by Debra Kayn
"I'll be fine." Peggy sat down on the couch.
"We need to talk about you having a gun in your apartment for protection." Rod crossed his arms over his chest. "If you prefer a shotgun, we can round one up for you and teach you to shoot tomorrow morning before you're due to work."
Peggy flapped her hand in front of her. "I'm a fifty-five-year-old woman living on my own and working in a bar. I have a shotgun under my bed, and before you ask, no, the rifle wasn't stolen. The scumbags didn't find it when they went through my room."
Mel grinned. "We've rubbed off on you."
"You bikers aren't the first men in my life that made sure I could take care of myself." Peggy harrumphed. "Now, everybody get out of here and go find your women. I've had enough people around me for the night. I need to be alone."
"JayJay will stay and put the lock on your door before he leaves." Mel chuckled. "Call if you need anything."
Leaving Peggy in good hands, Mel left the apartment building with Swiss and Rod. Together, they rode back to the bar. After two o'clock in the morning, the front of the bar was vacant of cars. Mel rode into the parking lot at the back of the building.
Battery, his president, waited for them at the door, smoking a cigarette with his wife, Bree, at his side. Gia and Heather, friends before Swiss found out that Heather was his daughter, stood on the other side of Bree.
"Any update?" asked Battery.
"Nothing was gone and the only way in was through the door. A key was used." Mel shrugged. "Peggy verified who had been in her place the last couple weeks and I'd guess that the manager or someone the manager knows is the culprit. JayJay stayed behind to put a new deadbolt in. That way only Peggy will have a key."
Swiss handed a bag to Battery. "This is the cash Peggy kept in her apartment. We convinced her to let us put it in the club's safe for her."
Mel stepped back. "I'm going to bed. I'll talk to everyone in the morning."
He went inside, locked the back door, then set the alarm. After he double checked the front door, he let himself up the stairs, locking the second floor off from the bar. At the top of the hallway, he stopped.
Raelyn stood outside the door to her apartment. He gazed over her baggy T-shirt, men's boxer shorts, bare legs, and down to her toes—painted red. A rush of energy hyped up his tired body, and he strolled down to her.
He stopped in front of her and swept her hair off her cheek. A hint of some kind of flower scent came off her wet hair kickstarting his pulse. "Everything okay?"
"I'm inventing the new okay." She inhaled deeply. "How's Peggy?"
"Still giving us shit," he murmured, playing with a strand of fresh out of the shower, damp hair. "You should be in bed."
"You, too." She looked down at his hand touching her and shivered.
He lowered his gaze and found her nipples making small dents in her shirt. His cock pulsed. She wasn't cold.
He hooked her neck, bringing her to his chest, and held her. His whole body hardened when her arms wrapped around him, and she laid her head on the front of his vest. His thoughts rolled around in his head and became an alarm pointing at one solid fact.
His touch gave her pleasure.
He fisted his hand in her hair to keep her close and to keep from going too far and touching her more. All the time they'd spent together, he'd never once received a sign that she saw him as more than a friend. A friend she could lean on, hug and talk to. He'd spent many, many nights listening to her talk about her life, her broken dreams, her worries over her son, and daily stresses.
But, over the last year, something had changed between them. He found it harder to be around her without thinking about having sex with her. Her innocent hugs, touches, and leaning against him when everyone got together at the club or at the bar became more comfortable. At times, her freedom with her hands pissed him off enough that he skipped out on the parties at the clubhouse before the fun started, and went home and jerked off with her in his head.
"My family is sleeping here," she mumbled.
"That's what most people do at two thirty in the morning."
"I know." She raised her head and laughed softly. "I just keep reminding myself what I have to face tomorrow."
He smoothed the worry at the corner of her eye. "I got rid of Keith."
"Yep." She wrinkled her nose. "And, it looks like my mom is going to be the cook tomorrow night if Peggy takes the day off. Funny how everything can change in the blink of an eye."
"What can I do?"
She kissed his cheek and stepped away, holding the edge of her T-shirt she slept in. "Just promise me that you won't leave me here alone with them until I know I'm not going to kick them to the curb. I have an incredibly short temper."
He chuckled. "I can do that."
"I know," she whispered, reaching back for the door handle. "Night, Mel."
"Night." He waited until she turned and went into her apartment.
Once the door closed, he groaned and went into his apartment. Instead of heading straight to bed, he poured himself a tumbler of whiskey and sat on the couch. He'd respected Raelyn's husband and mourned his loss with everyone else in the club. He'd seen Raelyn through all stages of grief, and then acceptance. It wasn't a reminder that she'd been married and loved his MC brother that stopped him from making the moves on Raelyn.
She meant more to him than anyone or anything. He'd never risk losing her. He exhaled loudly. Women viewed sex differently than men. He wasn't sure Raelyn could go into his bed without losing the security she had gained with him around.
Then, there was the problem with the club. Because it was Raelyn who he was interested in, and she'd at one time belonged to another club member, none of his MC brothers would allow him to have a sexual relationship with her without taking responsibility for her, too.
Chapter Six
A familiar voice belted out Far Behind by Candlebox. Raelyn left the bar's kitchen and pushed through the swinging door to the bar, and stopped. Her mom stood on the pool table bare footed and sang to the crowd.
Half the customers stood, circling the table, swaying to the song. Raelyn leaned against the counter, her chest warming. Any time she came home from school, bummed about whatever drama happened between her girlfriends growing up, her mom would turn on the music and sing, until she had Grandma June, Carl, and her dancing, laughing and feeling good again.
Even as an adult and a mother herself, Raelyn wasn't immune to the soothing voice of her mom.
"Your mom can sing," said Mel from his bar stool.
Raelyn stepped closer and smiled. "She should've become a singer."
"Why didn't she?" Mel swiveled and faced Raelyn.
"She got pregnant with me when she was seventeen." Raelyn shrugged. "Then, life happened, and men came and went in her life to distract her from putting herself first."
Mel whistled low, and she couldn't hear over the music, but she watched his lips pucker through his whiskers. Nice, full, confident lips. She swallowed and looked away. "Battery is going to kill her for standing on the pool table."
"Nah." Mel chuckled and turned serious. "How's Peggy today?"
"She refused to take time off from work and says she's fine." Raelyn caught a customer at the bar lifting his finger and stepped over to the beer tap as she continued her conversation with Mel. "I don't like her going home in the dark by herself, so I thought I'd ask Carl to escort her, but I can't find him."
"He's not here?" asked Mel.
She shook her head. "He's not answering his phone either."
Taking the full mug of beer to the customer, she returned to Mel. "Mom and Grandma June don't seem concerned about how he runs wild. They keep reminding me Carl's eighteen years old. But, he doesn't know anyone in Haugan."
"Not much in town to do that could get him in trouble." Mel slid the paper napkin in front of him. "He's probably hanging somewhere."
"Maybe, but he doesn't need to be out partying in the woods or trail riding in some drunk's truck on t
he mountain." The music stopped, and she clapped. Pointing across the room, she shouted, "That's my mom."
The crowd cheered, and she laughed. Her happiness fled when Gage Hayes lifted her mom off the pool table, and her mom kept her arms around Gage's neck a little too long. Apparently, her mom already forgot about her love affair with Keith.
Raelyn flipped between being happy and dreading what would happen next. She knew her customers, most of them locals, and her mom had it going on for a woman her age. Slim, contagious personality, and devotion...to any man who gave her attention, and there were plenty of men at the bar who would love the company of a woman.
Would it be tacky to tell everyone behind her mom's back that she was unavailable? She moved the hearts on her necklace back and forth.
"What are you thinking," asked Mel.
"What?"
He pointed to her neck. "You always do that thing with your necklace when you're bothered or thinking."
She shook off her thoughts and dropped her hand to her side. The club had given her the piece of jewelry on her first Mother's Day after Dukie was born. Though the envelope that came with the box said it was from Dukie. She never took off the necklace, even to shower.
She leaned over the bar. "I think after I close the bar, I'd like a drink. No, I deserve a drink. Grandma June is sleeping in my bed tonight while watching Dukie so Allison could go home early, and I don't need to hurry upstairs after work. There's nothing about my couch that is calling my name. Want to join me for a drink before you hit your bed?"
If her mom could let loose, so could she.
Mel's gaze softened. "Make it two drinks."
She smiled and raised her brows. "It's a date."
Mel's gaze intensified, freaking her out, and she escaped to the cash register. What was she doing?
She had no time to flirt, especially with a Ronacks member. Especially with Mel. Especially with her son sleeping upstairs.
Mel probably thought she was on the verge of a mental breakdown. Acting like an immature twat over her family visiting when only two days ago, she let Mel have her anger for bringing everyone back to the bar to live. Now she was flirting with him, and last night, she had a micro orgasm and almost wanted to hump his leg when they said goodnight in the hallway.
She was desperate.
She hated desperate women.
But, God, it was fun to flirt and party with a biker. She sighed, remembering the good times with Duke when they'd ride the motorcycle for hours and make love wherever they wanted. She'd loved him without holding back. Innocent, hopeful, and deeply in love, she had thrown herself into her marriage with abandon and never worried about tomorrow.
Then, Duke was killed.
She grew up and learned life was a cruel bitch set out to destroy her. She glanced down the bar at Mel. She'd survived, because of Ronacks, but especially Mel. He forced, begged, and shown her that life was worth living again for Dukie, then herself.
She was no longer the young woman who mourned her dead husband. She was a mom. A woman who understood the desires that hit her late at night and early in the morning, and what she needed to do about finding happiness.
She also learned that it was possible to love more than one person in her life. Love came in all different ways and at different phases. She only had to take a chance.
A small group of customers approached the counter and handed over their tabs. She set the papers down in front of her and rang up the first bill. "How were your drinks?"
Chris patted her husband's stomach. "Great. He kept trying to sneak mine when I wasn't looking."
"Ah, that's what we like to hear." She smiled, counting out their change.
"I loved the singer you had in tonight. Will she be here tomorrow night?" asked Chris.
Raelyn searched the room for her mom and found her standing in front of the stereo in a deep discussion with Gage while picking stations. "Call in tomorrow after dinner, and I'll let you know if I can work something out to have the singer back."
"That'll be great." Chris looked up at her husband. "Let's make plans. We can grab your brother and Terri, too, and come down and listen to the music. They'll love it."
Raelyn grinned. It looked like she found a job for her mom. Now all she had to do was find Carl a place to work, and she'd be one step closer to making it possible for all of them, including Grandma June, to move out and rent their own place.
The customers left. Her mom started singing again—standing on the floor this time. Raelyn filled glasses and wiped down the counter, relaxing at the good mood in the bar. The singing more personal than the local rock station playing on the stereo, she planned to talk to Battery in the morning and get the new entertainment approved by the boss.
Her mom could sing a few nights of the week, while not disrupting the afternoon/early evening hours when sports television was the mainstay of the bar and brought in all the male customers who tended to drink heavy and eat their weight in food. She looked for more customers wanting to be served and found everyone sitting with their back toward the counter and watching her mother sing.
Except, Mel.
Mel watched her and the soul punching realization that he was always watching her, no matter who was around or what she was doing sent her heart to thumping. It was the same way Duke had acted at the beginning of their relationship. Mel confused her. He'd taken a personal responsibility toward her five years ago. Five hard, heartbreaking years, and he never fluctuated from being her friend.
A secret thrill weakened her. She trembled and grabbed the towel off the counter to have something to twist and hold on to. The warmth of his gaze made her aware of her every move, and she stood in the same spot, staring at him hopelessly, looking like an idiot with nothing to do.
Should she push the attraction growing inside her away or embrace the thrill?
She walked over to Mel, keeping the counter between them. "I changed my mind," she blurted.
"About?" Mel remained relaxed, while her insides wound tighter and tighter.
"Drinks after work." She thrust the towel through the air toward the basket under the counter. "I think maybe I should —"
"Great entertainment, Raelyn." Gia patted Raelyn's shoulder as she squeezed behind her and went to the cash register.
"Thanks," mumbled Raelyn. The bar wasn't the place to have a talk about how she was feeling and the thoughts that had suddenly started showing up at the most inoperative times. Like now. With everyone around.
Mel set his empty beer bottle to the side and leaned forward, bracing his elbows on the counter. "What were you talking about?"
"I..." She shook her head. "Nothing. It's not important."
The crowd clapped. She used the distraction to walk away from Mel and escape into the kitchen while Gia covered the register. Pushing her way through the swinging door, she met Brady carrying a large tray filled with barbecue ribs from the grill at the back of the building into the kitchen.
Raelyn hurried forward and cleared off a spot on the table big enough to hold the tray of meat. She'd burned herself out a year ago of anything barbecue flavored. Sometimes she could smell the tangy sweet aroma in her clothes on her day off from living upstairs. But, not Dukie.
She smiled at the thought. Her son had an endless appetite and was growing like a weed.
"About time," said Peggy. "I need two steaks and four hamburgers. We've got some eaters in the house."
Brady stepped over to the freezer. "I could go faster if people stayed away from the grill."
Raelyn looked up. "Do I need to send one of the bikers out to watch the parking lot?"
"Nah." Brady glanced at Peggy. "I'm good. Just people strolling by catching a whiff and asking questions."
Peggy cleared her throat. "What can I do for you, Raelyn?"
"Just making sure everything is going okay back here." Raelyn watched Brady walk out of the room in a hurry. "What's with Brady?"
"What do you mean?" Peggy removed two potatoes out of t
he sack and stepping over to the sink. "He's always jittery. The damn kid probably has a meth problem."
Raelyn laughed. "He does not. I know for a fact Brady's against drugs and stays far away from anyone who does."
She'd learned about Brady's dad's drug habit from Battery, who gave the young man a job to help the family out of a rough time. Manning the grill gave Brady something to focus on and provided money to afford welding classes at the community center on his days off.
"How is everything going at your apartment?" Raelyn stepped out of Peggy's way.
Peggy shoved the beaters into the mixer and huffed. "Things would be a lot better if I wasn't waking up every two hours. I'm tired."
Raelyn lowered her voice. "That's understandable. Someone broke into your place. Of course, you'd feel violated and uncomfortable sleeping there alone."
Peggy slammed the bowl down and gazed at Raelyn. "I'm fine. It's those damn bikers revving their bikes every time they go around the block. If you want to help me, find a way to get them away from me."
"They're only trying to help." Raelyn smiled. "Besides, you and I both know, Ronacks do what they want. They care about you, so do I."
Peggy laughed. "Oh, I know it. I never said any of you were smart hiring me and caring about an old woman."
"Oh, give it up. You are not old." Raelyn laughed and backed away from the table. "I need to get back into the bar, but let me know if you need anything."
"I will, missy." Peggy turned around and stood at the stove.
Unable to put off returning to work, she walked through the swinging door and straight to the bar. She breathed a sigh of relief. Mel had moved to the back table and joined LeWorth, Swiss, Rod, and JayJay. Checking the time, she got busy.
Only two more hours and she would have to figure out what she was going to do to get out of having drinks with Mel. The last thing she needed in her life was more stress. She had responsibilities. Even more added responsibilities now that her family was living with her.
Chapter Seven
Mel locked the back door of the bar after seeing the Ronacks members and their women out. He walked back into the room and stopped at the entrance of the main room. All night, he'd fucked with his head, trying to convince himself that Raelyn was just being Raelyn —offering him a drink and conversation. That he'd only imagined her wanting him. He had no idea how he could walk away from her and go to bed alone.
