“I was wondering if you happened to have any fill-in work going? I’m in town for a little bit, and I need a job to get me by.”
He nods, smiling again. “You’re in luck. I just fired my last girl yesterday.”
“Y-y-you’re the boss?” I say, shocked. He’s so young.
He chuckles. “Call me an overachiever.”
I smile. I can’t help it.
“My name is Colt, and you are?”
“I’m...Meadow.”
He raises a brow. “Interesting name.”
“Thanks, you can blame my parents for that.” I flush.
He grins at me. “So, Meadow, have you worked in a bar before?”
“Yes, many times.”
“You want to tell me the reason you’re jumping from bar to bar?” he asks, lifting a glass and wiping it.
“I’m actually travelling,” I say, and am surprised by how easily the lie slipped from my mouth. “So I’m usually only in one place for a few days to a week at a time.”
He grins. “Good plan. I did that when I was twenty.”
I feel my body relax. I like Colt. He’s got a gentle, warm feeling about him.
“Oh, how’d that turn out for you?”
“I got a chick knocked up, nearly married her out of guilt, got into at least four fights, and lost about ten kilos from eating bad food. I’d say a successful trip, yeah?” He winks.
I chuckle. “Well, I’ll make sure to check everything I eat.”
His smile widens, and he leans down and presses a button, starting a dishwasher.
“So, you said you have something?” I add, hesitantly. I don’t want to sound pushy, but I only have a few hours.
He nods. “I have shifts I need filled for the next three to five days. They’re from about lunchtime until midnight, can you cope with that?”
I shrug. “I like late nights.”
“Then we’ll get along just fine. It’s a quiet enough bar, but we do get our busy times. You’ll be okay.”
“When can I start?” I say, almost too eagerly.
“Now, if you’d like? I’ll just get some information from you, and then I’ll show you the ropes. It’s just you and I on tonight.”
“That’s fine with me.” I smile.
“Okay, well, come out back and we’ll get you some paperwork and a uniform.”
An hour later, and I’m dressed in a black top, and black pants, and my hair is tied up above my head. Colt is updates me on pouring drinks, and so far I’ve not spilled anything. The customers have started coming in, and I feel like I’m flowing quite well, serving them quickly.
“You’re a natural,” Colt says from beside me as I pop the top on a beer.
“I’ve done it a bit,” I admit with a sheepish smile.
“Nothing to be ashamed of. Bar bitches are hot.”
I laugh, and continue serving.
“Well hello there, lassie.” A husky voice comes from in front of me. I look up and see an older man, smiling over at me. He has beautiful sky-blue eyes, and a charming smile. “You’re new.”
“I am.” I beam.
“The name is Old Jon, and I’m Colt’s father.”
I smile, and turn to see Colt rolling his eyes. “Well, he’s a lucky man, then. What can I get you, Old Jon?”
“I like this one, Colt,” Jon yells. “She’s got them real good manners.”
“Noted, Pops,” Colt yells with a laugh.
“Now, about that drink. Colt says I have too many, so I’m limitin’ myself to beer.”
Giggling for the first time in a long while, I hand Jon a beer.
“So where’d he pick up a pretty one like you? All the others are dragons.”
I laugh loudly, and shake my head, waving my hand. “I’m only here for a few days.”
“Aw, well, that just ruined my night.”
“You’re flattering.”
He chuckles. “It’s where my son gets it.”
I smile, and get back to work. By midnight, I’ve made more than $100 in tips, mostly from Jon. I wait around with Colt as he closes up the bar, and then I get changed and tuck my tips, plus my first night’s pay into my pocket. All up, I have over $200. Colt didn’t question why I needed cash-only jobs, but I’m grateful for that.
“You need someone to walk you home?” Colt asks, walking out with a set of keys in his hands.
I stare around the empty bar, and I yawn. It’s probably not a bad idea. I’m exhausted, and I’m in a strange city.
“That’d be great. I’m only two blocks down.”
“You hungry?”
My stomach grumbles at the thought, and I nod, sheepishly. Colt laughs and we leave the bar, stepping out into the warm night.
“I know an awesome place that’s open twenty-four hours. It’s only a few blocks away, too.”
“Sounds good to me,” I say, letting my eyes scan the roads. No Axel. Just breathe.
Colt and I begin walking down the street, the opposite direction to my hotel. We pass bars and clubs that are still pumping. Girls stop and grin at Colt as he passes them, and I roll my eyes. Not that I can entirely blame then; he’s a good-looking man.
“So, you got yourself a boyfriend, Meadow?”
I snort, and shake my head. “No, they’re too much hassle right now.”
He laughs. “I agree. When I was travelling, I didn’t like having something holding me back, either.”
“I don’t imagine you’d ever have a time when women weren’t throwing themselves at you?”
He looks at me with shock. “Are you saying I’m beautiful?”
I laugh loudly, and it feels good. “Stunning.”
He chuckles, and grips my hand suddenly. I turn to him, confused, but he nods his head to the left. “This is the place.”
I lift my eyes, and see a big flashing sign hanging above a small shop. The smell coming from it has my stomach twisting with need.
“It smells amazing,” I groan.
“It is. You like burgers?”
“I love them.”
“Sit, I’ll get us something.”
I shake my head. “You don’t have to do that, Colt. I have money.”
He waves a hand and turns, not letting me argue. I find a table and take a seat, letting my eyes scan the streets again. It’s habit; I can’t just shake it off. I’m always watching, even when I’m relaxing.
I’m deep in a daze by the time Colt comes back out. I hear the seat skid, and I squeal, leaping out of mine.
“Whoa there,” Colt says, putting the plates down. “Just me.”
“Sorry,” I mumble, shaking my head. “I was off in a world of my own.”
“Can see that. Here.”
He slides a plate toward me, and I stare down at the large cheeseburger and fries. Oh, yum. I lift the burger and I take a bite, groaning loudly as the flavor dances on my taste buds.
“Oh my God, it’s so good,” I moan between mouthfuls, looking at Colt.
He laughs, shaking his head. “Damn, girl’s got an appetite. Not often you find a chick who can eat and is good looking, all in one.”
I flush. “Sorry. I must look like a starved animal.”
He shakes his head, biting his burger. “Naw, you look kind of cute.”
I roll my eyes, and take another bite. We eat in silence, and I am enjoying every single bite of this delicious burger. When we’re done, I take my can of soda and Colt and I begin the walk back to my hotel.
“So, where to next, after this?” he asks.
I shrug. “Wherever the road takes me.”
It’s not entirely a lie. I really don’t know where I’ll go. I’m supposed to be heading to L.A, but I don’t even know if what I’m looking for is there.
“You got any friends to meet up with on the way?”
I shake my head. “I meet new people all the time. That’s the beauty of doing it alone. It’s my own hours.”
God, I’m such a bad person. I’m lying as if it’s second nat
ure to me now.
Colt nods in understanding. “I met some crazies on my journeys.”
“Oh? Tell me the best.”
He chuckles. “I met this man who’d had his penis cut off in an attempt to become a woman.”
I giggle. “Nice.”
“He...or she...was the funniest person I’d met in my life. To this day, we still talk.”
“So he’s a she now?”
He laughs, and runs his hand through his hair. “Yeah, he’s a she. Bert is now Berta.”
I laugh loudly, and notice we’re already at my hotel. “This is me.”
Colt looks up. “Good choice.”
“It’s not bad,” I say, turning to face him. “Thanks for giving me a chance.”
He shrugs. “No problems, any time.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow.”
He winks at me. “Later.”
Then he’s gone. I smile, and walk into the hotel, feeling good for the first time in a long while.
I made a friend.
~*~*~*~
AXEL
“We’ll take a few days here, and then we’ll hit the road again,” I say, unlocking the door to the compound.
We’ve been based in San Diego for the past six months. It’s a central location for us, and there are no other clubs dominating the area at this point. The compound is just out of town, and we own four warehouses, as well as the main house where I reside. This is my home now. Even that doesn’t bring me any comfort.
“I’ll keep the checks running,” Jax, one of my guys, says.
“Yeah,” I grunt, walking inside the compound to the beer, women, and chaos.
“Yo, Pres,” one of my boys yells. “Any luck?”
“None,” I say, shoving my way into the kitchen.
I find the fridge, swing it open, and see it’s empty.
“Stupid fuckers,” I grumble, spinning and slamming into a small, big-breasted form.
I step back and see April, my weekly fuck, staring up at me with doe eyes, and a sweet-ass expression. She holds up a beer. “I heard you come in.”
I grunt at her, and take the beer, swallowing the cool, crisp liquid.
“You look like you’ve had a hard week,” she croons. “Do you want me to come back to your office?”
I stare down at her. Why the fuck not?
“Yeah,” I say, turning and walking into my office.
The minute we get in, I spin toward her, and she screams, scurrying toward the bed. “Don’t hurt me!”
“Get back here, bitch,” I growl, slamming my beer down and charging toward her. She knows how I like to play my games. She’s always been the only girl who lets me play it my way. She gets that I need her fight to be able to fuck her.
I stalk toward her, knowing my eyes are cold and empty. I clench my fists and grind my jaw, hissing through my teeth. “You fuckin’ run, I’ll make it hurt.”
She edges backward, her eyes wide. “Please, don’t hurt me.”
I see a glimmer of true fear in her eyes, just for a split second as my hand lashes out and curls around her shoulder. She plays this like a game, but sometimes I see genuine concern in her eyes. I feel my insides swell with want. Something about having her afraid of me, even if it’s just a touch, has everything in me growing hungry and depraved.
I throw her down onto the bed, and cover her body with mine.
“Fight me, bitch.”
And fight she does.
~*~*~*
MEADOW
I sleep in until ten a.m. the next morning, and then spend the next two hours finding somewhere decent to eat. By the time lunch rolls around, I’ve only just gotten my breakfast. I start work in an hour. It’s a super-long shift tonight, but I need it. I gobble down my breakfast before practically running towards the bar.
The minute I step in, I run into Colt. “Whoa there, steady on.”
I pull back, knowing that I’m flushed. “Sorry Colt, I kind of couldn’t find anywhere to have breakfast.”
He gives me a confused look. “You should have called me. I would have made you some.”
I smile. “Anyway, I’m here. Where do you want me tonight?”
“Tables. I have Selena, another one of my girls on the bar.”
I nod, and duck past him, heading out back. There’s a girl with dark black hair and pale, beautiful skin, standing and applying make-up in the small mirror. She’s got a pair of tight jeans on, and a red top. “You must be the new girl,” she says, applying a layer of lipstick.
“I am, and you must be Selena?”
“The one and only,” she says, turning and giving me a once-over. “I’d say it’s nice to meet you, but they never stay long.”
I raise my brows. “Oh, well, I’m only here three or four days, anyway.”
“You’re better off,” she says casually, gripping her hair and tying it up.
“How so?”
She walks past me, and I get a strong scent of perfume. “Well, it’s basic, really. Colt woos them, he fucks them, they get clingy, he doesn’t do clingy, and he fires them.”
Oh.
I never saw Colt as that kind of man. Though he did kind of woo me last night. If I hadn’t been thinking of another tall, dark stranger, I would have probably fallen for it hook, line, and sinker.
“Well, I don’t even have time to bother getting interested.”
She smiles at me. “Well, good. Come on, I’ll show you how to wait the tables.”
I spend the next hour with Selena, and she shows me how to wait on the tables. When she leaves me to it, I take over without a problem. The afternoon is a busy one, and the tables fill quickly, but that’s okay; the tips are huge so far. I’m already up to $150.
My feet ache as I rush backward and forward, collecting glasses, delivering drinks and snacks. In the late afternoon, when Selena is finished her break, she waves me over. With an achy body, I go. Colt is at the bar when I arrive, and he flashes me a warm smile.
“Sore feet?”
I shrug. “I get used to it.”
“You want a break?”
I nod, walking around the bar and pouring myself a glass of water. I grab a packet of chips off the counter, and hand Selena some money for them. I sit on a stool, and sigh loudly.
“You’re earning some good tips out there,” she says, pouring a colorful drink for a young, annoyingly loud girl who is standing at the bar staring at Colt with a silly expression on her face.
I eye the girl, before looking back at Selena. “Yeah, they’re good this afternoon.”
“It’s those pretty-as-hell eyes,” Colt says.
I shake my head with a grin. “Or, maybe they just like me.”
“Maybe.” He grins.
I lean back, and close my eyes, taking a few moments to myself when I hear the distinct rumble of Harley-Davidsons pulling up outside. I feel my heart begin to hammer, but I know it’s just me being dramatic. Hundreds and thousands of people own Harleys. Stop being so paranoid.
“That’ll be your main man. He’s pissed, I hear,” Selena says to Colt, sliding an empty beer bottle across the bar.
Colt grunts. “Yeah, he’s always pissed.”
“Is that a friend of yours?” I ask, hoping for a little information.
“Yeah, actually. He’s the president of the club I’m with.”
“You’re a biker?” I say, shocked.
He grins at me. “Don’t look so shocked.”
“I thought bikers just hung around each other, and didn’t hold jobs.”
He shakes his head. “Well, this one wasn’t going to do that. I do what he needs, but this is my main job. Besides, the guys love it.”
“What’s your club’s name?” I ask, standing and picking up and towel and a glass to dry, making it look like I’m doing something productive instead of just prying.
“Angels In Leather.”
The glass slips from my hand, and smashes on the ground. My head spins, and I take a step back, putting a hand agai
nst my chest. This can’t be happening.
“You’re...you’re...one of Axel’s boys?”
Colt’s eyes widen. “You know Axel?”
Selena stares at me. “Oh, are you one of his fuck buddies?”
“No...not exactly. I...we don’t get along very well. It’s a long story.”
She nods, as if in understanding. “He is such an ass. I wanted to fuck him once, but he’s so broody and angry. He told me to fuck off, and didn’t even give me a second glance.”
Colt ignores her, and narrows his eyes. “Are you okay? You look like you’re about to pass out.”
“I just...thank you, Colt. For all this. But I can’t stay if you’re involved with him. Believe me, we don’t like each other. It’s not worth bringing into your life,” I lie.
“Meadow,” he says, firmly. “You don’t need to run. I don’t have to tell him you’re here if there are issues between you two.”
“You d-d-don’t?” I whisper.
He shakes his head. “Nah, just go on home, and I’ll make sure he’s not here for your next shift.”
I quickly untie my apron. “Thank you, Colt.”
Before I can turn and rush out back, the door swings open. I quickly drop to the floor behind the bar; it’s the only thing I can do. My heart leaps into my throat as I hear boots crunching across the wooden floor. I scoot backwards, pressing myself as close to the bar as I can.
“Colt,” Axel’s voice booms out. “Get me a beer.”
Colt peers down at me, and I give him a pleading look. He must take pity on me, because he shifts the bin under the counter, and points to the space. I crawl in, and tuck my knees up to my chest. Selena smiles at me, a knowing smile, and gets on with her work. Why the hell is Axel in San Diego? Does he live here? If Colt is based here, maybe he does. Only I could pick the one city and the one bar that he’s associated with.
“How’s it, boss?” Colt says, his voice gruff.
I hear the sound of Colt popping the top on a beer and sliding it across the bar. I hear a stool being pulled out, and I realize Axel is right there...just above me.
“It’s fuckin’ crap, that’s what it is.”
“Didn’t find what you were lookin’ for?”
Axel makes a growling sound. “Nah.”
Born to Ride Page 34
