by Wilder, L.
“Have you found anyone willing to take her?”
“No, not yet.” I could hear the torment in her voice as she continued, “I’m worried I might have to take her to the pound.”
“I could keep her a while longer if you think that would help?”
“Really? You’d do that?”
“Sure. It’s not like she’s any trouble.” My attention drifted to Duchess as she sat down with her rear centered on my boot. I ran my hand over her head and added, “And I kind of like having her around.”
A smile crossed Landry’s face as she said, “From the looks of it, she definitely likes being around you.”
I was so wrapped up in Landry and our conversation about Duchess, I never noticed that T-Bone and Gauge had walked over to us until they were both standing just a few feet away. I knew what they were doing. Considering how beautiful Landry looked today, I might’ve done the same thing if I was in their shoes, but unlike them, I would’ve simply taken a quick look and kept my mouth shut. When I noticed the goofy smirk that crept across T-Bone’s face, I knew I was in trouble. “Who’s your friend, prospect?”
“Landry Dawson.” She stood up and turned to them as I said, “Landry, this is T-Bone and Gauge.”
T-Bone’s eyes skirted over her as he replied, “Nice to meet you, beautiful.”
“Nice to meet you too.” Clearly nervous, her back stiffened as she shifted a little closer to me. I could easily sympathize with how she was feeling. Hell, I could still remember how intimidated I was when I met them both for the first time, but it didn’t take me long to figure out that they were both good guys. I hoped the same would hold true for her. Her voice was strained as she asked, “Do you both work here with Clay?”
“We do.” Gauge was dishing out the charm as he smiled and asked, “So, what brings you to our fine establishment?”
“I came to check on Duchess.” Landry ran her hand over the dog’s head, then turned her attention me. “And to see Clay, of course.”
“Duchess your dog?” T-Bone asked.
“Technically, no.” A light blush crept across her face as she continued, “I actually hit her with my car the other night, and Clay was nice enough to help me get her to the vet. I was hoping to find someone to take her, but I haven’t had any luck yet.”
“I can do some asking around. See if I can find anyone who’d be interested,” Gauge offered.
“I’d really appreciate that.” She smiled as she looked over to me and said, “I’m sure Clay would appreciate it too. He’s offered to keep an eye on her until I can find someone.”
T-Bone lifted his chin as he studied me for a moment, then asked, “You tell her about Friday night?”
The club was having a party Friday night. The guys had been busting their asses for weeks prepping for the next big pipeline run, and a party gave them an excuse to blow off some steam. I’d found out earlier that morning that they’d also invited my uncle Viper and his boys to come down and share in the fun, so I had no doubt that it would be a hell of a party. There were countless reasons why I hadn’t mentioned it to Landry: first, I was just getting to know her; and second, I was prospecting. I knew what the club’s parties were like. Big or small, everyone there would cut loose and have a big time, except us prospects. There wasn’t a lot of fun to be had since we were the ones responsible for making sure shit stayed in control. Prospects had to guard the gates; keep tabs on the food and alcohol to ensure there was always plenty for the brothers, and that was just the beginning. Simply put, we had to remain on hand in case one of the brothers needed us. I wouldn’t have time to blink at that party, much less entertain a guest. I didn’t want Landry to think I was holding out on her, so I simply responded, “No, I hadn’t had the chance.”
“What’s Friday night?”
“We’re having a party at the club,” T-Bone answered. “If you don’t have plans, you should come by.”
“Um ... Well, maybe. I’ll see what I have going on, but thanks for the invite.”
“No problem. Hope to see you there.” T-Bone gave me a quick nod before he and Gauge started back over to their work stations. “It was nice meeting ya, Landry Dawson.”
“You too!” Once they were gone, she turned to me and said, “They seem nice.”
“Yeah, they’re good guys.” As much as I hated to cut things short, it wouldn’t be long before Blaze got on my ass. “I guess I better get back to work.”
“Oh, yeah. Of course.” Landry knelt down and whispered something to Duchess before saying, “Thanks again for keeping an eye on her for me. I really appreciate it.”
“It’s really no problem.” I reached in my back pocket and pulled out one of the garage’s business cards, then took a pen off the front counter to write my number down and offered it to her. “Just give me a shout if you find someone to take her.”
“Okay, I will.”
When she turned to leave, Blaze stepped out of his office and said, “You just gonna let her walk out of here like that?”
“What do you mean?”
“You know exactly what I mean. A girl like that isn’t gonna wait around forever, man.” His eyes met mine as he continued, “If you have any interest in her at all, and from the looks of it, you clearly do, then you need to do something about it.”
“Why does it matter anyway,” I scoffed. “I can’t be the kind of guy a woman like her needs ... not while I’m prospecting.”
“Maybe. Maybe not. Only one way to find out.” He motioned towards the door as he said, “Now, get your ass out there before you fuck this whole thing up."
Knowing he was right, I ran out the front door to find Landry. By the time I scanned the parking lot, she was already by her car and about to get inside. Hoping to stop her, I called out, “Hey, Landry. Hold up!”
She quickly turned and looked at me with a surprised expression. When I finally made my way over to her, she asked, “Is something wrong?”
“No, not exactly.” I hadn’t really thought about what I was going to say to her, and I was struggling to find the right words. It didn’t help matters that she was just a few inches away. Being so close to her made it impossible to think. It took me a moment, but I finally pulled it together. “I was thinking about going to grab some stuff for Duchess after work ... I figure she needs a bed, maybe a collar, and some food. I was wondering if you wanted to come along. Maybe give me some input in what I should get.”
“I’d love to.”
“Great. I’ll pick you up at your place around six.”
“Okay, sounds good.”
“All right. I’ll see you after a while then.”
I turned and started back towards the garage, but stopped when Landry called out to me. “Hey ... How are you going to pick me up when you don’t know my address?”
“I have my ways!”
Before she could say anything more, I headed back inside. Blaze was standing at his office door, smiling like a Cheshire cat as he nodded at me with pride. Without saying a word, he walked into his office and got back to work. Knowing I needed to do the same, I called Duchess to follow and went back over to the Chevy. As I got busy, I found myself thinking of what Blaze had said about Landry. The more I thought about it, the more I realized he was right. I liked Landry. I wanted to spend time with her, get to know her better, and see how things played out. I had a lot on my plate, and it wasn’t going to be easy to balance everything out, but I wasn’t going to let that stop me from trying.
I continued working on the Chevy and finally finished her up just before closing time. I needed to gather my things but went to the paint room first and let Darcy know the truck was ready for her to take over. “You’re already done?”
“You sound surprised.”
“I figured it would’ve taken you most of the week to get that rust bucket ready for me. Color me impressed.”
“What can I say?” I smiled with a playful shrug. “I’m awesome like that.”
“I don’t know if
I’d go that far!”
“Maybe not.” I turned and started out the door. “But I would.”
I could hear her giggle as I walked back over to my station and grabbed my stuff. With Duchess in tow, I went out to the truck and rushed over to the clubhouse for a quick shower. Once I’d changed, I stopped by to see Riggs, and then Duchess and I were on our way to pick up Landry. When I pulled up at the address Riggs had given me, I was pleased to see that it was in a good neighborhood, and it had decent security. With a guard at the front gate, good lighting, and digital cameras at every corner, I didn’t have to worry too much about Landry’s safety. I made my way up to her door and knocked, then ran my hand through my hair, trying to get it out of my eyes, as I waited for her to answer. Moments later, Landry opened the door.
While she looked unbelievable in her work clothes, the sight of her in jeans and plaid flannel top nearly knocked me on my ass. I couldn’t even speak. I simply stood there and stared at her, noting the way the denim clung her to body and accentuated the hour-glass curve of her waist. Then, I noticed the hint of cleavage that was showing beneath the tank top she wore underneath, and it was all I could do to keep my hands from reaching for her. I was just starting to pull myself together when I saw the way she was looking at me.
I thought it’d ease my mind to know that she wanted me too, but it didn’t—not in the fucking least.
Landry
When I first arrived at Satan’s Fury’s garage, I was surprised to see that it looked like your everyday, typical garage. There were men hustling around, working on different trucks and motorcycles, which seemed odd considering the reaction I’d gotten from my co-worker when I’d asked him where I could find the place. I should’ve thought that it’d be filled with thugs with machine guns by the way he talked about it, but as I walked up to the main counter, I was relieved to see that wasn’t the case. I’d hoped that Clay wouldn’t be bothered by the fact that I’d shown up unannounced, but I could tell by his tone that he wasn’t exactly thrilled. Sensing his unease, I did my best to get out of there as fast as I could, cursing myself silently all the way back to my car. I was worried that I’d really messed up, that Clay wouldn’t want to see me again, so I was more than a little relieved when he’d asked me to join him tonight.
While I had no idea how Clay had located my address, I couldn’t deny that I was extremely glad that he did, especially when I opened the door and found him standing there looking so unbelievably hot. He was wearing his prospect vest with a pair of jeans and a dark t-shirt, and his shaggy blond hair was brushed back just enough to reveal his gorgeous green eyes. That in itself was enough to make me drool, but then I noticed the way he was looking at me. I knew then that I wasn’t the only one feeling this all-consuming attraction. He felt it, too, and it scared the hell out of me. So much so, I didn’t know what to say or do, so I just stood there, praying that he’d make the first move. Thankfully, he did just that.
“Hey, you ready to go?”
“Sure. Let me lock up.” After I grabbed my things, I locked the door, then turned to him and said, “I’m ready when you are.”
“All right then. Let’s do this.”
Like he’d done it a million times, he reached for my hand and led me out to the truck. Duchess never took her eyes off him as he opened the door and helped me inside. Once I was seated, I thought he would close the door behind me. He didn’t. Instead, he stepped up close to me, slipping his hand around my waist and pulled me closer. Before I realized what was happening, he’d lowered his mouth to mine and kissed me like I’d never been kissed before. The second his lips met mine, I knew this was different. This was more than a simple kiss. It was the beginning—the beginning of something incredible.
I lifted my hand up to his face, inching my body closer to him as his tongue delved deeper into my mouth. The bristles of his beard were rough against my palm, but his lips were soft and warm, luring me in for more. Heart racing, skin itching with need, I let go of the voices telling me this could never work. I threaded my fingers through his hair and tugged him closer. Unbelievable. I couldn’t remember ever being so turned on by a single kiss. The hunger for him was all-consuming, filling me with a heated desire that coursed through me like a wildfire. My hand drifted to the nape of his neck, then snaked down to his chest. He felt so good, smelled so good, and it was all I could do to keep myself from completely losing myself in him.
We were both wrapped up in the moment when Duchess started to whimper, pulling us both back to reality. Clay’s eyes met mine in a lust-filled gaze, and my heart nearly leapt out of my chest when a sexy smirk crept across his face. “Sorry about that. I just couldn’t help myself.”
“No need to apologize,” I somehow managed to reply. “I enjoyed it.”
“Good. ’Cause I plan on doing it again.”
He winked as he closed the door and made his way over to the driver’s side. As he got in the truck, he glanced over to Duchess and me. “You girls ready?”
“Yep. All set.” I reached back and gave her a quick scratch behind the ear as I asked her, “We’re gonna get you a new bed and a new collar. What do you think about that?”
A loud thumping filled the truck as her tail started drumming against the seat. Clay chuckled. “I’d say she’s good with the idea.”
He started the truck, and it wasn’t long before we were pulling up to one of the local pet stores. They allowed pets, but neither of us had any idea what Duchess would do if she came across another animal. Since she’d been so good at the vet, we decided to take the risk and brought her inside with us. As we started towards the front door, I couldn’t believe how she was walking right next to Clay. It seemed as if an invisible rope had tied her to his side, and she never budged from her spot as we made our way inside, making me wonder if we truly needed to bother with buying a collar and leash. It felt like a waste of money until Duchess spotted a large German shepherd and its owner walking in our direction. When he dropped his head and started to growl, Duchesses calm demeanor quickly changed. Her head tilted to the side, and baring her teeth, a low, threatening growl vibrated through her thick chest. With an aggressive look in her eye, she took a charging step closer, leaving no doubt that she was about to attack. Clay quickly knelt down, and with a strong, commanding voice, demanded, “Duchess, stay!”
She did as he ordered and stayed put, but her growling continued. He ran his hand down her neck, trying to soothe her. “Easy, girl. It’s okay. You’re okay.”
It took a few seconds, but he managed to settle her down. Once the other dog was out of our view, I leaned over to Clay and said, “I think we should go on and get that leash now.”
“Yeah, I think you’re right.”
I followed him over to the next aisle and watched as Clay picked up a pretty purple collar and asked, “What about this?”
“I don’t know. I love the color, but I’m not sure it’s big enough to go around her neck.”
His brows furrowed as he stepped back and studied Duchess for a moment. Unable to tell for certain, he took the collar and slipped it around her neck. As I’d predicted, it didn’t come close to fitting. A cute smile crossed his face as he said, “I think this one might be too small.”
“Yeah, I was afraid of that.” I reached for one that was the same color with a longer length and offered it to him. “How about this one?”
“Let me see.” After Clay hung the small one back in its correct spot, he took the new collar from me and put it around her neck, checking that it wasn’t too tight as he secured it. “Looks like it fits. What about a leash?”
I grabbed the matching leash and clipped it to the collar. “I think we’re all set.”
“Great. Now, let’s see if we can find her a bed.” I nodded as I followed him over to the next row. As soon as we rounded the corner, he reached up and grabbed an oversized, padded bed that had to be the most expensive one out of the bunch. He held it up to her as he asked, “What do you think of this one?”
Duchess started wagging her tail wildly as she sniffed at the fuzzy fabric. “I think she likes it, but Clay ... does she really need one that nice?”
“What do you mean?” I reached for the tag and turned it where he could see it. I thought the price might deter him, but he simply shrugged. “It’s not that bad. Besides, she seems to like it.”
“She’s a dog, Clay.” I teased. “She’s gonna like anything you offer her, especially since she’s been doing without for so long.”
“Exactly,” he replied, slipping the bed under his arm. “She deserves to have something nice.”
I thought it was extremely sweet that he wanted to get it for her, so I didn’t argue. Instead, I simply replied, “Okay, whatever you think.”
“All right then.” When he started walking towards the next aisle, I thought he was done shopping, but I was wrong. After every few steps, he’d grab something off the shelf, and as he’d lift it up to show me, he’d ask, “What do you think about this?”
It was clear that he was enjoying his little shopping spree, so I simply nodded and said, “Mm-hmm. Whatever you think.”
He’d add it to the mix, and by the time we were done, it looked like he’d bought out the store. When we got up to the counter, I tried to chip in, but he refused. “I’ve got it.”
Once the cashier had checked us out, we each grabbed a handful of bags and headed back out to the truck. After we loaded everything into the back, I helped him get Duchess in the back seat and closed the door. I was about to turn and get in myself, when I felt him reach for my arm. The next thing I knew, he was inches away from me. “I shouldn’t have kissed you earlier.”
“Oh, really?” I thought the kiss was incredible, and my stomach sank at the thought that he didn’t feel the same. “Why’s that?”
“I can’t stop thinking about it.” He leaned forward, wrapping his arms around my waist, and as his lips hovered over mine, he whispered, “How good it felt ... How much I want to do it again.”
I was still trying to process what he’d said when his mouth crashed down on mine. The kiss was intense, filled with a passion like I’d never known, and it completely stole my breath. A slight whimper escaped my mouth when Clay’s tongue grazed over mine. With a low, needful growl, he slid his hand down, gripping my ass, forcing me even closer. Hoping to steady my balance, I clutched his shirt, pressing my breasts against his chest. I couldn’t deny it: I wanted him, all of him, shamelessly. It was clear from his growing erection, he felt the same about me. We were both so lost in the moment, we’d forgotten that we were standing in the middle of the pet store parking lot, surrounded by people and passing cars. That realization might’ve never dawned on either of us if Duchess hadn’t started to grow impatient and begun whining. Clay pulled back with a tortured sigh. “I guess we better get going.”