Ignite

by L. Wilder

  Goliath raised his eyebrow and gave Sheppard a disgruntled look. “Yeah. I met her,” he answered hatefully. “Mind getting me a beer?”

  I slowly reached into the cooler and grabbed him a beer from the top. I picked one that wasn’t cold and opened it. As I slammed it on the counter, the beer foam immediately began to erupt over the mouth of the bottle. “Here ya go,” I said with a devious smile. That’d teach him. What a dick.

  He grabbed the bottle off the counter and used his finger to flick the foam off the top. “Thanks for that,” he said, giving me an evil glare.

  I decided not to respond. I walked to the other end of the bar and offered Courtney and Bobby another beer. Earlier that night they’d seemed to be totally into one another - smiling, kissing, and holding hands. Now, there was a distance between them, and Courtney had a worried expression on her face. I didn’t know her well enough to ask her about it yet, but I had a feeling that something was up with the two lovebirds.

  Chapter 4

  Goliath

  “What’s up with that?” Sheppard asked me as he nodded his head over towards Lily.

  “Don’t get me started, man. Let’s just say we didn’t hit it off when we met earlier today,” I told him.

  “She seems like a really nice girl,” Otis said, looking in her direction. “She’s a friend of Courtney’s or something and needs a break. Think she’s had a rough go of it.”

  “What’re you talking about?” I asked him.

  “I don’t know all the details, but she’s raising her sister’s kid and really needs a job. She doesn’t have much help. I think the sister died or something,” Sheppard explained.

  Well, fuck. I felt like the wind had been knocked out of me. I had no idea that she was going through all that.

  “Hell, I’d tap that ass, don’t give a shit what her story is,” Bulldog said as he peered over at Lily.

  “Shut the fuck up, Bull,” I snapped. It took all I had not to punch him in the damn face. Asshole.

  “I’d watch my step, brother. She’s actually Tessa’s cousin, and Bishop’s keeping an eye on her. Don’t know why she moved here, but I’ve got a bad feeling about it,” Sheppard replied.

  “Why’s that? You think she’s in some kind of trouble?” I asked.

  “I’m not saying that for sure, but ya gotta wonder why she moved all the way down here from Washington. That’s crazy, man.”

  He had a point. There had to be more to the story, and I planned to find out exactly what was going on with that girl. She’d been dominating my every thought since the minute I’d laid eyes on her. She’d gotten under my skin, and it was screwing with my head.

  While my mind was still focused on Lily, Cindy came up to me and leaned into my shoulder.

  “Hey there, sexy. Having a good time tonight?” she asked. She was wearing a tank top that barely covered her breasts and tight leather pants. She was a pretty girl, but she’d never been my type. I’d never showed her any interest, so I didn’t know why she kept trying.

  “I’ve had better. How ‘bout you?” I asked.

  “It’d be better if I was alone somewhere with you,” she said as she pressed her breasts against my chest and ran her fingers through the back of my hair. I looked over towards Lily, and she was staring right at us. When our eyes met, she quickly turned away.

  “Not tonight, doll. I gotta get to work in the garage early tomorrow,” I told her, hoping she’d get the hint.

  “Maybe some other time then. I’m planning to bring my friend, Brandie, to the club next week. I’ve told her all about you, and she can’t wait to meet you,” she said, running her hand through the ends of my hair.

  “She planning on becoming one of the Fallen Girls?”

  Cindy nodded her head yes.

  “Make sure she knows what she’s getting into before you bring her around here.”

  “Already have. She’s all in.” She gave me a kiss on my neck and headed over towards Bobby. I just shook my head. We all knew she wasn’t gonna get anywhere with him.

  I shot a game of pool with Doc and drank a few more beers before I decided to call it a night. I really did have a lot I needed to get done the next day. Before I left for my room, I glanced back over in Lily’s direction. Renegade and Taylor had finally made it, and they were talking to Bishop and Tessa. Lily was serving them their drinks and really seemed to be enjoying herself. It actually looked like she was doing a pretty good job of running things. Tessa was talking a mile a minute, and Lily was focused on her conversation when I lifted my beer to Bishop to let him know I was leaving. He lifted his in return and went back to listening to whatever the girls were saying.

  When I finally got in the bed, I could still hear the music blaring through the thin walls of my room. I tried turning on the TV for a little distraction, but it couldn’t keep my attention. My mind kept wandering to Lily.

  There was something about her that I couldn’t shake. I couldn’t keep myself from worrying about her. The girl had traveled halfway across the country with a kid to boot, and she thought she could handle working in that place. Not to mention the fact that she was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen. My gut told me I needed to help her, protect her. I just didn’t understand why I was so drawn to her. I knew I wasn’t going to be able to leave it alone.

  I needed to get up early, so I could finish working on that damn Chevy. When I finally got the thing running, I planned to go by and see Lily. It was time that I paid her a visit. I needed her to see that being at the clubhouse, while trying to raise her sister’s kid wasn’t going to be easy. She needed to understand that working in that bar, with the late hours and drunken idiots, was a recipe for disaster. They might have been my brothers, but I knew they wouldn’t hold back when there was a beautiful girl to fight over. I couldn’t say that I blamed them. I felt the same way.

  Chapter 5

  Lily

  My bed had to have the worst mattress in the history of the world. I didn’t get in until after one in the morning, and I tossed and turned all night. John Warren woke up at the crack of dawn, so I got no sleep whatsoever. I slowly pulled my aching body out of bed and walked down the hall to his new room. I found him in his crib with a bright smile on his face. Just seeing him standing there like that made the long night worth it. I wouldn’t trade that moment for anything.

  “Hey there, Little Man. I missed you last night,” I told him, pulling him up out of the crib. His little baby hands reached for my hair and gave it a tug. “No, John Warren, that hurts!” I shouted while pulling his hands from my hair. He giggled and screeched as I laid him down to change his diaper and clothes.

  We headed for the kitchen to get some breakfast and a bottle. I still didn’t have a high chair, so I sat him in my lap. That probably wasn’t the best idea. I ended up with applesauce handprints all over me. The front of my shirt looked like he’d just played a game of patty cake on my chest. I desperately needed a high chair.

  My list of needs was growing by the minute, so I was glad that I’d started working at the clubhouse right away. I was running out of cash and needed to consider finding a second job until I got my feet on the ground.

  John Warren sat in front of the small TV in the living room watching Sesame Street and playing with his toys, while I spent over an hour unloading all our stuff. I was pretty impressed with all the things I’d been able to cram into my little car. I’d even managed to shove a few extra blankets and sheets under the seats. I had to say I did a pretty good job packing considering the short amount of time I was given.

  After I organized all of my clothes and found a place for the enormous amount of stuff my mother had packed for John Warren, I decided it was time to give the house a good cleaning. I found a bottle of bleach and went to town cleaning every corner of that little house. The overwhelming fumes made me dizzy, so I decided it was time for a break. I was just about to go into the kitchen to make myself a cup of coffee when the sound of a loud motorcycle engine caught my
attention. It sounded like it pulled into my driveway. A few seconds later, someone was pounding on my door.

  I almost lost my mind when I looked out the window and saw Goliath standing there. Of course, he looked amazing in his black Guns and Roses t-shirt and jeans. His hair wasn’t brushed back, and I liked the way it fell across his face. I looked down at my stained shirt and bleached shorts and knew I looked like a damn mess. I knew the dark circles under my eyes had only gotten worse throughout the day and my hair was matted down with sweat and filth. Shit. Why the hell was he there anyway? I pulled the door open and surprise washed over his face.

  He cleared his throat before he said, “Damn. You look like shit.”

  “Well, aren’t you a ray of sunshine this morning?” I huffed. I stood there a moment just staring at him before I said, “Why don’t you go spread the wonder of your charming personality with someone else today? I’m not in the mood.” I turned away from him and tried to shut the door in his face.

  His foot blocked me from closing the door as he pushed his way through. Without saying a word, he sauntered into the living room. His head moved back and forth as he checked out everything in the room. I even saw him checking out the locks on my windows! Then, he made his way towards the kitchen. He spent a few seconds there before he started down the hall towards the bedrooms.

  “Wait! What the hell do you think you’re doing?” I asked, following him into John Warren’s room. He never even responded to me. He just walked around the house like he owned the place, checking everything out.

  “Look, you really need to leave. I have a lot to do, and I don’t have time for this right now… or ever for that matter!” My voice was slowly rising to a scream, but he didn’t even flinch. He just waltzed back into the living room and knelt down over John Warren.

  An innocent smile spread across his face as he turned to me and asked, “What’s his name?”

  “John Warren. It’s almost time for his bottle and nap, so umm… yeah,” I told him, hoping he would get the hint and just leave.

  “I’ll give it to him while you take a shower,” he said as he picked John Warren up and cradled him in his arms. Oh shit, that wasn’t good. A sexy as hell biker holding a baby would make any girl weak in the knees, and bikers were totally off my to do list. No. Not going there. There was too much history with bikers in my family, and I wasn’t about to let it repeat itself with me.

  “No, I’ve got this. I’m sure you have things to do. So, go forth and prosper,” I said, motioning him out the door.

  “Go get me the damn bottle and take a shower. Trust me. You need it,” he demanded as his eyes roamed over my body.

  “Screw you, Goliath. Where do you get off coming in here telling me what to do?” I shouted.

  “Get the bottle, Lily!” he demanded.

  To hell with it. I threw my hands up in the air and stormed into the kitchen for the bottle. The nerve of him! I made a show of slamming each and every cabinet door shut. I did the same thing with every drawer in that damn kitchen. It didn’t help calm my anger. When I made it back into the living room, Goliath was already sitting in the old recliner with John Warren waiting for me. He gave me a sexy grin as I shoved the bottle in his hand and headed for the bathroom.

  I hated to admit it, but a hot shower was exactly what I needed. It was amazing. The warm water eased my aching muscles and as an added bonus I no longer smelled like bleach. I took my time washing my hair and even shaved my legs, since I knew John Warren was okay. I was dreading going back into the living room to face Goliath, so I took a little longer than I normally would’ve drying my hair and getting dressed.

  When I finally made my way back, John Warren had fallen asleep in Goliath’s arms. I wanted to stand there and just stare at them both. Seeing such a strong man be so gentle was more than my mind could take. I needed to get him out of my house, before I did something I would regret. I walked over to him and lifted the baby out of his arms. I took John Warren to his room and laid him down in his crib.

  Goliath was waiting for me when I returned. He stood by the door looking devilishly handsome, and my body immediately reacted to him. I hated that I found him so irresistible, but I couldn’t help myself. There was something about him that kept drawing me in. Even though my mind was telling me no, my body had other plans. I had walked over to him without even realizing it. I was standing in front of him, his eyes locked on mine. He brushed the loose strands of my hair behind my ear, and I felt the need to reach out and touch him. Before I had a chance to think, he brought his hands to the sides of my face, gently pulling me closer to him. His lips pressed against mine, and my knees instantly felt weak. I should’ve pushed him away. I should’ve told him to get the hell out, but I was lost in his touch. His tongue brushed against my mouth encouraging me to open, and I couldn’t find it in myself to deny him. I felt my pulse quicken as the kiss became heated. His hand began to roam over my body. I knew I should stop him, but I couldn’t pull away. His hands reached up for my breasts, caressing them firmly. There was more pleasure than pain. It surprised me how much I liked it. He was igniting a fire in me that I knew I’d never be able to put out. He released me from our embrace, and I hated the sense of loss my body felt. Damn.

  He took a step back, his eyes slowly roaming over me with a concerned look. I didn’t know why he stopped the kiss, but from the look on his face, I knew I wouldn’t like it.

  He brought his hand up to my chin, forcing me to look at him and said, “You need to get some sleep.” Where the hell did that come from? One minute he was kissing me, and the next he was back to treating me like a child.

  “I’m fine. You can stop treating me like a child, Goliath.”

  “Just get some rest, Lily.” He kissed my forehead and turned towards the door. I watched in stunned silence as he walked out, heading for his bike. The roar of his engine starting pulled me from my trance.

  So many thoughts swam through my head. I hated to admit it, but he was probably right. I really did need to get some rest. The late nights were going to be tough. If I was going to keep my job, I’d have to find a way to make it all work.

  Chapter 6

  Goliath

  I had tons of work to do today, but I promised Renegade that I would head up to Kentucky with him. Taylor’s lease was up on her old apartment, and I agreed to help him get the rest of her things.

  We took Bishop’s truck and spent the two-hour drive talking about the club. Renegade was making big plans for Christmas. Apparently, he was planning to ask Taylor to marry him. She’d meant everything to him for years, but it’d taken some trouble with another club to make him admit that he couldn’t live without her.

  “I can’t believe you’re finally doing it, man. I’m glad you finally realized all the other bullshit just didn’t matter,” I told him.

  “She deserves better, man, but I’m done letting that stand in my way. She’s stuck with me now.”

  “Glad to hear it.”

  “What about you?” Renegade asked.

  “What about me? You know I don’t have anyone I’m interested in,” I argued, trying not to remember the touch of Lily’s lips or the taste of her. I failed.

  “That’s bullshit. It was pretty obvious that morning in the bar that Lily was getting to you. You better make your move,” Renegade said, laughing out.

  “She’s a pain in the ass, man, and she won’t listen to a damn thing I say,” I explained. That was the understatement of the year.

  Renegade gave me a thoughtful look and said, “It’s been a long time since I’ve seen anyone get to you like that. She’s definitely made an impression.”

  “Yeah, well… I made an impression on her, too. She pretty much hates me, and that’s probably the best thing for both of us.”

  “Don’t do that, man. Learn from my mistakes and stop trying to convince yourself that it couldn’t work. I wasted a lot of time doing that with Taylor.”

  Renegade didn’t say anything after that. He l
et his words linger in the air for a while. I knew he was right. There was definitely something about Lily that was fucking with my head. Even though she was the most infuriating woman I’d ever met, I had an overwhelming need to be near her. Hell, I wanted to go back to her right then. I needed to find out what it was about her that was driving me so crazy.

  It took us over two hours to load all of Taylor’s stuff into Bishop’s truck. It wouldn’t have taken us that long if Renegade hadn’t spent an hour next door talking to her old neighbor. He just had to go check in on her. She sent us home with a batch of cookies and some kind of chicken casserole. It made the truck smell like a mix of chocolate and chicken. I wasn’t a fan of chocolate and chicken. It was going to be a long drive back.

  When we got back in town, Renegade dropped me off at the clubhouse. I told him I would come by the next day to help him unload everything. It had been a long day, and I was ready to grab a beer and go to bed.

  The bar was pretty quiet when I walked in. A couple of the guys were playing a game of pool, and Lily was talking to Sheppard over at the bar. She had her elbows propped on the bar and a finger twirling her hair as she talked. Immediately a rush of heat curled in my gut and radiated throughout my body. I clenched my fists, and my jaw tightened as I watched them together. I froze when Sheppard’s hand grazed her as he pushed her hair back over her shoulder. My blood was boiling. I knew I was jealous. I hated the thought of anyone’s hands on Lily but mine. I walked over to the bar, and neither one of them noticed me. Hell that pissed me off even more.

  “I’d love to go with you sometime. It’s been a long time since I’ve been on a motorcycle. I used to love to ride with my dad when I was younger, but it’s been awhile,” Lily told Sheppard with a fucking sexy as hell smile. Damn it.

  “I’ll take you one day next week. We can make a stop by Hidden Creek on the way back and grab dinner,” Sheppard replied. He was smiling at her like he had just won the damn lottery. Motherfucker!