by Kylie Parker
The two men walked into the nightclub, under the sound of Metallica’s “The Unforgiven”. It served as a welcome surprise to both of them, especially Matt, who was still upset about his friend’s choice. Bruce scanned the club. The wall across from them and the one on the left were lined with every major Harley Davidson ever made. The one on the right was smaller and featured big posters of rock and heavy metal bands, like Guns ‘n’ Roses and Metallica. Next to that wall was the bar of the unexpectedly crowded nightclub. Despite the fact that there were more a hundred people there though, the bar was almost completely empty. A young brunette was sat on the stool in the far corner and an elderly man five seats away from her. Bruce loved her looks. She had long, dark-brown, curly hair, but something else on her really made him want to go talk to her. She wore a black, leather outfit, similar to the one that he and Matt had on.
“Sweet.” Matt remarked, staring at the blonde barmaid.
“Go get her tiger.” Bruce gave him an elbow jab, before starting towards the bar. The brunette turned her head to the right and faced him. Her almond-shaped, light-brown eyes sparkled in the dim light. She couldn’t have been more than 5’6”, but Bruce did not like tall women anyway. He liked to tower over women; his 6’3”, imposing stature allowed him that.
“Nice outfit.” He spoke in his deep baritone, with a cunning smile on his face, taking a seat next to her.
“Nice try.” Her voice was high-pitched and very attractive indeed, but her words disappointed him. She hopped off her stool, glaring at him. Bruce had no reason to even look at her anymore and averted his gaze from the brunette altogether.
“Shot down in a blaze of glory.” He said to himself, quoting the famous Jon Bon Jovi song “Blaze of Glory”, fixing his gaze on the bottles across from him. Meanwhile, Matt and the barmaid had already started talking to each other. She would not smile at him, but it appeared to be going better than his miserably failed attempt.
“Too bad. I really liked that one. Oh well… Vegas is a big city and I’m going to be here for a week. I can meet someone else. She’d better look a lot like her, though. I loved that curly hair of hers. Oh, crap! She’s the first girl that said ‘no’ to me in ten years! What’s going on? Snap out of it, Bruce. She’s clearly upset about something and I don’t think it’s you. I mean, what did you say to her? You just paid her a compliment.”
“For the last time, I’m twenty eight years old! I don’t need my father to call me every few minutes and ask me when I’m going home!” She yelled, her voice audible over the loud, rock music. Bruce looked up at her over his left shoulder. She was really upset; she put her phone in the pocket of her jacket, as she ran her left hand through her hair, sighing. He would not address her; opening his mouth at that time did not feel like a good idea, as she could well take her frustration out on him. The brunette hopped back on her stool and then took her empty glass in her hand.
“Jenny, I need a refill.” She said, looking up at the blonde barmaid. Then, out of the blue, she returned her gaze to Bruce. “I’m sorry about earlier. I’m Melissa Smith. Thanks for the compliment.”
“Bruce Harris. Pleasure.” He introduced himself with a faint smile on his face, trying hard to hide his surprise, offering his hand for a handshake. “Don’t worry about it. I take it the Softail outside is yours. That’s a beautiful machine.”
“Well, thanks again.” A big smile spread across her face, as she shook his hand. “It is. Do you ride?”
“Yep. A 1200 Custom. My friend rides a Seventy Two. We’re from Boston. We’re on a road trip. We just arrived.” Bruce replied, feeling the skin of her soft palm into his.
“No kidding!” Melissa exclaimed. “You mean you rode all the way here from Boston?”
“That’s right.” Bruce nodded.
“Let me guess. You guys came here because you saw the bike on the façade. Am I right?” She asked.
“Yeah.” He admitted. “It looks really great. The place is pretty good, too. It’s got a nice vibe to it.”
“Well, it should.” Melissa laughed. “It’s a vintage bar. I’ve known the owner since I was a little girl. Jack used to be a Black Sabbath roadie, back in the day.”
“Sounds like fun.” Bruce commented.
“He’s got like a ton of stories. You should ask him. He’s the guy talking to your friend.” She stated, throwing a rapt glance at the elderly man at the bar. “What about you? What made you decide to cross…” She paused and looked up at the ceiling. “Seven states?”
“My friend and I are mechanics.” He claimed. “We spend a lot of time fixing motorcycles, but we never get the chance to enjoy our own. We just ride to the workshop and back. It’s pretty sad if you think about it, but it’s true.”
“No.” Melissa waved her hand in front of her face. “That’s today. We all work to death. Trust me, I’m a lawyer. I know how that feels.”
“A female biker lawyer?” Bruce sounded surprised. “I’m impressed.”
“I was wondering when you were going to say that.” She laughed once more, making his heart flutter. “Men think that…”
“Let me stop you right there.” He interrupted her. “I don’t care what other men think. I think it’s hot, kind of. I’ve never seen a woman ride a Harley before.”
“Hot?” She wondered, leaning towards him.
“Yeah.” Bruce spoke, his voice firm. “Harleys are absolutely gorgeous. What’s better than seeing a beautiful woman like you ride one of them?”
“Thank you. Again.” Melissa made her voice sound sweeter. “Are all bikers good talkers where you come from?”
By all means, Bruce should be thrilled that she was flirting with him. After all, he liked her very much. But, her obvious interest in him did not seem to matter. Her question had brought back terrible memories of things he had been trying to forget for years. He dropped his gaze to the floor, as his smile disappeared.
“Not really.” He groaned. “I’m sorry, Melissa. I got to go.”
“Go? What are you talking about? You just got here!” Frustration was lingering in her voice. “What did I say?”
“Nothing. I just…” Bruce faltered. “Remembered something.”
The quick ride back to his hotel felt like an eternity. He wanted to disappear off the face of the Earth. Bruce had just lost a very good opportunity to have some fun on his first night in Las Vegas. Melissa had reminded him of the money that they had stolen that night and theft was only a part of the life that he put behind him, when he and Matt left the motorcycle club.
Later, in his hotel room, Bruce was having second thoughts about his decision. However, if he had stayed, he would have to explain why he was so upset.
“You’re a great-looking girl Melissa, but I couldn’t pour my heart out to someone I’ve just met. I wonder what Matt’s up to. Nah, who am I kidding? He’s probably going to sleep with that barmaid. Sometimes, I wish I could take things lightly like he does. I could do that tonight; I wouldn’t worry about the money we stole and we’d have a great time. Stealing from a bank is one thing. Stealing from a casino can become very messy.”
Indeed, Bruce had regretted his decision to take the money. At some moment, he even thought of flushing it down the toilet. He had a very good idea about what would happen to him and Matt, should the casino owner found out. There have always been rumors about the numerous holes in the Mojave Desert. He didn’t want to end up in one of them. The money that they had stolen was not worth that risk, but, even if it was, they had promised to each other to lead a quiet life, after leaving the motorcycle club.
Bruce lay in bed, exhausted by the long ride and the night’s events. As fate would have it though, he did not stay there for more than just a few seconds. His phone rang; it was Matt.
“Hey, man.”
“I hope I didn’t wake you.”
“No, I was just about to crash. What’s up?”
“Do me a favor. Look out the window.”
“Why?”
“Just do it.”
Bruce lazily sat up and got out of bed. He went to the window on the right and looked down at the road, only to see Matt on his motorcycle, with Jenny sat behind him and Melissa on her motorcycle, pulling over on the right side of the road.
“Are you still there?”
“Yeah.” Bruce whispered, still trying to wrap his head around what he had just witnessed. Melissa was there, but he had no idea why.
“Sorry man, she insisted. She said she wanted you to see her riding that bike. That chick’s crazy.”
“It’s alright, brother.” Bruce smiled. At that moment, Melissa dismounted her motorcycle and walked up to Matt. “Give her the phone, will you?” Bruce requested. Matt indulged his friend. She looked up and slightly to the left, before she waved at Bruce.
“Hi there.” Melissa said in a sweet tone.
“Hey. I’m sorry I left.”
“Meet me at 3320, Bonanza Road, tomorrow night at 8pm. It’s a pretty big supermarket. It’s kind of hard to miss. Let’s see how fast that bike of yours really is.”
“What?!” Bruce couldn’t believe his ears. “You want to race with me?”
“No, silly.” She chuckled. “I’ll explain when you get there. Goodnight.”
“Goodnight.”
Melissa’s visit put a smile on Bruce’s face. She was not mad at him for abandoning her. On the contrary, she sounded quite cool and her proposal made his heart leap with joy. Bruce wondered what she had in mind, but that could wait. It could be a number of things and he was a little too tired to start speculating.
“I was right.” He thought to himself. “Women on Harleys look really hot. You got me curious, Melissa. Thanks a lot for tonight. I shouldn’t have left like that, but you came here, just to talk to me on the phone. I really like that.”
Chapter Three
By the time he had left his hotel that afternoon, Bruce’s head was spinning, contemplating his next move. However, he was on his way to meet Melissa and he could not afford to show his emotions. Most likely, she would start asking questions. Bruce would have to tell her the whole story and reveal his secrets, secrets that had been haunting him for years. Under the blood-red sky of Las Vegas, her image reentered his mind. He liked her; she seemed like an honest girl, but he barely knew her. Bruce could not know whether he could trust her or not.
During his short ride to Bonanza Road, he enjoyed the scenery. He liked the uphill road, even though a couple of turns were quite steep, but, more than anything, he savored the sensation of the cool air against his skin. The day in the city had been extremely hot; neither he nor Matt would even consider getting out before sunset. However, the evening was rather brisk, ideal for long walks or long rides on his Harley. This one though lasted less than ten minutes. Bruce spotted Melissa on the right side of the wide road, sat on her electric-blue motorcycle, just outside the supermarket she had told him about.
“Hey you.” She sang. “How was the ride? It wasn’t hard to find, was it?”
“Hi. No, it wasn’t.” He said, trying to pull his helmet over his head.
“Keep it on.” Melissa suggested. “There’s a place I want you to see.”
“Lead the way.” Bruce gave her a smile. She returned it, slowly turned around, put her own helmet on and mounted her motorcycle. Her black leather outfit was tight enough to accentuate her curves. Even in that, Melissa looked very feminine indeed. Sadly for Bruce, he could not watch her for more than just a few seconds. The brunette started the engine of her Harley, as the sun quickly disappeared in the horizon.
“I was so stupid to leave last night. Where are you taking me, Melissa? What is it that you want me to see?”
Curious about what she had in mind, Bruce followed Melissa. For the first time in his life, he was riding with a woman. A beautiful woman. Something in her ways appealed to him. She lured him like nothing else in the entire world could. Bruce was not sure whether it was the fact that she rode a motorcycle, her amazing looks or the way she had treated him so far. It could be any of those things or all of them combined. But he would not bother to analyze it any further. Once again, he was feeling the cool breeze against his skin, as they rode on an uphill stretch of road. The busy Bonanza road continued downhill, giving him a chance to gaze at the dozens of taillights and headlights. The Frenchman mountains stood tall and proud against the clear, darkening sky.
“Freedom, baby.” Bruce thought to himself, as he rolled the throttle on his motorcycle. The speedometer indicated he was doing more than eighty five miles per hour.
“Something happens to you at about ninety miles an hour. All the noise drowns out all sound. You focus on the immediate. All of a sudden, you’re not on the road. You’re in it. You’re part of it. Nothing matters; traffic, scenery, people become nothing more than blurry images of things you’re just trying to avoid. I love that rush.”
The immediate at that point was Melissa and her long hair whipping against her back. The right indicator on her Harley flashed. Fifty yards later, she took a right turn. Bruce found himself onto yet another downhill road. This one however was gravelly and empty, surrounded by thick, dry bushes. Two hundred meters down that road, Melissa left it and went to the right. She rode across a rocky ledge, slowed down and eventually stopped, just a few feet before the edge.
“This is it.” She said, pulling her helmet over her head. Bruce’s jaw had dropped. The hill that they were on overlooked the city of Las Vegas. Thousands upon thousands of sparkling city lights lay ahead of them. Their numerous color variations added to the sheer beauty of the scenery. Several high-rises towered over the rest of the smaller buildings and could be seen from a distance.
“It’s fantastic.” Bruce voiced his mind in a mild tone, as he removed his helmet as well. The two of them dismounted their motorcycles almost at the same time. He left his helmet hanging on the left handlebar and put his hands in his pockets, as he lazily walked up to her.
“This is my favorite view of the city.” Melissa confessed, her voice low and sweet. Then, she turned her head to the left and faced Bruce. “You said you’re from Boston. What’s your favorite view of your city?”
“Charles River.” Bruce’s response was sharp. “It’s a great place for a walk, with amazing views of the city.”
“It sounds interesting.” She commented.
“You should see it someday.” He suggested, as his thick lips curled into a razored smile.
“There’s that grin again.” Melissa remarked, pointing at his face. “I swear to God, if I hadn’t seen you riding a bike, I would never think you’re a biker.”
“Why’s that?”
“Because you don’t act like one.” She explained. “You got…” Melissa faltered. “Manners. You’re not loud. You can actually talk. Most bikers I’ve met yell a lot. They’re pretty crude, if you know what I mean.”
“I know exactly what you mean.” Bruce spoke in an emphatic tone. “I was member of a motorcycle club.”
“Really?” She chirped. “How was it?”
“Well, it was pretty loud. We had lots of fun. You know, riding around, going to places. We were pretty close.” He replied.
“Then why did you leave?” Bruce dreaded Melissa’s last question. It put him in an impossible position. Not ready to reveal his past, he decided to try a different approach.
“Why are you so interested in me, Melissa? I mean, I’m a tourist. You know I won’t be here for long.” He said, as a breeze tugged at his short, black hair. Melissa rolled her eyes to the right and squeezed her lips, clearly saddened by his words.
“I’ve been alone for too long.” She whispered. “My phone was already buzzing in my pocket when you spoke to me. I got a pretty oppressive father. That’s why I was so rude to you.”
“I’m not buying that.” Bruce smirked at her. “You’re too beautiful to be alone. And what you said about your father doesn’t make sense. What does your mother have to say about this?”
“Well, thanks, but it’s true.” M
elissa continued. “My mom died two years ago. Heart attack.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know.” He lowered his tone and got serious.
“Bruce.” She snorted. “You can’t. You just can’t be a biker. I think someone’s playing a joke on me.”
“I am. I got the scars to prove it.” Bruce spoke in his deep, manly voice. “I can show you if you like. Why do you say that?”
“Please, don’t make me repeat myself.” Melissa requested.
“I really liked what you did last night.” He whispered, bending his head towards her. “I dumped you and you didn’t get mad at me. You wanted to see me again.” Sliding his right hand up her forearm, he looked deep into her eyes. She did not stop him; her big smile encouraged him. Bruce’s hand stopped on the side of her neck. The feel of her soft skin in his palm sent sparks up and down his body.
“You could have snapped at me when I said ‘nice try’. But you didn’t. That’s why I talked to you later.” Her high-pitched voice had lowered to a soft, sweet whisper. Bruce closed his eyes and gently pulled her closer to him. Melissa’s skin was very smooth, but it was her tender kiss that blew his mind. Her lips felt warm on his mouth, as she wrapped her arms around his neck. Sensing her hot breath on his skin, he held her near. The wind grew stronger; it began to whip her hair against her face, but she would not stop kissing him. Bruce caressed the back of her neck, entwining his other arm around her back. He trapped her upper lip in his mouth and kissed it one last time, before slowly pulling back.
“I’ve never seen anything prettier in my whole life.” He confessed, watching as the wind continued to whip her hair against her face.
“You’re really sweet, Mr. Boston.” She whispered.
“I’m just being honest.” Bruce added.
“Care to follow me again?” Melissa asked in a husky tone.
“Where to?”
“My place is two miles east from here.” She winked at him. With her scent still in his nostrils and feeling a little dizzy by her kiss, Bruce would not say “no” to her. Their date was going better than he anticipated. He couldn’t wait to be alone with her in a much more comfortable place than a rocky ledge. His heart was racing, as he mounted his Harley for one more time that night.
