Jerk: Delinquent Rebels MC Read Free Page A

Denny and John tried to swing from the chandelier?”
     
    Her breath caught in her throat at the mere sight of Van Palmer stalking toward her from across the foyer. Men were certainly like fine wine: they got better with age, and Van was no exception. While he’d been a rather handsome teenager, he’d morphed into a drop-dead-sexy adult. His eyes, one of her favorite features back in the day, radiated smugness as he approached, the familiar emerald hue making her knees weak. A strong jaw, cheekbones that could cut glass, tousled almond waves of hair—he belonged on the cover of Vogue, not… whatever he was doing these days.
     
    His smart button-up and crisp jeans didn’t help any; they defined his toned body nicely. She found herself tilting her head back to maintain eye contact, knowing he’d tower over her as soon as he stood in front of her. After all, he practically dwarfed her mom when he stooped down to kiss her cheek, which brought a flush to April’s face. Clearing her throat, she looked away.
     
    “Ah, you were one of those teens, were you?” James chuckled, patting my arm. “I hope you didn’t break anything while you were here.”
     
    “No, I was very careful,” she remarked, too thrown by Van’s sudden appearance to come up with anything charming or witty. After he’d greeted her mom, Van set his sights on her, and the nearer he came, the harder her heart pounded. With no escape, April forced yet another smile and held out her hand, stopping him an arm’s length from her body.
     
    Unlike his father’s smooth grip, Van’s hands were worn, worked over, perhaps even a little calloused. Strange, given the lavish lifestyle James’s business had afforded him. Back in high school, he was the kind of guy who smoked in the staff parking lot and got drunk at theater productions—not exactly the type to get his hands dirty. But then again, that was the Palmer way if their reputation had any truth to it.
     
    “Good to see you again, Van,” she said, proud that she kept her voice even and firm. They both pumped their arms up and down slowly, hands clasped for a little too long. He smirked, a hint of a dimple appearing on his cheek.
     
    “You too, April.” He moved in closer, her arm no longer a buffer. “Funny thing, our parents getting together.”
     
    “Yeah. Crazy.” April tried to subtly retract her hand, only to find his grip tighten. She swallowed thickly before musing, “Quite the handshake you have there.”
     
    “I almost don’t want to let go,” he admitted, eyebrows quirking up. “As I recall, you were something of a runner back in the day. Don’t want you to bolt again.”
     
    Flushing furiously, she yanked her hand away and stepped around him, not before catching him chuckle under his breath.
     
    “Why don’t you give us a tour, James?” her mom suggested after April shot her an irritated look. The woman took April by the arm and walked her into the house. “Maybe get a drink as well.”
     
    “Make it a double,” April grumbled, shooting a glare over her shoulder at a smirking Van. This… was going to be a long day.
     
    ***
     
    April pushed open the door of the resort, gasping for the cool spring air. It filled her lungs, calming her, soothing away her frustrations. The sun was on the verge of setting, but she had been ready to call it a day since noon. Unfortunately, her day hadn’t ended at noon; no, it had dragged on well into the evening, landing her at the lakeside resort where James had chosen to host their “family” dinner. Why they needed to have more than one meal together was beyond her, but she’d hoped Van would politely decline the invite. Maybe he’d have to work or… oh, ride his motorcycle around an elementary school or something.
     
    Instead, Van stuck by the group for the whole day. If she could help it, April did her best not to make eye contact. She purposefully chose to sit across from him in all circumstances, refusing to give him