Revolution (The Lone Riders MC Series Book 1) by Michelle Betham Page B

asked, sliding her hands into the back pockets of her shorts.
    ‘Leave him,’ Jesse muttered. ‘He’s being a dick.’
    ‘Tell me something I don’t know,’ she sighed.
    ‘Hey, guys! They’re here!’ Coby yelled from the other end of the compound as he manually hauled open the gate to let the club’s huge black pick-up truck drive through.
    ‘Kel’s home,’ Lexi whispered, a smile spreading across her face. She couldn’t believe how ridiculously excited she felt at seeing him again, after all this time.
    ‘And he is gonna be so pleased to see his favourite girl back where she belongs.’ Jesse smiled, holding out his hand, and she took it, letting him lead her over to the crowd gathered around the truck, watching as Blake and Cain jumped out first before Kel finally made his appearance. And he was just as Lexi remembered him, all big and bold with the same mass of grey hair and that beard that always looked as though it needed some attention. The same friendly, welcoming face.
    She let him say his hellos, let everyone have their reunion, including Jesse, letting go of his hand so he could get to Kel. She didn’t want to make her presence felt straightaway. It didn’t feel right. So she stood back from the group, watching as Kel hugged everybody, and another pang of regret for everything she’d missed, everything she’d messed up, shot through her. This was her family. Paradise was her home. She adored her father – Charlie was her idol, he’d made her who she was, and the eight years she’d spent with the Lone Riders over in England had been full of happy times, despite the fact she’d spent the first couple of years missing Paradise and everything – every one – she’d left behind with a pain so raw she had no idea how she’d lasted so long without running back. Because this was where she belonged. She knew that now.
    ‘Well, who do we have here?’
    She looked up at the sound of his voice – that warm, soft, comforting voice. And she couldn’t help but let the biggest smile take over as she ran towards Kel’s open arms, throwing herself at him, wrapping her legs around his ample waist as he hugged her tight.
    ‘Hey! My favourite girl’s back in town! And, baby, your timing is just perfect! I couldn’t have wished for a better welcome home present.’
    She held on to him, breathing in that same smell they all seemed to share – that smell of beer and cigarettes, and she could also detect a faint hint of weed on Kel, something she suspected he’d smoked in the truck on the way home, courtesy of Blake and Cain.
    ‘How beautiful did you get?’ Kel smiled, putting her down and stroking her hair back off her face. ‘How grown-up you’ve become.’ He didn’t have any idea just how grown-up she’d had to be these past few years. She could barely get her head around it herself. ‘We’re sorry, baby. Okay?’ His voice lowered a touch as he looked into her eyes. ‘For what happened.’
    ‘I know.’ She returned his smile, putting her hand over his, curling her fingers around it, letting him pull her in for a quick kiss.
    ‘All forgotten now, sweetheart. Okay?’
    She nodded.
    ‘Good girl.’ Kel turned around, looking for Jesse who was leaning against his bike, a cigarette in one hand, a beer in the other. ‘We all right there?’
    ‘I don’t know yet,’ she whispered.
    Kel squeezed her hand. ‘You need to talk, you come to me, okay?’
    She smiled again, leaning in to kiss his cheek. ‘Okay.’
    ‘Go on, go enjoy yourself. Get reacquainted with this bunch of losers. That’s what I’m gonna do. I’ll see you later.’
    She watched as he made his way over to Coby, enveloping him in a huge bear hug.
    ‘You know Kel’s gonna want to talk to you, don’t you?’ Jesse said, walking over to her, taking one last drag on his cigarette before throwing it down on the ground, stubbing it out with the heel of his heavy black boot. ‘Make sure you’re really all right.’
    ‘He