by Debra Kayn
She swallowed hard, ashamed for taking his attention away from his family while they were here. "I'm sorry."
"No reason to be sorry. It is what it is, angel. You'll fight your whole life until you're settled, but I do ask that you come out to the club with me, stay the weekend, and get to know my life because I'm not going to let you back away from me. I like what we've got, and I want to share this weekend with you." He kissed her forehead. "All right?"
"Fine." She leaned over and kissed him softly. "But don't blame me if hell breaks loose for some reason and everyone changes their mind about how accomplished I am."
Kurt stiffened. His hands tightened around hers. "You're my woman, that's who you are."
Oh boy. It wasn't the first time she'd heard him call her his woman, but it was always the tone and firmness—okay, bossiness, which he used that made her realize he was saying more than she understood.
They were taking one day at a time. She could handle that. No pressure, no unrealistic goals, no instant declaration of falling in love with each other. She wanted to enjoy what they shared. The only thing stopping her from admitting how much she wanted him more than one day at a time was the fact that she wasn't in a good position in her life to give him more than she already was.
Yet, here she was going to hang out with his family. Everyone in town knew that they were seeing each other and she was unavailable. She pulled her hand out of Kurt's hand and stroked his jaw. On the outside, everything seemed perfect.
"Okay, my man. I won't fight you," she whispered.
She smiled at the way his eyes widened and then softened. He grunted on an exhale, continuing to gaze at her in a way she could only describe as protective. Her breath hitched in her throat, consumed by how wonderful it would be to have him look at her that way for the rest of her life.
Whatever was going through his head obviously pleased him. If that's all it took to receive that look, that contentment, that wonderful emotion from him, she had no problem letting him get his way occasionally.
He encompassed her head with his hands, leaned over, kissed her forehead, and mumbled, "Like that, angel."
She melted, and swore she'd compromise with him more because she liked the results.
"Let's get everyone together and take them to the club." He pulled her up off the couch, tapping her ass with his hand all the way to the bedroom to pack her bag.
Ten minutes later, she could only describe the action downstairs as total chaos. She informed Shari who was in charge of the girls to make sure everyone was out at the allotted time, and to make sure she kept the bikers in the building, for safety reasons. At no time since opening the doors to Silver Girls had she ever left them alone. She always slept upstairs, and she always made sure she sealed the building up tight every night to protect them all.
Out on the sidewalk, the Bantorus members and the visiting first rider members moved in comfortable albeit almost military concise movements to their motorcycles. The engines roared at the same time. Risa lifted her shoulders toward her ears, overwhelmed with the heady thrum happening in her chest from the low bass chorus, and leaned into Kurt laughing.
There was no plausible reason for her amusement. The deafening timbre of all the motorcycles filling the night made her happy as if someone tickled her ribs and she surrendered to the giggles knowing only pleasure was in the future.
The town had a noise ordinance, the residential street was one block away, and there was no doubt the miners would think the bikers were rubbing their faces in claiming Federal theirs. She hugged Kurt, unafraid of her worries.
Kurt slid his fingers into her hand and led her to the end of the block. "I'm going to lead everyone out of town, and you can go with Torque, who brought one of the trucks back to take you to the club."
"I can drive my car—"
"Not tonight." He kissed her hard. "Jump in."
She raised her knee, planting her foot in the step and found herself picked up and placed inside the cab. The door shut, muffling the sounds of the bikes. She glanced at the driver and wrapped her fingers around the shoulder strap of her purse. She still had time to jump out and drive her own car.
"Seatbelt, sweetheart." The man dipped his whiskered covered chin. "Name's Torque. You'll meet my woman Brandy at the club."
She placed her hands in her lap. "I'm Risa."
"Kurt's woman," Torque stated.
"Uh." She exhaled and said, "That's what he keeps telling me."
"Good." Torque glanced at her again. "You fuck around in that entertainment club you're running?"
Her body stiffened. "Absolutely not."
"Blow off the men you dance for?" Torque asked, starting the truck.
She turned her gaze toward him while slipping her hand in her purse, grabbing her pistol, and pulling the gun out of her bag. She aimed right for his heart. "Let's get this straight. Your only job is to drive me to the club. You try to touch me, and I'll kill you."
Torque grinned, shifted the truck into gear, and followed the procession of motorcycles in front of him out of town. She kept the gun on him, hoping she didn't have to shoot one of Kurt's family members, but knowing she would if it meant keeping the old biker from trying any of the things he accused her of doing. She'd come too far to ruin her reputation now.
As they passed under the viaduct, Torque chuckled. Risa glared. The moment she stepped out of the truck, she was going to ask Kurt to take her back to town.
"The boy did all right for himself." Torque said, rubbing the steering wheel with a rough, scarred hand. "You can put away the gun."
"No, thanks." She glanced out the windshield. They still had two miles to go, uphill in the dark.
"Whatever makes you happy, sweetheart." Torque rolled the window of the truck down and stuck his elbow outside. "Won't be the first, second, or third time I've been shot."
He lied, or he'd be dead. She stuck her chin up. "Just drive and be quiet."
The gears grinded and the truck slowed down, gaining power to make the hill. She bit the inside of her cheek. Obviously, not all Kurt's biker brothers were accepting of others.
"I've known Kurt his whole life." Torque shifted the truck. "Later, my woman's dad, David Haas, taught him to fight and showed him how to protect his own."
"He's thirty-five years old," Risa snapped, coming to Kurt's defense.
"That he is. A man that makes everyone in the club proud of him." Torque blew out his breath. "You stick by him, do right by him, and you won't find a more devoted man. Now, you don't have to believe shit I say, but I will tell you this, sweetheart. You get past that hardened heart of his, and you will never experience a love in the likes of what he can give you. He's fought his whole life not to let anyone hurt him, and it's about time he learns how to take a chance at putting his hands down at his sides, stop fighting life, and allow you to walk straight up to him."
She shook her head. He talked in pieces, and none of it made any sense. "I don't—"
Torque eyed the gun while he slowed down the vehicle. "Just remember what I said, and it'll all make sense. You're with a Bantorus member now, so you're going to hear it straight. We're all protective of Kurt, and only want what's best for him."
The truck came to a stop. She continued to sit there with the pistol aimed at Torque. If she put the gun away, she could open the door but she wasn't willing to take her eyes of the man.
The passenger door opened. "Jesus, Risa, put the pistol away," said Kurt.
Torque leaned back, letting his hands fall off the steering wheel. She kept her gaze on him and spoke to Kurt. "Before I climb out of this truck, you should know that this brother of yours asked if I fucked around. He also asked if I...blow off the men that come to Silver Girls."
Kurt's body brushed her back. "Angel, hand me the pistol."
She sighed and lowered her arm, tucking the gun back in her purse. "I think I'll just keep it, because I'm going home."
"You're staying," Kurt said, his lips twitching.
> "This isn't funny," she said, lowering her voice. "You alone, I can handle. I can even handle you with the guys who stay at Silver Girls. This man—she hitched her thumb over her shoulder—the others who came today, I won't handle. Not that I can't, but I won't. Do you understand what I'm saying?"
"Clearly." Kurt put his hands on her waist and set her down from the truck, and then spoke to Torque. "I have a feeling I know what went on here, and I appreciate what you tried to do, but you ever piss off my woman, and I won't stop her from shooting you."
"Got it, brother," Torque said, stretching across the seat to knuckle bump Kurt. "Make sure you save me a beer inside. It's been a long trip."
"There's more than one for you," Kurt said.
Risa crossed her arms, chilled from the night air, and looked at the two men, disgusted and on the opposing side. The club definitely came first in Kurt's life, and she wasn't sure she liked that.
Kurt slipped his hand under her arm and led her toward the steps going up to the monstrous brick building. She concentrated on not tripping in the dark, still livid from the ride over.
Outside the front door, at least twenty feet higher than the street, Kurt stopped her. "Are you going to stop talking to me?"
"Maybe." She sighed and shook her head. "They can ruin everything for me. I've spent my whole life with men like Torque, and he doesn't even know why he interrogated me that way. I swear, no matter how I dress or act, everyone assumes I'm a slut."
Kurt stepped back and leaned against the building away from the door. "Come here."
"I'm tired of you always telling me to come to you. Maybe you should come to me." She stepped back and leaned against the railing on the stairs. "What are you going to do if I push back? I can be a bitch."
"I see that." Kurt chuckled. "Now, get your ass over here."
"Let's no—," she said, cutting off the rest of what she was going to say because Torque climbed the stairs.
The older biker never missed a step, but as he went by her, Torque said under his breath, "Walk straight to him, sweetheart."
She frowned, watching Torque open the door and walk inside, leaving her alone with Kurt. She looked at Kurt. He hadn't moved, and stood perfectly stonewall still waiting for her to come to him. She enjoyed how he reacted when she came to him, so why was she being a bitch this time?
Did being miserable and distant ever get her anything in life but loneliness? Even her friendship with the girls at Silver Girls only went so far before she pulled back from getting too close. She kept herself from crossing the line from coworkers to intimate friends who shared their secrets, their worries, their past. She'd gotten so good at hiding that part of her that she was still pushing for her independence with Kurt. All he asked her for was to take one day at a time, and when she'd allowed herself to put away her agenda to clear her reputation from the destruction her mother created for her, she loved that time with Kurt.
Love?
She sighed heavily. Love was for other people.
"Say something," Kurt said. "I told you I wasn't going to let you close me out."
Dammit. She pushed off the railing and went to him. The only other person who cajoled her to talk about what was going through her head was Nate. Not since he passed away had she met anyone who had the patience and desire to put up with her.
She stopped in front of him. The tension in his shoulders left when he uncrossed his arms and pulled her against him, wrapping his arms around her. Held prisoner, she said, "Sorry, my man."
Kurt's chest vibrated against her. "You sure have attitude, angel. But, I'll take it."
She laid her head on his chest. How could she fight against a man who seemed to understand exactly what she needed? He'd reinstated his feelings toward her again.
Blind from stubbornness, she ignored all the signs. She'd heard the words and his promise of each day being special and appreciating their time together, but she'd missed his support, his constant validation of how he felt about her, and his honor.
He'd stood up to Torque in his own way, backing her without question.
Shit. She became defensive before she gave Torque a chance. Convinced nobody would like her, she made sure they wouldn't by jumping to her own conclusions about Kurt's family.
"One thing about the club you'll learn is we support each other one hundred percent. I'd die for any of them, including Torque," he said.
"I don't—"
"Listen to me." He tightened his hold on her. "When I was little, Torque took a bullet, saving Taylor's life. In turn, he saved my life, because my life changed having Taylor for a mom. You could ask any Bantorus woman and she'd tell you that at one time or another, Torque has either helped save her life or protected her. Whatever he said to you, I can guarantee, he did it to protect you."
Or Kurt. She was an idiot.
She tilted her face, rose up on her tiptoes, and kissed him. "I might've been a little defensive."
"A little?" he said against her lips, kissing her again. "Proud of you."
Her stomach turned to liquid. That was another feeling she was getting addicted to and only one of the many Kurt gave her when they were together. She bit down on his lower lip and gave it a tug. "I'm not apologizing to him, but I will go in to the club and pretend I fit in with your family."
"'Preciate it, angel." He smacked her ass. "Let's go party."
Just like that, her mood changed because Kurt made sure she received everything she needed to feel comfortable with herself. When she was alone, she'd figure out why he had the ability to change her whole outlook. For now, she was going to enjoy the night, because she was going to live in the moment. She had Kurt, and that's all that mattered.
Chapter Sixteen
Loud metal music, shouting, and constant bodies moving in the interior of the old abandoned mining building seemed like a flashback from her high school days. Risa held on to Kurt's hand and followed him through the room. The furniture, light fixtures, pool table, and fancy bar off to the side transformed the place into a nightclub she'd expect to find in Coeur d'Alene.
She wasn't only surprised. She was impressed. No one in town mentioned the construction going on out here. Kurt must've had people working on the building for months to restore the place from a dilapidated old mining building to a gorgeous clubhouse.
"Drink. Drink. Drink. Drink...," the crowd chanted.
Kurt swooped in and kissed her, then took a bottle from Remmy, lifted it up, and chugged half the contents down. Amusement left her smiling when he swiped his mouth with his arm, grinned, and passed her the bottle.
She shook her head, laughing.
The crowd pressed in, chanting again and this time their focus was on her. She rolled her eyes, took the bottle, and tipped it up. Three swallows in, and she pressed the bottle into Kurt's chest, making him take it.
He kissed her. The strong taste of whiskey on his tongue became an instant aphrodisiac. She moaned, tasting him back. The crowd, the building, the hesitation over being around his family disappeared.
Cheers broke them apart. She caught her lip between her teeth, wanting to savor the kiss. Kurt's intense gaze left her holding onto him for support. The alcohol hadn't hit her yet, but she only needed Kurt to fly high.
Kurt held the bottle in the air. The crowd quieted. The faces looking at their president sobered. Risa leaned against his side, thankful for his free arm around her, holding her in place. She was sure everyone in the room could hear her heart racing.
"Thanks for coming and helping open the club, bringing supplies and as always, being family." Kurt took a long drink, shook his head as he swallowed, and continued. "May our engines always stay warm and our women even warmer. Let's party..."
A loud uproar commenced at his announcement. Risa barely had time to catch her breath, before Kurt sat her up on top of the bar and took up position in front of her to greet the others. She placed her hands on his shoulders and listened.
"Proud of you, son." Slade wrapped his arms around
Kurt and used his hand to palm his son's head. "Always knew this day would come. I'm glad we could be here to see it."
Slade peered into Kurt's face and grinned. Risa inhaled swiftly, overwhelmed with the similarities between Kurt and his dad. They looked so much alike. She imagined his dad also rarely gave out the slow smile. But boy, when they both decided to let that smile out, they were both beautiful men.
Taylor kissed Kurt's cheek. "Love you tons."
Kurt leaned forward and spoke in Taylor's ear. Risa couldn't hear him, but going from the tears welling in Taylor's eyes, she bet it was spectacular.
"Congrats," Brandy said, patting Kurt's cheek. "My dad would be so damn proud of you today."
"Miss him." Kurt's body settled back between Risa's legs. "Not a day goes by I don't think of the old man. Bull headed and crazy, he knew exactly how to keep me from being killed in the ring. I still hear him cussing me out when I drop my arm or hesitate with my left hook. I think and miss David and Gladys every day."
"Me, too. I can't believe they've been gone almost two years." Brandy hugged Kurt and slipped back into the crowd, replaced by Torque.
Risa looped her arms around Kurt's neck and leaned into his shoulder. Earlier, she'd judged Torque unfairly, and she was curious about Torque's position in Kurt's life.
Torque stood in front of Kurt and unlike the others, he kept his distance. "There are two different kinds of men in the world. You and all the rest. Only a woman can truly have your back."
Kurt nodded. Risa sucked in her breath.
"Keep the tires rolling, my brother." Torque smiled, dipped his chin, and walked away.
Wow.
She. Did. Not. Suspect. That.
She wasn't even sure she understood what Torque meant, but if he just told Kurt that she was a good enough woman for him and had his back...wow.
Raul walked toward Kurt. Risa stared, because the man knew how to walk with style. She knew without a doubt that Raul was a charmer.
"I was thinking about the time you used to come over to my house." Raul laughed and— swear to God— Risa thought it was music to her ears, the sound was so soothing. "You almost set my garage on fire trying to use the welder after I walked into the house to make us lunch, amigo."
