I shrugged. “Too fucking early.”
It took me a few seconds to remember why we had been sleeping in uncomfortable plastic chairs in the middle of a hospital.
I leapt to my feet. “She’s awake,” I whispered as I tiptoed toward the young lady’s room. She was sitting up, staring blankly at the television in the corner of her room. The droning of a news report was my soundtrack for walking in and startling the poor girl half to death.
She let out a piercing shrill as I knocked on the open door and her dainty hand flew to her chest. Clearing my throat, I continued to make my way into her room.
“Ma’am, I’m Rudiger Beringar. I was the one who found you last night on the side of the road.”
Her eyes were still wide. She was frozen. All she did was blink at me for what felt like a lifetime.
To fill the silence, I continued, “Everyone calls me Bear, not that that makes a difference to you or anything. I just wanted to stick around and see for myself that you’re doin’ all right and that the docs here were takin’ good care of ya.” Rubbing the back of my neck, I shuffled my feet all the way to the foot of her bed. “I know you don’t know me from Adam, and I promise I’ll leave you alone, but I wanted to leave my business card with you. I had one of my mechanics pick up your motorcycle and bring it to our shop. I’ll personally take a look at it and make sure it gets fixed up good for ya.”
I dug a card out of my wallet and set it on the bed by her feet.
“All right then. I’ll leave ya to gettin’ some rest. I hope you feel better soon, darlin’.”
I was one foot out the door before she finally spoke.
“Why’d you stay all night?”
Out of all the things she could have said or asked, that just didn’t seem like the right question.
I turned to her, staring right into her smoky eyes. “Because I didn’t want you to wake up here alone. No one should be alone after what you went through, and to be honest, I selfishly needed to know you were okay. I needed for you to be safe and taken care of.”
She patted the side of her bed. “Want to sit with me for a while, Bear?”
Her voice was meek, and there was a sadness to her that I understood. I had so many questions, so many words I wanted to say—not to comfort her, but to distract myself.
“Yes, but in one second.”
Walking out of her room, I shook Jaxon’s shoulder again. “Head on home, brother.”
His groggy eyes fluttered open and he sucked in a deep breath as he woke up again.
“You stayin’?” he asked while stretching.
I turned to look back at the room. “Yeah, for a bit.”
“See you at the shop later.”
I watched Jaxon trudge down the hallway and disappear around the corner before I went back to her bedside. In silence, I took a seat in a cushioned chair under the window, looking right at her.
“Thank you,” she muttered before wiping a tear from her cheek.
Chapter 4
Scarlett
Thank you seemed like too small a phrase for the appreciation I had for the gruff stranger sitting silent in my room. It should have felt weird or wrong to have him in there, but for some reason, it felt right. When he’d walked back out to the hallway, the room had felt empty without him. Maybe being alone was just not something that was possible for me to do.
After a few minutes, Bear pointed to my ring finger. “Would you like me to call your husband?”
I forced a laugh. “He doesn’t deserve to know I’m alive.” Sliding the gold bands off my finger, I held them out for him to take. “These should be able to pay for the repairs on my motorcycle.” He opened his hand, letting my drop the jewelrys into his palm.
He rolled the diamond ring around in his fingertips. “I have a feeling this rock could buy you two new hogs, darlin’.”
I threw my hands in the air as he tried to hand them back to me. “Those are as good as a noose around my neck. Please, just take them.”
He slid the bands into the inside pocket of his cut. I was no stranger to outlaws; my father had worn a cut for as long as I could remember. As my mind tripped back to him, Bear’s voice broke through my remembrances.
“I’d settle for just your name, darlin’.”
My eyes snapped to his as they bore holes in me. I was in a slight haze from the morphine drip I was on and the pain I was fighting to ignore.
“Scarlett Keen.” I felt my words linger as my tongue formed each syllable individually.
Bear put his hand on mine. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Scarlett.”
I let my fingers naturally slide between his. The rough, calloused skin of his large hand felt comforting as I rolled my head back, embracing the simple touch of the kind stranger. The rational side of me knew this situation was incredibly strange, knew I should be on high alert with this one-percenter in my presence, but I couldn’t have cared less. There was something all too comforting about Bear.
With my eyes shut, I sat there with my hand cradled in Bear’s. “What time did you find me?”
“The middle of the night. I’m not quite sure on exactly what time, but it was late as hell,” he answered.
“I can’t believe that bastard ran me off the road,” I said, more to myself than to Bear.
“Do you know who did this?” A sharp edge laced his question.
I shook my head slowly, I didn’t want to admit it to myself, much less a damn stranger that my husband was the culprit. “They’re called accidents for a reason, Bear. Ask me something else.”
“Like what?” His grip on my hand tightened.
“Anything. I don’t care. Just distract me.” My voice was weakening as I fought a wave of pain.
“How old are you?”
“Twenty-seven.”
“What’s your favorite dessert?”
I smiled thinking about my brother’s apple pie then licked my lips before answering, “Homemade apple pie with vanilla bean ice cream melting on top.”
“Damn that sounds delicious.” I could hear the smile on his face.
“You haven’t lived until you’ve tried my brother’s apple pie. It’s like angels kiss your taste buds after every damn bite.
“That sounds like an experience and a half.”
I nodded. “Don’t stop asking me things.” My head rolled to the side as my eyes opened into little slits. I slowly took in Bear’s features as he continued to rattle off question after question. His dark brown eyes had a black ring around the irises and when he smiled, they smiled too. He had worry lines on his forehead and deep crow’s feet around his eyes. His full beard had flecks of red and the slightest wisps of silver. I could tell the years had not been kind to him, and that he was about ten years my senior. There was something so captivating about the low timbre of his voice and the depth of his gaze.
“What’s your favorite sport?”
“Baseball, but only in person. I hate watching it on TV. I need to feel the energy of the crowd and smell the fresh-cut grass.”
A light tap echoed in the small room. A nurse walked in, her sneakers squeaking with every step she took. “How are you feeling, Mrs. Keen?” she asked, gripping my chart in her hands.
I tried to keep my eyes open but the pain forced me to slam them shut. “Ooooohhhhhhh!” I exclaimed as I gripped Bear’s hand tighter.
“That bad, huh? You must be the husband.”
I heard words catching in Bear’s throat as he tried to figure out what to tell her.
“Yes, he is,” I spit out before he could say otherwise. There was no way I wanted Jasper to be considered my husband. In less than twenty-four hours, Bear had been kinder to me and shown me more compassion than Jasper had in our entire relationship.
The nurse rattled off a bunch of things to Bear about my condition in such a rapid succession that I couldn’t follow her in the slightest. To me, she was an adult and I was a damn Peanut’s character.
She squeaked her way out of the room and
I felt Bear’s lips brush the back of my hand. “As much as I hate to leave your side, wifey”—he laughed a little during a lingering pause—“I really need to take a shower, get a few hours of sleep, and make sure my guys aren’t fuckin’ up too terribly at the shop.”
I groaned, grabbing for his hand as he started to get up from his chair. “Do you have to? I really don’t want you to leave.” I already felt the stinging of loneliness biting at my heart.
“I’m afraid so, darlin’. I’ll be back to check on you tonight.” He folded the business card into my hand before kissing the backs of my fingers. “My cell number is on there. You can call me at any time and I can be here within ten minutes if you need me.”
Chapter 5
Bear
“What’ll it be, handsome?” I heard the bartender ask a few seconds after I took a seat at the empty end of the bar.
I didn’t look up at her while answering, “Double whiskey, neat.”
“Comin’ right up.”
The glass was set down on a black napkin in front of me. I didn’t want to drink it. I didn’t want anything. I had gone to the shop, taken care of what I had to, signed the orders, and dealt with payroll, all while ignoring the awkwardness of my guys avoiding talking to me about Abel. They all knew I would address it when I could, knew the subject had to be avoided for the time being—it was a lingering dark cloud that wouldn’t go away until I made it and I just wasn’t strong enough yet. It felt so wrong to sweep it under the rug, even if it was only temporary.
Sleep wasn’t an option, so after a shower, I found myself bellying up to a bar. It was a reflex, a terrible coping mechanism that had been ingrained in me since I was sixteen and my old man turned me to the bottle when my mother ran out on us because she couldn’t handle being an old lady anymore. I couldn’t blame her. I never thought it was fair to the women who ended up sticking around. The constant worry and uncertainty was something no lady should ever have to be put through. I knew from a very early age that I was going to have to make a choice—either wear a cut or wear a ring. There was no way to truly split your heart and devotion evenly to make it fair to both.
“Well, look what the cat dragged in.”
I turned to the familiar voice that came from behind me. “Justus Camden, well I’ll be.”
After pulling out the seat next to me for my old friend, I signaled to the bartender to bring him the same drink I was having.
“So, how is the mechanic business treating you?” Justus asked before taking a long pull from his glass.
“It’d be better if some of my usual customers brought their bikes in for maintenance more often.”
He chuckled a little, shaking his head. “Yeah, my baby sure as hell needs to be brought in. Hell, she needs to be ridden. It’s just with the kids now, I find myself riding less and less. You know how it is.”
I held up my left hand, showing my empty ring finger while shaking my head. “I still have no idea how that is, man. My bike is the only vehicle I want to drive. I have a truck for parts running and the braggin’ rights, but that’s about it.”
“Oh, come on, big ol’ Bear will eventually find someone who will make him want to trade in a bitch seat for a car seat.”
“Ain’t found that kind of a unicorn yet.” I finished the last sip of my drink, slamming the empty glass down hard.
“So, what brings you over on this side of town?” he asked before throwing back the last of the amber liquid in his glass.
“A friend is healing up from a little accident at the hospital. I was on my way for a visit when I decided to stop in here.”
A knowing smile pulled as Justus pointed his tattooed finger at me. “It’s a girl, isn’t it?”
I nodded. “Jaxon and I found her wrecked on the side of the road. I’m just playin’ good Samaritan.”
“Keep telling yourself that, Bear.” Justus got up from his seat. “It was good seeing you. I need to head home before Elsa chews me out for getting home late again.”
“Give my best to the old lady and the kids. Bring your bike by the shop sometime soon. Maybe after I give her a nice tune-up, we can take our hogs out for a little run.”
“I look forward to it.”
* * *
Scarlett was in the hospital for a few days. Without fail, I visited her morning and night. It was a miracle that she didn’t have any broken bones, but her concussion and road rash had really done a number on her.
“Are you ready to go home, darlin’?” I held out my hand to help her get out of bed.
She just sat on the edge, dangling her feet in the air, her gaze locked on the floor.
“Scarlett?” I put my fingers under her chin, trying to get her to look up at me. “Darlin’? You all right?”
She didn’t respond, didn’t even move.
Kneeling, I got down on her level. “Come on, you can talk to me.”
A tear rolled down her cheek. It was the first real tear I had seen since the very first morning I spent with her, and I had chalked that up to the drugs and pain. From what I had come to know about Scarlett, she was one strong-ass broad who didn’t let her emotions get the better of her even in the harshest of situations.
Under her breath, she murmured, “I don’t have a home to go back to.”
I didn’t even think to question her on that. If she didn’t have a home, I was going to get her to mine. Without even thinking about it, I dug my cell out of the pocket of my jeans and dialed Jaxon.
“Yeah?” he answered right away.
“Can you bring me my truck and drive my bike back to my place?”
“You’re at the hospital?”
“Yes. And bring some women’s clothes that would fit Scarlett. She’s probably about your old lady’s size.”
“Be there in twenty.”
I ended the call and sank down on the bed next to Scarlett. “I know I’m still a stranger and I promise I’m not going to force myself into your life after this. Just let me get ya out of here.”
She put her head on my shoulder and I instinctively wrapped my arm around her, tucking her small frame into my side.
“Why are you single?” she asked, nuzzling up into the crook of my shoulder.
“I’m married to my club. I never thought it would be fair to a woman to make her fight for my attention when my first priority was always to my brethren.” It was the first time I had admitted that to anyone. It was the most honest answer I could have ever given. Other than Ryder, I had been the youngest Unacceptable to ever be patched as a president. That was something I never took lightly.
“That just means you haven’t found the right old lady yet. The right woman will stand by you and your club equally, love you for the man and the cut, one and the same.”
Her words shot through me, piercing right into my core. In that instant, I felt my heart start to beat for the first time.
She shifted to look up at me. “Why are you smiling?” she asked.
I hadn’t even realized I was. “I was thinking about a husband and wife that have a love like the one you just described.”
“I would really like to meet them.”
I kissed her forehead, hiding the fact that it broke me to say the next sentence out loud. “She’s a widow now.”
“I’m so sorry. That’s awful.” I could hear how sincere her statement was. It wasn’t the usual knee-jerk apology that normally comes because people don’t know what else to say.
“I am too.”
“You were close to them, weren’t you?”
“He was my brother, and she will forever be like a sister to me.”
The sound of Jaxon clearing his throat to announce his arrival saved me from having to continue one of the hardest conversations I’d ever had.
“Your chariot has arrived, miss.” While bowing, Jaxon held out a plastic bag full of clothes for Scarlett to take.
“Why thank you, kind sir. I cannot wait to wear something that doesn’t tie in the back and expose my ass if
I’m not careful.” Scarlett faked a curtsy before ducking into the bathroom to get dressed.
I patted Jaxon on the shoulder. “Thanks.”
“No worries. I’m glad she’s doin’ better. The truck is in a spot right out front. You won’t be able to miss it.”
We traded keys.
“See you in church tonight,” I said as I hugged my second in command.
“I’ll let the guys know. It will be good to get back into the swing of things. I think we all need it.”
I nodded in agreement. “Any word from the other presidents?”
“They’re all at Wheeler’s plus a few more. Maccon and Reese were the last to show up a few hours ago.”
“What’s Wheeler’s?” Scarlett asked as she emerged from the bathroom.
I turned to her, putting my arm around her tiny shoulders to start to walk her out. “It’s the name of our auto shop.”
“Oh, I’ve seen that place a few times when I’ve come over on this side of town.”
“Well, I’ll be takin’ you over that way when you’re feelin’ up to ridin’ again. Your bike is ready to go.”
The excitement that emanated from her was palpable. “Really? I can’t believe it. She’s fine?”
I kissed the top of her head. “Good as new. I wasn’t going to let you down.”
* * *
It didn’t take long for us to get to my tiny house at the end of a dirt road. It was an Unacceptable thing; we all felt more comfortable living far away from the beaten path.
“Wow! This place is great,” Scarlett remarked before getting out of my Denali.
“It’s not much, but it’s home.” I showed her around the first floor. “Make yourself comfortable. My bedroom is right at the top of the stairs if you get tired and want to get some sleep. I need to head to the shop and take care of some things for a few hours. Are you all right with that?”
Scarlett sank down onto the couch while sighing with relief. “I am just so glad to be out of that stuffy, smelly hospital room.”
The Unacceptables Series Box Set Two: Books Five through Nine with Exclusive Bonus Chapters Page 3