Bonnie turns from loading up the dishwasher and narrows her eyes at me.
“What?”
“You’re happy she liked it.”
She isn’t asking a question, she is stating it as a fact.
“Of course I am, I didn’t want a wasted trip.”
“That’s not what I meant, you…I don’t know…you like her don’t you?”
Fucking hell! How the hell did she figure that out from one sentence?
“Fuck off Bon, she’s Billy’s business, not mine,” I say defensively.
“From what Alannah tells me, Kristen and Billy weren’t anything to each other.”
“You and Alannah talk too much.”
“We’re women, what do you expect?” she laughs, turning back to finish loading the dishwasher.
The change in Bonnie from when she first came through the door is priceless.
It took a long while for her to come out of herself after everything she went through with her father’s club. She went from quiet and broken to strong and confident. I don’t blame my brother for knocking her up and putting a ring on her finger before the dust settled around them, if I were in his boots I would have done the same.
I have always liked Bonnie. Once she lets you in, you can see that she is funny as well as kind. Anyone on the outside can see Sparky completes her. She can hold her corner and she proved that the night she was forced to take her brother’s life, but rather than retreating when she finds life difficult she sinks into Sparky and he’s all too happy to be her protector.
“What with her staying in town, who knows what will happen?” she smirks.
“Ok, I’m leaving. It’s too early for this shit,” I say, standing to leave.
“What shit?” Sparky asks, walking into the room carrying baby JJ in his arms.
He heads straight for Bonnie and kisses her like they’re the only people in the room.
“Slade likes the new girl in town,” she informs him, pulling away slightly and throwing me to the wolves.
“Is that right?”
“No, it’s not. Like I said, I’m leaving.”
“Hold on, I’ll walk out with you.”
Sparky hands over JJ to Bonnie and follows me outside.
“Thanks again for the food Bon,” I call back.
“You’re welcome. If you want to impress her with food again, just let me know,” she calls back. I can hear the amusement in her voice and I know this isn’t going to be the last I hear of it.
“I’ve been tryin’ to get a hold of Oak but he isn’t pickin’ up my calls. If you see him, can you get him to call me?”
“Sure.”
“Thanks brother…” he’s interrupted by his cell ringing. “It’s Cas,” he informs me.
I hold off leaving until I know if I’m going to be needed. The entire phone call lasts no longer than thirty seconds.
“We need to head to the club, Cas has got word about Ricky and it don’t sound good.”
“I didn’t think it would be,” I sigh.
“I’ll be five minutes then I’ll be behind you,” he says, looking at my truck. “Where’s your bike?”
“It’s at the club, something isn’t running right with it.”
Cas was propping up the bar when I arrived. Sparky walked in twenty minutes later.
“You heard from Oak today?” Cas asks, walking towards the backroom.
“I tried callin’ him this mornin’ but I got his voicemail,” Sparky answered.
“I got a bad feelin’ some bad shit is about to erupt all over us.”
Taking our seats, everyone began piling into the room. Pope was the last one in and commented on Oak’s absence.
“What’s goin’ on Cas?”
“I had Banksy on the phone earlier. Ricky hasn’t been granted bail and he’s sayin’ he’s been set up.”
“By who?” I ask.
“Good fuckin’ question. Business has been good lately. None of us has had any trouble with anyone, who the fuck would be out for Ricky?” Sparky asks.
“I intend to find out. Banksy is goin’ to see him later today, I’ve told him I want to know Ricky’s every movement in the last few weeks when he hasn’t been with any of us. Someone got close enough to plant shit on him and I want to know who.”
Just as I’m about to say I’ll also look into his movements, Oak barges into the room, slamming the door shut behind him.
“Where the fuck have you been brother?” Sparky grunts.
Oak’s clearly pissed and slumps into his seat, throwing a bunch of tickets on the table.
“Fuckin’ bullshit tickets. They had me down the courthouse for over three hours, over twenty-one hundred dollars in fines. Speeding, parking violations and too many others to fuckin’ remember.”
“What were you pulled over for?” I ask.
“That’s the bullshit. They came up behind me out of nowhere. As soon as I was off my bike, they had me face down in the dirt and yellin’ me my rights. Apparently, they had a tip off I was carryin’ a concealed weapon. When they found I had shit on me, they came up with everythin’ and anythin’ they could.”
“Ricky’s been set up, now you. Something’s definitely goin’ on,” Cas mumbles agitatedly. He rubs his chin as he contemplates our next move.
“Okay, everyone keep your eyes open. No one bring any heat to the club and again, don’t be carryin’ anything you’re not licenced for.”
“If that’s it, I need a drink,” Oak grunts.
Nothing is finished but Cas slams the gavel down.
Oak sluggishly drags his old ass out of his chair and the others followed him.
Out in the bar Cas called me over and I followed him into his office.
“What’s goin’ on with Billy’s girl?” he asks, watching me closely.
“Not a lot is going on and she isn’t Billy’s girl. Her name is Kristen.”
Something gnaws deep inside me whenever she is referred to as Billy’s girl.
“How long is she plannin’ on stayin’ in town?”
“Not sure, I don’t think she knows herself,” I tell him.
“I know we’re not hidin’ anything we’ve done, but if she finds out how Billy really died and told the wrong person, well, I don’t need to tell you how much fuckin’ trouble it would bring.”
Anything Cas has asked me to do, I have done. I have never held anything but respect for him, especially as my president. He has led us in a good, stable direction since he took the gavel, but listening to him speak to me as if I am the one who would open my mouth to Kristen fucks me off.
“Brother, you don’t need to tell me nothin’. She sure as shit won’t be finding nothing out from me. I don’t think she disbelieves the car accident. The only reason she’s still here is because she doesn’t have anywhere else to go yet.”
He slowly nods taking in everything I said.
“Okay, are you still good to keep an eye on her? Not only to make sure she don’t hear nothin’ but to generally make sure her and the kid are alright,” he asks.
“Yeah, I’m good. I’ll swing by the motel after I’ve finished my bike.”
I leave shortly after and make my way to the garage. The heat is scorching as I step out of the cool air-conditioned bar. The first image I have is of how Kristen would look in this heat. I guarantee she wouldn’t be wearing a lot and the beads of sweat dripping down her chest I would happily lick dry. I bet she tastes fucking sweet.
Holy shit, I need my bike on the road and on the way to that motel. Fuck an excuse, I need to see her soon with or without some lame ass excuse.
Kristen
The motel’s air-conditioner was on the verge of blowing up. I have already took advantage of Zachery’s two naps today and had cold showers just to cool down.
The sleazy manager was more interested in checking me out than listening to my complaint about the air-con.
“Are you listening to me? I said the AC needs looking at.”
I am too
hot and I’m beginning to lose my patience. To say I feel self-conscious is an understatement. The motel manager, Toby, probably in his late thirties and the creepiest guy I have ever met, is constantly talking to my breasts.
“You know, you’re too good for the likes of that club.”
“I’m sorry?” I ask, surprised by his audacity at poking his nose into my business.
“You seem like a decent girl, you shouldn’t be hanging around with them. I saw him last night, leaving late.”
Is he spying on me?
“They’re trouble, if you have any sense you’ll stay away,” he finishes.
“It’s really none of your God damn business who I speak to. What is your business is the air-conditioning. If it’s not fixed by the time I get back I’ll take my money elsewhere,” I snap.
I’m all out of patience now.
“Come on Zachery, let’s get out of here.”
It’s not until we’re in the car relishing in the cool blast of cold air on our skin that it sinks in what he said. I had guessed they were trouble. My instinct was somewhat calmed after meeting Alannah and spending time with Slade.
My dad always used to say ‘Don’t judge anyone who walks in your door, the exterior almost never reflects the true interior’. I had seen it for myself time and time again in the shop. Clean shaven men wearing their sharp expensive suits coming in to pawn their wives diamonds. You would think they had plenty of money by their appearances, but no, they would argue the price we would give them wasn’t enough.
So far, Slade and Alannah haven’t shown me anything but kindness. There isn’t anything I could say or do that would warrant trouble from them as far as I’m concerned.
Maybe it is time to move on, some place where the weather isn’t so hot and muggy. Miami doesn’t feel like home anymore without my dad there. Maybe I’ll head to my Aunt Helen and see my mom. I know she misses us desperately.
I turn on the ignition and decide to find out what I can about Billy before leaving this town. I don’t need to speak to any of the bikers, only Alannah.
As I drive onto their club ground, it feels like I have entered a different universe. I park in the same spot I did last time I was here and turn the engine off. The shutters to my side are all open this time and guys are working on bikes and cars. With the sun blazing some of the guys are shirtless, the scene before me is ridiculous. Of course I have seen shirtless guys with abs before but this view in front of me was nothing compared to them back home.
By one of the bikes there are two more shirtless guys, one was pure muscles and a colourful picture of ink. I remember seeing him when I first came here. The other guy has his back to me, he isn’t as big muscle wise as the other guy but there is something much hotter about him. The way his muscles move around his shoulders as he flips a bike part from hand to hand in front of him as he listens to what the other guy is saying is memorizing.
Maybe it’s a law around here that you have to have tattoos and have abs straight from a sports magazine. With the air-conditioning on and this view, I didn’t have any intention of moving. If outright leering over hot, half naked guys working on their bikes was trouble, then I will quite happily throw myself straight in the middle of it. Okay, so if a guy’s back is turning me on this much then it’s definitely time to start thinking of my needs.
My illusion of hotness around here was immediately shattered when a guy who must be in his late forties or possibly early fifties with his bare chest out only marginally covered by his cut strolled by. The sight of his beer belly is enough to snap me back to reality and get my ass out of the car.
The sound of my door closing gets the attention of the guys by the bike. I release a sigh of relief when I see one of the guys is Slade. As soon as he sees me, his lop-sided grin breaks free and he jogs over.
I wish I hadn’t released my last breath, the sight of him coming towards me catches me off guard.
My mouth goes dry and I struggle to swallow. I never thought about what he looks like under his clothes, but right now, all I’m able to do is imagine him on top of me with no pants on either.
“Hey, what are you doing here?” he asks.
“I wanted to see Alannah before I leave.”
“You’re leaving? I thought you were undecided?”
“I’m going to go see my mom, stay there for a while until I figure things out,” I smile.
His lop-sided grin disappears.
“If the manager at the motel fixes the air-con in our room, I might be tempted to stay,” I joke, trying to coax his smile back.
“I see,” he frowns, “Would I be able to tempt you to stay?” he asks, stepping a little closer.
I’m thinking hell yes, his body is definitely tempting enough.
“What would you tempt me with?” I flirt and it feels good.
His mouth lifts at the corner into a devilish grin and he closes the space between us and leans into me.
“Everything I have darlin’,” he whispers.
His hot breath hitting my bare neck sends a shiver down to my toes.
Before I can answer he is walking away. I am left standing in place waiting for my body to catch up with my brain and start functioning again. It’s not long before he is walking back with Alannah beside him.
“Hello Kristen,” she smiles.
I feel like a sweaty, hot mess in this heat but Alannah looks like she has stepped fresh out of the shower and cool as ice.
“Hey, I was wondering if you have the afternoon free.”
“Sure, do you want to stay here or go somewhere else?” she asks.
If I want to think straight let alone concentrate on a conversation than I think it will be best if I weren’t around Slade right now.
“Somewhere else. Zachery needs to get out and play.”
“I know just the place, hang on a minute and I’ll be right back.”
Slade doesn’t leave with her. I open the door and he walks around the car to my side.
I can’t be close to him and remain normal. I slide into my seat to wait for Alannah but it is no good, Slade kneels down next to me before I can close the door.
“If you’re not in any rush, you should stick around,” he says, seductively.
What the hell is happening to me? Everything this man is doing is making me hot and it has nothing to do with the sun.
“I’m in no rush,” I find myself saying in a hypnotised tone.
His dark brown eyes are like pools of melted chocolate, when the sun hits them you can see hints of gold in them.
“That’s real good.”
Alannah takes me by surprise when she climbs into the passenger seat. I thought she was going to take her own car.
“Are you ready?” I ask her.
“Yep, let’s go. See you later Slade,” she sings, shooing her hand across me.
He swats her hand away laughing.
“See you later,” he murmurs, but he isn’t speaking to Alannah. He is looking directly at me.
Having his stare solely upon me feels heavy and not entirely in a bad way.
When he stood and walked away I missed his presence.
When I heard Alannah’s breath catch I immediately knew I was about to hear what she thought.
“Don’t say anything,” I warned, “So, where are we going?”
“To my house, I have a huge back yard for Zachery to play in so we can talk while he is safe. If you haven’t noticed Willows Peak isn’t exactly kid friendly.”
“Tell me where to go.”
“Your place is gorgeous,” I compliment her, while full out gawking at her home and garden.
“Thank you. Cas brought it for me a couple of months ago,” she smiles, carrying out a tray of iced tea into the garden.
Zachery is happily off wondering around her garden so I take the opportunity to talk.
“So you’re with Cas?”
“Engaged actually.”
“Congratulations.”
“Thank you. I know
you want to know about Billy but there isn’t much to say,” she says, regretfully.
“To be honest, I don’t know what I want to know,” I blurt out, “Everything has gotten so confusing. I drove halfway across the country to tell someone I only knew a few months that he has a son and then I can’t because he’s dead. Now, it feels like I’m stuck in limbo not knowing what to do next.”
And just like that I am baring my soul to a stranger. All suspicions I previously had have disappeared. I didn’t know Billy so how could I know what was going on in his life at that time.
“I know we don’t know each other that well but if you stay around town then you have us to help out and you never know, you might even get to like some of us more than others?” she smirked playfully.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I ask, already knowing what she’s implying.
“Oh come on, the heat between you and Slade back at the club was off the scale.” She laughs.
“Oh that, that was nothing. He was just being polite and friendly.”
“How long has it been since you had male company?”
I didn’t need any time to think about my answer.
“The last time was when I was with Billy.”
“Oh God, no wonder you were about to combust earlier,” she laughed.
“I’ve been busy with Zachery. I haven’t had time for myself in a long time,” I admit.
“Then please stay, get to know me so I can babysit and you can have some freedom,” she continues, laughing.
I actually like the sound of that, not palming my son off on someone so I can go out but the thought of getting to know someone well enough to share my life with and finally having the time to have a friend.
“I like the sound of that,” I smile.
Before we know it, the time slips away and the day turns to evening. Alannah offers to cook us dinner and I accept. Zachery has been on his best behaviour today and fell asleep in my arms shortly after dinner. He stayed asleep in the car back to the motel and even as I got him out of his seat and into the room.
After I was showered and about to climb into bed, I noticed the air-conditioning was in good working order again.
Did the manager actually fix it after my earlier complaint or did Slade have something to do with it?