Riding Hard (Hell Ryders MC Book 4)

by J. L. Sheppard

  He went about that by blurting, “What the fuck are you doing here?”

  He hadn’t meant to yell, but he walked in, and she stood there looking perfect, talking to Dash, his VP, covered in tats who banged a series of taps every night.

  She flinched then sluggishly turned toward him and arched a brow. “I’m at a mechanic shop. What do you think I’m doing here?”

  Yeah, stupid question. Again, he hadn’t been thinking, or he had but just about getting her away from his brothers.

  “You’re having car problems?”

  Her pretty, blue eyes narrowed. “That’s why I’m here.”

  “What’s the problem?”

  “I don’t know. That’s why I’m here.”

  “Could take a while. I’ll drive you home.”

  Her brows drew together. “I don’t need a ride home. I can wait here—”

  He advanced closing the distance between them quickly, glaring at Dash as he did. “Yeah, you need a ride. I’ll take you home.”

  “I said—”

  He met her stare, grasped her elbow, tugged her out of the office, and across the lot to his SUV. Opening the passenger side door, he helped her in all the while she protested. On the driver’s side, he jumped in, turned on the ignition, pulled out of his parking spot, and drove in silence for two seconds.

  “I can’t believe you did that. I can’t believe you’re doing this.”

  He spared a glance at her. She sat stiffly with her bag on her lap staring daggers straight ahead. Her mouth in a pout, and her arms crossed over her chest. Maybe she had reason to be pissed. He hadn’t been smooth. It wasn’t his thing, but she was smart and should’ve figured he’d done what he had for her own good.

  “I fuckin’ saved you. The least you could do is thank me.”

  She turned toward him. “Saved me? From what?”

  “From my brothers.”

  “You’re what?”

  He came to a stop at a red light and shifted her way. “My brothers. The club.”

  Eyes widening, she stilled. In a small voice, she asked, “What were they going to do to me?”

  “Hit on you.”

  She dropped her gaze from his and exhaled.

  What had she thought they’d do to her besides hit on her? The club was clean. His brothers were rowdy, and the ones who weren’t attached were always looking for women to fuck, but that was as far as it went.

  She tilted her head to the side. “Why would—”

  Shit. She’d just offended him and hadn’t realized it. Something else she didn’t understand—how fucking perfect she was. Fucked, so fucked. A woman like her should know. Every man she’d dated should’ve made it clear. It made him think her man wasn’t just a douche but an idiot who took her for granted.

  His eyes hardened. “You gotta mirror, babe?”

  She lifted a brow. “Why do you need a mirror?”

  She was intelligent, a teacher for fuck’s sake, and half the time she was home, she sat on her beat-up porch swing reading. But he now knew she could be dense.

  Hilarious, he had to fight not to laugh. She wouldn’t find it funny. In fact, he’d bet it’d piss her off, and she wasn’t pleased with him to begin with.

  “Lex, you gotta mirror at home?”

  Her eyes narrowed. “Why are you changing the subject?”

  He looked forward. The light turned green, so he lifted his foot from the brake and hit the gas. “Answer the fuckin’ question.”

  “Don’t curse at me.”

  Shaking his head, he released a loaded breath. “Answer the question, please.”

  “Yes, I have a mirror at home. Now, would you like to know how many?” Sarcasm dripped her tone.

  Damn, she was funny, fucking hysterical. He’d never met a woman who made him laugh, another reason she was perfect.

  This time, he couldn’t hold back a chuckle. “Naw, I want to know if you look in those mirrors, ever?”

  “Of course. How do you think I apply makeup?”

  He spared a glance at her. “Then I don’t have to explain why I needed to save you from my brothers, right?”

  Her eyes widened. Then her brows drew together. “You’re saying they find me attractive?”

  Bingo.

  Coming to another red light, he stopped and looked at her. “I’m saying a man would have to be blind and stupid not to find you attractive.”

  Her jaw dropped. She faced forward, straightening in her seat.

  He shouldn’t have said that. Granted, he also should’ve because if a woman like her didn’t know, she should.

  She didn’t respond.

  He didn’t say anything either. He looked forward and stared at the light, willing it to turn. When the silence became uncomfortable, he changed the subject. “I’ll let you know what’s wrong with your car. Does Em have your number?”

  “Yes.”

  He pulled up to her house, parked, and unbuckled his seat belt.

  “What’re you doing?”

  He turned to her. “Walking you to your door.”

  She lifted a brow. “You’re walking me to my door?”

  “Yeah. A man drops a woman off, he walks her to her door, makes sure she gets in, and locks the door behind her.”

  For some fucked reason, he was rewarded then, the kind of reward that proved God remembered his name. To him, it happened a lot. Having Cullen was a reward every day.

  She laughed loud, and he got to watch—her strawberry hair around her smiling face, sounding flawless, looking gorgeous. A beautiful laugh, another thing perfect about her.

  Even having no idea what she found amusing, he couldn’t help but chuckle.

  “You’re funny.”

  He wanted to ask what made her laugh.

  He wanted to tell her he liked he’d made her laugh.

  He didn’t share any of that.

  Instead, he climbed out of his SUV, walked her to her door, made sure she locked it, and headed back to work.

  Chapter Six

  Lex had hallucinated that whole conversation. Days later, she still couldn’t believe it.

  After she took her car to the mechanic shop that also happened to be where Dodge worked, he saw her and so eloquently asked her, “What the fuck are you doing here?” Then he dragged her out and drove her home. Per his explanation, he did it to save her from getting hit on by his brothers. Then he said something she could, to that day, swear she’d imagined. He said, “I’m saying a man would have to be blind and stupid not to find you attractive.”

  Implying he’d found her attractive? Either that or he’d called himself blind and stupid. Her heart nearly popped out of her chest. Shocking, so she hadn’t said anything. When it settled, no denying she’d been flattered and thrilled.

  After driving her home, he insisted on walking her to her door like a gentleman. The concept, an ancient one, and not a quality she looked for in a man because no one ever did it anymore.

  She’d started dating at sixteen and never had a man walked her to her door unless, of course, he thought he’d get a kiss or inside. Finally, she found a man who went the extra mile and expected nothing in return, who also happened to be the most attractive man she’d ever met, and he was a conundrum.

  When they’d met, he’d looked at her like she repulsed him, and he’d not so nicely told her to butt out. Later, he showed on her doorstep with a welcoming gift and offended her repeatedly only to apologize for his behavior when they’d met. Their last interaction, he’d hauled her out of a mechanic shop, insisting he drive her home, taking no for an answer. Then he’d complimented her and walked her to her door.

  For some inexplicable reason, she thought about him a lot. She thought about Cullen too, who often stopped by her house while she sat outside and read. But she thought about Dodge differently, maybe because she was attracted to him, maybe because he was a puzzle, maybe because she had a feeling there was more to him than met the eye.

  He was less than eloquent in his word usa
ge, but she’d seen him with Cullen. He taught his son right from wrong, worried about him crossing the street alone, and showed affection. He was a single father. This, Lex knew. She hadn’t been living across the street long, but she hadn’t seen Cullen’s mother, meaning whoever his mother was, she hadn’t even visited her son. Lex didn’t know a woman who’d voluntarily go without seeing her child, but she didn’t think a woman like that was a good person. Then again, there were other possibilities. For one, the possibility that Cullen’s mother wasn’t around because she couldn’t be.

  Thinking on that, she assumed something she should’ve before then. Dodge could be like her in the sense that he lost hope. He on women like she had on men. Maybe he fell in love with a woman who bore him a beautiful son then abandoned them both, or maybe he fell in love with a woman who bore him a beautiful son who was then taken from the world, from them both too soon. He was hurt and irrationally took it out on women he came into contact with. Not that it gave him an excuse to be a jerk, it didn’t, but at least now, she had an idea why. Believing this didn’t stop her from wondering what his real name was; she’d pondered it so many times she’d lost count.

  Wednesday evening, Em called her and told her how much the car repair cost, which turned out inexpensive. Em also mentioned her car wouldn’t be ready until Thursday afternoon. Not ten minutes later, she received another call from the same number, but it hadn’t been Em. It’d been Dodge who insisted on driving her to work the following day. She refused. He wouldn’t take no for an answer, and she needed to keep her distance, so she lied and told him a friend from work offered her a ride. Allie, Della’s aunt, whom Lex met the first week of school, called her an hour later and mentioned she planned to pick up Della the following afternoon and wouldn’t mind taking her to the shop to get her car. Lex made it a rule not to make friends with her students’ parents or relatives, but Lex also realized that in a small town, in no time, everyone would be related to one of her present or past students. So when during their first meeting Allie offered to show her around town, she’d agreed, and they’d exchanged numbers.

  Thursday, Lex walked to work. The day flew by. Before she knew it, Allie stood at her classroom doorway. Lex locked up and rode with Allie and Della to the garage. On her way to the office, she spotted Cullen running toward her.

  “Lex! Lex! Lex!” His body collided with hers.

  Even though she’d prepared, the impact sent her a couple steps back. Strong. Further proved when his arms went around her and squeezed.

  “Lex!”

  She wrapped her arms around his back, looked down at him, and smiled. “Hey, Cullen. You miss me?”

  He nodded.

  “I missed you too. I’m going to make cookies later. Maybe your dad will let you have some?”

  He nodded.

  “Cul.”

  Her head snapped up and met his dark gaze. Brows furrowed, sweat beaded there, a moist black tee covered his broad chest, and his legs were encased in a pair of well-worn jeans. Gorgeous.

  “Cul?”

  Cullen pulled away and turned to look at his father.

  “You’ll hurt Lex running into her like that.”

  She’d been about to say Cullen hadn’t hurt her when she thought better of it.

  Dodge hadn’t missed it. His stare met hers, without so much as a hello, and hardened.

  She released a breath and ignored it as best as she could, remembering he couldn’t help himself.

  “Sowy.”

  She angled her head down. Grinning, she threaded her fingers through Cullen’s thick, dark hair. “No apology needed.”

  Then she met Dodge’s gaze. “Hi, Dodge. Hope you’re doing well.”

  Kill him with kindness. She didn’t think that’d work, but she wanted to keep the peace. To accomplish that, she’d be nice.

  Eyes widening, the hard lines of his face softened. He dropped his head, shoulders slumping. “Yeah…” Dragging a hand through his hair, he met her eyes and mumbled, “Hope you are too.”

  She smiled at Cullen. “I’ll see you soon.” Sparing a glance at Dodge, she said, “Bye.”

  She made it home in time to meet with a contractor. After he left, she baked a batch of oatmeal chocolate chip cookies from scratch. She waited and waited, but Cullen never showed.

  The following day, she took the cookies to school and left them in the main office. After work, because it was a nice, cool evening, she sat on her porch swing and read. Past six, she heard footsteps nearing and looked up. Cullen strode up the steps leading to her front porch.

  She smiled. “Hey, Cullen.”

  He grinned. “Lex.”

  “How are you?”

  He shrugged.

  “Did you cross the street alone?”

  He shook his head.

  “Good. I don’t want your Dad getting mad at you.”

  His gaze slid to her book then to her.

  “Would you like me to read to you?”

  Eyes widening, he smiled and nodded.

  She smiled too. “Be right back.”

  Heading inside, she dug into one of the boxes filled with children’s books she’d opened but hadn’t unpacked since she needed to take it to her classroom. She grabbed several, strode outside, and found Cullen sitting on her porch swing, his feet dangling off the edge.

  She sat beside him. “Which one do you want me to read you?”

  He pointed to one with a series of cars painted on the cover. She placed the book between them. With Cullen cuddled close looking at the illustrations and glancing at her every now and then, she read aloud.

  ****

  Reading to his boy. He left Cullen a couple of hours ago at his friend’s house. Levi lived next door to Lex. It got late, and Cullen hadn’t returned or called, so Dodge headed outside. He’d been about to cross the street when he spotted them, Cul and Lex sitting on her porch swing. Cullen close beside her, her lips moving. Both their heads slanted down. On her lawn, he noticed the book she held between them.

  His heart nearly burst.

  Cullen’s mother had never read to him. Not once.

  Cullen had been read to by women before. The workers at the daycare where he dropped him off every morning read to the kids, and the employees were all women. Still, it was different. He paid them to watch his boy. Allie and Tiff worked there. They were the old ladies to two of his brothers, which made dropping Cullen off every morning before work suck less. The other old ladies, Lynn, Em, and Mia looked out for Cul from time to time. They’d probably read to him too. But again, that was different; they were family.

  Lex was no one, no one who should care anyway. Just a neighbor, a teacher who no doubt liked kids, but there were plenty of kids in the neighborhood and he didn’t see her reading to or baking for any of them.

  A Friday night, no less, she should be on a date or getting laid. Instead, she’d spent her time reading to his boy proving how perfect she was.

  He supposed having had a date Sunday and another yesterday with two different men, she figured she’d take the night off. But why spend time with his kid? Why not go out to a bar and drink or do something, anything not dealing with children? Wouldn’t a teacher be tired of dealing with kids all day, every day?

  With his heart in his throat, from the steps leading up to Lex’s porch, he called out, “Cul. It’s dinner time, then bath time then bedtime.”

  Cullen shifted to Lex, wrapped one arm around her middle, leaned in to her fully then stood and headed for him.

  He cupped the back of Cul’s head. “Thank Lex for reading to you.”

  Cullen turned and mumbled, “Lex.”

  She smiled at his son and spared a glance at him. “Good night.”

  “Night,” he whispered back before he forced himself to turn and walk away.

  ****

  It’d been a week, and she had another man. Three men at her house in one week.

  One last Sunday, dark-haired, skinny, tanned, and looked like a douche. He’d seen
them kissing and assumed that guy was her man, one of the reasons he’d insisted on taking her home instead of making her wait at the garage.

  Another man on Thursday: dark-haired, tall, dressed like he worked construction. Dodge saw them go inside, and that guy stayed for half an hour. What could they have done in a half hour? It wasn’t long enough to watch a movie but just enough time for a quick fuck.

  That morning, Dodge saw the third. He hadn’t been looking out on purpose. He just meant to glance when he saw her wearing jaw-string shorts and a small, tight tank. That hair of hers a mess around her, a big smile on her face, she ran to an SUV parked on her drive. A man hopped out of the car: dark-haired, tall, and built. He saw her hug that guy, and while she did, that smile never left her face. All he could stand to see. The next instant, he closed the blinds, promised himself he wouldn’t look outside or go outside, and tried to convince himself he didn’t care how long that guy stayed.

  But he did care.

  He proved it by thinking about her all day. Even as he spent the day with Cullen, even as he got shit done around the house, he thought about her, about the men she dated, and about what it meant.

  Three men in seven days meant she dated a lot. Kissing one of those right outside her door meant she didn’t care who knew. One of them looking to be in the working class meant she didn’t care what they did for a living. All of them being dark-haired meant she liked them that way. The last two meant maybe, just maybe, he had a chance.

  Even as he thought it, he hated he had because of what she made too obvious. So many men in so little days, displaying it for anyone to see, meant she looked out for number one—herself. She didn’t care about the men. She used them to get off, didn’t need them for anything else. She had a career, a home. Men were disposable. She’d use him for something Cullen’s mother never used him for, but she’d use him and he didn’t need another woman doing that.

  He needed to set an example for his boy, and he shouldn’t be attracted to a woman like that. Knowing this should make him stop thinking about her.

  Still, he couldn’t.