“She’s with you?” Crystal asked him, her eyes wide again.
Chelle thought they were about to have a repeat of what happened with Angel until Dutch asked, “How’s that Subaru runnin’?” while casually tucking his cock back into his jeans and zipping them shut.
Yes, Chelle was seeing much more today than she expected.
She would also have to find a new garage because she doubted she’d ever be able to look Dutch in the eye again while he explained a needed repair on her Subaru. Or while he played Santa in the town’s Christmas parade.
Ugh! Her girls had sat on Santa’s lap and had told him they were a good girl when he asked.
Chelle might have to call a real estate agent, put her house up for sale and move.
She turned to Shade, whispering, “Am I awake?”
“Bet you wished you weren’t,” he answered, now not so amused. He tugged her hand to continue down the corridor.
As they walked past Dutch and Crystal, Chelle managed to ask, “How are you, Crystal?” in a lame attempt to be polite.
“A fuckin’ pro,” Dutch answered for her with a crooked grin. “Bet you’re due for an oil change soon.”
Yep, she was putting her house up for sale and never coming back to Manning Grove, not even to visit her brother.
Shade shook his head and kept her moving, but not even after another dozen feet, slammed to a halt again. This time Chelle managed not to run into him. And the sight that made him stop wasn’t anything like the previous one. Thank goodness. She wasn’t sure she could take much more.
What made him stop this time was another blonde coming through the back door at the end of the long hallway.
Of course, Chelle recognized her, too, because that was just the way the day was going.
The newcomer, Reilly, also worked at Dutch’s garage, but in the office.
Did everyone in town have a connection to this club? Had she been living under a rock?
Shade’s terse, “Where were you at?” got not only Reilly’s attention, but Chelle’s, too.
The young woman shot Shade a frown. “Out back.”
“No shit. Doin’ what?”
“Since when do I answer to you?” Reilly asked just as sharply.
“Doin’ what, Reilly?” he repeated, his tone leaving no room for anything but an answer.
Just then, the back door opened again and a man, somewhere in his early thirties, with dark hair, a just as dark beard and wearing a Fury cut came through it.
The man spotted them, jerked up his chin at Shade and kept walking right past them, not even registering the uncomfortable stand-off between Reilly and Shade.
“Doin’ what, Reilly?” Shade asked again, but much slower than normal. And his normal was normally slow. “Doin’ somethin’ stupid?”
Reilly’s green eyes narrowed. “No. And it’s none of your business.”
“Wanna be a part of this club, it’s our business.”
Chelle wasn’t sure what the hell was going on.
Reilly shot daggers at Shade, who didn’t even flinch. After a few moments, the blonde rolled her eyes and sighed dramatically. “I was out sharing a bowl with Dodge.”
“That all you were sharin’?”
“Yes,” she hissed, finally moving toward them.
When she got within arm’s reach, Shade’s hand snaked out and grabbed her bicep. “Don’t be the reason someone’s colors get stripped. Wanna be part of this, you gotta play by the rules.”
She jerked her arm out of his grip. “It’s not my rule.”
“No, but it’s the club’s. Which means, if someone touches you, shit’s gonna get ugly for that brother.”
“I know what it means.”
“Then gotta do your part discouragin’ anyone with two eyeballs and a dick from doin’ somethin’ stupid. Ain’t a game, Reilly.”
“I know,” she hissed.
Chelle couldn’t tell if Reilly was now upset or even angrier. Either way, the other woman rushed away, heading toward The Barn.
“What was that about?” Chelle whispered once Shade pulled her into a nearby room and secured the door behind them.
“She’s hot and unclaimed and anyone wantin’ a taste is playin’ with fire. Don’t wanna see any of my brothers get born.”
“I think you mean burned.”
Shade squeezed his eyes shut. “Fuck. Burned.”
The situation with Reilly had been enough to mess with his head and screw up his words. Reilly might believe he was being harsh, but Chelle, as a mother, saw it for what it was. Concern. “You care about your brothers.”
His eyes opened slowly. “Yeah.”
“You also care about her.” Reilly might not see it as such because she was young, but what happened between them in the hallway was now clear to Chelle.
“She’s family, too.”
Chelle pressed her lips together at his answer and nodded. She turned in a circle, taking in the small room she now stood in. “Everyone from Dutch’s garage is here today.”
“Yeah.”
“I had no idea they were all a part of your club.”
He frowned. “Why would you?”
She shrugged. While she was sure it wasn’t a secret, no one would know unless the men were seen around town wearing the club’s colors. Every time she had been at Dutch’s, the guys had worn typical mechanic’s coveralls over their clothes.
“Since Reilly isn’t allowed to be touched by any of your brothers—without serious consequences, anyway—then I assume she’s not the same as Crystal or Angel?”
“Nope. Reilly’s Reilly.”
Well, that was as clear as mud. “What does that mean?”
“She makes her own way. And thinks she can do whatever the fuck she wants.”
“So, some women in the club who are part of your ‘other women’ label don’t have to get on their knees.” She turned and focused her attention on him where he leaned back against the closed door with arms crossed over his chest. He didn’t look happy with her conclusion.
“Chelle, nobody’s gotta get on their knees. There are big doors on this fuckin’ barn, any of them could walk outta them at any time. If one of them decides to suck Dutch’s dick, it’s because she wants to.”
“She could say no?”
He didn’t answer. Chelle didn’t like that silence.
“She can’t say no,” she concluded.
“She can say no to bein’ a sweet butt. That’s where the line’s drawn.”
A sweet butt. Now she remembered that as one of the terms she skimmed over. Not quite as unpleasant as patch whore, but not much better, either.
“Basically, to remain a part of the club, a sweet butt,” she wasn’t comfortable with that name at all, “has to be willing to do whatever with whomever.” Probably whenever and wherever, too. Like in a hallway when the building was full of people.
“She can say no to takin’ abuse, ‘cause that shit ain’t tolerated here. The guys are aware of what each sweet butt likes and don’t like. They respect that. They’re in the mood for somethin’ specific one night, they pick the girl who’s into the same. She ain’t into it, they don’t force her. Doin’ what they’re only willin’ to do keeps the sweet butts loyal to the club and keeps them comin’ back.”