5 Bikers for Valentines

by Rye Hart

  Casey ordered some cheesecake, but I passed on it myself. I was lost in thought, trying to figure out everything we'd need to take care of before we slept together, and trying to fight off a case of nerves in the process.

  “You don't drink, smoke, or do drugs, do you?” I asked.

  “None of the above,” she said, shaking her head.

  “You don't even drink occasionally?”

  “Nope. Haven't since my twenty-first birthday and I don't plan to start anytime soon,” she snapped at me.

  There it was. That attitude again. That fire and spunk. She wasn't about to make this easy on me. But, in the end, it would be worth it. For the both of us. I'd be sure to see to it.

  “So when will this happen?” she asked.

  “What do you mean?” I asked.

  “The sex,” she replied. “When are we going to hook up?”

  “Oh, well – ummm – let me talk to my lawyer and we'll set up a meeting to go over everything first,” I said. “From there, we can decide the next steps.”

  “But you need this to happen fast, right?”

  I nodded.

  “Alright,” she sighed. She pushed the cheesecake over toward me, with only a few bites missing. “Here, have some, I feel bad eating it all.”

  She had cheesecake on her lips and licked it off. The sight of her perfect, pink tongue sliding along her full lips, sent a stirring in my pants that caught my attention. I'd been so focused on the business aspect of this relationship, that it had only just occurred to me that the idea of having sex with Casey wasn't at all a bad thought.

  Gorgeous. Curvy body. Full lips. Dark hair and pale skin. Oh, and smart, strong-willed and hilarious? Honestly, she ticked off a lot of the boxes of what I liked in a woman. Maybe, too many.

  I took a bite of the cheesecake, and Casey smiled at me.

  Yeah, a guy could do worse.

  CHAPTER TEN

  CASEY

  “You are going to do what, now?” Raya screeched at me.

  She dropped the carrot she was holding and stared at me, her mouth opened as wide as her eyes. A look of pure disbelief and astonishment were etched upon her features.

  After agreeing to have Malcolm's baby, I needed to talk to someone. My mom was a Catholic and had constantly preached about waiting for marriage to have sex, which meant, I couldn't talk to her. My dad was – well – useless. I'd rather talk to the homeless guy who stands on the corner shouting at the telephone pole. Hell, the conversation might be more enlightening than one with my dad.

  My siblings were far too young for that kind talk. Besides, what could a couple of young teens tell me about having sex? They wouldn't understand the situation and wouldn't have any words of wisdom to offer.

  That left Raya.

  I'd texted her and asked her to meet me at The Grove after Malcolm went back to work. We were sitting by the fountain, surrounded by people still, but none of them seemed to matter in that moment. Thankfully, none of them even seemed to be paying attention to us.

  “Yeah, so – I took your advice and left the club,” I said. “And that same night, Malcolm made me an offer I couldn't refuse.”

  She looked at me like I'd suddenly sprouted a second head. Maybe a third. Not that I could really blame her. What I'd just told her seemed to be a radical solution to my problems.

  “Casey, are you sure about this?” she asked. “I mean, most of the time, surrogates come with certain requirements – like having had a successful pregnancy before. Which, correct me if I'm wrong here, but I'm pretty sure you haven't.”

  I shook my head to answer her question, and then I cocked my head to the side. “How do you know that?”

  She shrugged. “My mom's done it a few times,” she said. “She likes bringing joy to other people's lives, and hey, it's helped keep the shop open. But she's done it through an agency and all that jazz. She didn't just meet some in a club and agree to have his baby. That's a bit – dangerous – don't you think?”

  She was right. It was a bit crazy and maybe even a bit dangerous. But, even crazier – seriously, bordering on sheer madness – was the fact that for some reason I couldn't identify or explain, I trusted Malcolm. I couldn't say why I did, but there was just something about him that made me feel safe.

  “He's been tested for STDs,” I said. “He's also going to require I get tested too. There's no danger, at all.”

  “Umm, except he could back out of the deal or – ”

  “We're going to have a contract written up by a lawyer,” I said. “I'm not worried about that. I know he's not going to screw me over that way, Raya.”

  “Okay maybe not that,” she said. “But, there are always the possibility of complications during pregnancy and childbirth.”

  My pulse raced, and I felt a stomach in my knot tighten up painfully. That idea hadn't even occurred to me. “What? Are we back in the eighteenth century again?” I asked with a laugh I hope didn't sound too forced. “Women don't die during childbirth anymore.”

  My voice trailed off for a moment as Raya gave me a look. A look I didn't particularly care for and one that nearly scared the pants off me.

  “Do they?” I asked.

  “I'm pretty sure they do, yeah,” she said. “It's not totally unheard of.”

  I swallowed, hard, and tried to think of something I could say that would ease both of our minds – and was coming up pretty empty for the most part.

  “Well, I'll just make sure there are contingency plans in place,” I said. “And I'll make sure that Malcolm's insurance covers my medical needs as they arise. And if something does happen to me, my family will still get paid. That's the most important thing here.”

  “CASEY!” Raya shouted.

  “What? I'm doing this for my family,” I grumbled. “As long as they're taken care of, I'm not worried about it. Not like my life shows any promise otherwise.”

  Raya reached out for my hands, her hennaed red braids falling forward, shielding part of her face. She looked as if she were ready to cry – and that made me want to cry. It scared me, more than anything. I was already feeling uncertain as it was, but she wasn't making me feel any better.

  “Casey, your life is worth more than that,” she said. “You've got more value than just being able to make babies. You have so much to offer.”

  “And I've got no future unless I can get my family out of poverty. Unless I can get us out of here,” I said. “This is all about them, Raya. I know I'm more than just a womb, and yet, I'm choosing to do this anyway. Either you can support me or – ”

  My voice cracked, and I stopped talking. Tears filled my eyes and the frustration in me was so great, I wanted to punch something. Raya let out a long breath and pulled me close, letting me rest my head on her shoulder. She patted my back, rocking me back and forth like a mother would a child.

  “Shhh, it's okay, Casey,” she said. “You don't have to do this.”

  “That's not why I'm crying,” I said, wiping my eyes, “I'm crying because I know my mom won't understand, and you're the only person I can talk to. So, if you don't support me, I have no one and I'm all alone in this.”

  Raya sighed. “I'll support you in doing whatever you need do, sweetie,” she said. “I'm here for you. I just don't want you to make a mistake or do something you'll regret.”

  “I appreciate that,” I said, pulling myself together and sitting up tall. “But I have to do this. It's my family's way out of poverty, once and for all. Then, maybe, I’ll finally be able to start thinking about myself..”

  “But what about your mother?” Raya asked gently. “What are you going to tell her?”

  I shrugged. “I figured I won't tell her anything for now,” I said. “I'll keep it quiet for as long as I can.”

  “You're going to hide a pregnancy from her?” Raya raised both her eyebrows.

  “I hardly see her anyway, she's always working,” I said. “I'll invest in baggy clothes and hope for the best. At the end of the day, I'm an adul
t and can do as I please. Hopefully, she'll realize I'm doing this for her, Sierra and Nick.”

  “I hope so, lovey,” Raya said. “I really, really hope so.”

  “Me too.”

  My phone buzzed, and I looked at the caller ID.

  “It's Malcolm,” I said, staring at the number for a long time, my mind and heart awash in thought and emotion.

  “Well, are you going to answer it?” Raya giggled.

  “I guess I probably should, huh?”

  “Uh, duh,” she said.

  I clicked the button to pick up the call, and his voice came through crisp and clear, right away.

  “Casey, you there?”

  “Yes, I'm here.”

  “Still feeling up for the task?”

  Was that nervousness in Malcolm Crane's voice? A bit of fear? Hesitance? Or, was I just imagining things?

  “I - I am,” I said.

  “Good. I've spoken to my lawyer and he's gone ahead and drawn up some paperwork. We'll be ready to meet with you tomorrow,” he said. “Will that work for you?”

  “Tomorrow. Wow. Things are moving fast,” I bit my lip and looked over at Raya.

  “If you need a little time – ”

  “I just need to check my calendar,” I said. “Gotta make sure I'm free.”

  “Oh,” he said, sounding somewhat disappointed.“I'm kidding, Malcolm,” I said. “I can meet you whenever. Now that I'm unemployed, my days are pretty much open.”

  “Good,” he said, letting out a long breath. “We're moving fast, I know, but we don't have much time. Hopefully, my lawyer can answer any questions, and help ease any fears you might have. We can hopefully make this go as smoothly as possible.”

  “Sounds good,” I said, trying to sound more confident than I felt. “Let's get this show on the road.”

  “I'll text you a time and a location once I have it,” he said. We were both quiet for a long time before he added. “And Casey? I really can't thank you enough for this. What you're doing – sacrificing – I won't forget it. Ever.”

  A small smile touched my lips. I wasn't just doing this for me, I realized. As much as I wanted to help my family by doing this, I also wanted to help Malcolm too. God help me, I wanted to help him because I actually liked him. Because I actually thought he was a good man in a tough spot.

  It wasn't like I thought I could see anything between us going anywhere, either. I wasn’t going to let myself get all delusional and hope we'd end up together in the end or anything like that. This was life, not some silly rom-com.

  Besides, once I had that money in hand, I was out of here. Leaving Los Angeles behind was at the top of my list, and that meant leaving Malcolm as well. So, it wouldn't do me any good to get attached or ascribe any romantic feelings to anything. This was business, plain and simple.

  “See you tomorrow, Malcolm.”

  “Later, Casey.”

  I hung up the phone and stared at it for a long time, still trying to process everything that was happening to me. Things were moving a lot faster than I'd expected them to, and because of it, my heart was racing, and my cheeks were burning.

  “Looks like someone has a crush,” Raya teased.

  “No, it's not like that at all,” I said. “Please. This is a business deal. One that works for both of us.”

  “Uh huh.”

  I knew it was a lie. Raya knew it was a lie. But, I had to keep telling myself that lie and hope that I'd eventually come to believe it. I couldn't let myself fall for Malcolm. Not if we were going to make this work.

  “Sure, whatever you say, Casey,” Raya said. “Just be careful, I don't want to see him hurt you. Remember, he needs something from you now, but once he has what he wants –”

  “We're not going to be together, Raya. There's no way we'd work out,” I said. “We're just too different. And besides, I plan on getting the hell out of here as soon as I get that money, so in a way, I'm using him too. It's strictly a business arrangement.”

  “Keep telling yourself that, chica, and hopefully, it'll actually turn out to be true.”

  ~ooo000ooo~

  I got off the bus and stared up at the building before me. Crane Enterprises. Yep. This was it. This was where I was meeting with Malcolm and his lawyer to go over everything. Standing there on the sidewalk, it occurred to me that this was my last chance to back out of it.

  The skyscraper was massive and modern, and I found it hard to believe that one family owned the giant, sleek building made of glass and steel before me. I counted the floors until I couldn't do it anymore. I knew I was just procrastinating, fidgeting, and not going inside. I tried to imagine how many employees they must have in a building so big, and the number was too large for me to fathom.

  Most of the lights in the building were off, as it was after normal working hours, but a few windows remained lit. I figured one of them would be our meeting room. I stared down at the piece of paper in my hand that listed the address and the room number, and let out a long, pensive breath.

  “It's now or never, Casey,” I muttered to myself.

  I pulled open the large glass doors and walked through the lobby until I came to a reception desk. No receptionist was there, however, only a security guard who looked bored.

  “Can I help you?” the woman said.

  “Yes, I have a meeting with Malcolm Crane,” I said. “He's expecting me.”

  The guard looked me up and down, and I didn't think she believed me. I'd tried to dress nice and look professional in the closest thing I had to a business suit – the same pencil skirt I wore yesterday with a white blouse. No jacket, but I had on heels and pantyhose. I thought I looked good, but the security guard didn't seem to approve of my choice in outfits.

  “What's your name?” the guard asked.

  “Casey Melville,” I said.

  I crumpled the paper in my hand, then opened it back up again. Her scrutiny was making me sweat and told me that I was clearly out of place here.

  The security guard picked up a phone, never taking her eyes off me. While she talked to someone in a hushed tone, I looked around the main floor of building. It was a sleek and modern interior with plants and a prominent water feature. It had black leather seating, wood trim on the walls, and a bank of elevators were set at the far end of the building. There were photographs on the walls of doctors, scientists, and others smiling brightly, with positive messages underneath them about how Crane Enterprises Cures People.

  “He said to send you on up,” the guard said. “He's on the fifteenth floor, in the conference room. Just go up those elevators to –”

  I stopped listening to her once she said I was free to go. I didn't like the way she'd obviously weighed and judged me, so I'd find my own way. I walked toward the elevators, the anticipation inside of me growing with each step. I felt like I was walking in a daze and it all felt like a dream. My body felt heavy, like I wasn't in control over it anymore. When the doors opened, I don't even remember walking inside and pressing the button.

  I'd obviously done it, since I made it to the fifteenth floor in a matter of moments. The elevator doors slide open with a soft chime, and I stood there hesitating for too long. They closed again, and I had to press the button to open the doors back up in order to walk off the elevator.

  The conference room, that's where I needed to go. I looked for some sort of signage that pointed the way to the conference room and didn't see any. There was another receptionist desk to the right, but it was empty. Everyone had seemingly gone home for the evening already. Apparently, I should have listened to the security guard downstairs.

  I looked to my left and saw there were hallways that way, as well as some to my right. My head started spinning as I stood there and tried to figure out where I should go.

  I heard footsteps coming from somewhere. The echoes of those footfalls were coming closer and it set my pulse racing. Malcolm rounded the corner and smiled.

  “There you are,” he said, motioning for me to fol
low him. “We're just in here.”

  We walked down the hallway, which ended pretty abruptly against two large, dark doors. Malcolm held the door open for me, and I swallowed hard as I stepped inside. The conference room could easily fit fifty people, but there were just the three of us: Malcolm, me and a man I assumed to be the lawyer.

  The other man stood up from the table and reached for my hand.

  “Terrance Houston,” he said. “It's nice to meet you.”

  “Casey Melville,” I said.

  Terrance looked every bit like a lawyer, dressed in a business suit with a burgundy and gold colored tie. In front of him were several piles of paperwork and a folder.

  “Please sit down, Casey,” Malcolm said, pulling out the chair next to me.

  His blue eyes locked on mine, and for the first time since I'd walked into the building, I knew it was going to be okay. Malcolm smiled at me, sending a warmth throughout my entire body. A warmth that melted into reassurance and even a bit of confidence. I somehow just knew that Malcolm was going to do everything in his power to take care of me.

  I took a seat, and Malcolm sat across from me – seemingly miles away because the dark wooden table between us was so large. Terrance sat beside him and passed a stack of papers to me, and one stack to Malcolm. He kept one for himself.

  I noticed that there was a digital recorder sitting next to the lawyer and he flipped a switch on it, starting an audio record of our meeting.

  “Malcolm has explained to me that you're willing to enter into a surrogacy agreement,” he said. “Is this correct, Casey?”

  “Yes,” I said. I placed my hands on my lap to keep myself from fidgeting. “That's correct.”

  “And you're here on your own free will?” he asked. “No one is forcing you to enter into this agreement?”

  “No, not at all,” I laughed, glancing over at Malcolm.

  “Sorry, just routine questions for the record, that's all,” Terrance said. “We need to be sure you understand exactly what you're getting into.”