by JP Sayle
“You gonna turn on the engine or just sit starin’ at me, Mason?”
Fuck! If I wasn’t already hot and bothered, the way my name rolled off his tongue would have done it.
Starting the engine, it roared to life, and instead of answering his question, I signaled and pulled out into the street. The man threw me completely off balance. He was dangerous and I needed to remember that.
Dangerous to what?
Everything!
Chapter Seven
Lincoln
Why had Mason come to pick me up? What was he after?
In my world, no one did anything for anyone without a reason or a motive. What were Mason’s?
Maybe he’s just a decent guy?
I nearly snorted aloud at that as I glanced down at my lap and swallowed a sigh when my arousal continued to press against my fly. I didn’t do decent guys.
The quiet between us lengthened as Mason drove toward the shop. The engine was the only sound to break the silence when I opened the window to let in some air. Closing my eyes, I blocked out the uneasy thoughts and rested my head against the headrest, letting the warm air brush over my face.
Mason. The name suited him. It was a solid name, though secretly I thought sassy ass might be more apt when he’d put the guard in his place. Why had he done that? The only guys that stood up for me were the ones I called brothers.
When had anyone chosen to stand up for me just because?
His father had.
I paid him.
That might be so, but he went above and beyond to make sure I kept River.
My heart skipped several beats as I considered what the alternative could have been for River.
For years, I’d lived as I chose, not giving a fuck about what anyone thought of me, with two exception, Lizzie, and then River. Our good for nothing father had taken off when Lizzie was only two and I was ten. Mom had sunk into the bottom of a bottle until she’d drowned her liver with it. That left us to run wild at the club, being kicked about by whoever felt like it, sharing a cramped room. I’d always been protective of Lizzie, so when Mom had died when Lizzie was five, I’d taken it upon myself to look out for her.
As we’d grown, and I’d taken over the club, she’d run a little wild up in Austin. When she’d come back pregnant and alone, I’d kept her safe. Did you? She’s fucking dead!
Guilt choked me, along with grief, while I struggled to push it back into its box where it belonged. My hands pushed down against my thighs as I twisted my head to stare out the window. The highway whizzed by while warm wind whipped at my hair and blew around my face as I considered the possibility my luck had run out again. Was I going to lose River?
Over the years, I’d been lucky to escape having to spend any real time behind bars. One thing I’d discovered about myself over the last three days, me and confined spaces didn’t work. That meant my future was now dependent on the guy driving me home. The question that seemed to be my constant companion returned. Would he fight for me?
You’re gonna find out because he’s all you’ve got!
“You hungry?” Mason asked, interrupting my thoughts.
I glanced at him, and for the first time, really looked at him. Though the dark glasses prevented me from seeing his eyes, I could see strain and tiredness etched into his face that hadn’t been there the day before. “I’d kill for a pizza. La Roma Pizza and Subs are about the best you’ll find around these parts. They deliver. You can eat with us if you want.” It was out before I could think it over.
“Yeah, that works.”
His response sounded a little breathless, and my eyes narrowed on him, but he didn’t take his eyes off the road. He signaled and left the highway, and within a couple of minutes he was pulling up outside the shop.
The engine had no sooner been switched off, when the door flew open and River ran out onto the porch and down the steps. Her bare feet slapped against the wood as her ponytail bounced on top of her head. Her eyes were alight with a pure love that only a child can give, leaving me struggling to keep my emotions in check as I exited the car to go to her.
“Poppyyyyyyyyyyyy,” she cried, loud enough to wake the dead.
I laughed and knelt down on the drive, a second before she launched herself at me. I wrapped my arms around her tiny body as she wriggled against me and buried her face into my neck. It was something she’d done since she was a baby, and a wave of love that never failed to warm me flowed through me. I inhaled her sweet scent and held on to her.
A tiny hand rubbed at my chest right where Lizzie’s name was tattooed. “I’s missed ya Poppy.” She sniffed twice before she lifted her head to look at me with tear drenched eyes. “I’s gonna spank ya bottom for making me worry like’s dat.”
Heat spread up my neck as laughter drifted from behind me from the man who’d surely followed me out of the car. Fucksake!
“I’m sorry, Spirit, but—”
“Don’t ya but me, Poppy. Ya says we’ves gots to be honest. Nutty’s sayin’ nothin’ and you’s been gone days and days.” Her brow was deeply furrowed, and she looked so much like Lizzie it hurt my heart at the truth of her words. I’d sworn I’d always be honest with her.
“Let’s go inside. Mason is hungry and so am I. I’ll explain as best I can, Spirit.”
Her face remained serious as she looked toward the man behind me. “I’s like him Poppy. He keeps his word, so we’s can trust him.”
My heart skipped a beat at her words. River didn’t trust easy, and I’d learned to listen to her. A child’s instincts were so much more attuned than adults, and in the world I lived in, instinct was everything. Then why didn’t you kick the skanky-ass bitch out of your club?
I cursed silently and stood, putting River onto my hip as I glanced over my shoulder at Mason. His bemused expression brought back the tug of arousal, so I looked back at the house to where Nutty was stood watching us. My eyes narrowed on her.
Her black hair was in her normal spiky style, her eyes were rimmed with dark eyeliner, her lips were bright red, and she wore a short, fitted black dress with ankle boots. “You got dressed up for me comin’ home?” My brows arched as she giggled and tugged at the hem of the too short dress.
“As if you’d get that lucky. I’ve got a date.” Her face pinked as she looked anywhere but at me as she came down the porch steps.
“Who’s the guy?” I kept my voice neutral.
She scowled, and I sighed at the reality I’d not kept my concern for her hidden.
“None of your business. I thought you might like some time with River…alone.” Her hips swayed as she tottered on the spiky heeled boots, her face now wearing a cheeky grin I couldn’t fail to understand. “Don’t wait up.” She blew River a kiss and winked at me before strolling off toward her beat up old Corvette that she didn’t let anyone touch.
I watched her reverse down the drive and give one final wave as she drove off.
“Poppy, come on, I’s got a present for ya.” River wriggled in my arms.
As I crouched, she gave my cheek a quick kiss before she jumped off me. She ran back toward the house, calling for me to hurry.
I glanced back at Mason, who remained in the same spot. “You still want pizza?” I held my breath as I waited for him to respond.
“Of course, I’m starved, and we need to talk more about what happened with Miss Fink.”
“Not in front of Spirit; it’s not happening,” I ground out through clenched teeth. Didn’t he get she was only a fucking child?
He cleared the distance between us, his jaw jutting toward me, his eyes stormy. “Give me a little more credit than that.” The quiet restraint when he spoke was the exact opposite to the fire in his eyes.
We stood staring at each other for what felt like the longest minute as the sexual tension between us increased. “We ain’t doin’ this! It’s a bad idea,” I rasped past my dry throat.
He didn’t pretend to not understand and gave a nod of acknowledgement that left me with a bitter tas
te in my mouth.
“You aren’t the only one with a lot to lose. I’m your lawyer.” The way he said it was as if he were trying to convince someone, only he was fooling no one, especially not me. His stormy eyes held mine for a few more seconds before he stepped around me and walked toward the porch.
I released the pent-up breath I’d not been aware I’d been holding and followed him. He’s your lawyer, nothing more. Then why was my dick hard?
I ran my hands through my hair and thought of every nasty thing I could, keeping my eyes away from the ass in form fitting trousers.
Stop fucking looking at his ass!
It’s fucking right there!
So what? You ain’t gonna be touching it.
Why didn’t I sound convinced?
Chapter Eight
Mason
“How’s the case going?”
I glanced up from the papers scattered over my large teak desk and scowled at my Dad. Today he wore the casual button-down, short-sleeved shirt and slacks that he wore to play golf. “Don’t ask. That bloody club and its members are like the crypt keepers. It’s like trying to get blood from a stone getting them to talk to me.”
I threw the pen I held onto the desk, stood up, and pushed my seat back toward the window at behind me. I didn’t look out at the blue sky or the streets beneath as I walked from behind my desk, unable to sit still and have this conversation.
Frustration ran through me, and I rubbed at my temples as I strode around the room, not really seeing it as my mind ran over the last meeting I’d had with Sid, Lincoln’s second in command, at the club. “I get they’re a tight knit bunch and they don’t take well to authority figures, especially those connected to the law, but I’m trying to keep Lincoln’s fucking ass out of prison.” I refused to acknowledge how peeved I sounded.
Hearing my Dad chuckle, I glanced at him, my eyes narrowing on him as I pointed out, “This is your fault. I should kick the case back to you. You can deal with that hot-headed bunch of assholes.” I meant it. They’d given me nothing but a headache. On top of that, I already had an overflowing caseload I was trying to cram into as many hours of the day as I could. I’d not had a moment to myself since I’d picked up the case two weeks prior.
A look of concern crossed my Dad’s face as he came toward me and took hold of my shoulders. The searching stare was followed by a deep frown appearing on his forehead.
“Are you burning the candle at both ends?”
I shook off his hands. “The chance would be a fine thing. I’ve been burning the midnight oil at the club trying to get witness statements from the other members for the night in question.” My gut churned at how it gave me the opportunity to gain insight into all the different sides to Lincoln, Poppy, or as his club members called him, Killer. I’d not seen him since the day after we’d shared pizza as he wasn’t allowed anywhere near the club.
That evening, having supper with him and River, he’d shown a soft side that I’m sure few would believe was there. His reputation was that of a mean-tempered biker that didn’t tolerate fools. Yet, River held his heart, and the fierce love he had for her left me even more conflicted. I’d never thought about family and having one of my own. After I’d left them, I’d had this overwhelming need to feel a part of something that special, and I couldn’t shake it.
Then I’d gone to the tattoo shop the following day, and there was the bad ass biker that had an aura that kept men wary and the women fawning all over him. I’d had to turn away from the sight more than once. It was hard to acknowledge that I was pissed after Linc had laid it out that nothing would happen between us. I’d seen no point in pretending I’d not felt the sexual tension between us. And though I’d already made my mind up that nothing was going to happen, it was still disappointing in ways I’d never felt before.
“Is there something else going on here that I’m missing?”
I exhaled gustily and looked into my Dad’s probing gaze. With his years in the military and then as a lawyer, he was great at reading people, which is why I trusted his judgement. I worked to mask my thoughts as I tried to figure out how to answer without giving too much away.
“I just need a couple of days off. You know, relaxing and doing nothing but lazing in the sun rather than running around in it.” That at least was the truth, the past two weekends I’d spent going over files and testimonies, trapped inside.
“Then why don’t you come over this weekend for the Fourth of July celebrations? I mentioned it a few weeks back, but you didn’t commit. Your brothers are all coming.”
The concern was back, as was the guilt at not wanting to be around everyone and feel like the odd man out. It had worsened over the last decade when Dane, who was a year older than me, made the decision to go into the Navy, leaving me the only one not following in our father’s footsteps.
I found myself agreeing as his eyes creased and a look of disappointment replaced the worry. “I’d completely forgotten it was coming up on the Fourth. It will give me a good excuse not to work. Tell Mom I’ll bring my special cheesecake.”
The smile that lit his face helped to unknot my stomach. “She’ll be thrilled. But make sure to bake enough to feed the neighborhood. I’m sure she’s invited them all!” He gave a wry chuckle as he rolled his eyes at me.
“You love it.”
“I suppose I do. I miss having my boys around me,” he said in such a despondent tone that I wrapped my arms around him and gave him a hard hug.
Stepping back, I nudged him toward the open door. “Go on, I see you’re dressed for golf while some of us have a desk that’s groaning under the strain of all the work piled on it.”
“Privilege of owning your own business,” he quipped back.
“Yeah, yeah.” I took my seat as he strolled to the door and looked back at me.
“If you ever want to talk about what’s bothering you, I’m here.”
I sighed and blinked back the sudden rush of tears, blaming them on being overtired. “Thanks, Dad.”
He thankfully didn’t point out the catch in my voice as he gave me one final look before leaving as quietly as he’d entered.
I laid my forehead down on the pile of papers on my desk and sucked in several deep breaths as I gathered myself back together. You’re just tired is all.
***
“Lincoln, I’m already running late for where I’m supposed to be. Why do I need to come to the shop?” I complained into the phone I’d tucked into the crook of my neck as I lifted the huge tray out of the refrigerator.
I hunched, trying to keep hold of the phone with my shoulder and cheek while I looked for a countertop close enough to lay down the triple-sized Nutella cheesecake I’d made for the celebration today.
“This ain’t my idea, it’s River’s, and she won’t stop pesterin’ me.”
He sounded pissed as his smoky voice filled my ear. My body reacted as a shiver raced over my exposed skin. A grin tugged at my lips even as I blew out a frustrated breath. I eyed the cheesecake and considered my options.
“Do you and River like burgers and Nutella cheesecake?”
“Does a bear shit in the woods? What kinda stupid question is that?” he growled, sounding confused and causing another shiver to ripple over my already pebbled flesh.
“Do you have plans for today? If I drive to Belton, the cheesecake I’ve slaved over will melt in the heat. It’s hotter than hell out there today. So, I’m proposing—”
“You proposing to me? It’s a bit soon for that,” he fired back so fast my mouth dropped open at the humor in his voice.
Had he just made a joke at my expense?
A flare of heat spread up my neck and I was glad I was alone. “You’re cracking me up,” I quipped back, and his bold laughter left me feeling more than a little flustered. In the time I’d spent with him, his guard had remained firmly in place unless he was with River. I berated myself for feeling way more pleasure than was sensible, knowing he could be that way with me when he s
o rarely did it with others.
“What I’m suggesting is that you bring River to my…well actually, to my parents’ home. You can have a burger and cheesecake as a reward, then explain what it was you wanted.”
There was utter silence on the other end of the phone, so I pulled it from my ear to check I’d not accidently cut him off. Seeing that we were still connected, I went over what I’d said. “Is there a problem?” I asked in a strained voice when I put the phone back to my ear and Linc remained quiet.
“You’re invitin’ us to your parents’ home?”
“Yes, that’s what I said. Is there a problem with that?” I blew out a frustrated breath, trying to see what his issue was.
“Folks don’t normally invite the likes of me into their home...” There was a sound of scratching as he trailed off, as if he were embarrassed by the admission.
“I’m not folks. So, are you coming?” I held my breath and waited for his answer, realizing just how much I wanted him to say yes.
“I’m not sure that’s a good idea—”
“You know my Dad,” I quickly reminded him. “This isn’t an issue unless you make it into one.” I countered, hating the desperate edge to my voice while my palms became sticky with sweat.
“Say yes, Poppy. I wanna see Mason,” came River’s voice in the background.
He sighed and all I could think about was how to reward River for helping me out.
“Give me the address.”
He sounded anything but happy as I gave him the address and told him I’d see him there before hanging up quick smart so he couldn’t change his mind. I dropped my phone onto the counter as my hands trembled.
What was I doing?
Playing with fire!
I hesitated before picking my phone back up and, with a resigned sigh, I dialed my parents to explain they’d be having extra company.
Chapter Nine
Lincoln
I tugged off my shorts and pulled on a pair of jeans to hide the tracker attached to my ankle. I gave the plain navy T-shirt a passing glance as I fastened the button fly. What had I been thinking to agree to this?
