His Young Queen: (Steel Jackals MC #1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

made a familiar chime that warmed her right down to her toes.
    “What did he say?”
    “Nothing.”
    She rolled her eyes. “He said some thing. I’m standing right here, Josh. I know he answered you.”
    “And I have to report to you the private conversation I just had with my VP, why…?”
    She balked. Oops. Overstep much? Dropping her arms, she made to move in his direction to apologize but paused when he stiffened, bracing as if to bolt. She stayed where she was.
    “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it as a demand. I was curious to know if he mentioned anything to my mom, but I wasn’t until you put the thought in my head.” The blame was his, and she laid it at his feet.
    She was almost positive she saw his lip twitch. “Well, get it out of there again and forget it happened.”
    “Nothing did happen, though.”
    “Good. Then you shouldn’t have any trouble doing as you’re told.”
    Wow. So bossy. Why did she love that so much?
    They were quiet for a few moments, and she wondered if maybe his skittishness was simply him getting used to being around people again after having been in jail for so long.
    Or more likely, he’d been cooped up with hundreds of other men and probably wanted his space now. She could understand that.
    She changed the subject to prove she was indeed capable of doing as she was told. “So, they let you out early. That’s pretty amazing. I’m so grateful.”
    He was glowering at her. Because he hated her? Maybe his abrasive attitude was actually about her being Rachel’s daughter. The woman had stolen three years of his life.
    “Er, Josh?” She nibbled on her lip, not sure what to say now that she finally had the opportunity to offer an apology. Years too late, perhaps, but she would offer it anyway. “Because they never let me speak to you alone, but even if they had, Nick would have been there, I guess.” She swallowed around the nerves swirling through her belly. “I’m sure he’s already done this, and I know it’s much too late, but, I’m so, so sorry for what my mom did to you. I’m so sorry it was you who went to that awful place and not her. And, I’ll, uh, understand if your animosity towards her extends to me.” But please don’t let it , she prayed.
    He finally looked away and swung his gaze around the kitchen. He prowled over, his boots thudding, to peer down at her school and work schedules stuck to the fridge with magnets. His forehead wrinkled briefly when he saw the grouping of photographs in the one corner. They were of him. All of them. “Apologies are pointless, Tish. Especially when the one making them is as innocent of the sitch as I was. And to be clear, the last thing I’m feeling toward you at this moment is animosity.” He straightened and motioned to the papers. “When do you live your goddamn life? Going by this, all you do in your spare time is jam in a few hours of sleep.”
    Seemed she’d stressed for nothing over how to say she was sorry. He genuinely appeared not to care. “I don’t have much of a social life, and Nina and the girls come to see me at the bar all the time. We all go out the odd night.” She shrugged. “I don’t need much more than that.” Except for you.
    “Uh-huh.” He gave her body a cursory glance before turning to grab the electric kettle off the counter. He stomped over to the sink. “You still drink tea?” Before she could answer, he went on. “Why don’t you get some fuckin’ clothes on and I’ll make you a cup? What time is your first class tomorrow?”
    Her teeth ground together just a little. Maybe he was bitchy because he was…fuck, she didn’t know. Tired? Maybe he needed to veg for a while. She tore her eyes away from his broad back that displayed his cut so well. Steel Jackals was loud and proud, and Tish wanted to touch it. She wanted to touch him.
    She looked down at her shorts and T-shirt again. “I’m dressed all right, and it’s Friday,” she said distractedly. “We can catch up all