunted as she left the two alone.

Max took the chair Grace had vacated, relaxing back into the comfort of it. He was in his element, surrounded by his friends and the party atmosphere.

Casey stared around the room, seeing her mother and Mugg had started taking shots. She couldn’t imagine wanting this kind of life for years on end. Grace must really love Ice to want to make a place for herself among the group.

“Mugg is enjoying his new bike,” Max began, twirling the beer he was holding, his eyes not meeting hers. “I’m sorry about mouthing off the night you gave it to him. I shouldn’t have. I was pissed off at myself for not thinking about how much he needed one.”

“He would have been able to buy one himself if it wasn’t for Renee’s spending habits.” They had never discussed the problem of their parents’ marriage, even when they had temporarily separated.

“She’s doing better.”

“Not from the haul I saw in her car the other day.”

“Mugg will get her under control.”

“Then he’ll accomplish what her other husbands couldn’t,” Casey replied grimly. “I shouldn’t have brought up your child support payments, either. I’m sorry. It was none of my business.”

Max tilted his beer to his lips, emptying the bottle. “Want to dance?”

Even when she was younger and had been around countless parties of Renee’s, she had never participated, keeping to herself.

“I’d like that.” Casey stood.

Max’s expression betrayed his shock as he slowly got to his own feet.

Casey moved to the part of the club where several of the members were dancing. It took several seconds for her to loosen up and relax into the music. She saw her mother pause with a shot glass to her lips when she saw her dancing with her stepson. Casey glanced away, and her eyes were caught and held by Max’s. She pasted a smile on her lips.

“Why is everyone surprised I know how to dance?” she quipped.

“Maybe because it’s the first time anyone’s seen you shake that ass other than to stomp off. What’s changed?”

“I’m in the mood to have some fun for a change.” Casey smiled wider, reminding herself not to be too flirtatious, or he would become suspicious.

Max was a good dancer. She had seen him dance several times with the women he was invariably with. Most men his size would be clumsy or self-conscious, but Max was neither. He was sexy, and his size made a woman feel safe until she looked in his eyes and saw the menace he kept carefully hidden.

After a couple of dances, the members gathered to cut the cake that Grace had made for Mugg.

Casey moved to the side as the cake slices were handed out.

“You don’t want a piece?” Max asked.

“No, thanks,” Casey said, watching as Max shook his head at the small slice Grace handed him.