by Amelia Shea
Coop snorted. “Woulda thought you’d get a tattoo while you were serving time.”
Kase jerked his head before he could control his reaction. Doing time? What the fuck? Coop was holding back a smile, and he winked at her.
Phoebe shook her head. “Not enough time.” She held up her hand and raised her brows. “And no, I wasn’t somebody’s bitch.”
Kase furrowed his brows. He heard the snickering coming from behind him. Gage must have been listening too.
“Do ya got any good prison stories?” Bill teased, coming up behind her.
“Not enough time to cause too much trouble.”
“Six hours?”
Phoebe scoffed. “Try twenty-seven.”
“Twenty-seven?” He whistled. “Thought you would have been out in a few hours.”
She leaned forward. “They lost my paperwork, so there was a delay on my release. But at least I get to claim two days as my sentence. So much more badass than just a day, don’t ya think?”
The older guy chuckled, and Kase noticed him wrap his arm around Phoebe, pulling her into his side. She went willingly and curled her arm around his waist.
“Missed you,” he whispered. “These meetings have lacked the entertainment value for the past six months. You good, sweetheart?”
“I’m good, and don’t worry, Bill.” She glanced up, smirking. “Prison hasn’t changed me.” She backed away and turned. She moved closer to the back of the room where he and the club had settled in at the beginning of the meeting.
The prison comment caught his attention, though it was said in jest. What the fuck was he missing here?
He kept his head forward and remained acutely aware of his surroundings. Kase watched as she quietly angled her body next to a guy who stood a foot away from his seat. She curled her arm through his and smiled. The guy, who he’d tag as old enough to be her father, weaved his arm around her shoulders and tugged her into his side. He’d met Phil and his wife, Delores, at his store. They were both retired, and he was currently in the process of rebuilding an old beat up Porsche.
“Good to have ya back, sweetheart.”
“Yeah, well, every town needs a bad apple. Looks like I’m Ghosttown’s.” Kase heard the shared snicker. They were obviously close. “Need a favor.”
“Name it.”
“I have to bring my car in for repair. Do you think you can give me a ride home if they need to keep it?”
“Take it to the one on Truman?”
Kase watched her confused reaction. Before she could speak, Phil jerked his chin toward the back of the room. “The MC opened up a repair shop right on Truman.” Phil smiled. “No more driving over to Turnersville for us. They replaced my carburetor a few weeks ago. Good price.”
“Yeah?”
Kase turned his attention toward the front of the room but caught her movement from the corner of his eye. Her steps were soft and headed in his direction. He would have preferred his first encounter with her to be on his terms. When she stopped a few inches away, he glanced up at her, keeping his features hard and uninviting.
She slowly bent down, resting her hands on her knees, putting them at eye level. And dangerously close. Her long blonde hair swung past her shoulders, inches away from touching his thigh. Most people shied away from getting too close to him, but Phoebe didn’t seem concerned or intimidated. If anything, she appeared interested.
No fucking way, sweetheart.
She drew in a breath and angled her head. “Hi there.”
Kase cocked his brow and remained silent.
“I heard you guys have a garage? I was hoping you could help me out.” Her gaze flickered past him, landing on Rourke seated beside him. Phoebe smiled. “I was driving in, and my sailboat light came on.”
Gage snickered, along with a few other brothers in the surrounding area. It didn’t seem to faze her. She giggled. “Why the hell do I even have a sailboat light?” She shifted her gaze back at him, and the corner of her mouth curled.
Kase stared back. “It’s your temperature gauge.”
She widened her eyes with amusement. “That’s my sailboat?”
Trax and Rourke laughed. She glanced over at them and then set her sights back on Kase. With his close-up view, he noticed the small light freckles peppering over her nose.
“It’s a fucking temperature gauge, not a fucking sailboat.”
Her brow cocked, and she smirked, leaning closer. “But it looks like a sailboat, am I right?”
Her effort to flirt with a playful banter would be lost on him. He wouldn’t play into anything with her. More experienced women, versed in sexual seduction and flirtation, had tried and failed.
Kase locked his jaw and jerked his chin toward Trax and Rourke. “Bring it in, they’ll check it out.”
She jerked her gaze past him to Trax and Rourke and then smiled and leaned a bit closer to Kase. She was so fucking close her sweet vanilla scent swirled over him. Fucking vanilla?
“Thanks. Can I bring it by tomorrow?”
He ground his teeth, ignoring her scent. Vanilla? He was accustomed to women who bathed in flowered scented shit that stung his eyes when they got too close. Hers was faint and sweet. Oh fuck me. The woman wasn’t sweet, she wasn’t innocent, and she wasn’t beautiful. She was his fucking enemy.
Her breath fanned his face. It was deliberate, and he refused to take her bait. Phoebe had no clue who she was going up against.
“I’m Phoebe Shaw.”
Kase drew in a breath, and for the first time since they interacted, he smirked. Get ready, sweetheart.
“Kase Reilly.”
It took a second. Her expression changed as recognition flashed across her face. They’d never formally met, but he’d made plenty of offers on her property. She knew his name. In fact, if he had to guess, she probably loathed the mere uttering of it. His lawyer, who was on retainer, had aggressively made a move on the club’s behalf to purchase the property. Twelve offers, all declined. After the last one, his lawyer came back to him defeated, with a message from Phoebe herself. His lawyer’s direct quote was, “I’m not selling. Back off.”
He expected anger, annoyance, possible aggravation. He got nothing except cherry pink lips spreading in a wide smile.
“Kase Reilly,” she whispered in a low sexy purr. “We finally meet.” Her tone was laced with humor and something else he couldn’t quite place. Phoebe drew in a breath and glanced up through her lashes. “Rumor has it I got something you want.” It was a seductress’s tease. The corner of her mouth curled as she slowly straightened. Even as she turned around, she kept her eyes on him.
Not much caught him off guard, but her brazen, bold comment was unexpected. He clenched his jaw, watching her, mainly her tight ass, saunter back toward Phil. A little too much confidence, sweetheart. He wanted her property, not access to her bed.
The meeting ended ten minutes later. Once Bailey hit the gavel on the desk, it was a mad dash for the door. Kase stood, stretching out his legs when he felt a hand on his back. He glanced over his shoulder.
“Kase, I’m begging, do not pull the off-limits bullshit with her,” Gage said.
Kase didn’t need to ask who he was referring to. All the single brothers had Phoebe tagged the second she walked through the door. Kase didn’t bother responding as she approached. When she glanced up, her stare was on him. Not Gage. Her face softened, and her lips pursed. She had no clue who she was dealing with.
Too much fucking trouble.
She was a few feet away when an older lady, who he noticed stayed close with Arnett, ambled forward, halting in front of Phoebe and blocking her path. She was flanked by two older guys who were glaring at Phoebe. He’d seen the same tactic used on Bailey.
Had it been the mayor, he would have stepped in. With Phoebe, he would merely observe.
She sighed and raised her brows, waiting as if she knew exactly what was coming. The confrontation garnered quite a few onlookers since they were now blocking the passag
e to the exit. Some members who’d been walking out stopped and turned around.
“Hello, Elsa. How are you?” Phoebe asked.
The older lady ignored her greeting and stepped closer. “I hope you have learned your lesson,” she sneered, shaking her head.
Kase watched as Phoebe drew in a breath, but he remained silent. She still possessed her same confidence, but it was evident she didn’t want to engage with the old bitch, clearly looking for an argument, or at the very least, to shame Phoebe, for reasons unbeknownst to him. He folded his arms and waited. Hopefully, another argument would grant him more insight to what the town refused to talk about.
“Do you know what I think?”
Phoebe folded her arms and smiled. “Nope. But I’m sure you’re going to tell me.”
“I think you need the Lord.”
Phoebe nodded, licking her lips, seemingly amused. “So ya think there’s still hope, huh? Good to know.”
“I think you’ve lost your way. If you spent more time praying and less time trying to hurt people, God would reward you with a happy heart. Maybe a new life.” She sighed, and her condescending tone was even pissing off Kase. He’d always despised the holier than thou attitude.
He watched Phoebe. Had he looked away, he might have missed it. While her reaction wasn’t overtly obvious, he caught the slight tightening of her lips, and her excessive blinking was a cue the old lady had swung hard and Phoebe felt it.
She narrowed her gaze. “My heart is just fine, but I appreciate your concern.”
“My concern is for this town.” She shook her head. “I think you’re broken, set to rain down your self-loathing and fury on those around you. Violence has no place in Ghosttown.”
Phoebe eyed her, and he noticed a few residents also taking in the conversation. A few of the men seemed on guard. Phil stepped closer, resting his hand on her back.
Phoebe jerked her chin. “But antagonizing and hate do?”
Elsa flinched and remained silent.
“I’ll take responsibility for my part. I have taken my punishment.” Phoebe narrowed her gaze but kept a smirk on her face. “I apologized, I spent over twenty-four hours in prison, paid my fines, and even completed my community service and anger management. Got a big fat gold star on my certificate to prove it. The restraining order was lifted.” Phoebe lost her smile. “That’s it. It’s all I got.” She shrugged. “And if that’s not good enough for you,” she paused and glanced over Elsa’s shoulder, “or anyone else in this town, then it’s your problem. Not mine.” She forced a smile. “Have a nice night, Elsa.”
Prison, fines, community service, and anger management?
He watched as she sauntered through the crowd, making her way to the front of the hall to the mayor. He’d known Bailey was friends with her, close friends by Bailey’s admission. Their greeting earlier and the one he was witnessing now confirmed it.
Bailey threw her arms around Phoebe’s shoulders as if she’d just returned from war. Or prison.
He held back, waiting on the remaining residents and his brothers to usher out the door before starting toward the front of the room.
Once Bailey had released Phoebe from her clutches, she seemed to have been introducing Saint. Kase was too far away to hear the exchange, though it didn’t matter. From their facial features, Phoebe appeared just as excited to meet Saint as Bailey was to introduce him.
He slowed his approach and leaned against the wall a few feet away.
“I’ll see you this week, maybe a pizza date?”
Bailey nodded as her gaze shifted over Phoebe’s shoulder and landed on Kase.
“Phoebe, have you met Kase?”
She slowly turned around, and the corner of her mouth curled when she locked eyes on him. Her light blue gaze staring back at him. It came off as innocent, and if he was a naïve man, he might even fall for it. Kase wasn’t buying it. Her record alone proved Phoebe was far from innocent.
“I’ve had the pleasure.” She winked.
Kase remained stone cold and unaffected with her attempts at being cute. Men would fall for it, maybe even a member or two, like Gage or Dobbs. Not me, sweetheart, move the fuck along. She didn’t seem fazed from his lack of response. She waved to Bailey and sauntered out past him.
“Isn’t she sweet? I told ya, right?”
Kase shook his head and snickered. “Yeah, nicest ex-con I ever met.”
Bailey flattened her lips.
“When were you gonna mention we got a violent psycho bitch living next door to the clubhouse?”
Bailey frowned. “Phoebe’s not violent or psycho,” she snapped, and immediately her cheeks flushed. Bailey was showing her protective side. She swallowed a breath. “And she’s only a bitch when the situation calls for it. We’re all bitches sometimes. Even me. Ask Saint.”
Saint snorted. “You’re never a bitch.”
Bailey rolled her eyes and then glanced over at Kase.
“A heads up woulda been nice.”
She sighed, eyeing Kase. “She’s not dangerous, and if you’re nice to her, ya got nothing to be worried about.”
He wasn’t particularly concerned for his safety. He just didn’t want any bullshit from her. He was going to use this to his advantage. Bailey had been tight lipped when it came to Phoebe. Not anymore. He wanted answers.
“Need you to give the fucking story, Bailey.”
She shrugged and twisted her hands. “Not mine to tell.”
He decided to change tactics to one he knew would work.
“We family?” Kase asked, getting the exact reaction he knew he would. She tightened her lips and shifted her gaze to Saint, who seemed to be taking Kase’s side. The club had taken Bailey on as one of their own. They’d done for her what most people wouldn’t have.
“It doesn’t leave this room, and I’m not going into detail.”
Kase nodded. It wouldn’t be hard to find out once he knew what he was looking into.
Bailey sighed, and her gaze darted around the room. “A little over six months ago, Arnett and Phoebe were arguing. I can’t remember exactly why.” She widened her eyes and pointed her finger at him. “I do know he started it, and when she tried walking away, he continued to badger her, Kase.”
Kase curled his lip. Sweet mayor defending her friend. “Okay.”
Her shoulders sagged. “It escalated really quick, and Arnett just kept going after her verbally until she snapped.” Bailey gritted her teeth and rested her hand on her chest. “I would have snapped too.”
Bullshit… Bailey didn’t have an aggressive bone in her body.
“Then what, sweetheart?” Saint asked.
Bailey glanced between the men. They were forcing her hand, and she wasn’t happy. She grabbed her papers and kept her gaze on the table. “She grabbed a bat from her car and stormed after him. Before anyone could break it up, she had taken a few punches, mainly to Arnett’s face.”
Saint hushed a curse. It was the exact response Kase was thinking. Bailey’s head whipped between both men.
She spread out her hands, gauging their reactions, and stammered, “L-look, the incident was isolated and completely out of character for her. A person can only take so much before they snap, and I’d think you, of all people, would understand.” Well played, Mayor. Kase was notorious for his short fuse.
“Sweetheart.” Kase smiled when Bailey narrowed her gaze. “She came after the old man with a fucking bat.” He raised his brows.
“She didn’t use it,” Bailey blurted.
Saint laughed, and Kase shook his head. “No, she used her hands.” Kase teasingly shrugged. “But ya know, she didn’t use the bat, so that was nice of her.”
He could tell while he and Saint were amused, Bailey was not.
“I don’t condone what she did. But I don’t condone what he did, either. It wasn’t unprovoked, and while Arnett didn’t physically attack her, he struck first and second and third, and however many more times before she lost it. He had a weapo
n, his words, and sometimes, like this one, it may have been a knife stabbing into her heart.” Her bottom lip trembled, and she glanced away. He could tell she was shaken by the incident and not by Phoebe’s actions.
Her statement sobered up his lingering humor. “What did he say?”
Bailey shook her head. “Nothing I’m willing to repeat.” She got up from the desk and walked around, heading to the back of the room.
When she was out of hearing range, he stepped closer to Saint.
“Think she’ll tell ya?”
Saint turned slowly. “Probably, if I pushed her.”
Kase raised his brows.
“Which I won’t do, brother.”
Kase sighed and started out through the doors. The lot had cleared out with the exception of his bike and Saint’s truck. He started through the gravel lot, examining the abandoned area. He stopped when he got to his bike and stood silently.
The only sound he could hear was a small breeze ruffling the leaves. A warning.
Calm before the storm.
Chapter Two
She glanced over at the clock. Her delivery should have been there an hour ago. Her dad was able to get her a deal if she was willing to be flexible. Her bank account insisted she was. She had a hard enough time convincing the company to do her move, a small load of a few end tables and her boxes.
Her one-bedroom shack on four acres was officially home. Her only home. She had bought the land with Jared seven years ago. It was nothing more than a hunting shack. It was her dream, not Jared’s. The only selling point for him was the small lake the property backed up to. They had a condo on the east coast and a house on the west. She loved the idea of a weekend getaway somewhere in the middle. Jared had pushed for a beach house; he’d been relentless at times. Phoebe refused to budge, and she held the upper hand as it was her savings that had made the down payment for it.
