Mr James

by Kendra Roberts

  Chapter 4

  James

  I finished my rounds before heading to the shop to take care of a few clients. After I had finished, I wiped the sweat from my brow and sat down.

  The shop kept me busy and I also loved riding, but I was quite lonely. I did meet with the guys in the biker gang every now and then to talk shop and protect the streets, but I never did much besides that. But, when I saw my phone flash with a mysterious number, I wondered who it was. I had no idea who would be calling me at this point.

  I picked up, holding the phone to my ear while I finished cleaning.

  “James.”

  “Hey, it’s uh…. Lisa…from the other night,” the voice said.

  I paused. I didn’t think she’d actually call me back.

  “No way,” I said.

  “Yeah, well, you seemed pretty cool and I kind of miss you. I know it’s stupid, but I…I want to see you,” she confessed.

  I didn’t want to get my hopes up. She could just be needing a friend. I didn’t want to ruin things or come off like a rebound. But goddamn if this didn’t make me smile when I heard it.

  “Well it’s great to hear from you,” I said.

  “Good, I’m glad you are happy to hear from me. Anyways, I’m…I don’t know, I just need something,” she said.

  “Mind if I come pick you up?” I asked.

  “Sure. There’s nobody here anyway,” she said.

  “Alright, you may be surprised when I show up, but uh…I think you’ll like it,” I said.

  “Sure. What do you mean?”

  “You’ll see,” I told her with a teasing voice.

  I clicked the phone off and moments later she texted me her location. It was that law firm I had heard about. I never went inside, but it surprised me that a girl like Lisa worked in a place like that. I grabbed a second helmet, storing it in the seat before driving off.

  When I got where she told me to be, I revved the engine. I noticed some movement from the office on the left, seeing the lights turning off. There was nobody else in the parking lot. Lisa came out, her face agape at the sight of the bike.

  “No way,” she said.

  “Surprise. I ride bikes. I’m part of the local biker group here and I…I patrol the city sometimes,” I said.

  “Wow, I kind of expected it, but I also didn’t,” she admitted.

  I could see that she didn’t know what to say. I got up, grabbing the helmet and giving it to her.

  “What you say? Wanna go for a ride?” I asked, flashing her a small smile.

  She looked around, obviously hesitating, and then she nodded.

  “I’d like that,” she replied.

  “Good. Then get the hell behind me and I’ll show you a fun time,” I said with a purr.

  She did as I told her, getting behind me and wrapping her arms around my waist. Her warm, curvy body felt so good against me that it made me grin in relief. I started the engine and soon, we began moving.

  I drove her to a local dive bar in town, and when I parked and got off, I pulled at her slightly.

  “S-sorry, I’m just surprised. That was a bit scary,” she said.

  “You get used to it. And I’m really good at driving these bad boys around. So you don’t have to worry,” I told her with a reassuring look. I didn’t want her to be scared. In fact, I wanted her to have a good time. We stepped inside, heading towards one of the booths. One of the servers got us a few drinks. I ordered a beer, and to my surprise, Lisa did the same thing.

  “I never thought you’d be the beer type,” I whispered.

  “Well, looks can be deceiving,” she said.

  When the server came back, we sat down and began to drink. I could tell from the way her eyes kept moving around that she was a bit nervous just being here. I reached out, grabbing her hand and holding it.

  “Relax. This is a good place. I come here quite often. I’m honestly more surprised that you reached out to me,” I said. I thought she was going to regret ever meeting me and would try to sue me because of the tattoo the next day. But she shook her head.

  “No, I had a wonderful time last night. Honestly, it made me forget about everything. I’m going to be honest, though, I don’t really know if I’m ready for a relationship or not,” she admitted.

  “Well, that’s obvious. You look torn just being here,” I told her.

  She nodded.

  “I am. I don’t know what to do, James. I hate this,” she said.

  She had her head in her hands, and I could tell her thoughts were muddied by all this but then, she spoke.

  “I don’t know. I’m just still hurt by what has happened. I thought that Ryan meant something to me. He was always so nice and sweet, but then I caught him with her, and it just tore me apart,” she explained.

  I nodded.

  “I’ve been there. It’s awful, but you’re doing a whole lot better than I did. When I n this situation, all I could think of was doing drugs and act out. But you…you’re so much stronger,” I said.

  I remembered her. Marisa. She was a beautiful woman and I remembered how she hurt me.

  She stared at me in the eyes, with a look of curiosity. Her eyes were focused on mine, and she seemed to want to say something.

  “What happened to you? If you don’t mind me asking,” she said.

  I thought about telling her. I hadn’t said anything to anyone about Marisa, but I did want to say something now.

  “I was seeing a girl about five years back. A woman named Marisa. She was beautiful and the light of my life. But then one day I caught her cheating with a rival member of our biker gang. It hurt so badly that…. I did some things,” I said.

  “What kind of things?”

  “Drugs. Took out my anger on the wrong people. It hurt, but I realized over time that I couldn’t live like that. I had to move on and be happy, and I learned that if I truly wanted to make a difference, I had to make a change,” I told her.

  “I see. Are you happier now?”

  I nodded.

  “Much. It took some growing and overcoming these pitfalls, but I was able to finally move on, after so fucking long. I only hope that you can too. Because I like you a lot, Lisa. I think you’re beautiful and you’ve got a good head on your shoulders. I’m a broken man and yet, I want to be there for you - always,” I revealed.

  Why was I saying all this? I was never a romantic softie or any of that crap. But then she extended her hand, grabbing it and holding it there.

  “I’m here for you too. I feel that we can grow and overcome our pasts. You’re quite different from me and yet, that’s why I’m attracted to you. I guess opposites do attract,” she said.

  “They do. But I don’t want to push anything until you’ve healed. I’m not like that. I’d love to just take you and make you mine, but I’m not going to do that. Because…despite how I look, I’m definitely not that kind of guy,” I promised.

  I never was, and that was the problem that I had had with women. They always assumed that I was some sort of asshole, when in reality, I was really just as broken as everyone else. But then Lisa smiled at me with that cute grin, making my day.

  “You’re not an asshole. I don’t think you’re an asshole for having feelings,” she said.

  That was a relief. I nodded, agreeing to what she had said.

  “Thank you. It helps,” I said.

  “I’m not sure how to fix this kind of thing, but I’m glad we’re here. It makes me feel better just to have someone listen to me,” she said.

  “Good, I want to listen. You seem to be interesting and have a lot to say,” I told her.

  We chatted for a long time, and it seemed easier than I imagined. I thought we’d be different, but we really weren’t. I even had a similar degree before I became a tattoo artist.

  “By the way, what made you want to get into tattoos? I thought that you had something going well for you with the legal stuff,” she said.

  “Oh that…well, when I had that big f
alling out with Marisa and the members of the gang who hurt me, I realized that I needed a place to release my artistic thoughts, a place to show what I can do. Of course, tattooing became a really big part of my life. it still is, and I’m really happy that I got into it. I’d love to do more on you, but that’s up to you. When I get bored, I tattoo myself, but that’s rare,” I explained.

  She nodded, listening to my words.

  “I’d love that,” she told me.

  I felt a flutter in my heart. This woman cared so much more about me than I felt anyone had.

  The truth was, I was falling for her and I was falling hard. But I didn’t want to pursue her yet. I could tell that she still needed time to heal and I didn’t want to intrude on that.

  “Great, maybe down the road we can work together again.”

  After we finished, I took her home on my bike. When I stopped there, she turned to me, a smile on her face.

  “Thank you, James. This is…the best thing that I’ve done in a bit. I haven’t had a date yet or well, anything like this, and I feel it was necessary,” she said.

  “No problem. If you need someone to talk to, know that I’m always here for you,” I said.

  We looked into one another’s eyes, and I had to hold back everything within me not to kiss her there, take her that night, and make her body feel amazing. But I stopped myself. I wasn’t sure if she was read, or if this was too much, too fast.

  I drove off on my bike, hoping that one day I would feel her soft lips on mine, but I knew that I didn’t want to push my luck. She would come to me, and when that happened, I’ll be there for her.

  Chapter 5

  Lisa

  I started spending a whole lot more time with James. He’d pick me up from work some nights and together, we’d go off and do things we both enjoyed. I felt happier, something I’d rarely gotten to experience because of the way my life had taken a turn.

  Jessie noticed it immediately. She came into my office about a week later, looking me up and down, smiling.

  “You look chipper.”

  “Yeah, I’m doing way better. I…I talked to James, and we went out on a date. We’ve been talking nonstop since then. For the first time in forever, I’ve feel happy,” I admitted.

  “Good! You deserve happiness. I’m really glad to see you changing,” she said.

  “I am too, and I think that—”

  As I looked behind her, I saw a familiar face. A body had moved behind us, and I recognized who it was immediately.

  Maddie.

  She was delivering a package, but she made sure to make herself known. She had probably been there the whole time, or at least I so believed. I wanted to ask what she was doing in the office area as a mere delivery person, but by the time I had walked out toward the hallway, she was gone.

  “Everything okay there, Lisa?”

  “Yeah, I just noticed something. I can’t believe she’s here,” I said.

  “Who?”

  “Maddie,” I stated.

  “What the hell? She doesn’t even work here!” Jessie said.

  “I don’t know but…I have a bad feeling about this,” I told her.

  After I had finished for the day, I walked out, feeling as if something was following me. I turned around, but there was nothing.

  “This is strange,” I told myself. I had no idea who was following me, but I didn’t like it.

  I tried to ignore it, but there was something unsettling about being followed like this.

  Just who was that person? A friend or foe?

  I tried to ignore it, but my heart continued to race. About a week later, the feeling didn’t go away. I could feel my body tensing up, my heart racing at the speed of light as I looked around me. I didn’t understand my unfound paranoia either.

  Finally, one evening things changed. I was working late when I heard the door open. I turned, and there was someone I never expected to see.

  Maddie.

  She looked at me and I her.

  “What the hell are you doing here? Trying to steal someone else’s boyfriend, your asshole?” I said.

  “No, I just wanted to apologize. For everything. I thought that maybe we could talk,” she said.

  Talk? What was there to say? She betrayed my goddamn trust and had sex with my boyfriend. What else did she need to say?

  But I wanted to know why she was here. I stepped forward, but then there was another set of footsteps.

  “I’d appreciate it if you’d quit harassing my girlfriend,” a voice said.

  I turned to my right and there was James. He looked at Maddie and then at me.

  “Who are you—?”

  “I was going to pick Lisa up after work, but she was running late. Then I saw you walk inside,” James said.

  What was James doing? I turned to him, and then he looked at Maddie.

  “What does Ryan want with her?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “He’s obviously the one who’s been stalking her. I know this. Both of you keep harassing my girlfriend, and if you don’t knock it off…I’ll make sure that it’s dealt with personally.”

  I looked to my right, noticing that James was brandishing a knife. Maddie tensed, looking at me then at James.

  “I wasn’t…trying to threaten anyone. Ryan left me as well for another girl. He’s a monster. I just wanted to apologize,” she said.

  I looked at her and then at James. I personally didn’t believe it.

  “Get out of this building. Stop coming here. Stop bothering me. I know you’re lying,” I insisted.

  “What are you talking about?” Maddie said incredulously.

  “Come on, you really think I believe you? The two of you are trying to home wreck us. I can tell. Now, if you don’t mind, I’d appreciate it if I never saw you again. Get out of my life. And tell Ryan that if he keeps harassing and stalking me, I’ll call the police on him and then he’ll have to explain why he’s harassing his ex,” I threatened.

  I was never the type to talk out like this. In the past, I’d been meek and quiet, but something about their situation and the fact that I was getting harassed was definitely pissing me off.

  “But I didn’t—”

  “Maddie, I never want to speak to you again. I’m finally happy and I’ve recovered. Besides, I know you’re lying. Just the other day when I was riding back to my apartment, I definitely saw your car at Ryan’s,” I said.

  She looked shocked, probably because she never expected someone to stand up to her. Well, I was tired of her shit and wanted to be stronger. She finally ran off, leaving me alone with James once more. I sighed as I looked at him.

  “Sorry about that,” I said.

  “Why are you sorry?” he asked.

  “I don’t know. I just thought that…she would leave me alone. But I think I scared some sense into her.”

  “You sure did. And if she continues to bother you, I’ll make sure that my guys take care of it personally,” he said.

  “Yeah, but what about Ryan, my ex? He’s been stalking me. What should we do about that?” I asked.

  “Oh don’t worry, my guys are already on it,” James said with a smile.

  What were they planning to do? But then, when I got outside I saw three guys holding Ryan against the wall, threatening him.

  Normally, I’d try to stop them, since I was never the violent type. But this guy deserved it. It pissed me off that he was doing this sort of thing, and I could tell that Ryan was getting his just desserts.

  The guys shook him up a little and then, when they were done, he scurried away. But not before looking at me, with his fist in the air.

  “I knew you’d become a bitch,” he said.

  “I made a decision for my life. You’re welcome to make decisions with your own,” I said as he ran away. When it was over, I turned to James.

  “There’s something I’d like to talk to you about, if that’s okay,” I said.

  “That’s fine. I was thinking of tak
ing you somewhere special tonight,” he replied.

  I smiled and as we walked on over to the motorcycle, both of us slipping on, I felt the warmth and relief of his body against mine. There was something about James that made me feel secure.

  Even when he was a bad boy tattoo artist, I felt safer around him than I did with anyone else, and it had taken me this long to realize it.

  Chapter 6

  James

  I never expected her ex to do that sort of thing, but I knew that my guys would take care of him. it turns out that Ryan had ties to one of the rival gangs, so they’d talk some sense into him as well. Apparently, there was word of a territory issue, which made sense since we had a lot of turf, but still, it was annoying to hear about.

  But I started to ignore these feelings. There was no sense in dwelling on the past when you have the future and the present to worry about. I looked at Lisa, smiling at her as we drove on off to the place where I was looking to spend time with her.

  It was a place that was pretty far away, and it definitely was a bit different from what we were used to, but I wanted to take her away for a while. When we stopped, I pointed to a small pathway.

  “Okay with hiking a bit?”

  “Sure, I’m glad I brought my walking shoes then,” she replied.

  I nodded, taking her hand as the two of us made our way up the hill together. When we touched hands, I could feel my heart race. I looked at Lisa, feeling like a kid in a candy store when near her. She made my heart flutter, and I felt giddy whenever I was close.

  I knew the feelings I had for her were growing over time, but I was unsure whether she was ready. But I could feel the proximity of her body. As we walked, I noticed her hand slip out to touch my own and squeeze it. I blushed, but then squeezed back.

  “This is nice,” she said softly.

  “It is,” I replied.

  We walked to the top of the hill on the curved pathway until we got to the very edge. When there, she stood over the edge, looking downwards at the world below.

  “Wow….”

  “You like it, huh?” I asked. It was one of my favorite spots, and I told myself that if I ever came here again, it would be with someone who mattered to me - someone I had fallen for.

  “Yeah, this is nice. It’s good to get out like this,” she said.