by Rye Hart
“Why do you think that?” she asked.
“The members haven’t been into the bar much. I didn’t know if you knew who their rivals were. I’m working all this coming week, so I want to make sure I’m ahead of the drama in case it gets brought into the bar.”
“I don’t really know much about their club. But Rhodie? Our distributor? He might know what’s going down,” she said.
“I didn’t know we had a Rhodie, the distributor,” I said.
“We do. He’s nice enough. Walks with a limp. Full head of white hair. Wears a ratty old brown leather jacket.”
“Oh, shit. I know who you’re talking about. Yeah, yeah, yeah. He’s the one that brings us those free samples of mixers to try in the bar. That’s how I found that shit that tastes so much like soda for the LITs.”
“Yep. That guy. If you’re really curious, you could ask him.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” I said.
“And seriously. If you want to come over, just come. I’ll leave the door unlocked for you.”
“Thanks, Lindy. I’ll finish this coffee, get a shower, then see how I feel.”
“So, see you in an hour?” she asked.
I giggled into the phone as I chugged my coffee.
“Yep. See you in an hour.”
CHAPTER 10
After a two-day sleepover with Lindy, I was really beginning to worry about the brothers. Something had happened. I knew enough about biker culture to know when shit had hit the fan. It seemed silly to worry, but I couldn’t help it. Though I hadn’t known them long, and certainly didn’t have any claim to any one of them, the Grove boys had gotten under my skin. Bad.
Sleeping for my Tuesday shift was hard, but I managed. I occupied my mind with the phone call Lindy had placed to our realtor. Apparently, the man who owned the piece of property was out of town, hence why we hadn’t heard an acceptance or rejection of our offer, and our realtor had no fucking clue when the guy would be back.
So, the waiting game resumed.
I was tasked with setting up for our Tuesday night crowd before Lindy joined me to open the bar. There was a rush of the regular patrons before the clubs started trickling in, and I kept my eyes open. Part of me was searching for the brothers, and the other part of me was searching for my mother. I was almost certain she would turn up tonight.
Which meant it was night one of our “no fucking free drinks” lesson.
Midnight came and went, and none of them had shown up. Not my mother, not the brothers, and, according to Lindy, not Crow. I was curious as to who this guy was, especially now that I knew he was talking up my best friend. I wanted to size him up, make sure he was good enough for her and wasn’t about to run her through the wringer. Lindy had a shitty track record with guys, and I could attribute that to the fact that she prioritized the bad-boy persona over anything else. She liked a man who didn’t follow the rules. Something about a straight-up rebel was thrilling to her. Unfortunately, she usually just became another pawn in their games.
It always ended in heartbreak for her, but she just couldn’t seem to stay away from those types of guys. I’m sure there was a whole lot of psychology behind that, shit that had to do with the fact that she grew up in a dysfunctional household like I did, but neither she nor I were inclined to figure it out. We just took it upon ourselves to look out for one another as much as the other would let us.
As my eyes scanned the crowd, they fell on a familiar pair of baby blues. Goosebumps stood on the edge of my skin as I tried to suppress a grin. Adam was looking straight at me with a shadow of a smirk, then all at once the rest of the brothers emerged from the crowd.
All five of them had come tonight, and I watched as they approached the bar.
“Long time no see,” I said coolly as Lindy eyed me curiously. “Can I get you boys something?”
“Well, you do know what we like,” Adam said suggestively
My ears burned red hot, and Lindy’s eyebrows shot up damn near into her hairline. “Beers all around?” I asked, clearing my throat.
“Whatever’s on special,” Jacob said.
I dipped down behind the bar and started digging around in the beer bin. I looked over at Lindy, and her eyes were wide with shock. Her tongue was rolling over her lips like she was looking at a succulent piece of shrimp, and I shook my head. If she didn’t think before that anything was going on between myself and the Grove boys, she sure as hell did now.
And I knew I was in for a round of questions after our work shift tonight.
“Fancy seeing you guys here again.”
I froze, and then slowly rose up from the ground, silently praying I had heard the wrong voice. I watched as Lindy’s shocked face morphed into one of annoyance, and my stomach hit the floor.
My fucking mother was here.
“You boys remember me, don’t you? I know I made an impression on at least a couple of you,” my mother said, seductively. It was all I could do to keep from puking on my shoes.
“Vaguely,” Tanner grinned.
I slid the beers to the guys before I started wiping down the bar. This night was already going to shit. My mother was at the damn bar trying to turn on her charm with the Grove brothers. I had no idea if they knew she was my mother yet, but I knew she was a few seconds away from announcing it. I braced myself as I cleaned up the bar, then switched places with Lindy so she could field the battle that would be my mother and these fucking drinks.
“Get me a shot of whiskey, Lindy dear,” my mother said.
“You want to open a tab or pay for just the one?” Lindy asked.
I peered over as I kept mixing drinks and I saw my mother’s eyebrows rise in confusion.
“What do you mean?” my mother asked.
“I’m just asking how you want to pay,” Lindy said.
“Pay?” my mother asked.
“You know, with money,” Tanner said.
I snickered before I turned my face away from my mother.
“I could get the lady’s first shot,” Jacob said.
“There,” my mother said. “The lovely man with the salt-and-peppered temples will get me my first shot.”
“One shot of whiskey coming up.”
Lindy took out a glass and poured the drink before my mother threw it back. I watched Jacob throw way more money than he needed to onto the bar.
“To cover the beers and tip you for the night,” Jacob said.
“I’ll get you cashed out,” Lindy said.
“Don’t worry about it. It’s only our first round. But I want you to get tipped just in case you and Emma switch places again,” Jacob said.
“Oh, so you know my daughter?”
I cringed at the sound of my mother’s voice as I continued making drinks. I slid them across the bar as the back of my neck began to heat. There it was. She just couldn’t help herself. I could feel all their eyes on me as I continued to sling drinks to the thirsty customers. I wanted to melt into the fucking floor and disappear right there and then. I was pretty sure any shot I’d ever had with any of them was just blown. They would surely look at my sorry excuse of a mother and wonder if I was just like her.
“We do,” Nick said. “She’s pretty fucking awesome.”
“Isn’t she? I did a good job with her,” my mother said.
I physically bit my tongue to keep from saying anything. A good job with me? I fucking raised myself. While she was out partying and drinking it up, I was twelve and home alone making peanut butter and jelly fucking sandwiches. I was cooking full dinners before I was even fourteen fucking years old, so we wouldn’t starve. I was holding my mother’s damn hair back at sixteen as she puked her fucking guts up after a night of doing anything but being a damn mother.
A good job with me? Oh, no. I did a fucking good job with her.
“I’m sure it goes something like that,” Tyler said.
Lindy looked over at me, a grin crossing her cheeks as she tried to stifle her giggle. My mother was so entran
ced with their young ages and their dazzling blue eyes that she wasn’t even aware of the jabs they were throwing at her. It was embarrassing, really. But it was great entertainment.
“Another shot, please,” my mother said.
“Tab or cash?” Lindy asked.
My mother looked back at Jacob, and my eyes widened. Was she fucking serious? Did she really think he was going to buy her another drink?
“The bartender asked you a question. Did you hear it?” Adam asked.
My mother’s jaw dropped to the floor as I bent behind the bar and started to laugh.
“That’s not fucking funny,” my mother said.
“I didn’t know if you could hear the woman over the crowd,” Adam said.
“Why the fuck are you charging me for drinks now?” my mother asked. “I’ve been getting them free for years!”
“And that stops tonight,” Lindy said. “Tab or cash?”
“Neither. Now give me a damn shot,” my mother said.
“I’ll open you a tab,” Lindy said.
“Fine. Put it under my daughter’s name,” she said.
I popped back up from underneath the bar and hooked my gaze with hers, fury pounding in my ears.
“Hmm, that doesn’t sound like a motherly thing to do,” Tyler said.
“No, it sure doesn’t,” Tanner added.
I watched my mother look from one twin to the other, then back to me, her eyes flashing wildly. “I deserve it, for everything I did for you,” she hissed.
“Everything as in forcing her to clean up after you puked all over the house at twelve? Or everything as in leaving her alone for days at a time while you got hammered and fucked strangers?” Lindy piped in, anger adding edge to her normally cheery voice.
I slowly panned my gaze over to my best friend as all five of the brother’s gazes went stone-cold. Their playfulness had vanished, and their cute little quips were gone. I could feel the tension growing between all of us as my mother huffed.
“Another shot, please,” my mother said.
“You can put it on my tab.”
I looked over at the person who owned that voice. Who the fuck was about to fuel my mother’s rage? My eyes locked onto some little boy clutching a massive glass of beer, his eyes raking my mother up and down. I looked back at my mother and saw her eyes shimmering as she licked her lips.
“Good to see you again, Gracie,” the young man said.
“Hey there, Scottie. You really gonna get that drink for me?”
My mother scooted away from the Grove brothers and made a beeline for the young man at the corner of the bar.
“Of course, hot stuff. You party hard. You deserve your drinks,” he said.
I scoffed and shook my head as Lindy poured my mother another shot.
“One shot of whiskey, coming up,” she said.
“And put it on his tab,” my mother said.
“I’m sure she got it the first time, Mom,” I said.
But all she did in response was glare at me.
I rolled my eyes as Lindy slid her the shot. I sighed as my mother threw it back, then slammed the glass onto the bar. She hopped up into the young man’s lap and wrapped her lips around his, their tongues battling for dominance as the bar filled with smoke. I rolled my eyes again and switched places with Lindy, who gave me a pat on the shoulder for strength.
“So? That’s the mom,” Adam said.
“Yep,” I said.
“Interesting woman,” Jacob said.
“She’s got a thing for you guys,” I said flatly.
“Not really my type,” Nick said. “How about you guys?”
“Nope,” Tyler and Tanner said.
“Pretty much speaks for the lot of us,” Jacob said.
“Sorry for her petty antics,” I said.
“No need. Your family tree was obviously on a hill anyway,” Nick said. “You rolled pretty far away from it.”
I grinned at his comment as a flush rose to my cheeks.
“I see you’re done with these beers. Care for another?” I asked.
“I’ve gotta get out of here actually,” Jacob said.
“I’m right on his tail,” Nick said.
“Same here. But I think Tyler and Tanner are hanging out for a little bit,” Adam said.
“I’ll take another beer,” Tyler said.
“Sure. I’ll stick it out,” Tanner said.
“‘Stick it out.’ Man, you guys know how to make a girl feel special,” I said, chuckling.
“We’re just getting started,” Tyler said, staring right into my eyes.
“Don’t stay out too late,” Adam said.
“And tip our bartender nicely before you two leave,” Jacob said.
“Emma, always a pleasure,” Nick said.
“Likewise,” I said, smiling.
But then, something I wasn’t expecting happened. The three guys leaned over the bar and kissed me on the cheek. Adam’s lips were warm and dominant, pressing deep into my skin before he backed off. Nick’s kiss was much gentler, and his slightly-chapped lips tickled my skin, drawing a smile across my cheeks. But Jacob’s kiss was electric. He kissed my forehead as he cupped the back of my neck. I could feel my body melting into them as Lindy gaped out of the corner of my vision.
“Take care of that sweet pussy of yours,” Jacob whispered into my skin. “Until we can get back to it, that is.”
My eyes widened as my cheeks flushed a crimson red in the middle of the bar. But the best part?
I could feel my mother’s eyes burning holes into the side of my head.
I watched the three of them leave as I settled back onto my feet. My eyes came back into contact with the twins sitting in front of me, and their smiles were wide. It was the first time I’d seen any of the brothers genuinely smile like that, and I loved the way their eyes sparkled. I dipped behind the counter and pulled out two more beers, opening them before I slid them their way.
“Been a busy night?” Tanner asked.
“Or relatively simple?” Tyler asked.
I leaned against the counter, inching my body closer to theirs so I could put on a show for my mother.
“Been pretty busy,” I said. “But that means more tips, so I’ll take it when I can get it.”
“Oh, yes you will,” Tyler said.
My eyes fluttered over to his just in time to see his gaze drop to my tits. I scooted my arms closer, growing my cleavage as Tanner’s body lifted from his seat. My back was arched, and my hips were swaying to the music, jiggling my ass in a teasing way that had them on the edge of their seats. I felt alive. Desired. Beautiful and important. Their eyes were devouring me. My mind immediately thought of ways I would like them to devour me for real.
And I was ready for all of it.
“Those are some curves you’ve got there,” Tyler said.
“No fucking joke,” Tanner said.
“Not ones for subtlety, I see,” I said.
“Why be subtle when the woman I’m trying to woo isn’t subtle herself?” Tanner asked.
“Makes sense. You’re confident. Intelligent. Independent. Subtle cues are nice, but sometimes stating a want is better than dancing around it,” Tyler said.
“Then why don’t you tell me what you want?” I asked.
The brothers looked at each other as my mother’s jaw hung to the floor in the corner. I planted my hands on the bar, squeezing my chest together further as the twins raked their eyes down my body. Lindy was busying herself with drinks, but I knew she was listening. I could tell she was hanging onto every word by the way her eyes looked up at me from beneath the bar.
“I’d like to hang out with you after your shift is done,” Tanner said.
“You can change that ‘I’ to ‘we,’” Tyler said.
“That’ll put you here for another three hours,” I said. “This place doesn’t close down until four.”
“Then it sounds like we have a few more beers to drink,” Tyler said.
�
��Sticking with the specials?” I asked.
“How about we go with the bartender’s recommendation next?” Tanner asked.
I dipped underneath the bar and knew exactly what beer I was handing them next. I grabbed two of them from the insulated drawer where we kept our specialty beers. I popped the caps off and tossed them in the trash, then slid the beers their way. Their hands reached out to catch them as their eyes dropped to the bottles, and a grin slid across my face as their eyes rose back up to mine.
I could see the fire sparking behind their luxurious blue eyes.
“Naked Threesome. It’s our most popular specialty IPA,” I said. “And one of my personal favorites.”
I winked at them before I moved on to another customer, and I could see the stunned look in my mother’s eyes. It felt satisfying to surprise her like that. To show her what exactly a woman could get if she held herself with some decorum. I took a few drink orders before I turned around and grabbed more liquor to open, and I saw Lindy clapping her hands. I shook my head at her, trying to bury my smirk as I continued to serve up drink after drink.
And the entire time, the twins had me in their vision.
My mother didn’t cause another scene that night and ended up leaving with the young man who paid for her drinks. I had no idea where they were headed, but I didn’t care. In my book, it was a victory, and a first step in the direction of waking my mother the fuck up.
The clock ticked on and the twins hung around. I talked with them when I could, but I stayed relatively busy the entire time. I was relieved when it was time for Lindy to announce last call, and I sighed when the final customer in the bar paid his tab and left.
“Guess that means we should pay, too,” Tyler said.
“I guess we should,” Tanner said.
“It’ll take Lindy and I another hour or so to clean up, so if you want another drink I could let it slide,” I said.
“Nope. We’re done. And it won’t take you that long if we help. Let us pay then hand me a rag,” Tanner said.
“If you got a broom back there, I’d take it,” Tyler offered.
“I guess that charitable nature is genetic?” I asked.
“Who the fuck cares. Just let them help. I’m exhausted,” Lindy said.
