by Jamie Begley
“You live in your own world.”
Unconcerned, Shade’s sharp jibe did not insult Rider. It was true.
“If it doesn’t need fixing, why fuck with it?”
“I used to think that way, too.”
“You still do.” His eyes narrowed on Shade. “The only person you’re capable of caring about is Lily.”
“Do you really believe that?”
Rider wasn’t afraid of the harsh features of the man sitting next to him.
“We may be friends, Shade, but I have no doubt in my mind, if you felt Lily was threatened, you would take out anyone who hurt her, no matter who it is.”
“That’s true, but that’s true about any of the brothers and their wives.”
Rider agreed. “That’s why I plan to stay single. Besides, if I get married, who would be the brothers’ backup?” His eyes gleamed in the dim light. “I have to keep myself available if anything happens, so I can give the women a shoulder to cry on.”
“Brother, you’re not my backup. If I get my ass killed, I’m going to make sure you bite the dust before I do.”
“I’m too pretty to die,” Rider boasted, knowing he was pissing Shade off. He would rather take a punch from him than keep talking about Jo.
Shade ominously stared at him. “I was trying to give you a heads-up about what the brothers were going to try to do. I can see you don’t need my help.”
“Nope. I’ve already got it covered.” Downing his beer, he stood. “You ready to head back to the club?”
Shade shook his head. “What’s your hurry?”
“I’m fucking tired. I’m not interested in talking about or doing Jo. If the brothers are worried about me coming between them and their wives, they should be talking to them, not making plans to take me out of the equation. I might joke around to irritate them, but they should know—and that includes you—that I wouldn’t steal another man’s woman.”
“I can’t speak for the others, but I’m not worried about you stealing Lily from me.”
Shade was simply stating a fact. Rider had watched the interaction between the couple and knew Shade believed it. However, Rider didn’t have the same faith that any woman would be completely faithful, despite how much in love they claimed to be.
Lily was a sweet woman and had fallen in love with the club’s enforcer. He was happy for Shade, but did he think it would last forever? No, he didn’t.
He had known Shade since he had joined the Navy. He had only known one other man who could kill with such deadly accuracy and remain untouched by the carnage he had left behind. He had taken both of their backs during the years he had given to the military. The only time he had failed was when he had been taken in by a woman’s lies. Twice he had been lied to by women whom he had believed loved him, and it had nearly cost numerous lives. He had no intention of falling for lies from a woman again.
Quinn and Delara had promised him forever. Neither had kept their words. Forever to a woman meant until something better came along.
“Take it from me; no woman is infallible.”
One second, Shade was sitting, and the next, he was standing, menace pouring out of him like a volcano getting ready to explode.
“Don’t class Lily with other women. You’ve had your ass handed to you on a platter by bitches who had their own agendas, so I’m making allowances, letting your mouth spout shit you don’t know anything about. But if you ever—and I mean ever—compare Lily to the relationships you’ve been in, then you better make a dentist appointment first.”
He had foolhardily stepped into a quagmire by taking his irritation at the brothers trying to hook him up with Jo out on Shade. Despite his protests that he didn’t want a woman in his life, if he ever did change his mind, it wouldn’t be Lily. Even if by some miracle she did divorce Shade, she deserved a man to give her his whole heart, not a man like him who only had bits and pieces left.
Rider watched his friend angrily walk off. Shade was sensitive to any slight he felt toward his wife.
Going outside after paying their tab, he saw Shade already getting on his bike.
“Sorry, brother. I may be the best-looking brother, but I’m damn sure not the smartest.”
“The holidays are coming up. Maybe you should visit your family and deal with the shit that’s been festering for a while.”
His jaw clenched. “Nothing’s festering.”
“Then you’re more of a man than me. I would have a shitload to get off my chest if I were you.”
Rider looked away from Shade’s perceptive gaze. “I’m not you.”
“No, you’re not. If you were, you would’ve dealt with it a long time ago.”
“Nothing to deal with. It is what it is.”
Rider stared out at the deserted road, avoiding Shade’s eyes, when the car he had seen earlier in the day flew by. His clenched jaw dropped as the dark car drove past without a sound, gliding over the pavement, the windows so tinted he had no hope of seeing the driver inside.
“Look!” The car was rounding the curve before he could get the word out.
Shade turned only to see the empty road. “At what?”
“The car I was telling you about.”
“I didn’t hear or see anything. What has given you a hard-on for this car anyway?”
“It’s an old Camaro. Either a ‘67 or ‘69. I just wonder whose it is. I’ve never seen one around town.” Motorcycles had his heart, but old cars were a close second.
“Ask Jo; she knows every car in town. What does it matter anyway?”
“It doesn’t. I’m just curious. Jo will be at the auction tomorrow night; I’ll ask her.”
“The only way you’re going to get Jo to give you the time of day is to win the date with her. Moon’s been saving his paychecks to score that prize.”
“He has?” Rider took his eyes off the road, trying to discern if Shade was manipulating him into bidding. The cold bastard didn’t give anything away.
“Unlike you, Moon enjoys a challenge.”
Rider slung a leg over the seat of his motorcycle, then started the engine. “The brother always likes to bite off more than he can chew. Jo will chew him up and spit him out when he makes a pass at her.”
“When’s the last time you heard of a woman turning Moon down?”
“There’s a first time for everyone.”
“Yes, there is.”
Rider jerked his head to the side at the sound of laughter in Shade’s voice, but the brother was already riding away. Shade never laughed unless Lily was near. Was he laughing at the thought of Moon being shot down or the disgruntlement he hadn’t been able to hide over Moon going to bid on Jo?
Moon didn’t have a chance in hell of scoring a touchdown with Jo. Even if he did win the auction, Jo would never drop her guard with Moon. The woman was too smart to be taken in by the smooth charm that had most women dropping their panties for Moon. That’s what he told himself all the way home. By the time he parked his bike at the clubhouse, he was ready to punch himself in the face at why he gave a fuck anyway.
The only thing he would be bidding on tomorrow night was the peanut butter candy that Willa had made before she went to the church to decorate. She hadn’t even asked him to taste test it before she had sealed it and took it with her.
He would have to stop by the bank in the morning to make sure he had enough cash on him to win that candy. Moon could win Jo.
He knew exactly who was going to win the prize of the night.
9
Jo was walking down Main Street toward the church store when she saw the flyer taped on the light pole. Blanching, she tore it down, crumbled it into a ball, and then shoved it into her pocket with the other two she had torn down.
If she saw one more of those flyers with her name listed to be auctioned off, she was going to kill Lily, who was the one who had come up with the idea to plaster the advertisements around town. She would wait until after the baby was born before getting her payback. She di
dn’t forget about Willa, Winter, and Rachel, who had agreed, despite her objections.
Though the four women had bulldozed her into agreeing, the sight of her name on the list had her seriously debating pulling out of the auction.
She had planned to go to the thrift store to find a dress to wear for that night, but she had been unable to face whichever woman was volunteering that day. Instead, she had turned toward the department store.
As she viciously swung the door open, her bravado lasted about five seconds when she was confronted with numerous racks of women’s clothes, having no idea where to start.
“May I help you?”
Jo dragged her eyes away from the price tag of a mustard and cream sweater to a petite brunette who had her wishing she was back in her tow truck.
“No, thank you. I’m just browsing.” She dropped the cardboard price tag as if her fingers had been burned. Taking a step to the side, she was about to slink out the door when the saleswoman gave her a reassuring smile.
“Then I’ll leave you alone. I’ve been marking down several items, in case you’re interested.” The saleswoman pointed at a section on the wall toward the back.
Taking a hesitant step, Jo moved toward the section the woman had indicated, relieved when she didn’t follow.
She had no hope of finding something affordable in the store, yet she looked through the expensive clothes, planning to leave as soon as the clerk was out of sight.
Sliding the hangers around, she wasn’t really paying attention to the clothes until one caught her attention. The cocktail dress was two-toned and was midlength. The ice-pink strapless top held her captivated with its little jacket and the black bottom. It was elegant and refined and would probably cost more than she would make in a year.
Biting her lip, she reached for the price tag, then frowned when she couldn’t find it. Pulling the dress down from the wall, she reached inside to search.
“That’s my favorite, too. If it came in my size, that would be going home with me,” the clerk joked, sleekly taking the dress from her. “I’ll put it in the fitting room for you.”
Before Jo could protest, she found herself meekly following her into the fitting room.
“I’m Aly. Just call out if you need any help.”
“I’m Jo.”
The clerk smiled. “I know who you are. I realized you didn’t recognize me when you didn’t say anything. We went to high school together. I was sorry to hear about your father. He used to fuss at me to buy a new car when I had to keep calling him for tows.”
Jo looked closer at the woman, trying to place her.
Aly’s smile widened. “Picture me with a mouth full of braces and add about eighty pounds.”
Jo’s jaw dropped. “Allison Warren?”
Allison was one of the few girls in school who had tried to make friends with her. Unlike her, Allison had been popular. Jo had never tried to return the friendly overtures, too embarrassed that she lived in a junkyard and her father was the town drunk. Plus, she hadn’t been able to return the invitations that Allison had extended to her.
“I’m sorry about your parents. They were fine people.”
Aly’s eyes watered. “I still don’t believe it.”
“I went to the funeral home to pay my respects. I didn’t see you.”
“I was in Colorado, snowed in. I saw your name on the register. You sent flowers also. I was going to send a thank-you card, but I haven’t been able to actually make myself write them yet.”
“I understand.” She impulsively reached out to hug the woman, finding herself enfolded in a warm hug of shared grief.
Jo hadn’t been able to bring herself to send out cards after her father’s death for a couple of months after he had died. The cards had brought the grief to the forefront as the final step of something she could do on her father’s behalf.
“Are you going to stay in Treepoint?”
“No, I’ll be leaving after I settle my parents’ estate and sell their house. I graduated from vet school and have a mobile practice in Colorado. I haven’t decided where to go next, but I won’t stay in Treepoint for the same reason I didn’t come home after I graduated. Treepoint can’t support two vets, and Sy’s been in business for years. I’m working here through the holidays. Then I’m thinking of Alaska. Lily promised to lend me some of her books to help me make up my mind.” She smiled widely again, shaking off her grief. “Enough about me. Go try on your dress, and let me see when you’re ready.”
Going inside the dressing room, Jo numbly stared at the dress. It would be a waste of time to try on a dress she couldn’t afford, much less probably couldn’t fit into.
“I’m waiting,” Aly reminded her from outside the dressing room.
Seeing no way out of the uncomfortable situation, Jo unzipped her coveralls. Undressing, she then slid the dress over her head, feeling the material glide over her lovingly. She waited until she had put on the small, waist-length jacket before turning to see herself in the mirror.
The dress looked as if it had been made for her, emphasizing her breasts and hips while skimming over the small pouch of her stomach that she was self-conscious about.
“Jo?” Allison called out as Jo stared in amazement at her reflection.
“I’m coming.” Opening the door, she stepped out.
Aly eyed her approvingly. “I wished I had your height. You look stunning, Jo. It will be perfect for tonight.”
“You know about the auction?” Jo rubbed the luxurious material of the dress.
“Lily talked me into buying tickets and gave me a flyer to hang up in the employees’ lounge when she and Rachel came in to buy their dresses.”
“I’m going to kill her,” Jo muttered. “After the baby is born,” she qualified.
“You couldn’t hurt a fly, much less Lily.”
“Wanna bet?” Jo turned in the dress, wanting to see the back. Damn, it looked just as pretty from the back.
“Yes.” Aly turned her around to face forward again. “You have to buy this dress. You’ll be the prettiest woman at the auction.”
“I already have a dress to wear tonight,” Jo lied, wishing she could buy it, but knowing she couldn’t afford to. “I better get changed. I’m sorry I’ve wasted your time.”
“You’re not going to get it?” Aly asked in dismay. “Whatever dress you have can’t compare to the way you look in this one.”
Jo’s hand lingered over the collar of the jacket instead of removing it, as she had been about to do. “I can’t afford it.” She dropped the pretense that she had another dress, telling the truth to the woman she hadn’t seen in years.
Aly gave her the same smile she had given her every time she had asked if she could sit next to Jo in the school cafeteria. “The dress is 70 percent off, and I’ll give you my discount.” Aly pushed her toward the dressing room. “Get changed.”
Jo changed, coming out with the dress draped over her arm.
“What size shoes do you wear? There’s a pair of black heels I just marked down on clearance that will match the dress perfectly.”
Beginning to feel like she was sinking into the tidal wave of Aly’s exuberance, Jo told Aly her shoe size, then waited by the counter for her to retrieve them.
Jo had no idea how she was going to pay for the dress, much less the shoes that Aly was intent on selling her. She was about to make a break for it when Aly returned, proudly showing her the shoes.
“Those are Gucci.” Jo might not know much about dresses, but she knew shoes. The high heels were black, but they had a pink heel that matched the color of the ice pink of the dress. “Aly, there’s no way I can afford—”
“Yes, you can; trust me. These are last season’s and have been discounted three times. It’s a final markdown. I’m giving you my discount for them, too.” Aly scanned the shoe box, then removed the jacket from the dress, pulling out the price tag from the sleeve. “That’ll be twenty-eight dollars.” Aly reached for a garment bag and bega
n maneuvering the dress inside.
The total was so low it took several seconds to believe she was hearing Aly correctly. There was no way the items totaled to that low of a sum.
“Aly … I can’t let you. You’ll get fired.” Jo looked up at the closed-circuit camera over the register.
“Jo, I won’t get fired for letting you use my discount.”
“Even with your discount, there is no way these cost twenty-eight dollars.”
“Well, they are … It’s not like there is a big call for cocktail dresses in Treepoint. You’re actually saving the store money on shipping it back to the warehouse. Will that be cash or charge?” Aly asked determinedly.
Reaching into her coveralls pocket, intending to pull out her money, she instead grabbed the three flyers. Blushing, she threw them into the trash can sitting beside the counter, mortified that Aly had recognized them from her hastily concealed expression.
“You want me to take down the one I put in the lounge?”
“Please.” Jo managed to find her money, giving it to her. “And if you see any others that Lily put up, I would appreciate it.”
“I go for a walk during my lunch hour. If I come across any of them, I’ll take them down.”
Jo gave her a grateful glance when Aly handed her the purchases. “Are you coming tonight?”
“Are you kidding? Lily wouldn’t leave until I promised to go. For someone so sweet, she can be very determined when she sets her mind on something.”
“Tell me about it,” Jo concurred in exasperation. “Rachel, Winter, and Willa are just as bad.”
“Maybe we should marry a handsome biker and join the club,” Aly teased, walking with her to the front door.
“I prefer men who drive cars,” Jo said primly, not about to admit to Aly or herself that she found any of The Last Riders attractive.
“I usually agree, but I’ve seen a few of the bikers in town since I moved back. I wouldn’t mind getting acquainted with a couple of them. I had several friends in Colorado who rode motorcycles. You should broaden your horizon.”
“No thanks. My horizon is broad enough without adding a Last Rider to the mix. I’ll see you tonight.” Jo had never been able to joke and tease like most women, even before she had made the mistake of trusting Curt. Looking back, she could see that her naïveté had painted a target on her back to unscrupulous boys who took it as willing.
