Riding Hard (Hell Ryders MC Book 4)

by J. L. Sheppard

Cullen, his boy, leaned in to Lex, pressing his face against her arm.

  She released Cullen’s hand to wrap her arm around him and cup the back of his head, holding him against her. She spared a glance at Cullen and then met the idiot’s stare again. “Fine. Yes, we should reschedule.”

  “Gotta check my schedule. Call you tomorrow?”

  She nodded.

  The guy left, left her sitting on a gurney.

  While the medics cleared Lex and patched Cullen’s knee, the cop neared and told them he’d ticketed the driver of the vehicle who admitted being distracted. After, she went to stand. Dodge pushed the medics aside to get to her. Wrapping his arm around her waist, he lifted her. As he set her on her feet, her body slid down the length of his.

  “Um…” She looked away, but before she did, her cheeks heated.

  A woman did not flush like that for just anyone. A man she was into, yeah. Could it be? He shook his head. No. Not like it mattered, not anymore, she was dating. He got jealous, acted like a dick, and forever ruined his chances by making her hate him. Still, she’d saved his kid.

  Facing Cullen, he grabbed his hand. “Come on, Cul. Hop off.”

  Cullen jumped, holding on to his hand and Lex’s. He made sure Cullen landed on his feet. Then his boy let go of his hand only to grab Lex’s again. With his other arm still around Lex, he nudged her toward her house.

  “I’m fine, really. You don’t have to—”

  Turning his head slightly, he looked down at her. “Yeah, I do.” She seemed to accept this, didn’t fight. Still, he added, “’Sides I want to.”

  He helped her up the steps to her porch coming to a stop at her front door. He wanted to stay more than anything, make sure she was okay, but he knew she didn’t want him there, so he turned to his boy. “Cul, thank Lex, then say bye.”

  His son peered at Lex with his big, dark eyes and whispered, “Hhanks, Lex.” He released her hand to wrap both arms around her waist. Cul held her for a while before he drew away, meeting her eyes again. “Bye.”

  Smiling, she cupped Cul’s cheek and slid her hand, threading her fingers through his hair. “Bye, honey. I’ll see you around.”

  Watching that small action, knowing Cul’s mother had never touched him like that, made an ache slice up his chest. He fought to ignore the burn as he looked at his boy. “Wait for me on the lawn. I gotta talk to Lex. Then you and me gotta talk, but we’ll do it at home.”

  Tough kid, Cullen knew what would come, and he didn’t pout. He lifted his chin, nodded, and did as he was told.

  He faced Lex and caught her pulling her hair behind her. Almost getting run over by a car and she looked beautiful, wearing a yellow blouse, a pair of cut off shorts, and flats. Ice blue eyes soft, cheeks rosy, strawberry hair parted in half, loose around her.

  “Saturday.”

  She stiffened.

  “I was outta line. Who you’re seeing has nothing to do with Cul. He likes when you read to him, likes spending time with you. Honest, he probably has a crush. You saved him today, and I can’t thank you enough for that.”

  “You don’t need to thank me—”

  “Yeah, I do. I need to thank you and apologize for being a dick, so I’m thanking you and apologizing for being a dick. You want to read to Cul, bake him cookies, you go ahead and knock yourself out. He needs women like you around.”

  She held his stare for a moment before she nodded.

  “And I said it’s none of my business, but I gotta say this. You deserve better than a man who doesn’t stay around to make sure you’re okay.”

  She giggled and made no attempt to hide it.

  “Serious here, Lex.”

  Bringing a hand to her mouth, she laughed and shook her head. “He cared more about me, I’d be worried. He’s just a contractor.”

  A contractor?

  Fuck.

  She laughed a little harder.

  Right. So that meant what? That she was only seeing one guy?

  “Sam was right. There’s a reason I’m single. Haven’t figured it out yet.” She shrugged. “Maybe one day.”

  “What about that guy, the one who was here Saturday?”

  He hadn’t meant to ask. Again, none of his business, and she didn’t owe him shit.

  She lifted a brow. “Tim?” A smile played at her lips. “For the last five years, he’s been happily married to my sister. They live in San Francisco and came to visit.”

  Single, not as in just not married but as in not seeing anyone. He scanned her from top to bottom. Perfect and single. How the fuck was that possible? He’d been an ass for no reason. It made it all the worse.

  His throat went dry, but he managed to say, “Thanks, again.”

  Her brows creased, eyes saddened, shoulders slumped, for some reason looking devastated. Before he did anything about it, she mumbled, “Bye,” then turned, strode into her house, and closed the door.

  Chapter Eight

  Her last encounter with Dodge left her shaken. Not because she jumped in front of a car to save Cullen, not because Dodge had been nice and thanked her, but because of the way he looked at her right before she left. She hadn’t been able to forget that look since, the same he’d given her the first time he laid eyes on her—disgust, which meant either she’d imagined hearing him say that a man had to be blind and stupid not to find her attractive or he’d just said it to be nice.

  That look, she thought about all night, barely slept, and had been a zombie at school the next day. After school, she stayed inside, graded papers, and then headed to bed. Friday morning, a surprise, she found a bouquet of white and yellow roses on her doorstep. The note said:

  Lex,

  Thank you.

  Cullen.

  Sweet. How Cul convinced his father to buy roses for her, she didn’t know. Dodge didn’t seem like the type who’d buy them, not for a wife or girlfriend and especially not for a neighbor. Then again, if she were the wife or girlfriend of the hottest man on the face of the earth, maybe she didn’t need flowers. No denying though Dodge must’ve bought them, but it was nothing more than a thank you for saving Cullen.

  Friday evening, she baked a batch of peanut butter cookies, hoping Cullen wasn’t allergic. She sat outside with several cookies and read. Within an hour, Cul showed. She read him several books and made sure he wasn’t allergic before giving him some cookies. When she heard Dodge call out for Cullen from her yard, she said goodnight. Without looking at Dodge, she strode inside. She hadn’t meant to be rude, but she’d decided to change tactics. Being nice hadn’t worked, and so, she’d avoid him unless impossible.

  That night, she made dinner, had a glass of wine, and watched a movie, alone. For some reason, she felt the loneliness more than usual. The prospect of spending an entire weekend alone, not comforting at all. She decided to drive to San Francisco the next day.

  Saturday morning, she woke early, showered, and drank her coffee while she applied makeup and dressed in a pair of skinny jeans, cute olive top, and matching sandals. She styled her hair in soft curls and packed an overnight bag just in case she decided to stay.

  Walking out of her bedroom, down the hall, and into her living room, the doorbell rang. She dropped her duffle, placed her empty coffee mug in the dishwasher, and headed for the door.

  Looking through the peephole, she released a frustrated sigh. Mitchell, of course. He had perfect timing. Thinking back, one of the reasons she always took him back had to do with the fact that he came when she felt the loneliest and caved.

  “Not this time,” she mumbled under her breath.

  She put serious thought into not answering her door. Yesterday evening, she parked in her garage, so she hoped not seeing her car, he’d think she was gone and leave. She waited and waited.

  He didn’t leave though. Instead, he started banging on her door and yelling her name. Unless she wanted him to wake half the neighborhood, she had no choice.

  She opened the door, stepped out, and closed it behind her. She wouldn
’t let him get any ideas about coming inside. Her gaze locked with his.

  He hadn’t changed a bit since they began dating. His hair styled the same, faded. He wore a pair of khakis, a collared-shirt, and smelled like the cologne she bought him for their first anniversary, one he said he didn’t like, which meant he only wore it after a break-up.

  “Yes.”

  He smiled. “Hey, babe.”

  “What are you doing here? I told you I don’t want you here.”

  He just stood there, not saying anything just staring at her, blankly. He did that a lot, every time he came back after a break up with the exception of the first three. She supposed after the third time since she’d forgiven him before, he figured he didn’t have to waste time making promises he had no intention of keeping. It was infuriating because he made it impossible to know whether he’d heard her, didn’t know what to say, was thinking of something to say, or had gone deaf.

  The longer he stayed there, the hotter her cheeks got, the lower that heat crept down her face and neck. “Well?”

  “I think…we should go out for coffee or something…”

  Really? That was all he had to say?

  She kept her face blank. “I don’t.”

  “Come on, it’ll be—”

  “You had me for three years. For three years, you kept breaking up with me. It’s over now. It’s been over for five months. Your decision, the same decision you made repeatedly over the course of three years. Now, you have to stick with it.”

  She turned halfway before he gripped her elbow. Turning back, she started, “Let…”

  Anger so deep flowed around her pinning her to the spot. She shifted her stare, moving it behind Mitchell.

  There, heading her way, up the walkway, up the porch steps, Dodge, jaw clamped and clenched, eyes glaring and deadpanned on Mitchell. He grabbed Mitchell by the bicep and ripped him away. Mitchell stumbled back simultaneously releasing her. Dodge came to a stop directly in front of her so she only saw his wide, broad back.

  “Who the fuck—” Mitchell started.

  “Cullen. Get inside Lex’s.”

  Oh God. She looked to her right. Cullen stood on her porch just a few feet from them. How she hadn’t noticed him before, she didn’t know.

  Wearing a black skully and white tee, Cullen smiled at her, walked past her, opened her door, and disappeared inside.

  One disaster adverted, on to the next.

  She swiveled, grabbed Dodge’s arm, and attempted to pull him aside. When he didn’t budge, she released him then sidestepped until she stood beside him. “I’ll handle—”

  He didn’t look her way, his gaze hard and on her ex. He growled, “Lex,” in a stern tone she knew well, she used it on her students except Dodge’s was scary.

  “Who the fuck are you?”

  “None of your fuckin’ business. Now, I think Lex told you to leave.” He took a step in Mitchell’s direction, lifted his chin toward the street, and snarled, “Leave.”

  At this point, despite the fact that they both managed to infuriate her that early on a Saturday morning, she took them in. The difference between the two, vast. Dodge stood taller, wider, his muscles defined. Arched brows, dark, rich disheveled hair matching his eyes. His face had strong, clean lines, stubble covered his chin and cheeks. She had to pick two words to describe him, they’d be rugged, striking. Next to him, Mitchell with his faded light brown hair, hazel eyes, and clean-shaven face looked simple, plain.

  She had no clue what she’d seen in him in the first place. Not that it was all about looks, but she put up with so much of Mitchell’s crap, why? He’d never been a great conversationalist. He only ever wanted to do what he wanted to do, and he broke up with her repeatedly.

  Mitchell’s gaze sliced to her. “You know this clown?”

  For some reason, she felt the need to defend Dodge. “He’s not—”

  “Got to the count of three before I throw your ass outta here myself.”

  Oh God. Dodge, no longer furious, now, livid, body rigid yet vibrating with anger. He didn’t seem like the type of man who made idle threats, and Mitchell could be boneheaded when he wanted something. If she didn’t stop this, her new neighbors would catch a show. What would they think? She knew one thing; she’d be humiliated.

  She grabbed Dodge’s arm, her nails biting into his thick bicep, and tugged. “Dodge,” she said firmly. Though honest, she didn’t think that tone would work, not with him.

  The muscle in Dodge’s jaw jumped.

  Mitchell, oblivious to how much angrier Dodge had gotten, looked to her and went on, “We have to talk, Lex.”

  “One.” Dodge, tone deadly, leaned in to Mitchell.

  Yikes. She needed to do something, quick.

  She shot a glare at Mitchell. “You need to leave.”

  “We need to—”

  “Two.” Dodge.

  “There’s nothing to talk about.”

  “We need—”

  Dodge advanced. Stupidly, she jumped in front of him between him and Mitchell. Dodge bumped in to her. She staggered. His arm circled her waist, steadying her. Then he lifted her off her feet, shifted, and set her to his side, keeping his arm around her, tucking her body against his. Warmth, his, spread over her, all around her. He smelled nice, no, fantastic.

  Mitchell took a step back, looking to her. “We’ll talk.”

  Dodge took three steps until he stood inches from Mitchell. In doing this, he didn’t release her but took her with him. Fingers gripping her hip, he angled her partially behind him. “You won’t talk to her. You step foot on this street, I’ll know. You step foot at the school, I’ll know. You come into Wadden, I’ll fuckin’ know. Then you and me are gonna have a serious fuckin’ talk.”

  Mitchell clenched his jaw, shook his head, and met her gaze. “This thug? Really?”

  She didn’t respond and wouldn’t. Let Mitchell think whatever he wanted. A part of her wanted him to think she’d moved on so he’d finally let her be.

  Mitchell walked away, got into his car, and drove off.

  She released a breath and met Dodge’s stare. “You didn’t have to do that. I could’ve handled him.”

  “He touched you.”

  “We dated on and off for three years. It wasn’t the first time he touched me.”

  He flinched. The arm around her tautened. He leaned in to her. His face so close now, his breaths heated her skin. “He touched you.”

  Staring deep into his dark eyes, she knew she hadn’t been wrong in thinking he was the most gorgeous man alive. Being that close proved it. But she couldn’t think of that then, she had to focus.

  She swallowed. “I said—”

  “Is this the first time he touched you when you didn’t want him to?”

  “What difference does it make?”

  He leaned farther in to her. Face millimeters from hers, his expression went feral. “Asked you a question, Lex.”

  As scary as he looked, she wouldn’t back down. She lifted a brow. “And I asked you a question, Dodge.”

  He released a heavy breath like she’d frustrated him when he’d frustrated her. “I asked first.”

  “I asked second.”

  His mouth tightened, the sides twitching. After what seemed like an endless moment, he smiled, drew his upper body away without releasing her, and rubbed the palm of his hand over his face. “Serious here, Lex. Stop being funny.”

  Amused, was he? It was beyond her what he found comical.

  “I’m not trying to be funny, Dodge.”

  Eyes softening, he unwrapped his arm from around her, grabbed her hands, and held them tightly in his. “He touch you before when you didn’t want to be touched?”

  The way he gripped her hands, the way he looked at her, and the pleading tone he used made her give in.

  She bit her bottom lip. “I don’t think so.”

  He quirked a brow. “You don’t think so?”

  “Honestly, I can’t remember.”

&nb
sp; His eyes darkened. Her gaze shot to his throat, watching it work as he swallowed. “It ever hurt when he touch you?”

  Was that the reason for that question? He thought Mitchell had hurt her?

  Her chest clenched, but she managed to admit, “Never.”

  He nodded but hesitated before he let go of her hands. “You have more of those peanut butter cookies?”

  He must’ve had some of the cookies she’d given Cullen to take home and liked them.

  She nodded.

  He grinned.

  She strode inside her house. Cullen sat on her couch staring at the TV, off at the moment. “Hey Cul. You can turn it on if you want.”

  Cullen smiled, grabbed the remote sitting on the coffee table, and turned on her flat screen. Dodge closed the door behind her. She walked into the kitchen. Facing the stove, she grabbed a navy platter, opened her blue jar, and set several cookies on the platter. While she did, she thought about everything.

  She had her dream home but was alone, and she was tired of the loneliness, tired of dealing with jerks. She’d had boyfriends, a lot of them considering she started dating at sixteen. Not one of them was worth much, not one of them was a real man, the kind who took care of you, respected you even if he didn’t love you. This was the reason she made the decision to stop looking, stop dating. All she ever wanted was a family, one of her own. Giving up on men meant giving up on the family she had in mind.

  Thinking this, she couldn’t stop tears from welling in her eyes. She moved quickly. Escaping into the hallway, she opened the door to her garage, closed it behind her, and let the tears slide down her cheeks.

  “Lex?”

  Hearing his voice just feet away, she wiped her face, took a deep breath, and faced him. She didn’t look directly at him, knowing looking into his dark eyes, she wouldn’t be able to hold the tears back.

  “You okay?”

  She nodded. “Fine.”

  “He hurt you?”

  God, yes. A lot, but not the way he thought. She’d already told him this.

  Getting ahold of her tears, her gaze shot to his. “I answered that.”

  “You lie?”

  “No.”

  “I can kick his ass.”

  She laughed, shaking her head. “Don’t worry about it. Thanks for…what you did.”