Smokey

by Sam Crescent

  No one had responded to her ad for a bakery assistant she’d placed in the paper and in several shops. She hoped someone would respond locally, otherwise, she’d have to look further out.

  When Raven, Brick, and Kinky entered her shop, she tensed up. No one else was inside and she folded her arms. “I need to ask you to leave.” She wouldn’t look at them.

  “We’re not here to cause trouble.”

  “I’ve very politely put up a sign asking that no member of the MC comes inside my shop. I’d appreciate it if you leave.” She’d written out the sign and hated herself for doing it. The memory of how they’d entered, the attack, being dragged to the club’s basement… It had been too much.

  She wasn’t a strong woman and had no way of fighting them off. They were the ones with all the control.

  “We heard about the baby,” Raven said. “We wanted to offer you congratulations and our sincerest apologies.”

  Ava looked up. “I don’t accept them. You can’t get away with doing what you want when you want to. Not with me. I was your friend, and that was how you treated me. I’ve got nothing more to say to you. Now, if you want to have baked goods, then send someone else in. I don’t want any of you, nor Smokey, in my shop. Ever again.”

  Her hands clenched into tight fists.

  Raven nodded. “We understand.”

  They each left the shop, and once they had, she breathed a little easier. Was it easy? Her heart raced, and she rushed to the shop door, flicking the lock into place and turning the sign to say she was closed.

  She immediately went to her office, closing the door, dropping down into her chair, covering her face with her hands, and sobbing. The tears fell hard and fast. Uncontrollably. Each time she thought she was getting a little better, something would happen to make her realize she wasn’t getting anywhere.

  Staying in Fort Clover was going to be hard enough. Seeing them every day. Allowing her child to go to the clubhouse. She needed to be able to be around them again. Until then, she was going to have to be strong.

  She grabbed some tissues, wiping her nose and taking some fresh ones for her eyes. She composed herself before heading back out.

  Opening the shop up once again, she waited for customers to come in. By three o’clock, she was sold out and about to close shop when a dark brunette rushed inside, knocking her over.

  “Crap, shit, crap, I’m so sorry,” she said. “I know you don’t stay open too late because let’s face it, your baked goods are the bomb, but I didn’t mean to run you over like that.”

  Ava chuckled. The woman helped her up. She vaguely recognized her but didn’t know her name.

  “It’s quite all right. I was about to close up. I don’t have anything to offer you.”

  “Oh, that’s okay. I’m vegan. I don’t eat anything with animal products in.”

  “Okay,” Ava said.

  “I was wondering if you still had a job opening?” she asked.

  “What’s your name.”

  “Oh, it’s Harlow Erickson. I’m nineteen years old, and I would really love to work here.”

  Ava frowned and looked at Harlow. The woman was beautiful. She had thick, gorgeous, brown hair. Her arms were decorated in ink.

  “Crap, I messed up. I left it too late, didn’t I?” Harlow asked.

  “It’s not that. Honestly. You’re the first person to apply.”

  “Does that mean I have the job?” Harlow asked.

  “You’re a vegan.”

  “So?”

  “I bake with non-vegan products. Butter, eggs, cheeses, meat.”

  “I can still serve, right?” Harlow asked. “You bake. I serve. I don’t mind. I just don’t want to eat it.” She smiled.

  Ava found her charming in a strange way.

  “Er, I’m not sure how this is going to work. You see, I’m pregnant.”

  “Congratulations. I totally love babies.” Harlow rubbed at her stomach. “I bet she or he is going to be a cutie.”

  Ava laughed, she just couldn’t help herself. “Are you like this all the time?”

  “Oh, you mean, hyper, talk too much, and generally weird? Yeah, I’m like it all the time.” She shrugged. “The curse of living with six brothers who are all assholes. They’re not, but you get the drill. Believe me, you have to learn to stand out.”

  “I really don’t know.”

  “Please, I won’t let it interfere with selling. I’d like to learn as much as I can so I can also implement some of the skills within my own baking.”

  “You bake?” Ava asked.

  “Yeah. I happen to love being in the kitchen. My mom went a little bitchy when I told her I was vegan. She refused to cook for me, so I fed myself until she realized I can eat as good as anyone else.”

  Ava was intrigued.

  “You’re curious.”

  “I don’t know how you can bake without, you know, milk, cream, eggs, butter.”

  Harlow laughed. “A lot of people think that way. I’ve adapted. Believe me. I’m happier for it.”

  “You’re hired,” Ava said. She didn’t even know why she said it. Asking for a vegan to work with her seemed like the biggest mistake of her life. She had never considered baking anything for a vegan.

  Harlow let out a scream. “Hell, yes, I’m so excited. You’re the best, Ava.” Before she knew what was happening, she was pulled into the young woman’s arms. “I will be the best assistant you’ve ever had. I promise.” Next, she was kissed on the cheek.

  Her enthusiasm was infectious.

  “I’ve got to clean up.”

  “How about I start today? I love to clean. I can clean anything. Honestly.”

  “Okay, why not.”

  For the next two hours, she showed Harlow around the small shop, teaching her how to clean certain items, washing everything down, keeping it sanitary. All the while, Harlow filled in the silent spots, talking about everything and nothing. She’d never known a woman to talk so much.

  By the time they were finished, Ava was so tired, but Harlow looked wired.

  “Do you want to have dinner with me at the diner?” Harlow asked.

  “You can eat at the diner?”

  “Yep. It’s not hard to do.”

  “But, your diet?”

  Harlow blew out a raspberry. “It’s not important. I know what I can eat. Come on, my treat for making me have a really awesome day.”

  Ava smiled. “Sure. I’d love to.”

  They walked together toward the diner. She followed behind Harlow who found a seat for them in the crowded diner.

  “Can I ask you something?” Ava asked.

  “Sure thing.”

  “Did Smokey put you up to this?”

  “The MC dude?”

  “Yeah.”

  Harlow frowned. “Put me up to what?”

  “Coming and asking for a job. Trying to be my friend.”

  “Oh, no, absolutely not. I know Smokey, but we’re not close.” She wrinkled her nose. “One of my brothers is a member of the club.”

  Ava froze. “He is? Who?”

  “He goes by Big Dick. He’s the eldest son. Believe it or not, his real name is George.” Harlow rolled her eyes. “Is that a problem? I saw the MC sign thing, but I’m not part of the club. I rarely see my brother. He stops by for the occasional holiday, but other than that, we rarely see him.”

  “It’s fine. Just a surprise.”

  Harlow shrugged. “He looks scary with all of his tattoos and muscles and stuff, but he’s a giant softie.”

  Their food came out.

  “And you don’t know Smokey?”

  “I know him. Said a few words to him when I was a kid. Nothing else. Why?”

  “I didn’t know if he’d put you up to coming and seeing me, and you know…”

  “Is Smokey the baby daddy?”

  Ava cringed.

  Harlow chuckled. “Oh, my, I didn’t even think that old bastard had any feelings. The way people talk to him, it’s like he�
�s a robot or something. Holy shit. So he does walk and talk like a man?”

  Ava forced a smile, but she felt her cheeks start to ache from the action.

  “I’m sorry. That wasn’t polite of me to say so, was it?”

  “It’s fine.”

  Harlow looked past her shoulder. “Speak of the devil and he appears.”

  Ava glanced behind her to see Smokey, Brick, Big Dick, Kinky, and a couple of the other brothers enter the diner.

  Silence fell on the room for all of five seconds before everything started up.

  Ava spun around and sat, looking at Harlow.

  “He does know he’s the baby daddy, right?”

  “He knows.”

  “Is this a good thing?”

  Ava shrugged and tensed up as Smokey put his hand on the back of her chair.

  “What are you doing here, squirt?” Big Dick asked.

  “I’m eating, or going to be eating with my new boss, asshole. You can carry on. We don’t need you here,” Harlow said.

  Big Dick laughed.

  “New boss?” Smokey asked.

  “I hired her.” Ava didn’t dare look at him.

  “Yep, I’m the new blushing assistant at Ava’s. I’m so excited.”

  “You know she’s a vegan, right?” Big Dick asked.

  “Yes, she knows,” Harlow said before she got a chance to respond. “It’s not a big deal.”

  “It is. She bakes actual food.”

  “Vegan cooking is actual food. Ugh, you’re such a jerk face. Fuck off.”

  “I’ll tell Mom about your language.”

  “It would actually require you to be around to tell Mom. I’m surprised you even know what I look like.” Harlow covered her face. “You’re so embarrassing. Please, go away.”

  Big Dick laughed. “Hi, Ava.”

  “Hi,” she said but didn’t look at them.

  No one spoke, and the silence between them became awkward.

  “We’re getting a table,” Smokey said. “How are you feeling?”

  “Good. We’re going to enjoy some food, and then I’m heading home.”

  “I can take you,” he said.

  She shook her head. “I drove my car. I can take myself home. Thank you, though.”

  “Anything you need, Ava.” He reached out as if to touch her.

  Ava tensed up.

  His hand clenched, and he turned away, walking past her table. The rest of his men followed.

  “That looked uncomfortable. Was the baby consensual?” Harlow asked and then winced. “I might also warn you, I don’t have much in the way of a filter. I say what I think. I hope that’s not going to be a problem.”

  “It’s not a problem, and with me and Smokey, it’s complicated.”

  “He didn’t force himself on you, did he?”

  “No, of course not. Conceiving this baby was … wonderful.”

  “Good, I started to worry there.”

  She really needed to change the subject. “So, no filter.”

  “I say it like it is. It’s why I lost my last job at the bank. I have no tact. I try to.” She shrugged.

  “Is this from living with a lot of brothers?”

  “Nah, I think this one is just who I am. I can’t change it.” Harlow shrugged. “My mom says I’m never going to find a man who wants to go out with a woman who’s always talking and saying shit they don’t want to hear.”

  “What do you think?”

  “My mom has been happily married to my dad for nearly thirty years. She says a lot of stuff, and he’s still around. It can’t be that bad. That earned me a nice whack around the back of the head.” Harlow laughed. “My family is wonderful. We’re the classic dysfunctional family.”

  “It sounds perfect,” Ava said.

  ****

  Smokey arrived at the appointment early with a bouquet of flowers. It was corny, he knew, but it was the best the florist had to offer. He’d talked to Abriana about the best way to win his woman back.

  She’d said to give it time and attention.

  Flowers were good. As were chocolate and food.

  He stared around the parking lot. Ava had texted him five minutes ago to say she was leaving.

  Leaning against his car, he waited for her.

  The past couple of weeks had been slow. Big Dick and Hunter were still gathering as much information on the Twisted Bastards MC as they could. The few details he did have, he’d acted on. Creed owned two strip clubs and a brothel. Calling in a few favors from Carlos Santigo, he’d gotten all three places shut down and nice big fine for the trouble.

  Smokey intended to take every single little bit of pleasure Creed found and make the bastard pay.

  Slowly and painfully, he planned to bring the fucker down into the dirt, and then he’d crush them. Until he could accomplish his goal, he was content to tear the fucker apart.

  Ava arrived twenty minutes later. She pulled up several cars away from him.

  With the bouquet in hand, he walked toward her.

  She looked up as he approached the car. “Good morning,” he said.

  Ava looked pale. Under her eyes was dark as if she hadn’t gotten a lot of sleep the night before.

  “Hey,” she said.

  “These are for you.”

  “They’re beautiful. You really didn’t have to get them for me.”

  “You’re carrying my child. It’s the least I could do.” The flowers weren’t as big of a hit as he’d hoped.

  Later today, he had a necklace due for delivery at her house. Would that work any better?

  “I saw them and wanted to get them for you.”

  “I appreciate them, Smokey. Thank you.” She laid them gently in the backseat. “Are you ready?”

  “As I’ll ever be.”

  She walked beside him, and he wanted to touch her. Sleeping was the worst for him. All night, he stayed outside her house, and it was in the morning he slept, fitfully. He’d gotten used to her being in his bed.

  “What do you think to … you know, the baby?” she asked.

  “I can’t wait to meet our guy or girl. I don’t care what the sex is. Have you felt it move yet?” he asked.

  “Not yet. I don’t think. Sometimes I think I do, but then I can’t be sure if it’s wind. Crap, I can’t believe I said that. That’s so embarrassing.”

  “Our kid is making you fart. I can’t wait to tell them that at their wedding.”

  Ava burst out laughing. “They’re not even here yet and already you want to marry them off.”

  “I’m planning ahead, you know?”

  She snorted. “You’re so bad.”

  “And you like it.” They got to the entrance of the hospital and Ava paused.

  “Wow,” she said. “It was so easy to forget.”

  “Ava?”

  “No,” she said. “I don’t want to talk about it. Let’s just get this appointment over with.”

  “I didn’t mean to upset you,” he said.

  “I’m not upset.”

  She paused, looked at him, and then turned away. He wanted to stop her, but instead, he followed her toward what he assumed was the pregnancy ward. They entered a room with a lot of heavily pregnant women, plenty of kids walking around. Men looking like they wanted to escape.

  Ava signed herself in at the reception and took a seat. He sat beside her.

  The room was quiet apart from random whispers of quiet, behave, and do something.

  Ava rested her hands on her thighs. The dress she wore molded to her tits and waist, but flared out at the hips, hiding her stomach.

  Smokey put his hand on top of hers, knowing she wouldn’t want to cause a scene.

  Her hand shook beneath his, and he hated that he’d done this to them.

  “You know, this wasn’t on the top of my list of experiences,” he said.

  “No, I don’t imagine it was.”

  He chuckled. “The club dominates everything. I never thought of having kids of my own.”
<
br />   “Did you ever want them?” she asked.

  “I didn’t even think about it. Not once. The club came first, and I’d have to trust a woman to want kids, which I never did.”

  “And you still don’t trust me.”

  He squeezed her hand as she tried to pull away. “I trust you, Ava. I fucked up. I made a mistake, but I promise you I won’t make that mistake again.”

  “Smokey, this really isn’t the time.”

  “When are we ever going to get time?” he asked. “We’ve got a baby on the way.”

  She turned toward him. “You think I don’t know that? I do, but talking about this in front of a room full of strangers isn’t the time or place.”

  Smokey held her hand. “Let me make it up to you.”

  Ava tilted her head to the side. “You hurt me in so many ways, Smokey. You told them to. You packed my bag and was prepared to kill me.” He looked at her, but she turned away. “That’s not going to change with this baby.”

  He brought her fingers up to his lips and kissed her knuckles. “I love you, Ava. One day, you will see it too.”

  She opened her mouth as if to dispute him, but she didn’t get a chance to as her name was called.

  Holding her hand, he locked their fingers together, and they walked into the room. The doctor shook his hand, but he saw the hesitation, and he expected it. He hadn’t removed his leather cut, and most people were put off by the club.

  “Are you ready, Ava?” the doctor asked.

  “Yes, this is my … the baby’s father. Doctor McCarthy, I’d like you to meet Smokey.”

  He took note of the doctor’s firm handshake. He gave as good as he got. There was no way he intended to be intimidated by the older man.

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you. Shall we get started? We’re going to see how far along you are and if we can determine sex. Would you like to know?” he asked.

  Ava shook her head. “I mean, unless you want to know?” She looked toward him.

  “I’m happy with whatever you want to know.”

  She offered him a smile. “Then I just want to make sure my baby’s healthy. Can we do that?”

  “Of course, we can. This is a process though. Your baby still has some growing to do.”

  Ava nodded.

  Smokey took the seat beside her as they prepared her. Ava lifted up her dress, she’d worn a small pair of loose shorts underneath that weren’t visible on the outside, and he stared at her stomach. He noticed a slight roundness to her abdomen but nothing to indicate she was pregnant.