Jackal (Heartlands Motorcycle Club #12)- Frankie Love Page 0,1

and contradictions that break your heart.

I tense my jaw, hating where my mind is going. But that's the thing about me. I'm not exactly the most fun to be around, way too serious for my own good. Maddox knows that. He understands me, even if he doesn't like me being a buzz kill.

I take a drink of the beer, wanting to loosen up, have a good time. "There you go, buddy," Maddox says, clapping me on the back. "Okay, you ready to be my wingman?"

I chuckle at that. Even though I try to keep a straight face all the time, it's impossible not to laugh at this jackass. God, I love him like a brother, but we couldn't be more opposite.

"Sure. I'll be your wingman. Not sure what I can offer, exactly."

"Just talk me up," Maddox says as we walk over to the group of women. "You know, say something nice about me."

"Nice about you?" I laugh harder now. "I don't know about that, Maddox. What's nice about you? You get in bar fights most weekends. Conley threatens to throw you out of the Heartlands because you show up drunk to meetings. And last time I accidentally walked in on you at the mechanic shop, you had two women over your knees. Not exactly dating material."

Maddox laughs. "I know, but maybe Peaches will see through all that and give me a chance."

I shrug. "Maybe."

"And surely one of her friends is to your liking."

I look over at the three women Peaches is with. There's nothing wrong with them, exactly. They seem nice enough, or at least like they like to have a good time, but they're not why I'm here. Neither is Maddox. There's only one reason I came out tonight, and I can't tell a soul.

I swallow hard as I look across the lake at the party in full swing, looking for her. Her. Always her. But before I can find the girl who I can't stop thinking about, we've reached Peaches and her crew. Maddox is introducing himself and me, and I jut out my jaw trying to think of something to say to make Maddox seem like the catch he wants Peaches to believe he is.

“I just got here with my girlfriends,” Peaches is explaining. “But where did Lydia go?”

One of her friends speaks up. “She said she was going to get a drink.”

Satisfied, Peaches turns to Maddox, asking him what he does, but my eyes are roaming the lake, looking for her. Now that I have confirmation she came, I won’t be able to relax until I see her.

"I work at the mechanic shop," he says, "and I know you just got hired at Ride or Die. I thought maybe after work sometime we could get together and hang out.”

Peaches smirks. "Oh yeah, you thought so?" She raises an eyebrow. "And why would I go out with you? I've heard of your reputation."

I clear my throat, knowing this is the time I'm supposed to jump in and say some nice things about my buddy. "Yeah, but Maddox has a real sweet place out on Whiskey Road. You ever been out there?"

Maddox crosses his arms, smiling. He has tattoos on his biceps telling Peaches that he's seen trouble a time or two.

"No, I never have been out there," she says, placing a hand on her hip. "What's it like?"

I look to Maddox and he nods, knowing where this is headed. It's somewhere good.

"Maddox inherited his dad's place. It's real sweet. He's even got an in-ground swimming pool with a slide."

"With a slide?" Peaches says exaggeratedly, rolling her eyes. "Well, in that case..."

"What? That doesn't impress you?" Maddox says. "Come on. It's a pool with a slide. Surely that's got to at least win you over for one date."

"Oh, it's a date now? Earlier you just mentioned we were going to hang out."

I chuckle, knowing these two are good for each other.

"Now tell me," Peaches says. "Does this pool also have a hot tub?"

"As a matter of fact, it does," Maddox says. "And all four of you ladies are welcome to come over. Tonight even."

Peaches and her friends look over at me. "And what about you, Jackal? Are you going to join us?"

I narrow my eyes, shaking my head. "Nah, I have plans."

Her friends look put out. "Really? You have plans?"

"Yeah," I say tightly. “I have plans."

And it's then that I see her. She's standing with a guy I don't recognize, definitely not someone from the club. He's way