“Right,” she snapped and whirled to head to her room. She opened the door to show him, stepping inside. Burner moved into the room behind her and looked around curiously.
Kelsey glanced around the room, seeing the tan and cream bedding and feeling a light redness stain her cheeks when she saw a discarded red bra on the floor and her neat stack of underwear on the dresser where she had set them after doing laundry yesterday. She turned to look at him, seeing his eyes focused on the bra, and she wanted to order him to get out but she had a feeling that wouldn’t go over well so she refrained. Burner glanced at her, likely seeing the red tinge on her cheeks, making her embarrassment increase.
“Okay, I’ll grab some water and your pills. You get ready for bed,” he told her as he moved to exit before glancing back at her. “Don’t lock this door or I will break it down. I’ll make up the couch too so you have time to get ready.” Then he was gone.
Kelsey stood there for a moment waiting with her arms wrapped around her waist and fear coursing through her as she stared at the closed door. With a heavy sigh, she went to her dresser, grabbing her clothes before heading into her bathroom with them. She needed a shower to wash off the stench of the alley and the bar.
She locked the door because there was no way in hell she was taking a shower with him here and not locking the door. She quickly stripped off her clothes and turned on the hot water the way she liked it. She stepped into the shower and unprepared for the sting of the water on her cuts, she hissed.
Damn, that hurt.
She didn’t take her time like she normally did because she wanted to get out quickly before he came back. Drying off, she put on the shirt and short pajama set and brushed her teeth and hair before opening the door. She stepped out to find Burner sitting on the edge of her bed watching her carefully, his eyes that dark indigo they’d been the night that he’d kissed her senseless, and she paused feeling a little stalked for a moment. His eyes moved from her head to her toes and he looked hungry, making her nervous. He tracked the movement of her hand as it rose to tug at the shirt she wore.
“Take these pills and lay down,” Burner said, standing and moving to the other side of the bed where he stood waiting on her to get in. Kelsey wanted to argue but she couldn’t get any words out of her clogged throat. She moved a step towards the bed but paused, fear making her tremble.
“Now,” he barked, startling her into action. She went to the bed that was already turned down so that all she had to do was lift the covers. She sat on the bed with the covers over her legs and reached out to take the pain pill and water from him. Kelsey sipped the water and after swallowing the pill she handed the glass back to him.
He nodded and took it. “Get some sleep, I’ll be back in a few hours.” Then he was walking out of her room leaving the door cracked.
Kelsey watched the door as she lay down in the bed, her mind whirling and her thoughts a jumbled mess. She was in her home with a man she barely knew who frightened her just a little with his intensity. This was not something she would have thought possible only hours ago but here she was. Kelsey wondered how the hell she would explain this to her sisters if they showed up and Burner was here. Her lids began to get heavy and despite her whirling thoughts she felt herself slipping into a deep sleep, likely because of the pain pills and her lack of sleep as well as the ordeal she’d been through tonight.
Kelsey heard the pounding on the door the next morning as she was waking up and realized it was likely either Greta or Hanna. Damn, Burner was going to answer the door and then she’d have to explain why he was here in her apartment which wasn’t going to be easy because she couldn’t very well tell them about last night. Sitting up, she brushed her hair from her face realizing that the pounding had stopped. She sighed, getting up. Might as well get this over with.
When she was halfway down the hall the banging started again, making her frown because she’d thought that Burner must have let one of her sisters in but instead she found the living room empty with the blankets gone and no sign of Burner anywhere. Huh, he must have left. She tried to remember if he’d said he was leaving the last time he woke her up but couldn’t. Unsure what to think, she walked to the door, pausing because a note was taped to it. She pulled it down reading it. Ah, apparently he’d had some business to handle for the club and left after he was sure she’d be all right.
Crumbling the note, she tossed it into the drawer of the little end table and jerked the door open to see Hanna and Greta on her doorstep.
“What do you two want?” Kelsey asked them before stepping back to allow them inside.
“Geez, you’re cranky. Didn’t sleep again?” Greta asked.
“I was until someone began pounding on the door,” she informed her glaring.
“Shit, sorry, sis, but it’s already two o’clock. You needed to get up anyway,” Hanna said as she and Greta entered shutting the door. Kelsey was shocked and glanced at the clock to verify the time because that meant she’d slept for ten hours and for her that was a record.
“Huh, guess I was more tired than I realized,” Kelsey said, wondering if the pain pills were what made her sleep so well or if it was what she’d been through last night.
“We wanted to see if you wanted to go with us to Titus for the supply run. We’re all off tonight and thought it would be a fun thing we could all do together,” Greta said, sitting down on the couch.
“Sure, just let me get ready,” Kelsey told her, watching as Hanna began flipping through the holo-vids that she’d paid a fortune to have. She headed into her room to get ready wondering suddenly if it was actually Burner’s presence that had helped her sleep. Shaking that thought away as ridiculous, she grabbed her clothes because there was no way in hell she was going there.
Chapter Ten
Kelsey burst out laughing, her stomach aching because the joke Hammer had just told her was funny as hell. Leaning on the end of the bar where he was sitting, she couldn’t remember the last time she’d laughed so hard and she was glad he’d agreed to stay friends. She had worried when she told him a few weeks ago that she didn’t want a relationship that he wouldn’t want anything to do with her. Most men couldn’t take a brush-off without being total dicks. She was glad that Hammer wasn’t one of them.
Kelsey didn’t usually work on Tuesday nights but Hanna hadn’t been feeling well and called Kelsey to cover for her. When Kelsey arrived a little over an hour ago the bar had been swamped but it had slowed down a bit since then. Hanna helped for about a half hour before Kelsey insisted she go home to get some much needed rest.
Since Hammer and Flame were here, Kelsey hadn’t bothered to call her keeper. And by keeper she meant Burner because he followed her around the bar looking grim on the nights she was here like she was going to break because someone looked at her the wrong way.
He hadn’t been kidding when he’d said he would be here whenever she worked that night she’d been attacked. His presence had caused quite a stir with her sisters and it had taken a while for Greta and Hanna to get off her back about Burner’s seeming interest in her after Tally had ratted her out the first week. She had finally told them both to mind their own business and they’d backed off.
That hurdle behind her, she hadn’t been prepared for Hammer to voice his own concerns to her a week ago. That’s when he’d begun asking why Burner was suddenly so interested in her. Not knowing what to tell him, Kelsey had found herself making up some crazy story about Burner feeling responsible for her safety after the night at the bonfire. Hammer had raised a brow and she was almost positive he would call her on the lie, but he hadn’t. She’d felt bad about lying to him but she didn’t want to tell him about almost being raped behind the bar either.
After six weeks, they were all becoming accustomed to having him around but Kelsey was kind of glad he wasn’t here tonight. It was nice to have a little break from his constant presence. He watched her like a hawk, his eyes tracking her every movement, and when he wasn’t watching he
was looming behind her like a dour shadow. He’d even taken to following her home when her shift was over. It made her feel jumpy and a little flustered. Even though she’d begun to trust him and knew that he wasn’t going to hurt her, she didn’t want to admit to herself that she liked him when he wasn’t being an ass.
She was actually becoming comfortable with him and it was reassuring to her having him around most of the time. Other times it was as if he were an irritating burr under her skin and she wanted to knock him upside the head. Last night had been one of those nights, which was why she hadn’t called him tonight. She was only working a half shift and since the Blue Bandits had someone here every night now because another woman had been drugged at the club three weeks ago, she’d felt safe. Besides, she was smart enough not to try tossing the trash out alone again. She wasn’t an idiot after all.
With the new threat of someone drugging people, Kelsey wasn’t going to drink anything unless she poured it. Of course, if her sisters or one of the bartenders made it, she was almost positive it would be fine too. She still couldn’t believe that someone had chosen to drug women at Tricky Bitches. Apparently they had a death wish because Kelsey was sure that the Bandits would deal harshly with any person found drugging women at any of their business interests, despite not owning the club.
A man raised his hand for a refill at the end of the bar catching her attention.
“I’ll be right back,” she said, nodding to the man that she’d seen his wave before smiling and moving away from Hammer.
“Sure thing,” Hammer said, grinning at her as she moved to take the man’s order.
The man wanted another gin and tonic and as she mixed it, she glanced around the bar seeing that it had died down significantly since she’d arrived. Brenda, one of their three bartenders, was on break in the back eating her dinner. Setting the man’s drink in front of him, she grabbed two more beers for Todd and Andy, two regulars who came in often, popping the tops as she set them down in front of them and receiving a grin from Andy.
“Thanks, sweetheart,” he muttered, handing her his empty bottle. “Hanna off tonight?” he asked casually, making Kelsey feel a little twinge of sympathy for him because he’d been pining for her sister for over two years after their one date. Hanna had said there just wasn’t a spark between them and at the time Kelsey hadn’t understood what she meant because Andy was handsome in a straight-laced way.
After Burner’s kiss the other night, she now knew exactly what Hanna had meant. Having experienced firsthand what blistering passion was, she could understand her sister not wanting to settle for less. Which meant poor Andy was out of luck because if Hanna didn’t think there was anywhere to go in a relationship, she called it off and never looked back. It sucked that Hanna didn’t feel the same way for him that he did for her. Kelsey knew it was wasted effort to try to change Hanna’s mind because she wasn’t the type to let go of her beliefs easily.
“She wasn’t feeling well and went home early. I’m covering for her. Actually she has some kind of head cold. She’s headed to the doctor tomorrow if she isn’t better because she was coughing her head off.” Smiling at Andy, she didn’t notice the frown on Hammer’s face as she chatted with him.
“Dang, I hope she feels better soon. Tell her if she needs anything I would be happy to help. I could even drive her to Titusville to the doctor tomorrow if she wanted,” Andy eagerly suggested, and Kelsey just barely refrained from grimacing. She hadn’t meant to encourage him but apparently she had.
“I’ll tell her but she’s actually going to see the doctor who lives nearby,” Kelsey explained. Earlier she’d asked Hammer for Lance’s number and called him to ask if he would see Hanna so she and Greta didn’t have to take her all the way to Titusville to be seen. Lance was sweet and told her that he’d see her sister tonight if she wanted but she knew that Hanna was likely sleeping by that time and suggested they come by at noon tomorrow instead. Lance had told her that was fine too.
“A doctor around here?” Andy asked, his brow furrowing.
“Yeah, it’s one the Blue Bandits use.”
“Oh, well guess that’s more convenient but are you sure he’s capable? You don’t want her getting sicker because he doesn’t know what he’s doing,” Andy questioned, looking concerned.
“He’s great. He actually helped me with a headache a few weeks ago,” Kelsey told him, only stretching the truth a little, not outright lying to him. She’d had a headache the night he’d treated her after all; that just wasn’t the only reason she’d been to see him.
“If you’re sure then I’ll take your word for it but if she needs anything, tell her to let me know,” Andy said again.
“I will be sure to tell her,” Kelsey told him, knowing that she wouldn’t say a damned thing to Hanna because it would only piss her off. She moved down the bar a little to grab another beer and a whiskey sour for two women who called out to her, feeling a little twinge of guilt for lying to Andy. Not enough that she was going to come clean with the poor sap though. After setting their drinks in front of the women, she went back to where Hammer was sitting.
“Who’s that guy you were talking to? He’s in here a lot, isn’t he?” Hammer asked when she stood in front of him.
“That’s Andy and his friend Todd. They’re regulars here,” Kelsey offered, wondering why he was asking.
“He seemed sort of friendly with you,” Hammer grunted, looking a little like Burner as he glowered in Andy’s direction, making her frown. What the heck was wrong with Andy being friendly?
“Yeah, he’s crushing hard on Hanna and I think he drags Todd in every week so he can see her. It’s sad really because Hanna has no interest in him other than the credits she gets for the drinks he buys. He’s such a nice guy,” Kelsey informed him, wondering why he was still glaring down the bar at Andy. Was she wrong and he wasn’t as okay with her brush-off as she’d thought?
“Hmm, right. I’ll talk to Burner about him when he gets here,” Hammer muttered, making Kelsey frown.
“When Burner gets here?” she asked and Hammer turned back to her, seeming to look a little shocked that she didn’t know he was on his way here.
“Yeah, I called him when you got here and he wasn’t too pleased because he was on a run but he called a few minutes ago and he’s on his way here now,” Hammer explained.
“Why would you call him?” Kelsey demanded, anger stirring inside her over his actions.
“Do you really think I am going to get my ass handed to me because you’re here and I didn’t?” Hammer asked, his brow raised in question.
“The man isn’t my keeper and you’re here so why does he need to be?” Kelsey asked, her hands balled into fists that she pressed on the edge of the bar.
“Darlin’, you really need to understand that nobody fucks with Burner anymore. With the way he follows you around lately, you’re clearly someone he’s interested in. I’m man enough to admit I’m not pushing him on the subject. Sorry, but I like breathing too much to ignore the writing on the wall with you two.” Hammer let out a little snort as if she should have known all this and Kelsey wanted to slap him.
What the hell?
“That’s ridiculous. He just feels a little responsible for me because of tho––” Kelsey caught herself before she said what she’d been thinking and continued lamely, “Because of that mishap at the bonfire. He isn’t going to hurt anyone for not calling him when I’m at the bar.”
“I hate to break it to you, Kelsey, but Burner isn’t just worried because of whatever happened to you. That man is in knots and I can tell you that tempting him by not calling him yourself isn’t a good idea in the mood he’s been in lately. I recommend you do yourself a favor and when he gets here you apologize sweetly and make up some more lame shit, like that story about how he feels responsible for your safety you told me, in order to appease him because he isn’t going to be happy with you.” Hammer was leaning forward, his hands on the bar and his face contorted into a s
eriously grim expression.
“You don’t have any clue what you’re talking about, Hammer. I can’t believe you called him,” Kelsey bit out, her glower dark as her mouth twisted into a hard line. She wanted to scream at him to mind his own damned business next time, but she didn’t want to seem like a shrew so she let out a huff of indignation instead.
“Like I told you, man’s in knots and I like breathing,” Hammer replied.
Kelsey didn’t bother to respond; she was too pissed off to string coherent words together anyway. She moved to help another person at the bar, then proceeded to ignore Hammer for the rest of the evening.
Turning the water on high, she sprayed the glasses, washing the suds off them. She had been cleaning them for the last ten minutes. Her anger with Hammer had lessened some but she still wasn’t too happy with him. So far Burner hadn’t arrived and they were all locked up for the night. She might actually get to escape the lecture she knew was coming her way for not calling him tonight. She really hoped that he wouldn’t make it before they left because then she could lock herself in her house and ignore him.
Kelsey couldn’t figure out why Hammer had felt the need to call Burner and what the heck did he mean by ‘he’s in knots’ because that didn’t make a damned bit of sense to her. She was lifting the glasses and setting them into the drainer beside her when Brenda came back into the kitchen.
“Kelsey, everything is restocked and I gave the trash to Flame so whenever you’re finished, we can get the heck out of here for the night,” she said smiling.
“Great, I’m almost done here. Thanks for cleaning the tables tonight,” Kelsey replied, glad she’d asked Brenda to clean them because she didn’t want to deal with Hammer or Flame.
“No problem. Guess you and the hunky biker aren’t getting along anymore, huh,” Brenda asked, grinning at her.
Burning Desires (Blue Bandits MC Book 4) Page 9
