by Jess Winters
“Right. And I’m the fucking tooth fairy.”
Tanner smiled to himself and glanced back towards the stairs. The repercussions wouldn’t be the end all for getting to know Skinner’s daughter, and it wouldn’t be so bad if he didn’t expect anything from her. Now, it’s if she expected anything from him - that would prove to be the real challenge.
4. Scarlett
Scarlett watched as Brighty made a bee-line for the mini fridge next to his desk, which was on the opposite side of the room. He pulled out a can of Bud Light and gestured the can at her. “You want one?”
“Sure. It’s so hot here.”
He brought out another can and threw it her way. It was ice cold in her hands as she pushed down the tab and opened it. She lifted it to her lips and took a sip. It was even more refreshing than she thought it would be.
Scarlett audibly sighed and let her hand and the beer fall to her side. “That’s so nice after the long ride here.”
“That Mustang have A/C?”
“It has heating, but the A/C is out of whack.”
He took a seat in a beat up, dark-brown leather chair. The whole place was a mishmash of random classic furniture. “How did he go?”
“Probably not what you’re expecting,” she said flatly, remembering the stories of open roads and women that her father had told her. “Lung cancer.”
Brighty was silent as he considered her words. “I’m real sorry to hear that. He was a good man, and a good friend.”
“He was a great dad.”
“He took you away from here so that you had a better chance at a good life than he had. It was hard seeing him go, but I understand why he left,” he said solemnly. “Those of us here that know him will be missing him even more now, without a proper chance to say goodbye.”
“I’m sorry, by the way.”
“Whatchu sorry for?”
She took another sip of her beer and let the cool drink roll over her tongue. “We had a funeral, but it was only for family. Mostly my Mom’s side.”
“That doesn’t bother me at all. I’m just sad we never had a proper goodbye, is all.”
Scarlett’s looked about the room. All along the walls were motorcycle memorabilia, from old Harley Davidson signs to dusty, patched leather jackets with names on the back. “He talked a lot about his life here.”
“There were a lot more stories I’m sure he didn’t tell you.”
She smiled to herself. “I have no doubt that there were.”
Brighty stretched his legs out in front of him and swept his hand over his beard. “So, what is it that brings you all the way out here? I can’t help but wonder what your dad felt was so necessary to bring back.”
“It’s a set of keys. They’re back in the Mustang,” she said, reaching to her own keys in her back pocket. “I haven't opened the envelope to take a look at it yet, but it seemed really important to him.”
His eyes widened at her words and he sat upright in the chair. “Did you say that he has a set of keys he’s returning?”
Scarlett nodded, unsure of what to make of his sudden interest.
“You’ve got to be kidding me. He must have still had that damned thing.”
She switched the hand that held her beer and furrowed her eyebrows at him. “Does it belong to somewhere important? Like a house?”
“No, miss. Nothing like that. Definitely something you know we care about, and it has two wheels.”
“The keys belong to a motorcycle?”
“Not just any motorcycle,” he said, and rose to his feet. “Have you told anyone else about those keys?”
“No, I haven’t.”
“Good,” he said, his voice low. “We’ll get to looking them over tomorrow. In the meantime, you’ll need somewhere to stay.”
“Oh, it’s okay. I’m just here to deliver—”
“You’re Skinner’s daughter. It’d be a shame for you not to meet some of the townspeople. They grew up with your dad, after all.”
She’d fully expected to leave at the soonest convenience. Drop the keys off, and dip. That was her plan.
It seemed it wasn’t going to work out that way.
She finished her beer. “You have somewhere in mind?”
“Of course! Won’t make you sleep over there on that old couch.”
She turned her head and saw a lonely, faded leather couch against the wall just beneath a window. It looked about as old as she was. “Yeah, I’d prefer something a little more comfortable.”
“No need to worry about that, then. There’s a few places that cross my mind,” he said, and he finished his own beer. “Come down and we’ll go talk to Tanner about something to do tonight.”
So, it looked as though Tanner would be involved. Scarlett threw her empty can into the nearest blue bin and smiled to herself. Might make for a more interesting night if he was going to be there.
5. Scarlett
She couldn’t tear her eyes away from his muscular arms, which had an array of tattoos embedded into his skin. She had two or three tattoos of her own, but they were smaller and more demure. His, on the other hand, were bold and colorful – a Japanese-inspired dragon breathing fire, a Day of the Dead skull and a black and white deer skull on his hand, whose antlers reached out on top of his fingers.
It was taboo to ask questions about tattoos. Despite that, she wanted to know the story behind each and every one of them. They were all different styles of artwork, but had clearly been done by the same person, as they each tattoo had small similarities.
“Can’t think of a place right now, really,” he said, and placed his hands in his pockets. “Maybe just Mary-Belle’s? It’s a decent bed and breakfast that’ll make you feel right at home.”
She felt his eyes on her chest, which caused her to fill with warmth that trailed all across her skin. Usually she’d give someone a dirty look for staring, but seeing as it was Tanner, she let it go. “That sounds decent.”
“Probably the best place in town, too,” Brighty said, and turned around to the other man, standing with Tanner. “Oh, and this is Sid, by the way.”
“Hi, Sid. I’m Scarlett.”
Sid gave a brief wave and crushed his beer can in his hand. “I heard you’re Skinner’s daughter. Sorry to hear about your loss.”
“Thanks.”
The room was silent for a moment, as though everyone was taking in the death of her father. Scarlett felt a little more at ease knowing that she was in the company of people who cared about her dad.
“So, what brings you out here?” Sid asked her, breaking the silence.
“I’m here to deliver something important. Brighty and I will be dealing with it tomorrow.”
“Or the next day,” Brighty said, his voice so loud it echoed in the garage. “I’m hoping you’ll stay here for a few days, at the very least. Besides, I expect Tanner will come up with something to do.”
“I was thinking of Ray’s bar.”
“Ray’s? You want us to go to Ray’s?” Brighty asked, eyeing him. “You can’t be serious.”
“There’s not much else to do in town, and seeing as it’s Thursday, it’s half-off pints night. I think the boys’ll want to go to that.”
Brighty locked eyes with Scarlett. “A few of us are out of town at the moment, as they’re heading up to a meet. There’s only about six of us around right now, but if you want to meet them, Ray’s is the place.”
“That’s fine with me. I don’t mind country bars.”
Tanner laughed lightly. “Not really a country bar. Are you expecting line dancing or something like that?”
“Don’t worry. I don’t exactly do line dancing.”
She didn’t know how to take the fact that he’d even envision her line dancing. She glanced down at her outfit, which was a basic baggy white crop top and mom jeans with black flats. Her look wasn’t country in the slightest, or so she hoped.
“I didn’t expect you to,” he said, his smile growing wider. “It’s just more
of a hole-in-the-wall kind of place. Not really the type of bar that you’d see city girls going to.”
So, that’s what he thought of her.
“City girl? What makes you think I’m some kind of city girl?”
“Nothing. I was just trying to say I can’t picture you around all of us bikers and hanging out playing pool.”
Little did he know that was just her kind of place. “I actually love pool.”
Brighty nudged Tanner. “Skinner always had a pool table in his house. I’m assuming he taught you to play?”
Scarlett nodded. “He did. Taught me a few tricks, too.”
“Well, I can’t wait to see them tonight,” Brighty said, and walked past Sid and Tanner. “Why don’t we get you set up at Mary-Belle’s? I’ll show you the way and let her know it’s on us while you’re here.”
“Oh. That’s okay. I can pay for my way here.”
“Nonsense. It’s the least we can do,” he told her and started towards a motorcycle at the back of the garage. “Go ahead and jump in your Mustang while I get this old girl started.”
She gave Tanner one last smile, hoping she would see him later. A few days of fun had never hurt anyone. This way, she’d also get to know the people who meant so much to her father.
6. Tanner
He’d heard that Skinner could hold his drink, back in his day, but he wasn’t so sure his daughter could. That was until he saw that she was showing the rest of the boys up. He couldn’t help but smile as she sang along to the jukebox with the pool cue in her hand.
He also didn’t mind that she was wearing a short turquoise sundress. She was beautiful and even though she had obviously drunk a little too much she wasn't turning into an ugly drunk, not at all. That was a difficult thing to pull off.
Her long brown hair flowed around her shoulders as she used the pool cue as her own personal mic, to stand and yell out Joan Jett's lyrics to Brighty, who’d decided to be her teammate. He wanted to be the one she was singing to, but he wasn’t sure how to approach her – yet.
Brighty tapped her on the back and she started laughing. She brushed her hair back and placed the pool cue down against the table.
Then, she met his eyes and winked.
Tanner knew that he had that effect on women. He didn’t need to chase them, and normally he didn’t even need to approach them. But they weren’t always so obvious – he’d only just realized that having such a woman around was a major turn-on.
He pulled up his black jeans and took a swig of his beer. “You done playing?”
She tilted her head to the side. “What's that?”
“Pool. Are you done playing?”
Brighty laughed and grabbed the cue from next to her. “Looks like it.”
She nodded her head dramatically. “Yeah, I’m getting kind of bored of it, actually. Is that okay by you, Brighty, if I dip out?”
“Fine with me. Go have fun with the younger people,” he said and grabbed her cue. “I have a bet to win, so I’ll be over here playing, if you change your mind.”
Scarlett made her way towards Tanner, who was leaning against the wall. He wasn’t sure what to make of her. Most women in their small town weren’t as forthright. All he did know was that he wanted her.
“My beer’s almost empty,” she told him, and looked forlornly at the empty bottle in her hand. “I’m not too sure what to do about that.”
Tanner grinned. “You’re something else, you know that?”
“Am I now? What makes you say that?”
He wanted to tell her that she was the most upfront woman he’d ever met, but he had a feeling that would not go over well. She was proud, and he knew not to say the wrong thing to a proud woman. “You’re just different from the girls around here.”
“Is that a good thing?”
“Not sure yet.”
“Tanner! You want a shot?”
Tanner stopped and turned towards a group of guys at the bar. “No, thanks. I’m good right here.”
He could tell that they were just curious about the new girl. He’d have done the same thing if he had seen one of them talking to her. There was no doubt someone else would take the chance to talk to her the moment he walked away.
“Who’re those guys?”
She brushed her hair back behind her ear, and Tanner couldn’t help but picture himself biting into her skin. He wanted to taste her.
“Those are just some other guys from the club. They’re more our age,” he told her, trying to keep his voice above the music so she could hear him. “The rest of the older guys went off to that meet up Brighty was telling you about.”
“Why didn’t you go?”
There was a coyness to her gaze that set him on fire. “I haven’t really been a part of the group for that long, yet. Didn’t think I should go if I don’t have a jacket yet.”
“You make it sound like a varsity team or something,” she said, and glanced about the room. “I think it should be your actions that determine whether you’re a part of the group, not a jacket.”
Tanner shook his head. “It’s not really like that. I mean, when I first came through town, it was Brighty who took a chance on hiring me.”
“Were you looking for work?”
“Kind of, I guess. I was a runaway who just happened to be passing through and who saw a bunch of cool guys on motorcycles. I followed them to the garage and asked how I could join.”
Something about telling his story made Tanner lower his voice. Seeing her expression made him want to continue, but there was also the apprehension of opening up to someone, who he barely knew, that seemed to overstep a boundary. It wasn’t a normal thing to do.
“That sounds like a really nice thing for him to do. Where are your parents, then?”
Tanner averted his eyes at the thought of them. “Don’t know. Probably still getting high and drunk back in my hometown.”
Scarlett fell silent at his comment and placed her beer down on a nearby table. She stood in front of him with her hands on her hips. “Do you dance?”
He smirked. “Do I dance? Not very well.”
“Well, I have a song that’ll be coming on right after this one, and I need someone to dance with me over on that dance floor,” she said, gesturing towards the open floor space, where only two couples were dancing. “I can always go ask someone else if you’re not up for the task.”
“You don’t think I’m up for it?”
She shrugged and started towards the dance floor, and like clockwork her song started. Tanner placed down his empty beer next to hers and followed. He was sure he'd follow her anywhere she was willing to lead him at that point; she was intoxicating.
7. Scarlett
The taste of the whiskey was on his tongue as she kissed him deeper. She felt his chest against hers as he pushed her against the wall. She felt him go hard beneath her, and gave a soft moan as he lifted the bottom of her dress.
She’d been waiting for this from the first minute she saw him, and her heart leapt at the thought that it was finally happening. Feeling him against her was enough to form goosebumps all along her skin.
His cologne was intoxicating as he brought his lips to her neck and held her tightly. His hands traced at the lace of her underwear and he lifted his lips, placing them onto hers again.
Scarlett cried out softly and looked up to meet his eyes. She could tell that he was feeling that same hunger inside. She closed her eyes and bit his lip before grazing her tongue against his.
His fingers brushed her underwear and slowly made their way towards the center. He entered her, and a moan escaped her lips. Scarlett pushed herself harder into him, wanting more.
He ripped off her underwear and threw it to the ground. She rubbed at his throbbing erection until it was hard. He was warm as he placed it near her and then thrust it inside, causing them both to quiver.
He held up her legs and thrust harder until she thought she would break. Her legs shook as she became overwhelmed by him. Th
e sensation of having him pull at her hair and break her with each movement was unbearable. She wanted him to keep going - she needed him to keep going.
He lowered his lips to her breasts as her back arched against the wall.
“Scarlett,” he said, and she bit his lip. “Oh my God.”
She couldn’t say anything. She could barely breathe in between his thrusting erection inside of her, followed by his intense outpouring inside of her.
She was restful as he pulled himself out and held her against the wall. They breathed into each other more deeply, and he brought his lips to hers again. He dragged his lips down towards her neck as she moaned softly.
That was exactly what she needed.
8. Scarlett
The sound of birds singing came into the room through the window and Scarlett rolled over in the bed, her head throbbing. That wasn’t the only thing. Her entire body was throbbing with the aftermath of Tanner.
The aftermath that, after three times, had left her feeling unbelievable. Even waking up sore, she couldn’t help but want him again. It was as though he’d lit a fire in her chest that couldn’t be doused.
She scoured the room for her clothes, and was surprised to see her dress neatly folded on a vintage armchair in the corner of the room. So, although he didn’t exactly look the part, he was a gentleman. She’d never had a guy fold her clothes like that for her.
The sun cascaded into the room through the blinds on the window next to her and illuminated the room in a soft golden hue. She turned to find her phone on the bedside table and she picked it up. It was ten o’clock.
No surprise there - she’d always been an early riser after a night out. She couldn’t even remember what time they’d gotten in. All she could remember was being slammed against his wall as soon as they’d closed the door behind them.
She heard footsteps and saw the bedroom door open. Tanner stood in the doorway with his arms crossed across his broad chest. He wore a simple white V-neck tee shirt and a pair of light-wash jeans. Morning suited him.
