by Carmen Faye
There had been a distinct silence. “My doctor thinks taking those pills is counterproductive. But I did lose two pounds last week.” The way she said it, with a defiant but self-conscious tone, told Maya her mother had probably put on three pounds this week.
It didn’t matter; her mother was in great shape for her age, and Maya would have loved her if she was as big around as she was tall. But she hated the hypocritical nature of her mother’s questioning. “Do you have a guard with you? Or a nice young man?”
“No, Mom, I don’t need a guard when I’m driving, and I’m not reliant on some guy. I’m not dating anyone, and I’m not interested in getting married.” I did sleep with a gorgeous, dangerous man, though, with leather and a motorcycle and lots of tattoos. How’s that for realizing your dreams for me, Mom? She wanted to say it so badly but knew better. They were barely avoiding a fight as it was.
Her mother said, “You only think you don’t want a husband because you haven’t met the right one yet. You’ll change your mind eventually. But you have to get out and date to find the man for you.”
How could she make her mother understand she didn’t want to date or find a man? It wasn’t like the older woman had set such a good example for Maya. Sighing, she shook her head and told her mother, “I’m hungry and need to eat. I’m going over to the nice little diner down the street. I love you, Mom, and I’ll talk to you soon.” She hung up, wondering if Christmas counted as soon enough.
Her mother never ceased to raise her hackles, and taking a deep breath, Maya turned to her suitcase, deciding she needed to get ready or she would be unfashionably late. She chose a light pink babydoll t-shirt paired with another pair of tight jeans. She tied her hair back with a band, and she added her sneakers, wishing she had a pair of boots instead. However, it was too warm, especially in LA, to wear boots under most circumstances.
Because she knew the temperature would drop once the sun went down, she grabbed the jean jacket and threw it on the bed beside her keys and pocketbook. She’d probably toss her ID and the necessary cards in her pocket so she didn’t have to carry a purse or anything. It would cramp her style, and it would just be an extra burden anyway.
Checking her reflection in the mirror, Maya debated whether or not she was going to put on makeup. She was still young enough and used enough creams and facial scrubs to rock the fresh face look, but she’d grown accustomed to her appearance in makeup, whether light or heavy. She sighed and decided a minimal effort would be best, so she coated her lashes with a layer of mascara to make her eyes stand out more, and she added a light pink gloss that gave her lips the wet look.
She smiled now, satisfied, and checked the time. She was a little ahead of schedule, which meant she could stroll over to the Wheelie Bar rather than firing up the convertible for no reason. The UV rays were already gone for the day, and with the sun nearing the end of its cycle, the breeze had picked up. It would be a pleasant walk.
And if she went home with Vance again, she wouldn’t have to delay the pleasure by driving it back to the motel.
Maya had to admit, she wondered what Vance would be like if he hadn’t locked himself down in the desert with a biker gang. He was obviously intelligent, and she was sure he could have been very successful in the professional world. But there was a ruggedness about him that might have made him restless living in the suburbs. Would he have eventually sought out trouble anyway, or would he have settled for other adventures, like hiking and roughing it in the mountains?
She couldn’t see him as a doctor, but he had the potential to argue someone to death and debate manipulatively. He would have made a great prosecutor or, if he wanted to dabble in the criminal element, a stellar defense attorney. And if he wasn’t interested in something that required so much education and discipline, he would have had any number of options. He could have run a business. It seemed he practically did that here anyway. Or he could have been a teacher or coach. High school kids loved offbeat teachers with tattoos and an alternative teaching method.
Hell, he could have been a model! He still could, in certain elements, and if she could snap a picture of him at some point, Maya wanted to take it back to her agent and see if they couldn’t set something up with one of the biker magazines. They could always use a false name for him or not credit him at all, if Vance wanted to steer clear of being noticed.
All of these things might have been preferable to Maya had she been looking for a long-term relationship. How difficult would it be as someone so easily recognized to be with an outlaw who lived in the middle of a vast desert and probably held a degree of notoriety among motorcycle clubs and other illegal organizations across the country? It just wasn’t realistic.
But for Maya’s purposes at this time, she preferred the rough and tumble outlaw. It was like some fantasy coming to life, and she could live it out for a short time and then put it behind her as a fond memory as she moved on with her life and career. She would settle down some day, but this fling with Vance satisfied all of her baser needs for the time being.
She reached the bar and noted that there were far fewer bikes outside than there had been the night before. In fact, as she opened the door, she saw the place was practically empty. Joe was behind the bar again, and there were perhaps ten or twelve guys. Four of them were playing pool, and a few more sat around drinking and talking. The noise level was much lower and the laughter subdued. She wanted to throw out a joke like, Who died?, but she knew that it was entirely possible someone had in their line of business.
And then she chided herself. She didn’t know what the Mojave Boys actually did, and she was making unfair assumptions. For all she knew, they had a 501c3 and raised money for the homeless or underprivileged children. She doubted it, but she had to give the benefit of the doubt. After all, she hadn’t really met any of them aside from Vance, with the exception of Joe, who had a bad attitude and was nosy. But that didn’t mean he struck her as a hardened criminal or a violent man. To the contrary, he actually seemed fairly passive.
She sat at the same barstool to wait for Vance. She was about five minutes early, and Joe walked over with a reluctant smile. “Back again? I didn’t scare you away with my grouchiness?”
She shook her head and smiled back. “On the contrary. You give the place character. And you pour a good whiskey sour. I’ll take one now, if you don’t mind.”
“No shot tonight?” Joe asked tauntingly.
Maya didn’t take the bait. “Not tonight, Joe. I wouldn’t want to make the mistake of drinking too much on an empty stomach and end up accidentally proving your point about not being able to handle my liquor.”
Joe actually laughed, and Maya stared at him as he poured her drink. Maybe he wasn’t so miserable. Maya had a sneaking suspicion the guy just put up a front. Maybe he was a little disgruntled and lonely, but he wasn’t the asshole he pretended to be.
He came back with two drinks, and Maya started to protest, but as she opened her mouth, Vance slid smoothly onto the stool next to her, a salacious grin on his face that liquefied her entire body. She could have slid right out of her seat in that moment as he eyed her with unabashed hunger. “I had this terrible feeling you might try to stand me up, and I checked all the fluids in my ride to make sure I could come after you if you left town.”
That should have sounded like a threat, but it only aroused Maya more. It was a compliment, a sign that Vance had really looked forward to this and hadn’t just decided he needed another roll in the hay. Sure, the sex was incredible, but Maya had looked forward to this part of the evening as much as the physical intimacy she craved. “I’m glad to see you, too, Mr. Biker. With the large crowd gathered here tonight,” she said with bitter sarcasm, “I thought something bad might have happened and you’d be tied up elsewhere. Perhaps literally.”
He chuckled. “Some of the guys are out of town on business. I never have been and never will be tied up without permission. You, on the other hand…” He trailed off, leaving the rest t
o her imagination. Maya certainly knew how to fill in the blank, and it had her shifting in her seat as her desire grew. Abruptly, he changed the subject. “So, have you decided how long you’re staying in our charming little town?”
Maya hesitated, trying to decide how to answer that question. This was far more enjoyable than she’d imagined, and she could see herself having friendly—and teasing—conversation with Vance for several evenings. At the same time, she didn’t want to overstay her welcome, and she didn’t want to give the impression that she was eager for an extended emotional connection. It was purely sexual, with a little friendly companionship thrown in on the side.
“Depending on how I feel in the morning, I’ll probably stay at least one more night.” She wanted to gauge his reaction to that and see if she could draw him out of his shell so she could make an informed decision.
He sipped his drink, obviously delaying his own reply. He truly was a difficult one, and Maya liked the challenge. She hoped she presented as much intrigue and entertainment for Vance. Finally, he told her, “I bet you’ll feel pretty relaxed in the morning. Wheelie tends to give people a bit of a rest from the daily grind. And in some cases, it satisfies some more personal needs.”
And there it was again. If he kept dropping double entendre, Maya was going to soak her drawers before they ever left the bar. “I’ve found it to be…therapeutic so far.” She would toss them right back and have him chomping at the bit to get in her pants, and maybe, he’d slow it down a little.
“That’s good to know.” He finished his drink quickly, and Maya downed the rest of hers, trying to dull her reaction to him. He shifted and got to his feet. “Are we going to sit around here all night or go get some food? I’m starving.”
Maya found herself ravenous, with an appetite for more than just nutrition. But it would be a good start and might be a bit of a distraction and stop-gap so she wouldn’t be at the height of arousal throughout the entire evening. “I would love to eat.” She let him take her elbow and guide her out of the bar, and Maya glanced over her shoulder to see that every pair of eyes in the joint followed them. “I know your brothers are looking out for you, but am I really a threat to watch so closely?”
Vance’s eyes twinkled as he chuckled. “They aren’t looking out for me, sweetheart. They’re all so jealous they’re spitting green. You can’t tell me you don’t know how truly sexy you are.”
Maya was used to being noticed, to the fact that she was rated one of the ‘sexiest models of the twenty-first century’, but she hadn’t thought about the fact that a bunch of bikers would watch her with so much interest. Of course, if they knew who she was, that was another story, but none of them had mentioned her name or approached her for an autograph, even before Vance showed up. She couldn’t figure it out.
“I see,” was all she said in response, as he held the door to the diner so she could enter. The server smiled at them, and Maya couldn’t help but stare. He was a young man, maybe seventeen, and he was the spitting image of Linda. “Is that Linda’s son?” she asked Vance quietly, as they slid into a booth. The place was fairly quiet compared to the lunch hour she’d experienced earlier, with only two other booths occupied.
Vance nodded without looking. “Bailey graduated high school early last year and decided he’d rather come work with his mother than go to college right away. He says he’s saving up for school, but I think he’s aiming to buy the café from her.”
Maya cocked her head, frowning. “I thought your club owned everything.”
He sighed. “Not exactly. Most of the businesses here have independent owners, but we pay the bills with our business. And we offer protection for a nominal fee, and the owners are loyal to us.”
Maya took a minute to swallow that while Bailey introduced himself to her, joked with Vance, and took their drink orders. “So, bribes and threats are the name of the game.”
He shook his head. “It’s a mutual understanding. If any of them wanted to leave, they could just sell their business to us and we’d find another owner. We’d pay enough for them to start over somewhere else and succeed. And we’d sell for a reasonable price with all the usual stipulations.” Maya must not have looked convinced that it was a happy arrangement because Vance sighed. “We aren’t bad men, Maya. We have a way of living, and anyone who doesn’t like it can fight it and lose or walk away without consequences. It’s simple, no different than any law force or business in the country.”
That was true, she supposed. Letting it go, she smiled up at Bailey as he returned and asked, “What’s on special tonight?”
He blushed, and Maya knew instantly that he recognized her. To his credit, he didn’t say anything out loud though. “We’ve got turkey and taters, chicken pot pie, and open-faced meatloaf sandwiches with home fries.”
None of that was on her diet, but she didn’t much care. A few extra calories for a couple of days wasn’t going to hurt her. Licking her lips, she told him, “I’d like that chicken pot pie.”
“Excellent. It comes with a garden salad or a cup of broccoli cheese soup.”
“I’ll take the salad with ranch on the side.” She turned to Vance, wondering what he was going to have.
He seemed to be thinking pretty hard. “That’s a tough one, but I’m going with the meatloaf sandwich. Can I get extra red sauce?”
“Sure thing, Ice,” Bailey said with a nod as he strode back toward the kitchen.
“Ice?” Maya asked, surprised by the nickname.
Vance rolled his eyes and made a disgusted face. “My last name is Coldman. I’ve been Ice to these yahoos forever, and I can’t seem to shake it.” That made sense to Maya, but she also heard what he wasn’t saying. There was another reason they’d chosen such a hardcore nickname for him. She was going to draw it out of him eventually.
The mysteries kept adding up. “Interesting,” she commented, trying to sound offhand. “I’ve never had a nickname. ‘Maya’ doesn’t offer many options, and I’ve never had any behavioral quirks that warranted one.”
He shrugged. “I’d prefer ‘Vance’, but I don’t have a choice these days. Luck of the draw. I think Maya fits. It’s a beautiful name that flows off the tongue.”
Maya shivered at the insinuation, and she found herself staring at his mouth, thinking of the things his tongue could do to her. “Thank you,” she managed, and from the look of utter delight on his face, she knew she was flushed. Clearing her throat, she told him, “I’m going to the restroom. Be right back.” She needed a moment to collect herself before she threw herself down on the table and begged him to go to town on her.
She stopped short of the ladies’ room when she caught Bailey staring at her from down the hall. He averted his eyes, embarrassed, as she looked at him, but Maya smiled and walked toward him. “Is there something you want to say to me?” she asked, not angry but with a bit of a flirtatious tone. It worked wonders in drawing out young men who were too shy to say what they thought.
He shrugged. “You’re Maya Marriot. I thought I was tripping when you walked in, but when I heard your name…” He trailed off, looking away again.
“That’s me,” she confirmed.
He swallowed hard. “It’s really cool to meet you, and I know I sound like an idiot right now, but I’m actually pretty intelligent when I’m not staring at, like, one of the world’s most beautiful women.”
“Thank you,” she told him. “And you don’t sound stupid. Do you want an autograph?” she asked.
He shrugged, but his smile spoke volumes. “I really would. I have a picture from your fan club at home. Is there any way I could bring it to you before you leave to sign?”
She nodded. “Sure. Just do me a favor, and don’t tell anyone who I am, okay? No one else seems to know.”
“You got it.” He didn’t walk away though, and he shifted from one foot to the other uncomfortably. “Can I ask another favor?”
“That depends,” Maya told him honestly. She’d been asked for a number o
f odd favors she wouldn’t grant in the past, and she didn’t want to commit to anything until she knew it wasn’t going to creep her out.
He hedged, “So, I’ve had a bet going with my buddy, Todd, for about three years. We’ve been trying to design the most badass tattoo as our first tattoo. He’s got this amazing dragon he’s working on, and I haven’t been able to beat it yet. We both turn eighteen next month, so I’m running out of time, and I just had an incredible idea.”
Maya held back a laugh. She had a feeling she knew what he wanted. “I’ll make a deal with you. Tomorrow, I’ll sign the photo, and I’ll give you a slip of paper with a personalized autograph that’s easy to transfer. And wherever you want the tattoo, I’ll put on some bright red lipstick and kiss you, then kiss the paper. And we’ll take a picture together with the mark on you showing as proof it was really me. How is that?”
Bailey looked like he might pass out with excitement. “That’s even better than what I was thinking! You are so awesome. That’s really sweet of you.”
She shrugged. “It’s no skin off my back, as long as we’re discrete about it. Besides, I like you, and I think you have a lot of potential in life.” She turned back toward the restroom. “What time will you be here tomorrow?”
