BikersLibrarian

by Shyla Colt

  “When’s Shooter getting home?”

  “Hard to tell. He’s away on club business.” She shrugged. “We sort of have a don’t ask, don’t tell policy going on with that. Women don’t really get the rundown on the extracurricular activities.”

  “And you’re okay with that?” Hilary frowned. Juliette could see the shock in her friend’s eyes. It must seem weird, tolerating secrecy after what she’d gone through with Peter.

  “It’s the way things are run. If I want Shooter I have to accept the club too.”

  “And he means enough for you to do that?” Hilary glanced up from her plate with a shuttered expression.

  “It’s pretty damn serious, Hil.” Juliette narrowed her eyes. Hil had been a bit edgy. Watching her friend go from an optimistic believer in true love and finding Mr. Right to a shrew caught in a divorce battle that wasn’t hers had been painful.

  Hilary stabbed at the lettuce on her plate.

  “You don’t approve?” Juliette’s heart grew heavy. “I know we’re unlikely, trust me. I questioned myself about this a million times. “

  “I’m worried about you. He comes with a lot of baggage.”

  Juliette snorted. “It’s my past that’s causing trouble. This mess with Peter is all on me.”

  “No, it’s all on Peter. But I understand what you’re saying,” Hilary said.

  “Well, yeah if you want to be technical about it.” Juliette rolled her eyes. “Why don’t you tell me what’s really bothering you, Hil?”

  “I think you should call Shooter and tell him what’s going on. This feels like a huge threat. The other flowers were a warning This is a direct promise of action. What is it he thinks you’ll be losing soon? ” Hil wrinkled her nose.

  “I love you, Hil, but I think that writer’s brain of yours is running away with you.”

  “No, it’s not. There’s a reason he’s doing this. Besides won’t it make Shooter pissed you hid it?”

  “I’ll deal with it.” Juliette stifled a laugh. Hilary was clever.

  Hil’s lips formed a straight line.

  “Hil, the boys are keeping an eye on me. He didn’t up and completely abandon me. I’m being diligent. There have been no more notes, no suspicious phone calls. Even if I went to the police about the flower delivery, nothing would be done. I could try to get a restraining order but I don’t have any compelling evidence to get it granted…I checked.” Juliette watched the hustle and bustle of lunchtime on the street.

  People walked to their destinations, talking on their phones without a care in the world. A few weeks earlier she’d been among them. Now she stood on the outside looking in, a child at Christmas with her nose pressed against a window display of something she desperately wanted.

  “You okay, girl?” Hil asked.

  “Yeah, I’ll be fine.” Juliette nodded and forced her trembling lips into a facsimile of a smile. “It’ll pass. Hardest part was walking away, right?”

  Hil placed her hand over Juliette’s. “Yes. We’ll get through this.” Hilary sighed. “Look, I’ve been doing some research. There’s a pattern with him. Girls have filed against him and it’s always dismissed due to lack of evidence, a judge I’m sure they had on the payroll or the woman retracting her statement. You aren’t the only one he’s done this too.” Hil shook her head. “This needs to stop before he kills someone…if he hasn’t all ready. I’m not sure what is going on here, but it goes far deeper than a singular obsession.”

  Fear choked Juliette. Hilary was too smart for her own damn good. She can’t find out about the club. “Do you think he’s capable of that?” Juliette whispered, playing dumb.

  “Intentionally…maybe not, but in the heat of passion when she’s not doing what he wants, absolutely. He’s a man who grew up with no boundaries, never hearing the word no and getting everything he wants. The tantrums of childhood have morphed into something truly ugly. With his parents’ enabling, he’s become a monster. Normally I’d be insisting we go to the police, but his connection and Shooter’s…disposition toward authority says that’d be the worst way to go. We have to fight smart.”

  “And how do you propose that?” Juliette leaned forward, eager to hear what she had to say. The breath of new hope invigorated her.

  “We keep documenting everything. Continue going through the nightly footage from your surveillance cameras, taking pictures of the flowers. I know they’re handled by the staff so there won’t be any prints, but it still counts.”

  “I know, that’s why I placed it in a plastic bag. I’ve had a few hang-up phone calls I documented as well. I hate that he has all the power. It’s a waiting game.”

  “Unless we can tip his hand, force him to make a move.”

  “I can see the wheels of your mind turning and it frightens me. This isn’t a novel, Hil.” If you get too close they’ll put you down. I can’t let that happen.

  “I know that. Doesn’t mean thinking out of the box is an awful thing.” She blew a curl away from her face.

  Juliette instantly regretted the heated exchange. “I don’t want to fight with you. I didn’t mean that the way it came out.”

  “It’s okay. We’re all on edge. I’d never go off half-cocked. If I come up with something decent, I’ll run it by you,” Hil promised.

  “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome. Now let’s talk about why you need to get emergency leave from work and go be with your man.” A determined expression crossed her face.

  Juliette’s jaw dropped open. “What?”

  “Girl, this situation is starting to get scary. When he gets back, laying low would be the best thing you could do.”

  “No. I’m not going to hide away.” Juliette scowled.

  “You don’t want to play hooky with your sexy biker?” Hilary asked in a singsong voice that dissipated the tension.

  Juliette laughed. “Of course I do. That’s not the issue.”

  “Why? Because you think you have to make some stand? “Hilary rolled her eyes. “This isn’t the Wild Wild West, girl. Peter is insane in the membrane.” She tapped her head. “He’s trying to wear you down. I’m concerned it might be working. You’ve got bags under your eyes for days. I know a cover-up job with concealer when I see it.”

  Fuck, why are you always so observant, Hilary? “Can you blame me for losing sleep? I see the situation ramping up, Hil. I’m not ignorant.”

  “I never said you were.”

  “No, but you think I’m not taking this seriously enough. I’m trying to stay sane. I can’t become a shut-in, afraid to do anything. I have to function.” Juliette rubbed the condensation on her cup. Guilt crept up in her chest, spreading and polluting her psyche. Tell her. “You girls have no clue how fucked-up I was when that ended. For weeks, months even, I constantly looked over my shoulder, checked my locks and waited for him to return. He’s not the type of man you walk away from without dire consequences. I never went into detail about his kink.” Juliette held up her hand, stopping the tongue-lashing she knew Hilary wanted to give. “And I won’t now. All you need to know is it put me in a dark, terrified space. I don’t want to go anywhere near that place again. What you see as rebellion is a woman clinging to her independence. I’m not reckless. I’m weighing the risks.”

  “Why didn’t you tell us?” Hilary whispered.

  “You guys already looked at me like I’d become a lifetime movie, and to be honest I felt like an idiot and you guys were already in mama mode. Hell you still are.” She snickered.

  A wounded expression crossed Hilary’s face. “We care about you.”

  “I know, and I’m grateful. I couldn’t have come out of that situation stronger without you. But it’s time for the baby bird to leave the nest. My wing is mended and I have to try to fly solo.” Their gazes locked. “You understand.”

  “You’ve always been the meekest one, Jul, it’s hard to ignore a lifetime of behavior. I think we all felt guilty for not seeing this. I mean he was your first serious rel
ationship. We should’ve read him the riot act and been all up in his shit. You were always so focused on school and your career it was like you never saw guys. ” Hilary’s voice distorted. “So when you met him at the library and he pursued you, we were all overjoyed thinking you had landed such a great catch. I remember being envious of you watching him wine and dine you. It kills me knowing I felt that way while you were going through hell.”

  “Oh honey,” Juliette reached across and grasped her hand. “Is this why you’re so protective now?”

  Hilary’s eyes were glossy as she sniffed. “Yes.”

  “Don’t feel that way. I know deep down you were happy for me. We all feel twinges of the green-eyed monster from time to time. It’s what we do with the emotion that mattered. No one knew. Peter’s a master at hiding it. Trust me, I got off lucky.”

  Hilary pulled her hand away and wiped at her eyes. “Damn you for being so understanding. I know I’ve been a borderline bitch lately. I’m sorry for that. I’m not myself.”

  “This divorce is taking a lot out of you. We know that.”

  “It’s so damn hard finding out the fairytale you grew up wanting was nothing more than a prettily packaged lie.” Hilary took a deep breath. ”Especially when they want to pull you apart like a wishbone because they both want you to pick a side.”

  “I still can’t believe it. They always seemed so happy,” Juliette whispered, happy to talk about something else.

  “I know. Makes you wonder if there is such a thing as true love anymore.” The dejection in Hilary’s voice made her heart ache. She’d never had a father figure, but she could imagine finding out your father’s reputation was a fabrication would be a huge blow.

  “I don’t know about true love. This constant state of bliss you stumble upon accidentally is hard to wrap my head around. A connection deeper than any you’ve had with someone else feels like an accurate description. You find that person whose vibes resonate with your own and suddenly you’re discovering new aspects of yourself and compromising to the point of breaking. Because you know if you lose this link you’ll never find it again.” Toying with the black necklaces that dangled around her collarbone, Juliette digested the words she’d spoken aloud. She meant them all. When did we get so deep?

  Hilary gasped. “You love him. The look on your face just now, coupled with your eloquent speech…this is more than like.”

  “Oh my god, you’re right.” Chills raced down her spine. The pieces all came together and clicked with a force that would’ve knocked her on her ass if she hadn’t been sitting.

  “You didn’t know,” Hilary said.

  Juliette tilted her head and peered up at her friend from beneath lowered lashes. “I think deep down I did. I’m not the type of woman to bend so far without reason.”

  “It’s crazy how the two of you are weathering all this. Shooter struck me as the leaving type.” Hil looked apologetic.

  “I would’ve agreed with you that first night, but the truth is, he gave me my life back. Before him, I was going through the motions, afraid to actually put myself out there. The club was me dipping a toe into the pool. Meeting Shooter forced me into sink-or-swim mode. He sees the world in a completely different light, a simplistic view that makes happiness easy. It takes away all the pressures society places on you.”

  “Wow. Not your typical biker?” Hil inclined her head.

  “I don’t know. Maybe they’re misunderstood.” Juliette shrugged.

  “Whatever it is, I’m grateful. Even with Peter looming in the wings, this is the happiest I’ve seen you.”

  Juliette waited, running over the time they’d spent together. It’d happened fast and unexpectedly, like lighting striking the sand, forming a one-of-a-kind, beautifully twisted glass creation that would never be duplicated.

  “God, what if he doesn’t feel the same way?” Her throat tightened and her head spun.

  “I’m pretty sure he does. He looks at you like you’re the only woman in existence.” Hil rested a hand on her shoulder.

  Running a hand through her hair, Juliette smoothed down imagined stray pieces and took a deep breath. “What do I do if this falls through? I’ve never been so wrapped up in a man. Not even Peter.”

  “Love means taking risks. Even if it starts out well, people change and grow in different directions. Look at my parents. Forty-some years of marriage and he up and leaves her for his floozy secretary who’s half his age.” Hil shook her head. “We can’t know what the future holds. We can only live in the now.”

  Amazing how three words could fuck up your frame of mind. What she had with Peter hadn’t been love, not really. Logically she knew it, but her heart and her body associated pain and heartache with the L word. It was a potent thing to fend off.

  “I allowed myself to think what happened wouldn’t affect me anymore, but it creeps up and pops out like a jack in the box at the most unexpected times.” Self-deprecating laughter escaped her lips as she accepted her emotions, pieced herself back together and calmed.

  “We all have triggers like that. Look at me. I’m afraid to trust a man enough to date him for an entirely different reason. I was an adult when my parents divorced, but it still dicked with my head.” Hil shrugged.

  “Thank you for never letting me feel completely alone.” Juliette leaned in and hugged her. “Now I should probably be getting back.”

  “Are you going to call Shooter and take some time off?”

  Stepping away from the tree onto the sidewalk, they began the walk to the library.

  Chapter Eleven

  Juliette smoothed down her hair and stepped from the car. Today she planned on coming clean with her mother about Shooter. She would hit the roof, but too much time had already passed. After dodging her questions about Daniel for weeks, her mom was running out of patience. She walked up to the front door and used her keys to let herself in.

  “Mom!” She inhaled the familiar smell of her favorite dish, chicken dumplings.

  “In the kitchen, honey.”

  Locking the door behind her, she walked into the kitchen and smiled. Her mother was timeless. Five-foot-six with kind, almond-shaped brown eyes and an angular bob, the years had been good to her.

  “Hey, baby.” She placed the lid on the pot and turned to her with open arms. Bending down, Juliette hugged her mother tight, inhaling the floral perfume she’d associated with her since childhood.

  “Hi, Mom.”

  “It’s good to see you, stranger. Danielmust be keeping you mighty busy.”

  “I know. I’m sorry, but this smells good!” Juliette made a display of inhaling the aroma of the food.

  “Uh huh.” Her mother shook her index finger back and forth. “Don’t try that weak distraction method. What’s been going on with you and the mystery man?” She narrowed her eyes. “Why haven’t I met him yet?”

  “I’d hoped to build up to this,” Juliette said wryly.

  “Just spit it out. You’ve held on to your secrets long enough. I tried to mind my own business but I wasn’t born yesterday.”

  “I know. Thank you for giving me space.”

  “Dinner will be ready in about fifteen minutes. Let’s take this conversation to the couch.”

  She followed her mom to the brown suede sofa. Settling on the couch, they turned to face each other.

  What could she say about Shooter that wouldn’t send her mother into heart palpitations? “Daniel. Well he’s not like anyone we’ve ever known before. First off, he goes by the name Shooter. A name he got from his time spent in the Marine Corps. He rides a motorcycle, and he co-owns a few businesses with friends that do fairly well. He’s the cliché. Tall, dark and extremely handsome.”

  “I can tell by the look in your eyes and the emotions in your voice you care a great deal already. What I want to know is why you’ve kept him from me for so long.”

  “He and his motorcycle enthusiast friends have a…group.”

  “A group? Are you trying to tell me he�
�s in a motorcycle gang?”

  “No, it’s a club.”

  “Juliette, honey what are you thinking?” The disappointed tone cut her deep. “This isn’t you.”

  “Mom, you’re not even giving him a chance.”

  “I can’t help but believe you knew I wouldn’t approve. That’s why you kept it from me for so long. Is he dangerous?”

  The weary look in her mother’s eyes twisted her guts into tangled yarn. If she worried about that now, seeing him in the flesh would only exacerbate the feeling.

  “Not to me.”

  “That wasn’t what I asked you.” The stern tone stiffened Juliette’s spine. She knew a ‘don’t test me’ voice when she heard it. “I don’t like this, Juliette. After months of not dating, this is the man you get involved with? It’s not you.” Her mother shook her head. “Is this really the type of man you should be getting involved with? You’re too old to be thinking with your lady parts.”

  “Mom, it’s not like that.”

  “Then tell me what it is because the picture you painted isn’t a pretty one.”

  “I knew you’d be like this.” Juliette shook her head. “This is why I kept it to myself. He’s a warrior, an honorable man who lives by his own code. Unhampered by the rules of society, he protects those he cares about and lives simply.” Pride swelled in her chest. The thought made her insides quiver and her heart beat faster. A warm glow of happiness surrounded her, easing the sting of her mother’s negative response.

  Her mother crossed her arms and frowned.

  “Is that a romantic way of saying he’s flat broke but you plan on sticking with him anyway?”

  Juliette rolled her eyes, biting her tongue to prevent a blowout between them. Their minds just didn’t work the same about some things. “No, Mom.”

  “What? I want to make sure he can take care of you.”

  “One, we’re dating not married and two, I take care of myself just fine, thank you.”

  “I know that, honey. But you shouldn’t have to do everything by yourself all the time.”