“Rose is right—feeling safe, valued, and loved has to be constant. But I still say that tummy tingling needs to go further. Not that sex is everything, but come on, ladies. Good sex is a must,” Magdeline said with an emphatic nod.
“Agreed, but sex eventually wanes,” Arlin reminded her.
“That’s what those little blue pills are for,” Rose said with a wink, making them all laugh. “Chloe, honey, when true love hits, you’ll know it. You might have to kiss a lot of toads, and your forever love may not fit all of the criteria on your wish list. But you’ll know when it’s right. When you meet the man who looks at you like you’re so special, you can feel how much he adores you. The one who is there for you in good times and bad, he’s the man who deserves a chance. Just remember, love is patient and love is kind—”
“And hopefully he has a really hot behind,” Magdeline added with a snort-laugh.
Rose chuckled.
The intercom beeped, and Shelby, the receptionist, said, “Chloe?”
“Yes?”
“The juniors are here for orientation, and Madigan Wicked returned your call. She said she’s tied up until tomorrow but will try you then.”
“Great. Thank you, Shelby.”
“One more thing,” Shelby said. “You got another call for the reference on Janet Kirsh. I put it through to your voicemail.” Janet was a single mother who had worked for LOCAL for a couple of years in the accounting department. She’d left a little more than a year ago to move to Florida.
“Okay. Thank you. I forgot. I’ll return the call before the end of the day.” Chloe and the ladies pushed to their feet.
“Is that about our Janny?” Rose asked. “Wasn’t she looking for a job last Christmas?”
“Yes. She must be having a hard time finding the right company to settle in with,” Chloe explained. Janet had been a stellar employee, but Chloe was contacted every few weeks for references on her.
“That’s a shame. She was a doll,” Arlin said. “And her little boy is just the cutest.”
“He called everyone Gamma,” Rose said thoughtfully.
What Chloe remembered most about Janet’s bright-eyed little boy was the way Janet talked about him like he was the greatest gift she’d ever been given. “Maybe this reference will land her the right job. Thank you for the talk, ladies.”
“And for interrupting you know who,” Arlin said with a wink.
Chloe shook her head at the women who had become like the grandmothers she’d never had, and not for the first time, she felt blessed to have them in her life. “I never said that.”
“All your secrets are safe with us,” Magdeline said as she embraced Chloe.
Chloe embraced Arlin and Rose, too, and after they left the room, she thought about the things they’d said.
Feeling safe, valued, and loved has to be constant…When you meet the man who looks at you like you’re so special, you can feel how much he adores you, the one who is there for you in good times and bad, he’s the man who deserves a chance.
She remembered the way her date had looked at her last night like she was a business associate and how Justin had looked at her like she was the only woman in the room. Even when she’d first seen Justin standing by the bar, their connection had been magnetic. She’d actually had to cross her legs and squeeze her thighs together, because every time he looked at her like that, her pulse revved up and her girlie parts threw a little party. She was female, after all. She knew sexy when she saw it, and Justin Wicked was sex personified. He was also charming and funny. He didn’t just walk; he swaggered with confidence and bravado. He was tough and rugged and insanely hot with his always-tousled brown hair, intense blue eyes that looked a little haunted, and hard, broad body that Chloe had spent too many sleepless nights thinking about. And that slightly crooked, cocky smile…Shocks of heat sparked beneath her skin. The desires he ignited felt dangerous and forbidden, which made him even more enticing, though she knew they shouldn’t.
Justin made her feel things no other man had ever come close to, and she definitely felt safe when she was with him, but after the childhood she’d endured, she knew falling for a tough biker wasn’t safe for her heart.
Chapter Three
JUSTIN SAT AT a table with his cousins and brothers in the Dark Knights’ clubhouse Wednesday evening for church, just as he had every Wednesday evening for nearly thirteen years, since he’d officially been accepted into the Dark Knights. From the outside, the clubhouse was nothing more than an old brick schoolhouse located a few minutes down the road from the Salty Hog. Justin could still remember how desperately he’d wanted to earn the honor of wearing the Dark Knights’ patches and attend their meetings when he was a teenager, and the rush of adrenaline and pride he’d felt the first time he’d walked through those doors and into a meeting. That pride had only grown in the years since.
Preacher and Conroy held court at the head table alongside the club secretary and treasurer. Buster, Preacher’s golden retriever mixed with who-knew-what, sat at his feet under the table. Preacher and Gunner always brought one or two of their dogs with them to church. As Preacher discussed prospects and club finances, Justin looked around the room at the men he felt like he’d known his entire life. Like the exterior of the clubhouse, some of the brotherhood had weathered and aged over the years, while others had gotten inked, had families, and beefed up or slimmed down. They had members from all walks of life, from doctors and lawyers to blue-collar workers, and even a stay-at-home father. Beneath the clothes they were all the same fiercely dedicated, upstanding men. Just like the strong, stable structure around them, the hearts of the brotherhood had remained loyal and unyielding.
Justin’s thoughts found their way back to Chloe, as they always did. Trying to unravel her refusal to go out with him was an ongoing frustration. He was determined to figure out why and change her mind. He’d been biding his time, letting her get all that other nonsense about her suit-wearing Prince Charming out of her head, but maybe it was time to stop waiting and show her who he really was.
“Wake up, dude,” Baz said, jerking Justin from his thoughts. Baz pushed a hand through his longish blond hair and flashed the charming smile that made women lose their minds. He nodded in the direction of Cuffs, who was heading up to the front of the room, and said, “Dogfighting ring update.”
Cuffs was clean cut, broad chested, and athletic, with short brown hair and a granitelike jawline. He was a police officer in or out of uniform, but to Justin he’d always be the first guy Blaine had ever stood up to on his behalf. Cuffs had been Blaine’s best friend since they were kids. He’d fallen from grace after picking a fight with Justin in middle school. But he’d quickly redeemed himself a few months later when he’d stood by Blaine’s and Justin’s sides, helping them stop a group of bullies from picking on a hearing-impaired boy.
“As you know, we’ve been closing in on the dogfighting ring that Baz alerted us to a couple of weeks ago.” Cuffs nodded in Baz’s direction. “My team was ready to take them down this week, but then we received intel from other sources that they’ve got another shipment of dogs coming. We want to close down this operation and their counterparts, so we’re in a holding pattern until next week. We expect to find anywhere from ten to thirty dogs. Gunner’s going to be there to collect and transport the dogs to the rescue, and Baz will be handling any medical care they need.” Cuffs looked over to their table and said, “Gunner, do you need more hands on deck?”