“You riding with me or want to follow me in your car?”
“Can I meet you there? I need to stop by Camriegh’s and change?” I wave my hand down his t-shirt and sweats I wore to sleep in when I slept over last night.
“I kinda like you in my clothes. All right do what you gotta do then text me. I’d rather you arrive at The Roadhouse with me.”
“Okay,” I tell him softly. I lean up and kiss him on the cheek. “Bye, Willard,” I singsong and the old man grunts in response.
“I see you two are making nice with each other,” Vegas says, followed by a chuckle.
“We’re getting there.” If by getting there I mean he only argued with me for twenty minutes about cleaning out the fridge and organizing the cabinets. Then yeah, we are best buds.
I go out and get in my car, starting it up. Before I pull out, I fire off a text to Cam to see what she’s up to. I feel like I have hardly seen her since I arrived in Drag Creek.
Tina: Are you home?
Cam: Getting ready to go over to Saw’s.
Tina: Vegas wants me to go to the clubhouse with him?!?
Cam: Wow. And you think I move fast. Are you guys like dating?
Tina: I don’t know. Maybe.
Tina: It’s crazy but he says that when he looks at me, he sees his future.
Cam: That’s heavy. And shocking but if he makes you happy then why not?
I smile and tuck my phone back in my purse. I spy Vegas watching me until I back out of the driveway. I don’t know that I want to start seriously seeing anyone, but I’m having fun exploring whatever is happening between us. And I can’t help but think what if. What if he could be the man I am supposed to be with. Everything happens for a reason. What if I broke up with Matt so I could meet Vegas?
I get to the apartment and frown when I see that Camreigh’s car is already gone. I was hoping I’d catch her before she left. I don’t care what Sawyer has to say about it, but we’re totally having us a girl’s night soon. I get upstairs and let myself in. This apartment hardly looks lived in other than a few dirty clothes in the bathroom hamper and a tube of toothpaste left on the sink.
I start the shower and go dig into my bags for something to wear. I have no idea what to wear. I wish Camreigh was here. Not that she has much experience with going to the clubhouse either, but she’s always good at this sort of thing. I can’t decide. I’ll figure it out after my shower. Stripping down, I get under the spray of the water, and my thoughts shift to laying in the bed with Vegas last night and how good he made me feel. He could have tried to take things further, but he didn’t. He treated me with respect. Not what one might expect from a tough biker, but despite his rough appearance, he has a sweetness to him. As I’m washing my hair, I hear the door to the apartment open and close. Cam must have forgotten something.
“That you, Cam?” I call out, rinsing the suds from my hair. I wait a second but get no reply. “Cam?” I peer around the shower curtain. Did I lock the door behind me when I came in? I can’t remember. I shut off the water and wonder if I’m just being paranoid. I don’t hear any movement.
Wrapping a towel around my waist, I tiptoe to the bathroom door. My pulse hammers in my ears. I don’t know why I feel like I am starring in a horror movie, but I have this creepy feeling I can’t shake. Taking a deep breath, I step into the short hallway and look toward the bedroom. Camreigh’s door is closed now. I look toward the living room and nearly jump out of my skin when I see someone sitting on the couch.
“About time you came home. I’ve been waiting for you all day.” Matt smiles at me, and I feel sick to my stomach. He’s wearing my shirt. The one that he stole when I was at the lake with Vegas. What the serious fuck is wrong with him?
“What are you doing here?”
He laughs, but the sound is void of any humor. “What am I doing here? What are you doing here, Tina? You just up and left me without a word.”
“I left a note. We both know that it wasn’t working.”
He stands up and runs his fingers through his hair. “We were doing fine until you started pressuring me. I need to know something. Did you fuck that guy last night?”
“It’s none of your business. I think you should go.” I grip the towel tighter, wishing he’d just leave.
He nods and a sly smile crosses his features. “You’re willing to throw away over a decade for what? A little physical pleasure?”
I shrug. “I know what I want and what we had isn’t it. I’m not going to apologize for that.”
He takes a step toward me. “Maybe we should just do it. Right now. We can cancel the big wedding and use that money toward our honeymoon instead. We can go to the courthouse tomorrow if we have to.”
“I’m not going to marry you tomorrow or any day. I don’t want to be with you and deep down you know you don’t want to be with me.”
“That wasn’t the plan, Tina. My folks…there are things you don’t know. I need you to marry me and have my baby.”
“What are you talking about?”
“My father won’t give me the business unless is have an heir. A male heir. I kept thinking that if I pushed the wedding back long enough then maybe he’d die first, and it wouldn’t matter.”
“That what wouldn’t matter, Matt?”
He shakes his head then grabs me by the wrists forcing my towel to fall. He stares at my body, but I don’t see want in his eyes. I see hate there. I try to twist out of his grip, but the effort is futile. “I thought I could make myself…” he trails off and brings his mouth down on mine. I shove at his chest, but he doesn’t stop. His hand goes for his belt buckle and bile creeps up my throat. I bite his lip and he howls, giving me a reprieve.
“What the fuck are you doing?”
“I need to get you pregnant then he’ll give me everything,” he says, breaking away to pull his pants down. He’s wearing a pair of panties that look like mine. What the serious fuck is happening?
“You’re talking crazy,” I seethe. “Leave me alone.” I start to go for my phone to call Vegas, but he grabs me by the back of my hair twist me around to face him again.
“Just give me a baby, Tina.” He starts stroking himself and it doesn’t escape my notice that he isn’t even able to get hard.
“Do you even hear how crazy you sound. Our whole relationship you never wanted to touch me and now you show up demanding a baby. You can’t even get your dick hard to do the job. Are you fucking insane?” I don’t wait for an answer. I knee him right in the balls and run down the hallway to lock myself in Camreigh’s bedroom. I hear him groan as I fling the door open and quickly close it behind me.
“This isn’t over, Tina. We’re not over,” he yells, and the front door slams with his exit.
What the hell was that? He didn’t make any damn sense. I sit on the edge of the bed. Cold drops of water drip down my back from my hair and I shiver. I think back on everything. My whole relationship with Matt. He never wanted to touch me. He always said it was because of his religious beliefs, but I don’t think that was it at all. His words play back in my head. Suddenly the realization smacks into me like a freight train. Matt’s not religious, he’s gay. His parents are super conservative, but would they disown him and cut him off? The answer is yes. I was just a cover for him this whole time. I feel so damn stupid. How did I not see it after all this time?
I don’t know whether to laugh or cry.
Chapter 12
—Vegas
I take away Gramps’ plate as he nods off to the Wheel of Fortune in his recliner. He always insists on staying up to watch it, but he never makes it past the first round. After I dump his uneaten food and rinse the plate, I go to steer him to bed. If I leave him sleeping here his hip will bother for him the next two weeks.
“Up you go, Gramps.” I tug on his hand gently. He uses my shoulder to steady himself before going for his cane.
“I like that Tina. She’s a good woman. A keeper. Don’t let her get away. Every man needs a good
woman warming his bed.” He smiles and touches my grandma’s picture on the mantle like he does every night. She’s been dead nearly twenty years, but he still says she was the love of his life and never moved on. I never knew him to take to another woman. What they had was special. I think I could have that with Tina. He shuffles down the hall and goes to the bathroom.
He always told me when I met the one, I’d just know. My phone buzzes with a text from my Sweet Ass.
Sweet Ass: I’m ready when you are.
Vegas: I was born ready. See you in fifteen.
“I’m out, Gramps.” I wait until I hear a muffled okay come from down the hall and head out.
When I get to the apartment, she’s waiting at the bottom of the steps for me. Fuck me running. Fuck me hard. She walks toward me with her hair swept into a braid that lays over her left shoulder. Lips painted cherry red. Jeans that fit her like a second skin and a red shirt that hugs her small chest in a way that should be illegal.
I let out a whistle and she rewards me with her cheeks blooming pink. “Damn, Sweet Ass.” I hand her my helmet and she climbs on behind me. When her arms go around me, I pull out, feeling like this is what I want. Her riding with me. It’s happening fast but the more I’m around her, the more I want her all for myself. We roll up to The Roadhouse, it’s not as crowded as it usually is. Dutch and Dar are playing pool. Rebel and Striker are at the bar. Their top bitches Chelle and Baby are behind the bar serving drinks. Romeo and Grim are playing darts. A few other brothers are sitting around shooting the shit.
I lead Tina to the bar and introduce her to my Prez and VP. “Rebel and Striker, this is Sweet Ass Tina.” Her cheeks turn deep red.
“Nice to meet you, Tina. I’m the club President and my brother is the Vice President. Vegas tells us he wants to make you his old lady, but your ex is making trouble. You want to be part of this world there are things you need to understand. We’re a family. What happens behind closed doors isn’t discussed with outsiders. We take care of our own. We serve our own justice. Rats get their tails cut off. This ex of yours becomes a problem, he’ll disappear. I need to know that you aren’t going to fuck my family over.”
“I find your loyalty admirable.”
“Then we understand each other.”
“We do.” I squeeze her hand and am surprised to find that she’s completely calm.
“Good. Chelle Belle, get the lady a drink. That’s my old lady. You have any questions you talk to her or Baby there. The one with the evil eyes.” He chuckles.
“My husband comes off all mean but…” Chelle pauses. “Well he’s just an asshole but he’s mine.”
Tina laughs and Chelle slides her a glass of apple pie moonshine.
“Don’t let my brother-in-law scare you,” Baby tells her with a wink.
“He doesn’t scare me. I like the honesty.”
“Gimme a bottle of Bud,” I tell Baby.
She pops the cap on the bar and slides it over.
“This must be the pecker wrecker.” Romeo places a hand on my shoulder. Ah hell he we go.
“The what?” Tina laughs bringing the jar to her lips to take a drink.
“A pecker wrecker. Pussy so good it’ll wreck a man’s pecker from ever wanting another woman.” His gaze cuts to Baby, but she moves to the kitchen with Striker shoving up from his stool to go with her.
“You’re gonna catch him in the wrong mood one day and he’s going to put a bullet in your head, old timer,” Rebel warns Romeo.
Romeo just chuckles. “You did good, boy. She’s a real looker.”
Now Tina looks nervous. But when I see Grim stalking toward us, I know why. He’s a scary looking bastard even at his old age. I wouldn’t want to get on his bad side.
“I know you. Your Vicki’s girl, aren’t you?”
“Yeah. How do you know my mom?”
“You look just like her.” He grins and checks out her backside. “Have that same sweet ass.” He shoves me with his shoulder. “Not sure you can handle this one if she’s anything like her mother.”
“Come on.” I lead Tina to a table in the back so we can talk without these fuckers bothering us every five minutes. I pull out her chair and she still looks stunned by Grim’s words. “You okay?”
“Yeah. That was unexpected.” She smiles sheepishly and takes another sip. “This is good.”
“It’s ours. Club has been making it for years.”
“I see why.”
“So how did they do?”
“Who?”
“My family.” I chuckle. “It wasn’t too bad was it?”
“No. they’re all great. I love that they are so protective of you. It’s nice to have that type of loyalty.” She reaches across the table for my hand and I give it to her. “Listen, there’s something I should tell you.”
I don’t like the expression in her eyes, but I stay quiet. I take a heavy pull from my beer and motion for her to continue.
“So earlier when I went to Camreigh’s to get ready I was in the shower, and I heard the door open to the apartment and close. I thought maybe Cam had come back for something, but when I called out for her, I didn’t get an answer. When I got out of the shower Matt was there sitting on the couch.”
“The fuck did he want?” I try to keep my cool, but I wish she and called me so I could beat his dumbass.
“He was acting all crazy. Telling me that we could go get married tomorrow. That he just needed me to give him a baby.”
“Over my dead body,” I growl.
“I realized something though.”
“What’s that?” If she tells me she’s getting back with this motherfucker I’m going to lose it.
“I realized why Matt and I were never going to work. Why we never connected the way I wanted us to. He’s gay.”
“If he’s gay then why the fuck is he still sniffing around?”
“Well it took me a bit to work it out in my head once he left, but his dad owns an insurance company and he’s supposed to take it over. When he was at the apartment, he kept mentioning that he was hoping his dad would croak before we ever got married, but if I gave him an heir then his father would give him what he wants. They are really conservative and if they knew he was gay they’d cut him off. I was Matt’s cover. Now that he doesn’t have me…well you can work out the rest.”
“That’s some shit. How’d you get him to leave?”
“I kneed him in the nuts and ran to the bedroom and locked the door.”
“You aren’t staying there alone tonight. I don’t trust this pissant not to try something stupid. If he blames you for losing his chance at getting his father’s business he’s going to retaliate.”
“I don’t think Matt would really ever hurt me.” She frowns, and I can tell she thinks he might be that dumb to try it.
“You didn’t think he was gay for however many years either,” I point out.
She sighs and takes another drink. “No more Matt talk.” She shoves her chair back. “Let’s dance.”
“All right, darlin’.”
I take another swig of my beer and push my chair back. Rebel and Chelle are swaying to the music, and I lead Tina on the floor next to them. Dar and Dutch join us too. Tina’s head goes to my shoulder and this feels right. Like she belongs here with me.
Chapter 13
—Tina
Vegas holds me close as some old rock song hums through the speakers. A week or so ago I would’ve said there was no way in hell I’d be here. In the arms of a rough and tough tattooed biker who goes by the name Vegas. The more time I spend in his world, the more I feel I belong. Like this is exactly where I’m meant to be. I am still in shock that old scary man knew my mother. I thought for her there was only ever my father, but I know before she got with my dad, she was a bit on the wild side. Guess like mother like daughter.
“What are you thinking?” His husky voice grates in my ear and I smile.
“I’m thinking I’m ready for you to take me home to continue
what we started last night.” Last night we came so close to having sex but at the last minute I chickened out because I was afraid his Gramps would hear us.
His mouth stretches into a wide smile. “Sounds like a plan.” His hands move down my hips and lower until he gives my ass a squeeze. Our lips meet and he kisses me so sweet my teeth ache.
Vegas nods to his brothers, and I give them a small wave as he ushers me out the front door to where his motorcycle is parked. Before he hands me his helmet his arms go around my waist. Gazing deep into my eyes he has this soft expression on his face.
“What is it?”
“I’m really liking this.”
“And what’s this?” I press.
“You and me, Sweet Ass. I like the feel of you on the back of my bike. I like that you accept me as I am. You ask fifty fucking questions but don’t get pissy if I give answers you don’t like. You just roll with the flow of things. You fit into my world, and I want to keep you. I want to buy you a helmet.”
I don’t know why but the idea of that melts my heart.
“Well, I’m having a good time getting to know you and I like your world. It has my bestie in it,” I tease. Then I kiss him. His lips work against mine. Tongue gliding into my mouth. I’ve never been kissed the way this man kisses me. Like I matter. Like I’m wanted more than the air he breathes. It feels good.
My biker breaks away far too soon. “Come on.” He hands me the helmet. “If I don’t stop kissing you right now, I’m going to bend you over my bike, and your first time deserves to be better than that.”
“It’s a tempting offer.” I smirk and he shakes his head at me.
“Get on, Sweet Ass.”
I climb on the motorcycle behind him, wrapping my arms around him, and breathing him in. This man is becoming my world. It’s happening fast but I want to be more like my bestie and take chances. Live on the wild side. Vegas makes me want to take a chance on him—on us.
Pecker Wrecker (BRRMC Roadhouse Tales Book 2) Page 5
