Ash: A Bad Boy Biker Romance (Winter Cobras MC Book 3)

by Jade Kuzma

  ASH:

  A Bad Boy Biker Romance

  (WINTER COBRAS MC)

  by JADE KUZMA

  Copyright © 2018 Jade Kuzma.

  All rights reserved.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. All persons appearing on the cover are models and being used for illustrative purposes only.

  ASH: A BAD BOY BIKER ROMANCE

  (WINTER COBRAS MC)

  First edition. January 2, 2019

  Copyright © 2019 Jade Kuzma.

  Written by Jade Kuzma.

  Jade Kuzma Romance

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  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Epilogue 1

  Epilogue 2

  Thank you!

  The Winter Cobras MC

  The New Devils MC

  The Black Reapers MC

  Chapter 1

  ROSE

  I was never one for traveling much. I’d been on vacation and enjoyed myself like most people have. I’ve seen beautiful sunsets and scenic vistas. I’ve scaled hillsides and seen the blue waters of serene beaches. It wasn’t really much for me though. None of it really compared to Ivory.

  There was nothing fancy about it. There were no white, sandy beaches. There were no epic mountains. The sky was clear but unremarkable. But it was always home to me.

  Even though I’d been around for a few months, it still felt like I was getting settled in. The comfortable feeling of coming back hadn’t gone away.

  I sighed as I leaned back in my seat, my attention taken by the view outside. There wasn’t much traffic. The people walking along the streets went about their days like they would any other. A perfectly sunny though uninspired day.

  “Life is so interesting out there in the world. So many places to explore. So many things to experience. So many people to meet.” He spoke with the usual flippancy he’d always had. Ever since we were younger, he never took things too seriously, even when it sounded like he was pontificating on something important.

  “You make it sound like I’m missing out on all the sunshine and rainbows.”

  “You are. But there’s a lot of rough places out there, too. A lot of bad experiences. A lot of unsavory people.”

  “Then I’m glad I’m back in Ivory.”

  “That’s just it. In Ivory, you get all of that, good and bad. Right in one tiny little shithole that nobody has ever heard of.”

  “That’s funny. For a second, you’re almost giving me second thoughts about coming back but I know I made the right choice.”

  “But?”

  “But you decided to come back, too, so I know we’ve made the right decision together.”

  “You’re right… That is funny.”

  I turned toward the man sitting in front of me. I stared at him, watching his lips twitch into a look I’d seen a thousand times before. “Even after all these years,” I sighed. “You still haven’t changed, Joey.”

  “Why would I change when I know you love me just the way I am?”

  We shared a laugh as he started digging into his sandwich. He smacked his lips, chewing with his mouth open. I looked around the diner and saw all of the patrons enjoying a lazy afternoon.

  “How have you been?” he asked.

  “I’m fine,” I said with a shrug. “I just got back to Ivory a little while back. Just starting to get settled in.”

  “Have you talked to dad?”

  “My mom and dad are fine. They’re at the farm. Wait… You haven’t stopped by to say hello to them?”

  “Like I said, sis. I just got back into town. You’re the first person I wanted to talk to.”

  “And I suppose me coming back to town doesn’t have anything with you suddenly showing up?” I raised an eyebrow at him, wondering if he was up to something. It was stupid question because Joey was always up to something.

  He smacked his lips with another bite of his sandwich, his mouth full as he spoke. “I heard my big sis was back in town. I thought I’d stop by and say hello. Is that so wrong?”

  I rolled my eyes and sighed, still with a smile on my face because that was the Joey I always knew.

  “Seriously, sis. How have you been?”

  “I’m fine. Ivory’s exactly the same as it was when I left. Just a quiet, simple town full of honest people.”

  He scrunched his face in confusion. “Are we talking about the same Ivory here?”

  “Come on! You know what I mean.”

  “I know, I know… I’m just saying. I figured you’d be doing something else. Big sis goes off to college, graduates, then for some reason decides to come back to this shithole.”

  “It might be a shithole but it’s my shithole.”

  “I know the feeling. What are you planning on?”

  “I don’t know.” I shrugged as I looked back out the window, listening to the sound of my brother continuing to noisily munch on his lunch. “I’m not in any hurry. I spent four years in school. Never got much chance to relax. Figured Ivory’s the perfect place to do just that while I’m looking for a job.”

  “They’ve got some good jobs up in the city for a college graduate like you.”

  “I’m not much of a city girl. Some people are but I’m more of a shithole kinda girl.”

  “I guess you can take the girl out the shithole but not the shithole out the girl.”

  “That… probably sounded better in your head.”

  Joey chuckled to himself while he kept stuffing his face. I turned back and saw how focused he was on his food. It wasn’t just that though. His blond hair was a little longer and more disheveled than I remembered it. He hadn’t shaved in a few weeks, it looked like. Slight purple underneath his eyes made it look like he just woke up even though the sun had been out for hours. My brother was nonchalant about everything but there was an odd feeling I had from not having seen him for so long.

  “What’s up with you?” I asked. “You look like you haven’t eaten in days. You not feeding yourself in the city?”

  “I’m feeding myself just fine. You know the food is different around these parts. They’ve got fresher ingredients in Ivory.”

  “They’ve got fresh ingredients in the city, too…”

  “Yeah, but well, maybe it’s the nostalgia that makes this taste a little better.”

  “I suppose that might explain why you can’t bother chewing before you swallow… Seriously though… What’s going on?”

  He hesitated for a moment, not looking me in the eye as he swallowed down his bite. He sighed a deep breath through his nose before finally turning his stare toward me. “I’ve got something. Something big.”


  “Something big…” I shook my head in confusion. “Why do I have a bad feeling about this?”

  “Relax, sis. You know me. I’m not gonna sit around in class and study and try to get some useless degree just so I can get a job. Uh, no offense…”

  “None taken.” I rolled my eyes and laughed softly.

  “I’ve learned a lot when I was up in the city though. You talk to enough people. You network. You get opportunities. Doors open and you start to see how things work. This is a big chance for me. A big chance. Just like I said.”

  “You went to the city to find a big opportunity back here in Ivory?”

  “That’s right.”

  “And are you gonna tell me what this opportunity is?”

  He shook his head like I expected him to. If I didn’t know him so well, I would’ve been mad.

  “All you need to know is you don’t need to worry about me,” Joey said. “I’ve got everything under control.”

  “I don’t think I’ve ever heard any less assuring words.”

  “Come on, sis. You know me. When’s the last time I ever got into trouble that I couldn’t get myself out of?”

  “The last time? How about that time Sheriff Sutton—”

  “Okay, okay, okay!” He put his hands up. “That’s what big sisters are for though. You’re there for me.”

  “I know, I know…”

  “You know you can depend on me, too. Anything you need, I got you.”

  “I don’t think there’s anything—”

  “You got a boyfriend?”

  “What?” The question startled me more than I thought it would. Joey chuckled when I shifted in my seat.

  “A nice girl like you, you should have a boyfriend. I figured you would’ve met some stud in college.”

  “Ungh… We are not having this conversation. But just to stop you from hooking me up with one of your wonderful friends, there is someone special.”

  “Special, huh? What can you tell me about him?”

  “All you need to know is that he’s a good guy.”

  “As long as he can take care of you.”

  “He can. He’s a club member.”

  “A club member?” Joey took another moment to stop eating. He eyeballed me. There was a slight feeling of helplessness as I waited for him to give me the judgment that only a sibling could when you talked about someone special in your life. “Well… It’s your life. I just hope you know what you’re doing.”

  “I know what I’m doing. I wouldn’t get involved with someone who’s just gonna cause me trouble. Besides, it’s nothing that serious. I… I just started talking to him. It’s not like what you think it is.”

  “Not serious. That’s the best way to approach a relationship.” He gave me a wink and stuffed the rest of his sandwich away. It only felt like a few minutes after the waitress had set his lunch down and it was already gone. Joey wiped his lips with his tongue then got up from his seat. “I’ve got some shit to take care of. Thanks for coming to see me.”

  “Why are you making it sound like it was hard for me to have lunch with you?”

  He pondered it for a moment before shrugging. “I don’t know. I thought things would be different since it’s been so long.”

  “Nothing has changed. Not me. Not Ivory.”

  “Yeah… I’m glad for that.” He gave me a nod then sighed. “I’ll see you around. Call me if you need anything.”

  “Usually I’m the one who says that.”

  He spun around and walked away. I smiled as I watched him leave, his demeanor as nonchalant as it always was.

  The waitress came by and set my lunch down.

  “Who was that?” she asked. “Boyfriend?”

  “He wouldn’t be much of a boyfriend if he left me to pay his bill. No, that was my brother.”

  “He doesn’t sound like much of a brother either.”

  “Joey’s my younger brother. I’m used to it.”

  “I see…” The waitress nodded, a kind smile on her face. “Enjoy your lunch. Let me know if there’s anything you need.” She excused herself and stepped away.

  The noise in the diner was distant as I picked at my chicken with my fork. The view of the city just outside the window hadn’t changed. It’d been that way ever since I was a child. My brother’s sudden reappearance back in town just made things feel even more familiar.

  I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket. I had every reason to smile and the text reminded me to do just that.

  It was a simple life in Ivory. I wouldn’t trade it for anything else in the world.

  Chapter 2

  ASHTON

  “Yo Ash!”

  I put my phone away after sending the message then looked up.

  “McFadden’s ride is acting up again. Go take a look.” Grant gave me a look like nothing was wrong but I know he saw me. He’d give me shit about what he just caught me doing when the time was right.

  “I’m on it,” I said.

  I headed over to the side of the garage and saw the elderly woman waiting patiently.

  “Mrs. McFadden… What seems to be the problem?”

  “Oh, I don’t know… The old thing is giving me trouble like usual. Sputtering. Smoking. And I’m hearing a grinding noise, too. I don’t think it can be saved.”

  I turned the old Studebaker and felt a smile come to my face. “If you got it to the garage, it can be saved. Let’s see what we’re working with.” I pushed the hood up and watched some of the smoke rise just like she mentioned.

  Most guys would’ve been uncomfortable about getting their hands greasy. Some would’ve had a problem working on an engine like this. Me though… I lived my life underneath a hood. So when I saw Mrs. McFadden’s ride and the obvious problems it had, all I could do was get excited.

  “Well… It looks like you’ve got an oil leak… Might need a new belt… Something’s up with the spark plugs…”

  “A whole laundry list of problems. Maybe I should replace it. Send it to the scrapyard for good.”

  Mrs. McFadden’s hair was white and thinning. Her face sagging and wrinkled with age. She had a hunch in her back, which just made her look shorter than she already was. Not that any of that mattered. She was a sweet older woman. One of the honest folks in Ivory you couldn’t hold anything against.

  I slapped the hood of her car and nodded. “I can do it,” I said. “Can’t promise it’ll be quick but I can do it. I wanna take the engine block out. Give it a real good look. Make sure there’s nothing I miss. I can have the thing running like new.”

  “I’d get a new car but what’s an old woman like me need a new car for? They are pretty fancy these days though…”

  “Fancy, sure. But this thing is a classic. You don’t see too many cars like this on the road. Not in Ivory. Not anywhere.”

  “Everything you wanna do… I don’t have much money, Mr. Butler.”

  I nodded and chuckled at the sudden concern on her face. “You’ve got every right to be worried. Mechanics these days are always trying to make an extra buck off people who don’t know any better.”

  “Thieves and crooks…”

  “I’m no angel either.” I knew a woman like her wasn’t exactly comfortable around someone like me but she didn’t have anything to worry about. Not from me. “I’ll tell you what. Let me keep this thing in the shop for a few days. I won’t charge you more than I’d charge for an oil change. I’ll make sure the thing is running in tip-top shape. I’ll guarantee my work. Anything goes wrong, I’ll fix it up for free. Give this thing all it’s got before you give up on it.”

  “Well, when you put it like that. I wonder though…”

  “What’s that?”

  “Why would you do something like that? You taking pity on an old lady? You’ve already been too kind to me.”

  “Not pity. Just feel like helping out someone who needs it. Besides, I’ve got something to gain. I don’t get a chance to work on classics like this. You want the truth? This will be a n
ice, fun pet project for me. And I’ll make a few bucks, too.”

  Mrs. McFadden twisted her lips while she thought about it before smiling. “You’re doing everything you can to make me say yes. Has anybody ever told you how persuasive you can be?”

  “I never make anybody do anything they don’t wanna do.”

  “So it seems.”

  “I’ll give you a call in a few days. I’ll let you know how things are progressing.”

  Mrs. McFadden stepped into the tow truck. I watched as she disappeared down the road, my hands on my waist. When I turned back to her ride, I realized just how much work was ahead of me.

  “What was that all about?” Grant walked up to me with his hands out.

  “What do you mean? I was just talking to her about her Studebaker—”

  “You just offered to pull her engine block out and fix it for 20 bucks. We’re not running a charity around here, bro.”

  “All these cars and bikes coming in. Oil changes. Tuneups. Shit’s easy work. We make enough money. When’s the last time I actually got to do some real engine work?”

  “Fine, fine… I’m not helping you with that shit. You do it on your own fucking time.”

  “I know, I know… Don’t act like you don’t wanna work on this thing, too…”

  Grant and I eyeballed the old car. I didn’t even have to look at him to know he was thinking the same thing as me.

  “You got me,” he said. “Let’s finish this other shit up now.”

  We headed to the other side of the garage. We had a small spot rented out for ourselves. We didn’t know any of the other mechanics working in the other spots and that suited us just fine. The work was never anything we couldn’t handle by ourselves.

  I took a seat in front of the bike I was working on, getting my hands dirty while Grant got to work on another bike. The sound of him working his wrench was loud and a lot faster than I was used to.

  “You in a hurry?” I said.

  “Yeah, I am. Trying to get through all this shit so I don’t have to worry about it. I don’t know if you noticed, but the sun is about to go down pretty soon.”