I pull off at the RBMC clubhouse, anticipation curling in my gut at the prospect of seeing the gorgeous woman slinging drinks and doling out attitude again. Imagine my surprise when I find her outside, arguing with a dude I’m not familiar with. He’s not wearing an RBMC cut, so he’s not a member here. I take my time climbing off my bike and root through my saddlebags as if I’m searching for something. I don’t actually need anything. I’m just being nosey, wanting to see if I can pick up on what they’re blatantly arguing about.
The fighting reminds me of my ex, sending a sour taste to my tongue. My mind briefly flashes to the moment the baby left her body, and the truth hit me full force right in the chest. It took me nothing to think I was in love with her, but that puppy love is over. I’m older and wiser now and have moved on. I’ve had years to move past it and make my peace. I never understood where I went wrong, but it was too much for me then. This isn’t the same, and standing to my full height, I brush the sensation away.
With deft, determined steps, I move toward Hollywood, not enjoying this punk’s tone pointed in her direction. Without uttering a word, I step to her back, widening my stance as I cross my arms across my chest. I’m wearing the same shades as Hollywood had the last time I saw her, so the dude can’t see my threatening glower, but he can no doubt feel it with my massive size, on edge, standing behind the tiny beauty. I move the mint toothpick resting between my lips to the other side with a flick of my tongue and bite down.
“The fuck is this?” He nods to me, asking the woman between us. I’m not going to stand in front of her no matter how badly my need to protect fills my chest. I’m not here to snuff out her flame, only to back her up if she needs it. I’m not down with hurting women, never have been and never will be. If this dude so much as lays a harmful finger on her, the world will see why they call me Chaos.
“He’s my friend,” she says, without skipping a beat, and my chest puffs out further with her admission. Does she really feel that way? She didn’t hesitate to say it, so I have to believe she feels some sort of something about me, and it’s not in a negative way. I’ll take it, as the image of this woman has been a constant presence in my mind since I last saw her.
“Hmph!” He grunts with a shake of his head, then spins around and takes off toward his bike.
“Another friend of yours?” I rasp as a breeze carries her scent my way. It has me inhaling deeply, my cock wanting to come out and play with only a mere caress of her unique smell. It’s fucking heavenly, and I have to grit my teeth not to groan out loud.
She spins around, our shades mirroring our reflections on each other. Her head tilts. “Cute. I won’t offend you by suggesting you bought the same sunglasses after seeing me in mine.”
“I don’t copy anyone, sweetheart. I’m one hundred percent original.”
She snorts, her lips curving up into a brief smile. “Of course, you are. And obviously a sucker for the lukewarm beer I’ve heard they have here.”
I grin, leaning down until she can see my irises over the tops of my glasses. “It’s not the beer I’m after,” I admit with a predatory growl.
“Not the first time I’ve heard that.” She huffs and digs a pack of cigarettes out of her back pocket, putting one to her lips, and I flick it out of her mouth.
“A mouth like that shouldn’t be used on those.”
“Something tells me you like it when women call you Daddy.”
I shrug my broad shoulders, not embarrassed in the slightest to admit it. “It could work for me coming from you.”
I make her laugh, and the sound has my face lighting up in a wide smile. It’s throaty and loud, and I love every beat of it. “You know, I thought you were like all the rest of the bikers that come through here, but you’ve got banter. I like it.”
“And I like you so far, so it seems we’re off to a good start.”
“Ah, don’t hold your breath there, Cowboy. I said I like your banter, nothing else.”
My brows skyrocket. “That so? If I were to reach my fingers inside those panties, I wouldn’t find you wet for me?”
“First of all, you wouldn’t find panties,” she replies coolly, catching me off guard. I nearly sputter at her admission.
“Fuck. You had to go there,” I mutter.
She smirks. “You went there first, I just upped the ante.”
“Something tells me you’re going to be the death of me.”
“What a sweet death it could be.”
“A little danger never made me turn back, and it damn sure won’t now.”
I lean in, rubbing the tip of my nose along the top of hers. I want to take her mouth with mine and own it, but I’m holding myself back. She already admitted she doesn’t think I’m like the others, so I’ll be damned if I change that opinion now. I’ve got her interested, and it’s exactly where I want her. “Come with me to Alabama?”
“Ready to whisk me off my feet already?”
“If you’ll let me, I’ll have you on the back of my bike in a flash.”
Her smirk drops, and I know I’ve said the wrong thing immediately. “Not this time, big man.” She sends me a wink and turns to head into the club.
“I don’t give up easily,” I warn her.
Her smile returns. “I hope not.” Then she sashays her sexy little ass inside.
Releasing a tense breath, I figure I better quit while I’m ahead. I’ll head down to Alabama and stop back through on my way back if I can swing it. I came here to see Hollywood, and I got what I wanted. I made her smile, laugh, and acknowledge my presence. It’s enough for now, but it won’t be for long.
I want her, and I’m not one to give up on what I want.
The ride goes smoothly, thank God. Not that I was expecting it to go any differently, but being in the MC, you never know what could go down. Kadence, Tyler, and my grandbaby beat me here, but I’m glad. I don’t want to show up at the same time. It gives them a chance to visit with Tyler’s brothers and families before I pop up. I’ve grown to like Tyler’s brothers, they’re good men. It helps that they’re hard workers with families like Tyler. I can respect a man who provides for his family emotionally and financially. It’s what I always wanted for myself and my daughter, after all.
The thundering roar from my pipes alerts my presence, and my girl comes running down the front porch steps of an old white two-story. It belonged to Tyler’s parents before they perished.
“Dad!” Kadence screams, heading toward me in a rush.
I climb off my bike and spread my arms wide. She barely comes up to my chest—been that way since she was sixteen. I squeeze her tightly, missing the feeling of having my little girl in my arms. She’s a woman now, and it chokes me up at seeing everything she’s become. I couldn’t be prouder of anyone in my entire life. She’s always been my world.
“Hey, Pumpkin,” I rumble, throat and chest feeling heavy with emotion. I’ve missed her. When she was in college here, I was always riding down or having her fly up to visit me. She’s a wife and a momma now, living by Boston, so I don’t see her as often as I’d like to.