Burning Hot Rumors (Choices: Tarkio MC Book 2)

by Debra Kayn

  They might not have much to their name, but they had each other, and that was all that she needed.

  He collapsed beside her, pulling her against his side. Cocooned in the safety Kent provided, she sighed in contentment. If only she could stay in his arms forever and not have to walk outside and face the real world.

  "Love you, honey," he murmured, tightening his arm around her.

  She closed her eyes. "Love you, too, babe."

  Chapter 33

  Callie

  BILLY JOEL. BRYAN ADAMS. DEF LEPPARD.

  Callie picked up the next CD and moved back to the beginning of the rack and slipped Air Supply into the proper slot to keep everything in alphabetical order. It was a constant chore during her workday to pick up after the kids who browsed for music.

  "Oh, Lord, look at this." Jamie held up a poster of Steve Perry from Journey. "This is going to sell fast."

  "How many of those came in?" asked Callie.

  "A dozen."

  She walked over to the box. "What do you think? Should I put one up in the front window? It might draw people inside."

  "Perfect." Jamie wound the poster into a tube and handed it to her. "Go ahead and take the advertisement down for the city parade. That was last weekend, so we can toss it now."

  Callie grabbed the tape dispenser and walked to the front of the store. Slowly climbing between the display of guitars, t-shirts, and albums, she stood in front of the window and picked the adhesive off the window to remove the ad.

  The door opened. She glanced over and smiled at the teenaged couple holding hands. The boy wore a blue and yellow letterman's jacket with a screaming eagle on the back while his girlfriend wore shorts and a crop top, taking advantage of the beautiful weather Missoula had today.

  She peeled the old advertisement off the glass. Tearing off two pieces of tape, she gently unrolled the poster, attaching it in the bare spot on the window. Once she finished, she leaned back to make sure it was straight.

  Movement beyond the glass caught her attention. She refocused her eyes and peered out. A couple faced each other, their arms swinging wildly in disagreement.

  The more she focused, her heart raced at the familiar body movements. That was Josh beside his truck arguing with someone.

  She pressed her forehead to the glass and squinted. And, Linda.

  Maneuvering around the displays, she hopped down out of the window. She went to the door before stopping herself from rushing outside. She was still on the clock.

  Concerned for Linda, she looked at her watch. She had ten minutes until her lunch break.

  She had no idea what she expected to do, but hearing about Josh possibly abusing Linda was different than seeing them together, fighting, with her own eyes. Her heart pulled toward helping Linda. She knew what it was like to go up against Josh.

  The bruises she'd been told about weren't apparent from inside the music store, but she had no doubts that what Kent witnessed was the truth, and it sickened her. Josh had turned into someone she no longer recognized.

  He wasn't the star football player or the young man who flirted with her. He wasn't the man who slipped a ring on her finger and promised to love her forever.

  He was the man who cheated on her and was proud of getting away with his infidelities. He was the man who had no qualms against embarrassing her and spreading lies.

  She had no doubt that he was the one threatening Linda, and it no longer mattered what Linda had done with Josh voluntarily. The scene playing out in front of her showed a lot of anger.

  Could she stop them if there wasn't any physical contact? It seemed to only be a verbal spat.

  "Callie, do you want to help the customer while I take these boxes to the back?" asked Jamie.

  "Sure." She pulled herself away from the window and the drama outside.

  Once she helped the kids find the music that interested them, she hurried over to the door and looked outside. Josh and Linda were gone.

  Heaviness filled her. Was she no better than everyone else by not stepping forward and helping? Maybe Linda wouldn't want her help. Or, maybe she had.

  The rest of the day went slowly for her. She couldn't stop thinking about what she'd seen. By the end of work, she was kicking herself for not rushing out there and asking Linda if she wanted help.

  By the time Kent picked her up from work, she still hadn't figured out what to do if she witnessed such a thing again.

  "What's wrong?" Kent caught her wrist, keeping her from climbing on the back of the Harley.

  "I don't know if something is wrong or not." She rubbed her head. "I saw Josh and Linda today."

  "Did he bother you?"

  She shook her head. "He never came into the store. I noticed them in the parking lot. It looked like they were arguing."

  "Stay away from them." His mouth hardened. "You don't go out there, even if it looks like Linda needs help."

  "I couldn't do that," she said. "If I needed help, I'd hope someone would reach out to me."

  "Not when it comes to Hill."

  "It's so frustrating. The whole thing left me feeling like I needed to do something." She couldn't shake the odd feeling left behind. "Trust me, I believe everything you've told me, and seeing them together, I don't know..."

  "If you ever feel that way again, you call me."

  "You were at work. I wouldn't want to bother you over something I'm not sure about." She leaned in and kissed him. "Besides, it's over with."

  She climbed up on the back of his motorcycle, flipping her purse, so it hung against her back. Hugging his middle, she held on as he took her back to the house. As he stopped in the driveway, she noticed wood pieces and what looked like a headboard for a bed in the back of the truck.

  Her mood shifted, and she slid off the back of the Harley. "You got us a bed."

  "Yeah, about that. I got to the store and changed my mind on getting us a mattress set." He walked over to the truck. "It's a California King waterbed."

  "No way, really?" She laughed. "I've never slept on one."

  "Me, neither." He grinned. "I'll get it set up tonight and fill it. The guy at the store said it takes twenty-four hours to warm up enough to sleep on it."

  She hugged his waist. "Watch us get seasick."

  He raised his brows. "I'll get you used to the motion in the ocean, honey. Tonight."

  She swatted his butt at his attempt at humor and walked to the door, unlocking it for him so he could carry the rest of the boards inside.

  "Hey, honey?"

  She turned around. "What, babe?"

  "Turn the radio on while I work."

  "What station?"

  "KGON." He lifted a board out of the truck.

  The only thing in the living room was a transistor radio Kent owned and carried in his duffle bag. She dug it out and turned it on, turning the dial until she found the rock radio station. Extending the antenna, she set the radio in the window to get better reception, then turned up the sound until Kent could hear it outside.

  Then, knowing he spent a pretty penny on the bed, she opened her purse and took out a hundred dollars she'd saved from her deposit to help with expenses, and put the money on the kitchen counter.

  Every time she'd tried to give him money, he told her not to worry about it, but she wanted to help out. Having a bed was as important to her as it was to him. She was getting tired of the hard floor and being sore when she woke up.

  Going out to see if Kent needed any help, she stepped outside and found they had company. Paco, Roddy, and Curley stood in the driveway, their motorcycles at the curb. She hadn't even heard them pull up over the music blaring.

  She walked toward them, waving to Roddy when he looked in her direction. He lifted his chin at her and turned his attention back to Kent.

  Not wanting to interrupt, she walked to the back of the pickup, climbed up, and looked for any parts of the bed she could carry on her own and picked up a sack.

  "Honey?"

  She hopped off the
tailgate. "Yeah?"

  "Come and listen to this," said Kent.

  She carried the sack with her and joined the men. "What's going on?"

  "What time did you see Josh and Linda outside the music store?" Kent hooked the back of her neck and brought her closer.

  "Around eleven forty-five this morning, why?" She looked at the others for an answer.

  "You're sure?" Curley held his riding gloves in his hand.

  "Positive. I remember looking at my watch, and I had fifteen minutes until I could go on my lunch break." She looked at Kent before turning back to Curley. "Did something happen to Linda?"

  "We're just seeing where everyone was around one o'clock today." Curley stepped back and dipped his chin. "We'll see you guys around."

  The other bikers left with Curley. She frowned at Kent. "That was strange. What happened at one o'clock?"

  "Someone ran over Cutter's bike outside the clubhouse around that time." Kent pulled out a board from the truck. "They were seeing if maybe it was in retaliation for trying to help Linda."

  "Was anyone hurt?"

  He shook his head. "Just the bike."

  "Maybe it was an accident." She grabbed the other end of the board and helped him carry it into the house. "Someone could've backed up and not seen the motorcycle."

  "That could be it. I'm sure they'll figure out how it happened." He took the part of the bed from her. "Go ahead and rest. I can carry the other pieces."

  "I'll make us each a sandwich for dinner." She kissed him.

  Escaping into the kitchen, she rubbed her face. She was starting to think Josh caused problems for everyone in Missoula.

  Chapter 34

  Kent

  CALLIE'S HAIR WHIPPED around her shoulders. Underneath Kent, the water mattress rolled, creating swells to aid him in thrusting into her pussy.

  Almost unseated atop him, Callie dug her fingers into his chest. He hissed, holding on to her hips, shooting his load. Ripples of pleasure throbbed in his balls. He brought her down and held her against his chest. Together, they floated until the mattress stopped moving.

  As their world stilled, she giggled, setting off the swells of water underneath them again. Damn, he loved to hear her laugh.

  She raised her head and planted her elbow on his chest, propping her head on her hand. "You tricked me."

  He chuckled, unable to keep the amusement to himself. "It's a lazy man's bed. I just have to lay here, and between you and the mattress, there's enough movement to get my nut off and watch my woman come."

  "Violently, babe." She snorted through her laughter. "I almost got bucked off. If you weren't holding me down, I would've toppled right off the bed."

  He wound a strand of her hair around his finger. "The bed will do until we get a couch, table, chairs. Maybe an ottoman." He growled. "Yeah, I'd like to do you on an ottoman. Put your cute ass right up there at the perfect height—"

  "And scoot me across the room?" She laughed. "You're crazy."

  "Give me time. I'll have you on every piece of furniture we buy."

  "Are you planning for our future?" She raised her brow, teasing him.

  There was no joking when it came to his life with her. He wasn't going to give her up, no matter how many mountains were in front of them. It'd taken him half his life to want to settle down, and that was only because he'd met her. He planned on having her with him for the rest of his life.

  "I'm tired of being alone." He watched her brows soften. "Marriage is only a piece of paper and a few minutes in front of a judge. What I feel for you...it's something bigger that I will never let go of."

  She dipped her head and kissed his lips. "I love you."

  "Love me again tonight." He smacked her butt. "I'm going to be late meeting Curley and the guys if I don't get moving."

  She groaned and rolled off him. "I'm so glad it's Sunday, but I wish you were going to be with me all day."

  "I'll just be gone a couple of hours." He heaved himself off his back and rolled toward the padded bed railing, only to cause a tidal wave in the bed and send Callie rolling with the motion of the water.

  Hoisting his body over the railing, the loss of his weight on the mattress sent Callie rolling again on the bed, unable to stop her body from pitching with the waves. He walked bare-assed into the bathroom. Her laughter followed him as she settled back in bed alone. She needed her rest.

  Showered and a cup of coffee in him later, he walked into the bedroom, and Callie had closed her eyes the way he'd hoped. He leaned over and kissed her forehead.

  She stirred, stretching her legs. The blanket slipped down her naked body, giving him a flash of tits.

  For how much he'd enjoy staying home all day and getting a taste of her again, he needed to answer Curley's call. The Tarkio member needed to talk and wouldn't divulge any information over the phone.

  Locking the door behind him, he rolled the Harley out of the driveway, not starting the engine until he hit the street to keep from waking up Callie.

  A few minutes later, he walked into the clubhouse. Surprised to see so many of the members in the room, he took in the chaos in front of him. Everyone talked, though he couldn't follow any conversations because there were too many people shouting over each other.

  "Curley! Calder is here," shouted someone from the other side of the room.

  Paco caught Kent's arm and handed him an opened beer. He took the drink and tipped it back. "Do you know what's going on?

  The only answer was a slap on the back. Several minutes later, Curley and Priest, the President of Tarkio Motorcycle Club, walked toward him

  He held out his hand, having only met Priest last year before he'd left Missoula. "Good to see you."

  "You, too." Priest turned his head and shouted, "Clear the room."

  Silence rolled over the crowd as they walked through the front door and went outside. Since he was called to come over, he stayed. Though why they'd need privacy escaped him. He was the outsider here.

  "Need another drink?" Priest walked over to the makeshift bar and grabbed a whiskey bottle and three shot glasses.

  "I'm good." He lifted his beer.

  He found himself short on patience. He could be home in bed with Callie, snuggled up against her warmth, sucking her tit, and dozing off when the urge hit.

  "Go ahead and sit." Priest put the glasses on the table, turned the chair around, and straddled the seat.

  Priest had twenty years on Kent, he guessed. He had no idea how long he'd been the president or how it happened. He could only go off how the other guys shared stories about Priest, and all he'd heard was respect. And received the advice that Priest wasn't anyone to mess with.

  "I wanted to talk to you about your involvement with Josh Hill."

  "Go ahead and ask your questions." Anything that involved Callie, he'd want to know about it.

  "I'm pushing sixty years old and spent every one of those days in Missoula. There's not much that happens around here that I don't know about or can predict." Priest knocked back his shot and put the glass on the table, meeting Kent's gaze. "Including your woman marrying Hill."

  He stayed silent. It wasn't a secret. The whole town knew Hill's version of what happened during the time Callie was married. But he wouldn't put up with anyone spreading the rumors, and he watched Priest for any indication he wanted more information.

  President or not, he'd put a stop to him uttering Callie's name in a lie.

  "I knew her old man, too. Ed was one of the good ones." Priest filled up all three shot glasses and pushed two across the table to Kent and Curley. "To Ed."

  Kent lifted the shot and tipped it back. He and Priest had something in common. They both had respected Callie's dad.

  "We've had problems with Josh Hill before. He and his dad, Jay." Priest hung his arms over the back of the chair and steepled his fingers. "I have five of my men in prison at the moment because of Jay Hill. Eventually, when the time is right, he'll pay for his part of sending them away."

&n
bsp; He set his beer can on the table. "What does this have to do with me?"

  "I'd like to recruit you to join Tarkio," said Curley. "I've seen how you handle yourself, and with our current and mutual interest in Hill, I think you'd be a good addition to the MC."

  "You'd ride under Curley for a year in which time, you'd come in front of the other officers, and we'd all vote whether to patch you in." Priest stroked his beard. "Once you've proven your loyalty, only then will you be privy to other club business. But I will agree to you riding with Tarkio prior to vote if we have a chance to go after Hill, considering your woman is Callie Moore. If you show interest in our offer, Curley will explain where we go from here, get you to sign a good faith contract."

  He chewed over Priests' offer and understood the magnitude of pledging his loyalty. It was a lifelong commitment. One that he would have to discuss with Callie, considering he planned to love her for the rest of her life. "Can I have a few days to think it over?"

  "I would've regretted giving you the offer if you'd agreed today." Priest dipped his chin. "I'll talk with you later. Right now, I better let the others inside before the police start circling the block, wondering what the fuck is going on."

  Alone with Curley, he shook his head. "Not what I expected to happen."

  "You'd be a good fit, man." Curley shrugged. "Every day gets closer, and I know you're hot on getting Hill out of your woman's life."

  "Right." He stood and held out his hand. "We'll talk soon."

  Walking out, he thought about the possibilities of getting Hill out of Callie's life. Most of all, he realized how well Callie fit in with Tarkio when he wasn't around. They'd sheltered and protected her when she had no one. With both of them without any family members, it would be good to know Tarkio would look out for her if something happened to him.

  Chapter 35

  Callie

  A MIDDLE-AGED, MALE customer sat six CDs on the counter. Callie looked up, smiling. "You must listen to music all day long."

  "The guys on the job site work more when I supply the music for the boombox." He pulled out his wallet. "This will get them through eight straight hours, I'm hoping."