by Debra Kayn
"This is weird. I figured bikers rather ride everywhere." She peered down at his black leather boots. "You don't exactly wear sneakers."
Sheriff Colby pulled up to the curb at the corner, and Kurt let go of her hand and put his arm around her shoulder. Taken off balance, she leaned into him so she wouldn't stumble. "Club rule. Members can't take women on our bikes unless they're old ladies."
"Like married? Ever?" she asked.
"Yeah," he said.
She hooked her thumb through the belt loop on the back of his jeans and felt the hardness of a pistol. Everyone carried a pistol in Federal, even her. She tugged him to stop. "I left my purse upstairs in my room."
"You won't need it." His gaze remained on the sheriff. "I need to talk to the sheriff."
"Now?" She let go of him.
"No, another time." Kurt stepped in front of her and opened the swinging door to Rail Point bar. She slipped inside and stood off to the side. The girls rushed in causing everyone to turn at the sound of their feminine laughter and excitable voices. She envied their ability to let loose and be comfortable around town.
She always held herself half removed from what was going on around her, because she feared someone recalling her past. A childhood of teasing and parents forbidding their children to invite the poor little prostitute's daughter over for a play date were memories she could never forget.
She glanced up at Kurt, and took in the way he scanned the room. He seemed preoccupied. Used to having him focus on her, coupled with her going out to the bar at night, felt...strange, awkward, even though this was her town.
The bar seemed unusually full, but Risa had only been to this particular establishment a few times for lunch when a friendlier family atmosphere surrounded her. She smiled at Joe behind the bar, and Rudy on the stool at the counter. Eddie waved beside the pool table and held up his beer in greeting. She glanced at Kurt when his hand landed low on her back, but he was busy staring a hole into Eddie.
Before she could ask him what was wrong, Kurt guided her over to the table in the corner. She expected to sit in a booth with the others, but everyone else went to their own spot in the room.
Kurt's body hardened and he paused beside the table. She stepped in front of him. "Would you like to go somewhere else? We can stay at the Sterling Building."
"No." He patted her hip. "Let's eat here."
She scooted along the bench and after several seconds, Kurt sat down. She leaned closer, glad to talk privately. "Is everything okay?"
"Yeah. Everything's perfect." He laid his hand on her bare thigh under the table. "Sit closer."
She moved over until her leg brushed his jeans. He sat back, leaving his hand on her. Aware that others at the bar were watching them, she lowered her voice. "It's a small town, and you're new, so people will stare..."
He kissed her upturned lips. "I don't give a shit what everybody thinks when I take my woman out."
"Oh," she whispered. "Okay."
Unsure what to think of that statement, she pondered if he meant there would be more dates. However, she wouldn't say this was a date. Some of the other members came with them, though they sat by themselves. She moistened her lips. She had no clue what bikers clarified as a date, or if they even dated.
Kurt swept his thumb back and forth on her leg, grabbing her attention. "What do you drink?"
"Beer's fine." She watched his hand.
Going out on the town at night was new to her. The few boyfriends she'd dated weren't big on spending time with others, and preferred to hang out at her apartment. She couldn't blame them for not wanting to be seen with her. Besides, she always believed an actual date would cause more rumors than benefit her long-term goals.
To her surprise, she'd risk the chance of being stared at, whispered about, and her love life speculated about, because she was here with a beautiful man who made her feel wonderful. Call her selfish, but she deserved to go out on a date. She relaxed and leaned back. Yeah, this was a date. Her first official date with Kurt.
The waitress, a woman Risa only knew by sight, took Kurt's order and returned with their drinks. She sipped the beer. "You really didn't have to order me the same thing you're eating."
"You need to eat," he said, looking at her mouth.
She broke out in nervous laughter. "A double burger with extra fries and deep fried mushrooms?"
"I'll help you finish if you have extras." He leaned back. "I'm starving."
She placed her hand on top of his leg. "Just don't take my fries before I'm done."
The corner of his mouth lifted. "Serious about your fries, huh?"
"Absolutely possessive." She nodded. "What's your comfort food that you don't like sharing?"
His brows lowered. "Comfort?"
"You know, the food that you just can't get enough of and makes you content no matter what is going on in your life." She shrugged. "Maybe it's a girl thing. On Tuesday nights, all of us at Silver Girls have gotten in the habit of hanging out in the little kitchen off the lobby after the customers leave to indulge ourselves. I eat a platter of fries. Shari downs a quart of ice cream. Jojo..."
His gaze wandered off her and across the room. She squeezed his hand. "I'm boring you."
"No. I want to hear this shit about you." He shifted to the side and pulled out his leather wallet attached to a chain on his belt. "Put this in your pocket."
He handed over a handful of cash, leaving two twenty dollar bills on the table. Her heart raced and she held the money in front of her. She had no idea how much was there. Though she guessed the amount of money he gave her was more than she made in two weeks.
"What's this for?" she asked quietly.
He put the wallet back in his pocket. "You."
A cold, heavy weight settled in her stomach. "Please don't do this," she whispered.
Everything Kurt had done up until now made her feel special. Suddenly sad that he'd disappointed her in the worst way possible, she blinked the moisture out of her vision. Every week, men approached her with a cash offer to blow them off or take them upstairs to her room. She wanted Kurt to be different.
"I can't believe you went there," she said.
"Hey...," he said softly, hooking her chin with his finger. "Why the look?"
She looked away. "Unbelievable," she mumbled, wishing somehow she could whisk herself out of the bar.
"What the hell, angel?"
"You can't buy me." She clamped her lips shut to keep from saying more out in public.
"Jesus. That's not..." He lowered his head forcing her to look in his eyes. "Listen to me. I'd kill any man who thought they could. Never doubt that."
"Then...?" Her body unfroze and she shivered.
"Just need you to hold my money for me, angel." He kissed her softly. "Okay?"
She nodded. "Sorry. It's just that this wouldn't be the first time a man's tried to...buy my time. We're out in public. I'm nervous, and I jumped to conclusions."
He lowered his hand, sliding his fingers between her bare thighs. His thumb caressed her thigh. "I'm not fucking with your head, and not going to use your body."
Her sex pulsed, and she crossed her legs under the table. She stared down at his large, rough hand, and slipped her hand around his thumb, holding him still. Her emotions were all over the place. She ran hot and cold around him, and had no control over how her body reacted.
"I’m sorry." She moistened her lips and let her head fall back on the booth to look at him. "You make me crazy. Maybe I'm insane."
"I'd tell you if you are." He kissed her. "Now relax. Cause tonight is only going to get better."
At that, she smiled. She looked forward to having him alone. Up in her apartment, she could think and deal with what was going on better.
"Hey, Risa," Eddie called from across the bar. "If he buys you for the night, I want tomorrow night. Hell, I'll share you with him. I'm not picky."
Shit. Her body tensed. Why couldn't Eddie whisper or take his thoughts to someone outside th
e bar. Why did he have to ruin her date?
Kurt's fingers tightened on her leg. She jolted, heat rushing to her face in embarrassment. "Oh, God..."
"Angel, put the money in your pocket now and do what I say." Kurt's attention stayed on her.
She crammed the handful of bills away, while Kurt watched. Nauseous over having their evening interrupted in the worst way possible, she wanted to die.
"Good girl." Kurt kissed her forehead. "Now, Remmy's going to take you girls back to the building and get you out of here where no one is going to bother you. Stay with him. Do you understand what I'm telling you?"
She looked over at Remmy. The VP stood and ushered the girls to one side of the bar. "I don't—"
"Hey, how about a two-fer, Risa. Half price." Eddie swaggered in her direction.
She wanted to sink under the table, but Remmy showed up at the booth and held out his hand with a deadpan expression that scared her. Kurt slid out of the seat, taking her with him, and put her into Remmy's arms before turning his back to her and walking toward Eddie.
"Where's he going?" she asked.
Remmy ushered her toward the girls. "Taking care of business. Let's get everyone out of here."
Aware of her friends gathering her close, she strained against Remmy. Her gaze followed Kurt, who never stopped until he was in Eddie's face. The miner wasn't backing down. She searched the bar looking for Joe to make sure he saw what was going on, but she couldn't find him.
Eddie's arm came back. The pop of flesh on flesh silenced the bar. Kurt's head snapped back on impact. She pushed against Remmy, but he held her tight.
"They're fighting. You have to stop them," she said, struggling to get away.
Remmy tightened his hold on her. "Prez can take care of himself. Let him do what he needs to do."
The exchange of punches turned into a full-blown fight. Three other miners stepped up to defend Eddie, forcing Kurt to dodge their fists, while landing punches faster than she could count. Yet none of the bikers stepped up to help Kurt.
Blood splattered out of Rudy's nose. Having enough, Risa brought her knee up, a defensive move she'd used many times with overzealous customers. Remmy grunted, doubling over, and letting her go. She ran toward the melee in the middle of the room.
"Stop it!" She banged into a chair, stumbled, and fell into Cutter's arms. "Let me go."
"Can't do that, girly." Cutter lifted her off the floor, kicking and hitting, and carried her out of the bar.
On the sidewalk, Cutter set her down on her own two feet. She lunged for the door, but he stopped her again. The girls scrambled outside, followed by a limping Remmy. She stabbed Cutter in the chest with her finger. "Give me a phone. I'm calling the sheriff."
Remmy grimaced, stepping forward. "You're going back to the Sterling Building like prez asked you to, and we're not involving the sheriff."
"Go to hell," she said, "If you won't go in there and save your friend, I will. The miners are going to keep hitting him if someone doesn't stop them. It's not a fair fight. There's only one of him."
"Kurt's fine." Remmy adjusted his jeans. "He's a trained boxer, and he's making a statement."
"What?" She stared in horror. "What's he doing besides letting them all beat the shit out of him?"
"Jesus, you can't be talking about the prez like that." Cutter stepped around the girls and opened the door. "Take a look, but if you step one foot past me, I'll carry you back to the Sterling Building over my shoulder."
She hurried to the door and peered inside.
There were more men lying on the dirty floor of the bar then there were standing. She found Kurt, which wasn't hard because he was in the center of the room surrounded by three men, one of them Joe who as the owner of the bar should've called the sheriff instead of entering the fight. German and Ink stood nearby, but drinking their beer instead of fighting.
"Come on, asshole." Kurt jabbed Joe in the chin with his fist. "Risa's my woman. Let everyone know. No one's allowed to disrespect or look at her, and that includes every fucking miner in town."
Kurt swung his left arm wide and punched Joe in the temple, sending him to the floor. Joe stayed down. Risa fell back a step and turned around, shocked at the destruction inside. More than shock, confusion planted itself in her head, she couldn't understand why one minute they were preparing to have dinner together, and the next Kurt handed over all his money.
A stripper put up with the lewd comments, the propositions, and the assumptions every day. That was no reason to fight. She'd wanted their date to be different, because he had her believing that she deserved a night on the town with him.
She searched Cutter's face. He looked away from her and ran his hand through his hair. She turned to Remmy, and his brow softened, the bossiness leaving his eyes. Her stomach rebelled, and she put her hand to her throat.
"I—" Her voice gave out on her.
She clamped her lips together. There was nothing she could do about fixing anything that happened tonight. She'd never be able to forget the sight of Kurt beating a room full of people to safeguard her reputation. A reputation she'd built to protect. One that would crumble at her feet if anyone suspected Kurt paid her to sleep with him, regardless if she were dating him.
Everyone in the bar saw the exchange of money. They jumped to their own wrong conclusions, and she couldn't blame them. She looked guilty. Maybe she was guilty. He wanted her to hold on to the money. He never gave her a reason. She crossed her arms, cupping her elbows. She should've stayed home.
She walked, leaving the bikers and the girls behind. Devastated, she only wanted to go back to her room and hide from the truth.
Colby hurried out of his patrol car toward her. She turned, ready to walk around the whole block to escape talking to anyone else, but a black fancy sedan car pulled up along the curb. Embarrassed and ashamed of her tears, she turned back around. She rather face Colby than a concerned tourist who wanted to know why she was upset.
"Hey." Sheriff Colby caught her arms, stopping her from leaving. "I got a call that there's a fight. Are you okay?"
She nodded and pointed at the bar. "The fights in there."
"The bikers?" Colby gazed from her to the others on the sidewalk. "Damn. There are too many witnesses. I'm going to have to lock the Bantorus members up if there's any damage. I'll talk to one of the bikers outside and see if they want to post bail and pay the disorderly fine...unless Joe presses charges, and then my hands are tied at what I can do to help Bantorus. They'll have to go in front of the judge."
Her lungs compressed and her throat ached. It wasn't all the bikers from Bantorus MC. Just Kurt. The miners would stick up for each other, and Kurt would be the one who takes the fall.
The money Kurt gave her and she put in her pocket all made sense. He'd taken her to the bar with a plan to resurrect her life, to put an end to the rumors and speculations.
His need to prove he was a better man came at her expense.
"Use this to help him." She removed the money Kurt had insisted she take, handed every bill to Colby, and walked away. Each step pounded in the truth worse than if it was she who got the shit beat out of her in the bar. All of them had set her up. Whatever message Kurt meant to get across to the miners, he'd won.
And she'd lost.
Chapter Twelve
Ink sat on his motorcycle at the curb outside the Sheriff's office. Kurt stalked toward him, took the pistol Ink held out to him, and tucked it in the back of his jeans. Three fucking hours sitting in the back cell waiting for paperwork to go through was longer than he'd planned to stay at the sheriff's office.
He stepped over and threw his leg over his Harley. "Thanks for bringing my bike."
"No problem, though the walk back to bring it over sucked when I know I have a girl that doesn't mind spreading her legs only a block away." Ink's grin turned serious. "Did the sheriff give you any trouble?"
"Nope. No charges were brought against me, and the fine was paid for disrupting the good to
wn of Federal and the damage that was done in the bar." Kurt put on his helmet. "Risa okay?"
"After she gave your money to the sheriff, she walked all the way back to her room and hasn't caused any problems." Ink pushed his bike straight and toed the kickstand. "The girls are worried about her though. We kept them downstairs to give Risa some space. She was pretty pissed off at us, until we showed her you could take care of yourself at the bar...then she hightailed it back to Sterling without any more complaints. For a few minutes, we thought she'd jump into the fight to try and save your ass."
"I'll handle Risa," Kurt stated.
"But taking on Risa? Man, I don't think I have that in me." Ink started his bike. "I mean, sweet girl, and she's fucking gorgeous, but she's business smart and strong. She'll make you work at getting her panties off on a regular basis."
"Risa and her panties are off limits. Don't talk or even think about either one of them," he said.
He rolled over the engine and pulled away from the curb. He'd gone to the bar to make a statement that all the girls were taken. But once the miner started flinging shit at the bar about Risa's, he only saw blood. He sped forward toward Cedar Street. The hurt etched in Risa's eyes and the flush on her cheeks at the asshole's remarks in the bar had him losing his mind. He had to keep reminding himself to hold back when he really wanted to let loose as if he was in the ring, fighting for his life.
Even after exerting himself in the fight, his body remained coiled tight, ready for more. He missed fighting. He missed the control that came with proving he was the best.
Around the corner, he gazed up at the second floor of his building. Risa's light in her room was off. His chest tightened.
Miner's he could handle. Guns were second nature to him, and the contract with the militia brought him excitement. Hell, even having Rain and his dad travel to Federal had him feeling good. He parked his motorcycle and strode into the building. But the woman upstairs left him fueled with an emotion he'd never experienced before.
Hyped up on adrenaline, determined, and half loopy from the effects of Risa looking at him, touching him, teasing him, he'd stepped over the line at the bar and claimed her in front of everyone. Up until that moment, he'd planned to make a statement to the miners by taking Risa out in public. The atmosphere was charged with aggression the second he stepped into the bar. He knew he'd fight, and he knew someone would bail him out of jail if charges were pressed. That's why he gave Risa the money. He never expected her to think he was attempting to pay for sex.
