by Penny Blush
“Oh, my God, you’re such a dork,” she said, high-fiving me as I walk passed. “Unless I see you, you’ll have to wait until tomorrow to see the amazingness. I’ve got that training course today, remember?”
“Oh, right,” I said smacking a hand to my forehead. “Who's covering for you?" I know that I should be aware of this stuff, but the guys pretty much manage themselves.
“Hedge is.”
“Baby Girl, that’s a twelve-hour shift,” I said, running through all other options in my head.
"I know, and it's fine; we've already worked it out. I'm going to start late tomorrow, so it will all balance out." She picked up the bowls and brushes off the bench saying to Cass, "just give me a sec, I'll just clean these out, and then we'll get ready for phase two. Can I get you anything? Tea, coffee, water?”
“You are such a hairdresser,” Cassidy laughed, picking up a magazine, “no I’m good, thank you.”
I followed Hedge into the kitchen, wrapping my arms around her waist as she cleaned the bowls in the sink. “Baby Girl, are you sure you’re okay with doing such a long shift?” I asked, kissing her neck.
"I'm okay Baby, really," she said, turning to look at me. "Besides, you can make it up to me later for working me so hard."
“Only if it’s naked making up,” I replied, kissing her soft lips.
“Is there any other way?” she asked.
I kissed her again and then went about getting ready for my day. If I didn’t leave there and then I would be dragging her upstairs for some pre-long-day-making-it-up-to-you-sex. It was a massive day with hardly any down time. It was after one AM before we crashed into bed, falling asleep before our heads hit the pillows.
Thankfully, the next day was nowhere near as busy, both of us getting to sleep in and having a lazy breakfast in bed that turned into lunch in bed before I reluctantly left her with a very satisfied smile on her face, showered and headed downstairs to the shop to start my work day.
“I didn’t think that you were starting until later,” Jax asked Hedge as she walked into the shop kitchen half an hour later.
She was wearing black running tights and a tight hot pink top that said, ‘I run because – Pankcakes'. Hedge looked amazing, and my chest tightened at the sight of her. I don't think I'll ever get used to the feeling I get when she first walks into a room. I don't think I ever want to. She made my heart stop and pound at the same time, seeing her felt like home.
“I don’t. I just thought I would do a few things and get a run in before my shift started," Hedge replied leaning on the back of chair kicking a heel up towards her ass. “I need to burn some energy and stretch my legs.”
“Okay fine, let’s go,” I said rolling my shoulders and stretching my neck side to side, walking back towards the stairs that led to her apartment.
“What are you talking about?” She asked with the cutest puzzled look on her face.
“You said you need to burn some energy,” I pointed up the stairs, “so get that sexy ass back upstairs.”
Hedge rolled her eyes at me as Jax yelled, “Dude, that’s my cousin!”
She wrapped her arms around my neck, and I lifted her off the ground, kissing her, walking her towards the stairs. “I can stretch those legs out for you too if you like; I know how flexible you are.”
“Dude, I can still hear you,” Jax said, disgusted.
“As much as I would love to take you back upstairs and have my way with you, I do need to go for a run."
“Fine, go and get all sweaty without me,” I grumbled.
She laughed kissing me again. "When I come back, you can help me get cleaned up."
“You need some help washing your back, Baby Girl?”
Making a gagging noise, Jax walked out of the kitchen with his hand over his eyes. “Dude, I’m going to see Maria for some coffee, you want one?”
“Oh, my God Jax, stop being ridiculous,” Hedge said smacking his arm.
“I don’t want to see you two canoodling,” he replied, rubbing his arm like she had managed to do him some damage.
“Who even says canoodling?” She shook her head at him laughing.
“Little old ladies and, apparently Jax,” I said, taking Hedge in my arms, dipping her back in a sweeping bow and kissing the hell out of her.
Jax made a gagging sound again, walking out onto the shop floor to ask the others if they wanted anything from the café. The café is run by Maria, a tiny little Greek lady who was like a mother to all of us, always concerned that her growing boys weren’t eating enough. She was an amazingly generous woman, who didn’t take crap from anyone.
We watched Jax walk up to Cassidy at the reception desk. Cassidy absentmindedly ran her fingers through her shorter hair style. I was amazed how much a new hair style could change a person’s look. It was hot pink with lighter softer pink sections that suited her that made her blue eyes glow and somehow look a little older, more her age and less childlike.
“Baby, have you got a mirror?” Hedge asked, leaning into me as I wrapped my arms around her waist, resting my chin on the top of her head.
“Whys that Sweetness?”
“So, that I can hold it up for them to look in and get them to see what is right in front of them,” she sighed.
“Those two have been dancing around each other for as long as they have known each other. So, about five years,” I can’t believe it’s been that long since Cassidy came stumbling into our lives.
Jax and I had both been working for ‘Soldier Ink’, a few towns over, that was run by a friend of Jax’, that he had met through his cousin. Marcel was an ex-army ranger who was injured in the line of duty and could not return to active service, he had been offered a non-combat role but decided that if he couldn't fight, then he had to walk away. He couldn't send others off to war if he couldn't be there beside them, to provide backup.
Marcel had been the resident tattoo artist on the base, and his work is renown throughout military circles. He said that drawing designs and tattooing helped him through his rehab as it gave him something else to concentrate on and occupy his mind while dealing with the loss of his leg and learning to walk again.
Jax was on board from the opening of ‘Soldier Ink' and brought me in soon after. Marcel was a great guy to work for, and I learnt so much from him. He was the one who encouraged me to open a shop of my own. He wasn't overly happy with me when I told him that I was taking Jax and Cassidy with me, but he understood as ‘Barber Shop Ink’ was closer to home for both Jax and me, and gave more opportunity for Cassidy to expand and grow within the piercing/body-mods field.
When I first met Cassidy, she was this quiet, shy little thing, who would hardly talk to anyone, unless it was a client. If she were talking to a client or discussing her work, she would light up becoming a confident, bubbly animated version of herself. Otherwise, she was as quiet as a church mouse. Slowly, after a lot of coaxing, I finally got her to come out of her shell, open up and let me in. From then on, she quickly became my friend and like a little sister to me.
She was fun to watch around Jaxon; she would track his every move thinking that she was all stealthily watching him over the top of a magazine or the computer monitor. She seemed to be in a permanently flushed state, if he spoke to her, her eyes would get big, she would freeze and just stand there staring at him with her ears glowing.
Jaxon was just as bad; he would find any excuse to talk to her or be around her. He would change his hours so that he was on the same shift as her, helping her lift or carry things, acting like it was something that any good brother-type-friend would do. He would touch her and tease her anything to get any reaction from her. You had to be blind to see that they both had the hots for each other.
"If one of them doesn't take the lead soon and do something about their undeniable attraction to each other, I'm going to lock them in a room and force them to deal with their feelings. Jax is like a little boy at school pulling her pigtails," she sighed, turning to give me one last ki
ss before going for her run.
“I’ll walk out with you Cuz, I need caffeine,” Jax said, pushing off the desk tapping on the top twice, throwing Cassidy a wink and walking out with Hedge.
“You alright right Kid?” I asked Cassidy, leaning in the reception desk next to her.
She sighed, looking at Jax standing on the footpath out the front taking to Hedge. “Yeah Old Man, I’m fine. Why wouldn’t I be?” She asked, not taking her eyes off him.
I gently bumped shoulders with her, nodding my head towards Jax.
“Don’t Memph,” she pleaded softly. We had had this conversation many times over the last five years.
"I'm around if you need me Kid, that's all I'm saying," I put my arm around her shoulder, and she leant into me.
"I know," she sighed again.
It is starting to get seriously under my skin, the reaction she had to Jax. I was going to have to have words with him, he needed to either back off or tell her how he felt, the dancing around was not doing either of them any good.
We watched as Hedge and Jax talked and joked out the front of the shop, she was passing the cord for her earphones through the inside of her tank top when I saw a big black Dodge pull up out the front of the shop. A mean looking dude got out of the driver side. The guy held his finger to his lips, signalling to Jax to keep quiet as he snuck up behind her.
I stood up straight, watching what was happening. Jax didn't seem concerned, so I just watched. The guy grabbed Hedge and started tickling her ribs, causing her to squeal and jump away from him. The Dude and Jax broke out in peals of laughter, then handshake-hugging each other. Hedge stood with a cranky look on her face and arms crossed, the guy crooked his finger at her, tapping his cheek. I stood rooted to the spot as a huge smile broke out across her face as she launched herself at him and he scooped her up into a bear hug.
“Who the hell is that?” Bishop asked, leaning forward in the barber chair that he was sitting in.
“No fucking idea,” I replied. Regaining movement in my legs, I walked to the door pulling it open just as Hedge squealed again, jumping into the passenger side of the Dodge. “What the fuck?” I asked Jax as the Dodge pulled away.
“What the fuck, what?” Jax asked laughing, turning to look at me noticing that I was most definitely not laughing.
“Jaxon, who the hell was that?” I asked through gritted teeth. “Where the hell did she go?”
“Don’t worry dude, she’ll be back,” he said slapping me on the shoulder. “She just got some excellent news, and I guess her excitement kinda took over.”
“Dude, that didn’t explain anything!”
"Memphis, dude calm down, it is entirely innocent, believe me. Beast came by looking for her to give her something that she has been desperately longing for."
He was obviously not telling me the whole story, and it was pissing me off. It made me punchy, and I wanted to punch that stupid look right off Jax’s face.
“Jaxon, you are not making this any better,” I snarled.
"Don't worry Memphis, seriously, she only has eyes for you; she'll be back. That's all I'm telling you," he said, putting his hand up to stop me when I started to argue. "I can't wait to see your face when she gets back," he said, walking off towards the coffee shop.
I stomped into Barber Shop Ink and straight out the back door, standing by the river I pulled out my mobile phone and dialled her number. It went straight to voice mail.
"Baby Girl, call me back please," I said shortly. I was just going to leave the message at that, but added, "you need to explain why you took off with another man,” I growled out before ending the call.
I clomped around the shop, snapping at everyone taking my frustration out on them. I had left Hedge voice mail messages, texted her and got no reply. I didn't want to be an overly possessive, demanding, jerk of a boyfriend but I mean come on, she got in a car with another man and drove off! I think I have a right to be a little annoyed.
Jax wouldn’t tell me anything; even with everyone begging him to tell me where she had gone and who she had gone with so that I would stop. I was like a bear with a sore tooth, growling and snapping at everyone, I was that bad that Cassidy kicked me out of the shop and made me go and get lunch for everyone just to get me out of the shop and give them all a break.
By the time, I had gotten back to the shop I had calmed down a little and was less pissed off. I sat and ate with everyone, staying quiet while the conversation rolled around me.
Moments later a black motorbike blew past the shop, its throaty engine getting Jax’ attention. He stood up mid conversation and went out into the street. The rider cycled back and pulled up in front of Jax, the rider's arms waving as he spoke. Jax gestured around the back of the shop, and the bike took off again. Jax walked back into the shop excitedly and headed for the back door.
“Hey, where are you going?” Cassidy asked.
“Out the back, come on, especially you Memph,” he said with a huge smile on his stupid face, speed walking past.
Everyone sat still for a moment looking at each other before there was an explosion of movement and they all rushed towards the back yard. Reluctantly I dragged my ass out the back after them.
The sound of a bike engine greeted us as a slick black motorbike slowly rolled into the yard parking under the apartment deck overhang. It was a sexy-as-hell midnight black Kawasaki Ninja 650 ABS, which had some obvious aftermarket additions. But it wasn't the bike I was interested in, it was the rider.
Black riding boots lowered the kickstand, a long leg in black riding leathers swung over the motorcycle, the rider standing with her back to us. It was obviously a female rider; no man could have an ass like that, or boobs like those for that matter. The rider turned sideways, the riding leathers clinging to every curve. She pulled the helmet off, shaking her hair out. Thick, shiny mahogany coloured hair that I knew smelt sweet and fresh like the ocean.
Hedge placed the black, full face helmet on the seat of the bike, looking at us with a megawatt smile. She looked so happy, ecstatic even and I was so very pissed off.
“How was it?” Jax asked, walking over to sit on the bike as if he owned it.
“Jax, you have no idea,” her eyes sparkled with excitement as she spoke. “I didn’t realise how much I missed it.” She threw her arms around her cousin, giving him a hug, “I can’t believe you did this.”
“Dude, did you buy Hedge a bike?” Davis asked incredulously. “You must be rolling in it. Hey, can I have a loan?”
"No, you dick, you can't have a loan, and I didn't buy Hedge a bike. It is her bike." A series of confused eyes forced him to explain further. "Hedge has always had a bike of some description, but this bike," he lovingly stroked the gas tank, “is Hedge’s bike that was in the garage of her apartment when it caught fire.”
“But I thought the building collapsed,” Cassidy said.
"It did! I parked my bike between my car and my neighbours 4-by-4. Where I used to park was in the corner of the building, so structurally it was a little stronger. Both the cars were totalled, but their crushed chassis protected my bike," Hedge explained, jumping up and down, clapping excitedly.
“When the fire happened, Hedge gave my contact details to the building owners, so when they started demolishing the building and got to the car park and found the bike relatively unscathed, I got a phone call about it.” Jax looked at his cousin with love, “Hedge has been through so much lately, so I figured she needed some goodness. I got a mechanic buddy of mine, who I knew Hedge would trust with her ride to look at it and fix it up.”
Hedge hugged him again, and everyone else went to check out the mean looking machine. I hadn't moved from where I stood at the back of the group with my arms crossed over my chest; she stood there watching me with a puzzled look on her face.
“Cuz, I’m taking it for a ride,” Jax announced.
“Okay,” she said still looking at me. “Just make sure you have a helmet.”
“Sweet! I t
hought for sure that I would have to fight you a little more,” he said excitedly. “Hey Cass, wanna go for a ride?”
“Umm, I don’t know, I’ve never been on a bike before,” she said uncertainly.
"You can borrow Hedge's jacket and helmet; they should fit you."
Without looking away from me, Hedge unzipped her bike jacket, revealing that all she had on underneath was the crop top she wore under her running tank, holding it back for Cassidy.
“We’ll just need to stop by my place quickly for me to grab my helmet,” Jax said, flicking up the kickstand. “Jump on Cass and hold on tight.”
“Jax, please be careful with me,” Cassidy said before closing the face shield, her words laced with more meaning than just being on the bike.
“You’re safe with me Cass, I wouldn’t do anything to hurt you,” Jax replied wrapping her arms tighter around him.
They had said more through their words than they thought they had, but I couldn't think on that. I was still staring into the deep, dark blue eyes of my Goddess, the devil in leather who didn't realise how much trouble she was in right now.
Jax and Cassidy slowly rode off, and the boys went back inside to finish their lunch, and we stood looking at each other waiting to see who would flinch first.
“You are in trouble,” I said gruffly.
“Memphis, I need you to come with me upstairs,” she replied, ignoring the warning tone in my voice.
“I’m not going anywhere” I shook my head, not happening. “You just took off with some random guy without telling me where you were going.”
“I have to tell you where I’m going and with who now, do I?” She challenged with her hands on her hips.
“Don’t you get it? I was worried about you, Hedge you. Especially considering you didn’t answer your phone or return a call or text.” I leant forward to look her dead in the eye, “I. Was. Worried.”
Hedge met my challenging glare, not backing down; it was hot as hell. “Memphis. Upstairs. Now.”
“Why?”
“For the last forty-five minutes, I have had very hot, hard, powerful steel vibrating between my legs.”
