by Fox, Regina
I had no business with the Rough Riders Bikers, and I certainly did not want to mess with them either, but I was still pissed and hurt from Aiden’s yelling this afternoon. I knew I had fault in it, but to be called stupid in front of others wasn’t something I could easily forget.
I reached my dad’s house in ten minutes. Having him live closer was always convenient and worked well for the both of us.
With the ignition off, I hopped out of my car, A gush of wind blew past me, messing up my hair. I tucked a flyaway lock as I knocked on my dad’s wooden door, patiently waiting for him to open up.
The door opened, and my father stood before me with Jack in his arms. My little man reached his tiny arms for me. I smiled at my son and retrieved him from his grandpa, pressing a kiss on his downy head.
“Have you been good to papa?” I asked. Jack giggled in response.
“Hey, Dad,” I greeted and pecked his stubbly cheek.
“Did you just get off from work?” he asked as I followed him to the living room.
I nodded. “Yeah. Has Jack eaten already?”
My dad nodded and handed me Jack’s things. “I gave him the food and milk that came with him a couple of hours ago. Kyla dropped him off at three o’ clock this afternoon. She said there was an emergency with her grandmother. I told her I’d be happy look after Jack while she sorted things out.”
“I know. She texted me,” I confirmed.
“Are you leaving already?”
I nodded.
“Why don’t you stay for dinner? I’ve set up a makeshift bed for Jack on the couch, and you can put him to sleep there while we catch up.”
“Dad, are you sure?” I asked.
My father nodded and gestured for me to place him down. I looked down at my son and saw his eyes and head going up and down, half asleep already. I placed him gently on the couch, and I went to the kitchen to help my dad out. I grabbed plates and glasses from the cupboards and handed them to him.
We sat down on the couch, said grace and before I could even grab a bite, he asked, “How is your job going?”
“It’s fine, Dad. You’ve got nothing to worry about, you know,” I teased.
Ever since I told my dad about working at Aiden’s automotive shop, he’d been freaking out and telling me to quit immediately. As a parent, I understood his worry since the Rough Riders Bikers were a dangerous bunch and couldn’t be trusted, but I was still alive, wasn’t I?
“I don’t trust those bikers, Abigail.” My father using my full name usually was not a good thing. I sighed knowing what was to come.
“Dad,” I began. “We’ve talked about this.”
“I know we did, darling. But I don’t trust those men. The fact that you’re the only woman in that shop worries me even more. That’s a gang you’re working for, sweetheart. They’re not a normal employer who wear suit and tie to work.”
“Dad, they’re fine. They treat me just fine,” I lied, remembering Aiden yelling at me and calling me stupid this afternoon. I pushed the thought aside and ate a spoonful of my mashed potatoes.
I could feel my father glaring at me when he said, “I don’t care what you say, Abby. I still don’t trust them. No sane father would leave their daughter to a biker’s hands.”
“Dad,” I started.
He shook his head. “I don’t see why you and Jack can’t stay here with me. I don’t have anyone around, and it would make perfect sense for you to move back in with your old man. No more mortgage or babysitters. I could look after Jack myself.”
“Dad, you know that isn’t up for discussion. Jack’s a toddler. He’ll tire you out, and I don’t want your arthritis hitting again.”
He raised a brow and waved a hand at me. “I’m only sixty years old, sweetheart. I can still keep up with my grandson.”
I laughed and steered the conversation to other topics. After dinner, I said goodbye to dad, picked up Jack and finally went home.
Chapter 9
When I came in for work the next day, Aiden seemed to be in a better mood. I, however, was still pissed at him for calling me stupid and, therefore, did my best to ignore him throughout the day. The only person I willingly talked to was Dave.
Thick would constantly stop by the front desk as well, usually just to say hi. During one of his visits, I was properly introduced to one of the club brothers, Dash, for the first time. Much to my surprise, he was quiet and kept to himself most of the time.
“Lunch time,” Dave hollered from the shop’s door “You brought grub?”
I patted my handbag, where the ham and cheese sandwich I made this morning was waiting for me. “Yep,” I said, not bothering to look up from my computer.
Figuring he was going to eat lunch and leave me alone, I didn’t pay attention to my co-worker. However, he walked around the desk and grabbed my bag, digging through my stuff and producing my soggy sandwich.
I looked at him in confusion and indignation, which he ignored. “Is this what you call lunch?” Dave asked, holding my nasty sandwich in the air.
“That’s food,” I said, reaching for it but my annoying co-worker held it up higher. Since I wasn’t tall enough to match his height I gave up.
“This isn’t lunch, B.” He looked at the bag in utter disgust. “And what the hell is this anyway? It looks like it’s been in your bag for years!” Shockingly, he didn’t wait for my reply and dropped it in the bin before he dug into his paper bag.
“Now this is what you call food,” he continued, placing a burger on my desk. “Made it myself last night. It has some veggies in it and a grilled patty. Here’s your drink. Bonne a petit.”
I stared at Dave, stunned as he walked up the stairs, calling out for Aiden. The sound of an opening voice and Aiden’s gruff voice filled the air around me, making me tense in my seat. When the door closed again, my stomach grumbled in hunger. I reached for the burger Dave placed in front of me. My greedy little fingers had just managed to wrap around the sweet treat, and I was about to take a bite when the office door flung open, and Aiden’s loud footsteps thumped against the carpet floor. I let the burger go immediately—with deep regret—and entwined my fingers, placing them on my lap.
As I heard his footsteps come closer, I pretended to look at my computer’s screen, feigning interest at what I was doing.
“Dave told me you were starving yourself,” my boss said gruffly.
I didn’t answer. I kept my eyes on my computer and pretended to type something. In reality, I was staring at a blank Word page. I was such a dork.
“Babe, I’m talkin’ to you.”
After what he said to me yesterday he wants to talk and call me babe?
Huh!
Dream on, Dick Face.
“Babe,” Aiden repeated.
I kept my eyes focused and pressed a few more buttons, trying so hard to look busy.
“Can you stop doin’ what you’re doin’ at the moment and listen to me?” He sounded pissed off now.
I stopped what I was doing, laid my hands on my lap and looked up though my eyes never left his chest. I didn’t think I could look at his face at that moment, not without being reminded of yesterday.
“Dave said you’re starving yourself,” Aiden repeated. How many times he would repeat himself, I wondered.
“I’m eating fine. I haven’t fainted from hunger, have I?” I said, unable to keep the sarcasm from my voice.
“Why don’t you look me in the eyes?” he growled.
I pressed my lips in a tight line and didn’t answer.
“Babe,” Aiden warned.
Still, I remained quiet.
Aiden let out an exasperated sigh as Dave dragged his feet down the stairs and looked at us. Through the corner of my eye, I could see his grin wide and annoying as he winked at me.
“She’s pissed at you for yellin’ at her, boss. I don’t think our little princess here likes being scolded for fucking up.”
“Hey! Who are you calling a princess?” I asked hotly, sto
pping myself from fanning my heated face.
Was I really acting like some snob or something? In the off chance, I started to open my mouth to apologize, but Aiden spoke first.
“Look. I’m sorry for being a dickhead yesterday, okay?” His intense blue eyes penetrated through my soul when I finally met his gaze. “I didn’t mean to let my anger out on you. But you gotta remember that I say shitty things half the time, babe. You gotta get thicker.”
I was just basking in his apology when his last word sank into my mind.
“I’m perfectly happy with my weight, thank you very much,” I whispered.
“Fuck,” he cursed under his breath and rubbed the bridge of his nose. “That didn’t come out right. What I meant was that you gotta get used to me being an ass, Abby.”
“Well… I already know for a fact that you’re an ass,” I muttered.
My boss narrowed his eyes at me, but lifted one shoulder and shrugged. “So it’s true?”
“Oh, it’s true. You’re the king of assholes.”
“I already know that. I’m talking about what Dave said, that you’re starving yourself.”
I shook my head. “No, Dave is just being a dick. He’s telling some shitty lies because he found a soggy sandwich in my bag for lunch.”
“That piece of shit right there?” Aiden pointed toward the bin.
I scoffed. “That’s food.”
“That ain’t food, girl. Food is that burger on your desk. Eat up. I don’t want you starving yourself.”
He turned his back to walk away, and I suddenly had a surge of boldness. “Why the fuck do you care?”
Without looking at me, he said, “You work for me. And as long as you’re here, in my shop, working that pretty ass off, you do as I tell you to.” I blinked twice before he looked over his shoulder at me. “And don’t even think of leaving because you ain’t goin’ anywhere. You couldn’t work with a better bunch of guys.”
By the time I was ready to go home, I was still confused by what Aiden said. I picked up Jack from Kyla’s and fed him before going straight to bed. In all honesty, after Dave’s burger this afternoon I didn’t care whether I had dinner or not. That man could make a mean burger and was enough to last me for two nights.
Chapter 10
As weeks passed, I settled in quite nicely at work. Aiden wasn’t as grumpy as he used to be, and I found myself getting along with him more and more. Although most days, I spent my lunch hour with Dave and Thick, sometimes Dash and Aiden would come down and join us. Dave always made sure that I was included in their conversations and, if I wasn’t mistaken, I’d say my boss spent quite a lot of time glancing my way.
It was a Friday night, and the clock had just turned seven when Dave walked into the office and asked what we were up to after work. I shrugged and told him I was going to pick up Jack from Kyla’s house and watch a movie on TV.
“Why don’t you swing by the bar with us?” Dave asked.
“I can’t,” I said. “I’ve got a baby to feed and put to bed.”
“Come on, B. You can leave little Jack with his babysitter for a couple of more hours. You’re a good mom, but you need some time for yourself. Not a ton, but a couple of hours won’t hurt you. I think you work hard and deserve it.”
I worried my lip, about to refuse again when my boss spoke. “Come and have a drink with us. Dave’s right. You deserve it.”
Although I knew they were probably right, I was adamant not to leave Jack at Kyla’s house any longer than necessary. It wasn’t because I didn’t trust the girl, I did, but I was still afraid that Vince might pop out of nowhere and take Jack away from me. I was being paranoid, I knew, but I couldn’t help it. In my defense, however, the paranoia was improving as the days went by.
“I don’t know…” I said.
“Come on. Just for a couple of hours, then you can go,” Dave insisted.
I sighed, my heart divided. “Let me check with Kyla to see how he’s doing first.”
The men nodded as I grabbed my phone and walked outside. I called the sitter and explained the situation and my reservations about leaving the baby with her to go have fun.
To my surprise, she squealed in my ear. “Girl, finally! If anyone deserves a night out with hot men, that’s you. Go. Have fun! Jack and I will be here, safe and sound. Hell, we may even watch Club House Mickey for the millionth time before he falls asleep.”
I couldn’t help but smile at her words. I was a lucky mom to have her as a sitter. Still, I double, triple and quadruple checked if it was really okay for me to stay out a few more hours. Her reply was always the same. “Yes!”
As I walked back into the office, I asked myself if I really could go out and have a good time knowing that Jack’s in good hands. I guess I could.
Both, Dave and Aiden looked at me with raised brows. Dave also had a hopeful smile and a fidgety foot. I held back a chuckle and nodded, earning a, “That’s my girl!” from Dave before he turned to our boss.
“So, you in?” Dave asked him.
Aiden nodded, his eyes fixed on me.
As we locked up, Dave decided that one of the guys should go with me to the bar to make sure that I didn’t back out on my word. I rolled my eyes at him as I heard Aiden came over, offering to drive me to the bar himself, ensuring that I stayed true to my words.
“Guys, seriously. I don’t need a babysitter looking after me,” I said as I felt Aiden come closer. His proximity made my neck tingle in awareness.
“I’ll bring Thick along in case I need some help hauling her pretty ass to the club,” Aiden teased, draping an arm over my shoulders.
I nodded and we made our way toward their bikes.
“Why are you so worried about leaving Jack with his babysitter?” Aiden asked.
I shrugged nonchalantly, but in truth my heart was pounding against my chest. “Nothing. I just get worried sometimes.”
“Unless you don’t trust your babysitter, you’ve got nothing to worry about,” Thick said.
“I know, and I do trust her.”
“So, why do you worry?” Aiden asked.
I took a deep breath and let it out slowly through my lips. “Can we just let this go, please?” I asked.
I rode with Aiden on his bike. I held on to him tight as we raced up the street. When we got to the club, Aiden helped me off the bike.
A strip club? I rolled my eyes.
Thick looked at me. “We’re not staying long. But I have to stop by and see my girlfriend.”
I nodded. “Okay.”
We walked inside; the loud contemporary music blasted into my ears.
“Hey, Cam,” a familiar looking blonde approached, wrapping her arms around Aiden and pressing her breasts against his muscular chest.
I tore my gaze away and swallowed the sarcastic smile that nearly broke on my face. I clamped down the feeling of envy and told myself, repeatedly, that he wasn’t worth it. Aiden wasn’t worth my time. I should just forget the desire that circled around my belly whenever he so much as glanced at me, his beautiful and intense blue eyes doing something to my mind.
I pushed the thoughts away and looked around the club, noticing for the first time that some of the Rough Riders Biker members were also looming about. Some of them had girls grinding against their laps while others were locked into a passionate embrace.
I tore my eyes away from the love fest and noticed Thick staring at me, a thoughtful expression on his face. I smiled at him and took a step away, only to be caught around the waist.
“Where are you going?” he asked.
I rolled my eyes as I untangled myself. These guys really needed to chill. “Unless getting a drink counts as trying to sneak away, I’m not going anywhere.”
He studied me for a minute, nodded and gestured for the bartender to come over. I rolled my eyes, again, and sauntered over to the bar.
“What would you like, sweetness?” the bartender asked when I sat down on one of the stools.
“A martin
i please,” I took a twenty bill out of my wallet and placed it over the counter. I looked back at the crowd and saw a small group of women dancing around the pole. Their asses peeked under their lace underwear and their boobs popped out of the cups of their bras—an invitation for the men to look.
“The girls get rowdier when the bikers are around,” Dave said. I turned around to see him seated next to me.
“Are they always like this?” I asked, after thanking the bartender and taking a sip of my drink.
Dave shook his head. “No, not really. I guess these bitches get more money out of the brothers when we’re around.”
“Do you think being a stripper’s worth it?” I asked quietly, wondering what my co-worker would say. I made sure that my voice didn’t give a hint about my past.
“Nah, not really. I mean, most men like that shit. But not Aiden though, he ain’t puttin’ up for any stripper.”
The only thing that I could say was, “Oh.”
Dave looked at me with interest in his eyes. “Why’s that?”
I shook my head. “Nothing. I was just curious, I guess.”
I looked back at the strippers grinding against the pole. Their bodies grated against the cold steel, looping their legs around the length before sliding down. A brief memory of myself shimmying out of my clothes came to the surface. I remembered being in their place. Grinding, grating and gliding against the pole while my pervert audiences watched with lust in their eyes. Their gazes never leaving my body as it moved to the rhythm of the music.
Dave’s voice penetrated through my brain, but barely. I shook the memory aside and stared up at him in confusion, noting that his lips were moving.
“You alright?” he asked, looking down at me with concern in his eyes.
I nodded, flashing him a shaky smile. I couldn’t believe I’d zoned out and didn’t realize he was talking to me.
“You sure?” Dave insisted.
“Yeah, fine.” I took a swig of my drink. The liquor shot down my throat, burning my gullet as I beckoned for another.
We ending up going back to their biker bar, and I felt much more comfortable. We hung out and had some drinks. I loosened up and we laughed. They cracked jokes and I found myself smiling.
