by Geri Glenn
He nods, his jaw set and his eyes wet. “What your dad said about you wasn’t very nice either.” A tear slips down his cheek then. Moving closer, I wrap my boy in my arms and squeeze him tight. “He should never have said that stuff to you. And he’s wrong. You’re a good kid, and you’re going to be a better man than any other I’ve ever known.”
My heart breaks for my boy. Paul’s going to hear from me on this. What kind of man berates a kid and his mother like that? Not any kind of man I want around my kid, that’s for sure. Pulling back, I hold him at arms length and look into his tear-filled eyes. “I’m so sorry he hurt you, Bryce.”
“I’m sorry too.”
CHAPTER THREE
Jase
It’s been three weeks since Gunner gave me my six-month deadline, and since then, I’ve been busy. I’ve been in this garage, working day and night to put out my best work, and it’s paid off. After only three weeks, I’ve built an incredible custom motorcycle from scratch. Not only does she look gorgeous, but I just got back from her first test run. She drives like a fucking dream.
I step off the bike and lean her over, onto the kickstand. Stepping back, I place my hands on my hips and smile down at her. Damn, I’m good.
A low whistle sounds out from behind me. Turning, I see Reaper leaning against the door, looking at my girl. “Jesus, Jase. This is fuckin’ beautiful.” He steps inside and runs his fingers along the custom fender. “By far, your best work yet.”
A sense of overwhelming pride fills me. I’d built bikes before, but I’d always taken my time, and only did it as a hobby. But this time, I’d thrown everything I had into this build, determined to show the rest of the club that I’m taking this seriously, and that I’m not as shallow as they think.
I pull off my helmet and grin. “Thanks, man. Have a possible buyer comin’ by tomorrow afternoon to take a look.”
“Fuck, that didn’t take long.”
I shake my head and set my helmet on the nearby tool bench. “Gonna be sad to see this baby go, though. I fuckin’ love this bike.”
“Then what the hell are you sellin’ it for?”
I give him a pointed look. “Gunner gave me a deadline. I intend to show him, and the rest of you fuckers, that I can do this.”
Reaper smirks. “Fair enough. Seems a shame to let this little beauty go to some yuppie collector.”
My heart twists a little. I’d thought the same thing. The thought of my baby collecting dust in some rich guy’s showcase garage makes me sick, but he’s willing to pay a lot of money for this bike, and I’d be a fool to turn it down.
“It’s fucking criminal, but if the crazy bastard’s willing to pay me, who am I to complain?” I walk over to the light panel and start switching off the lights. “I’m in the mood to celebrate. You in?”
“What’d you have in mind?”
I flick off the final light and we step outside. “I haven’t been laid in over a week, man. Let’s go find some fresh pussy.”
Reaper’s lips twist up on one side. “I have to go check out the wiring on one of the security cameras at Chrome.”
Chrome is one of several nightclubs owned and operated by the Kings. It’s always packed on Friday nights, and is exactly the type of place I need to go to celebrate. “Let me grab a quick shower and hose this grease off, then we’ll go.”
The beat of the music thumps in my ears and vibrates the windows of the businesses surrounding the nightclub. We approach the club and walk right past the long line of people waiting to get in. The bouncer nods in greeting and steps aside.
Chrome is run by the Kings, but it’s managed and cared for by Pimp, a brother known for his ruthless business sense and his well-managed crew of sexy waitresses. Aside from the bouncers, every employee in this club is female, and every one of them look sexy as hell in their tiny little uniforms, but we all know better than to touch a single one of them. Pimp may be a brother, but he protects his girls like a hellhound. You don’t fuck with Pimp’s ladies.
Reaper and I move straight to the raised VIP booth overlooking the entire club. The booth is always empty and available for members to use whenever they want. We each order a beer and survey the dance floor. Scantily clad women fill it, dancing with their arms raised up in the air, every one of them here for the same reason that I am, and that is to have a good time.
I watch a tall, beautiful brunette woman reach for her friend’s hip. The two of them laugh and holler as they dance together, slightly offbeat from the music. I’m about to make my move when a tall preppy guy comes up behind her and kisses her neck. Taken. Fucking figures.
He takes her hand and leads her off the dance floor. I’m just about to turn away when I see the group of ladies that were hidden behind them. My heart jolts. Ellen’s dancing in a tight circle with two other ladies, a wide smile spread across her face. I haven’t seen her since the night at the Pig’s Ear three weeks ago.
I watch her ass sway and bounce to the beat of the music, my dick hardening and pressing tightly against the zipper of my jeans. I can’t take my fucking eyes off her. She looks amazing. She was fucking gorgeous in scrubs, but seeing her long legs and tight-ass in that little black skirt makes my heart skip a beat.
“Don’t even think about it, man.”
“Think about what?”
Reaper snorts. “Charlie asked you to stay away from that bitch. It’s one woman, so pick a different one.”
I cast my eyes back to the dance floor and watch as Ellen swivels her hips and laughs along with her friends. Charlie had told me to stay away from her more than once, and so far, I’d listened. But I don’t wanna do that anymore. For months I’ve flirted with her, yet, for the most part, I’ve kept my distance. Sorry, Charlie.
“Come on, Reap. Look at those other bitches. Be a decent fuckin’ wingman, would ya.”
“I’m not anyone’s wingman. I can find bitches all on my own.”
I shrug and throw my hands up. “Your loss, brother.”
Ellen
I’m so glad Julie convinced me to come out tonight. She hasn’t been for a visit in months. She’s only here for the weekend, but it’s been so nice to have someone to talk to. Things with Bryce have calmed down over the last few weeks, but he’s still not acting like himself—not by a long shot. I know something’s bugging him, but he hasn’t been as miserable as he was after his last visit with his father.
Paul on the other hand, has been a giant pain in my ass. He calls every day, sometimes five and six times, arguing with me and demanding to speak with Bryce. He’s furious that I won’t let him take him out. I won’t even let him visit. After what he said to Bryce, and the way he’d grabbed my arm that day, I don’t want him anywhere near either one of us.
He’s threatening to take me to court and fight for full custody and even though, deep down, I know he’ll never win, I’m still terrified. I know the courts would never take Bryce away from me entirely, but they may force me to allow Paul visitation rights, or possibly even give him joint custody. How could I protect Bryce from him then?
Earlier this afternoon, Bryce had been invited to a friend’s house for a sleepover, and I’d been quick to say yes. Anything to make him smile again. He hasn’t been defiant or nasty, but he has been sullen and moody. It worries me. He hadn’t been out the door five seconds before Julie had turned to me with a wicked grin and said, “Let’s go out tonight.”
I tried to tell her no. I’ve never been to a nightclub before; I’d never had the chance. But when Julie wants something, she can be relentless. Before I knew it, she’d forced me into this short skirt and had my make-up done up heavier than I’ve ever done it in my life.
Now we’re here, and I’m having a blast. I love to dance. I’ve always loved music. I may not be the best dancer, but there’s something so freeing in letting go of your inhibitions and just enjoy the moment.
I’m lost in the song, my body swaying from side to side, when a pair of hands land on my waist. I look to Julie with
wide eyes, hoping for some clue as to who it is, but she only looks amused. Well, she might be amused, but I’m not. You don’t see strange men walking up to women in the grocery store and grinding into their ass, so why do they think it’s okay to do it here?
Whipping around, I pull myself from their hold and get ready to rip them a new one, but when I see a familiar face grinning back at me, my stomach fills with a swarm of angry butterflies. God, he’s beautiful. Jase should be posing for billboard ads and magazine covers.
Leaning forward, I have to shout to be heard. “What are you doing?”
I see a tiny smirk cross his face as his hands land on my hips once more, pulling me into him. “Well, I was dancing with you.”
The butterflies go crazy and my breath catches in my throat. Placing my hands on his chest, I put some distance between his body and mine, even though I like the feel of his. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
His blue eyes look at me with confusion. “Why not?”
Because you’ll hurt me. I don’t say it, but it’s true. There’s no doubt that I’m attracted to Jase. I may want him, but I can’t have him. I don’t want to be a notch on this beautiful man’s bedpost. I respect myself more than that, and I’m not looking for casual sex.
My teeth nibble on the inside of my lip as I try to pry my eyes away from his. Finally, I find the courage to speak. “It’s just not.”
The stunned look on his face makes me want to take back my words. I need to get away. Without an explanation, I spin on my heel and rush towards the bathroom, praying that Julie and her friend follow. I don’t need this right now. I’ve gone almost twelve years of playing it safe, and I’m not about to change that for anyone, not even Jase.
Sure, I’ve dated, but the men were always dependable, responsible, and quiet. Boring is more like it, but they were good role models for my boy. I hadn’t gone out with any of them more than two or three times because they just weren’t the right ones for me. I’m still holding out that someday, I’ll meet a man who will be a good father to my son, and a good husband to me. Until then, I need to stay far away from guys like Jase.
I shove my way through the bathroom door and raise my hands to my flushed cheeks. God, this is silly. It was only dancing, for goodness sake.
I give myself one final look in the mirror and move to stand in the line of drunken women who are waiting to use the toilet. I use the time to calm my pounding heart and remind myself that I’m overreacting. He was flirting, which is what he’s always done. Hell, he flirts with everyone.
I finish my business and wash my hands quickly before walking back through the door, intent on finding Julie.
“How do you know?”
The voice comes from behind me, and back here in the hallway, the music is quieter, so his voice bounces off the walls. I can’t help it when I let out a tiny scream. “What?”
He takes a slow step closer to me, and I suddenly feel like his prey. “How do you know that it’s not a good idea?”
I stare at his lips. The lower one is slightly fuller than the upper, and all I can think about is what it would feel like to take that lip between my teeth. My eyes wander from his lips to his eyes, and it’s like I’ve been electrocuted. A jolt down my spine brings me back to the here and now.
“It was just a dance, Jase.”
He steps closer, invading my space. “Exactly. It was just a dance. How is that a bad idea?”
From this distance, I can see tiny yellow flecks in the blue of his eyes. They’re mesmerising. I press my back against the wall, trying to keep as much space between us as I can manage. “Jase…” I don’t even know what to say without sounding like an idiot. “Look, you’re a nice guy, but—”
His hand lands on the wall above my head, effectively boxing me in on one side. When he leans forward, I can barely breathe as his eyes bore into mine. “It was just a dance, El.”
Does he really think I’m going to fall for this shit? I push off the wall, feeling slightly victorious when he has to back up to allow me room. “Really?”
He chuckles, but his words speak a truth that we both know. “Fuck no.”
If he thinks that a sexy chuckle and a little dance is all it takes to get me into bed, he doesn’t know me very well. “I’m not that girl, Jase. I’ve heard about you, and I’ll never be that girl.”
“Ah, so you’ve been asking around about me?”
“No, but I’ve heard enough, and what I do know is that I’m certainly not what you’re looking for.”
The cocky smile melts slowly from his face. “And what exactly do you think I’m looking for?”
“Not me.” With that, I spin once more and march right out of the bar. Once I get outside, I text Julie and tell her I’m going to grab a cab home. I just want to get out of these tight clothes, wash away this stupid make-up, and forget that Jase Matthews even exists.
CHAPTER FOUR
Jase
“So you sold it?”
I hammer another nail into the wood and answer without looking up. “Yep. Made a fuckin’ killing off it too. That guy didn’t know much about bikes, but he knew he wanted that one.”
Ryker hands me another board and gets to work on the other end. “Nice. I bet Gunner’s impressed.”
I wipe the sweat from my forehead and sit back on my heels, surveying our handiwork. We’re laying the final boards to the backyard deck Charlie wanted. Ryker had started it a couple of weeks ago, but I’d been busy with my chopper. Now, with it being done, I’m ready for a cold beer and the burger he’d promised me.
“I haven’t told him yet. He said three bikes, so I’ll let him know once I’ve sold three.”
The patio door slides open and Charlie steps outside with a beer in each hand. “Wow. This looks amazing, guys.” She hands a beer to Ryker, then steps over a pile of tools to hand one to me. “You’re almost done?”
Ryker twists the cap off the bottle and takes a long pull before answering. “I’ll stain it over the weekend, but the hard part’s done.”
Charlie smiles wide and presses a kiss against his lips. “You did good, babe.”
He reaches down to pat her ass. “Jase and I are hungry. You got those burgers ready?”
“I’ll go get ‘em while you fire up the grill.”
She disappears inside, but is back before Ryker has completed his task. She places the plate on the table by the barbeque and turns to me. “So Ellen mentioned that she saw you at the club last night.”
My chest tightens at the sound of her name. To keep from giving myself away, I wag my eyebrows and lean in closer. “You ladies were talkin’ about me, were ya?”
Charlie’s not amused. “We were. Ellen didn’t say much, but she seemed a little upset.” She lets out a heavy sigh and holds my gaze. “What are you doing, Jase? I told you she wasn’t right for you.”
I fold my arms across my chest and lean against the railing. “Yeah, you’ve told me—several times, in fact. But what you haven’t told me is why. You don’t think I’m good enough for your friend, Charles?”
Her expression softens a little at the use of the nickname I gave her. “Handsome, you know that’s not it. It’s just that Ellen has a lot of responsibility. She’s got a lot going on in her life, and doesn’t have time to play games with you.”
“What makes you think I’m playin’?”
She continues to stare at me. I can tell her mind is racing, trying to figure out if I’m bullshitting her. “Why Ellen?”
I let my arms drop to my sides. “She’s fuckin’ hot, for one thing.” Charlie arches her brow. “Not only that,” I continue, “but she seems like a sweet girl. I got to know her a little when she was takin’ care of Smoke.”
I still haven’t convinced her, which is clear by the look on her face. I have to get past Charlie if I have any hope of getting a shot at Ellen. “I can’t fuckin’ explain it. Every time I see her, she just does something to me. I don’t even know why, so how the hell am I supposed to put
it into words for you?”
“What if you can’t handle her? Ellen’s got some pretty heavy baggage.”
“Seriously? What are you, her mother? Fuck me, Charles. I just want to see her again.”
Charlie waits for me to go on, and my heart sinks. “I really like her. It’s different with her.” I can see the moment she caves. Her body slumps and the stubborn look on her face fades. I don’t waste the opportunity. “Tell me what I have to do to see her again.”
“You’re relentless, you know that?” I can’t contain my grin. “Fine. Ellen takes the bus to and from work. She always works the day shift, and she’s working tomorrow. If you take me to work, maybe you could be outside and offer her a ride home.”
Fuck. This woman is a goddamn genius. I close the distance between us and pull her into a tight hug. “You’re cool as shit, Charles.”
Her voice is muffled against my chest when she answers. “I know. But I swear to God, if you hurt her, I will rip your you know what right off.”
“Ouch,” I tease. “But that won’t be necessary.”
A throat being cleared behind us has me grinning even wider as I turn towards Ryker and keep Charlie in my arms. “You ladies done with gossip time, or are you gonna need another minute?”
I shrug. “I think we’re done.”
“Good. Now, you wanna get your fuckin’ hands off my woman before I rip ‘em off your body?”
I give Charlie one last squeeze and let her go. “Fuck, Ryk. When you gonna learn to share your toys?”
The punch to the arm he lands hurts like a son of a bitch, but it’s worth it.
Ellen
I’m just putting the last of the groceries away when there’s a loud knock on the door. If it’s Paul, I don’t know what I’ll do. His persistent phone calls haven’t stopped, and I know it’s only going to get worse.
