As he strode toward the door, she hollered, “Dream on, Whiskey!”
He looked over his shoulder to see her eyes were blazing with fury. “I’ll be dreaming, all right, about your hands on that pussy.”
Dare turned to leave, nearly barreling into her father. His arms were crossed over his leather cut, his dark eyes trained on Dare. Manny Mancini wasn’t a large man, but his Italian lineage gave him an authoritative presence, with strong features, tan skin, short salt-and-pepper hair, and pitch-black brows, which gave his dark eyes a menacing stare. “What the hell did you just say to my daughter?”
Dare had nothing but respect for his fellow Dark Knight, who had been like a second father to him all his life, but he wasn’t about to sugarcoat anything. “Manny, I asked her to do something with me tomorrow, and she said she can’t because she has to bathe her cat.”
Manny’s gaze darted to Billie, then back to Dare. “She doesn’t have a cat.”
“No shit. She’s been allergic since we were kids.” Dare clapped a hand on Manny’s shoulder. “You raised a tough woman, and I’m just giving the shit she doles out right back to her. No harm, no foul. Come on, we’ve got church.”
THE DARK KNIGHTS’ clubhouse was located in an old firehouse on the edge of town. They’d renovated one bay to expand the meeting area, and Rebel rented the other bay for his classic car restoration business. When Dare’s father had founded the club thirty-plus years ago, he’d purchased the firehouse with the hopes of his younger brother, Axel, a mechanic, putting down roots there in Hope Valley and using the bay Rebel now rented. But Axel had a wandering soul and a homegrown heart. He’d ended up settling down in their hometown near Biggs. He and Biggs had run the Peaceful Harbor chapter of the club together, and Axel had owned an auto shop there before they’d lost him to cancer a little more than a decade ago. Biggs continued to run the Peaceful Harbor chapter of the Dark Knights, and Dare’s cousins now ran the auto shop.
Dare sat at a table with Cowboy, Doc, Rebel, and Hyde, surrounded by a roomful of tough men, many of whom Dare had known for decades. Some tatted and bearded, others clean-shaven without a speck of ink, and all wearing black leather cuts proudly boasting Dark Knights’ patches. He looked at the sun-weathered faces of his fellow bikers, many of whom worked at the ranch—Ezra, Dwight, Hyde, Taz, and a handful of other ranch hands—and those men whose family members worked there, like Ezra’s father, Pep, and Otto, whose wife, Colleen, was a therapist at the ranch, and felt the familiar warmth of brotherhood. Many of those men had been there for him when he’d had those rough couple of years in college and when they’d lost Eddie. Eddie’s father wasn’t a Dark Knight, but the whole club had shown up for his funeral, because Eddie had been like a son to Tiny and Manny, which made the Bakers family to the entire club. Dare would give his life for any of the men in that room, and he knew they’d do the same for him.
Everyone’s attention was riveted to his father and Manny sitting at the head table going over club business. His father was a strong leader, and the men in that room, and in the community, held him in high regard for his groundbreaking endeavors to help others. Not only did their chapter keep the residents and businesses of Hope Valley safe by patrolling certain neighborhoods and keeping their ears to the ground about seedy operations that were connected to deleterious activities, but they also made it their mission to raise awareness about mental health issues and drug and suicide prevention.
Normally, Dare would be solely focused on every word said during church, but tonight his mind was down the road with the stubborn dark-haired beauty who tried to ditch him by claiming to have a freaking cat. Did she really think he’d let it go that easily? As if he hadn’t noticed the chink in her armor when he’d walked in the door? He’d wanted to slam his hands into that fissure and pry that armor off.
“The next order of business is Festival on the Green, which is only two months away,” his father announced, drawing Dare’s attention. “As always, Redemption Ranch will have a table set up to raise awareness about our services and collect donations, and the Dark Knights will have a table to educate people about who we are and what we do. Wynnie, Alice, and our daughters are coordinating volunteer efforts.” Alice was Billie’s mother. “Many of you have already signed up to take a turn at the table and to help with security at the event…”
Festival on the Green was a weeklong event in Allure, with live music in the park and businesses and crafters setting up booths. Local businesses held sidewalk sales, and at the end of the week, there was a big fireworks display. Dare had been going since he was a kid, and he looked forward to it as much for the fun as he did for spreading the news about the ranch and the club. But Billie hadn’t helped coordinate or attended the events in years. She used to love hanging out at the festival with him and Eddie, helping at the tables, checking out the local shops, and watching the fireworks from their spot on a hill in the park. He missed those times, and with the festival on the horizon, he realized this just might be the perfect time to start reminding her of how much fun they used to have together.
“The last business on our docket is our fall Ride Clean campaign. Manny, do you want to take this one?” his father asked.
Ride Clean was the name of their anti-drug efforts. Every September they kicked off the campaign with a club ride and rally and a day of fun and fundraising at the ranch, where kids could go on hayrides, pony rides, and trail rides and learn to groom horses and care for them in other ways. They played yard games and paintball, and Dare and his siblings gave talks about their jobs and answered questions. The goal was to show kids that there were ways to have good, clean fun and to introduce them to the world of horses and to the Dark Knights as members of the community they could turn to in times of trouble. The Dark Knights’ families provided food and baked goods to be sold at the event, with proceeds going to the campaign efforts.
“Sure. Our wives and daughters will be coordinating volunteers, activities, and refreshments for the event. And yes, Birdie is donating chocolates again.” There was a round of cheers. “We’re still looking for volunteers to speak at schools and youth clubs. Sign-up sheets are open online and here at the table.”
Dare had already signed up. He liked to party as much as the next guy. Okay, maybe more. But he wasn’t a kid anymore, and he got his thrills in other ways. He knew and respected his limits, and he was passionate about helping people, especially teens, learn healthier ways to deal with their issues and emotions.
As their father wrapped up the meeting, Cowboy nudged him, speaking quietly. “Want to hit the Roadhouse after this?”
“You know it.” He eyed Doc, Rebel, and Hyde. “You guys up for a drink?”
Rebel cocked a grin. “When am I ever not up for a drink?”
“I’m in as long as your sisters don’t try to drag me onto the dance floor,” Hyde said. He didn’t dance, but Birdie and Sasha didn’t care, and they always tugged him to his feet.
They all looked at Doc. He was four years older than Dare, two years older than Cowboy, and a quiet charmer. He had an affable personality, but he’d always been more private than his brothers, and he usually kept his thoughts to himself, which was why when he did give an opinion, it was worth mulling over. That hint of mystery annoyed Dare at times, but it reeled in the ladies. “Can’t tonight. I’m seeing Mandy.”