Chains

by Wilder, Chiah

  “I’m sure women throw themselves at you.”

  “Throwing and taking are two different things. Are women attracted to bikers? Hell, yeah. Do they want to spread for a guy in leather who rides a Harley? Damn straight. Do I fuck every chick that wants it? No way.”

  “You’re a very confident man with a bit of cockiness thrown in.”

  “And that means I fuck every chick who’s into me? You’re too smart to think that, Doc.”

  A ghost of a smile whispered across her lips. “I didn’t mean that. I guess I’ve been taken in by the stereotype of the ‘bad boy biker.’”

  “I’m a lot of things, baby, but a stereotype isn’t one of ’em.”

  “I didn’t mean to offend you.”

  “No offense taken. Anyway, I’m not looking to hook up with a citizen, so don’t sweat it.”

  “Why not?—I mean the citizen part.”

  “Been there, done that.” He picked up the tumbler the server had just put down and took a swig.

  “Then, who do you date?” she asked.

  “I don’t date, but I hook up with”—he paused, then looked at her over the rim of the tumbler—“biker chicks.”

  “What does that mean?”

  He downed the whiskey. “Women in the biker scene.”

  “Where do you meet them?”

  “Parties, clubhouses, bike rallies, motorcycle shows—they’re part of the lifestyle, and they embrace it. Do you know what you wanna eat?”

  “Does that mean this conversation is over?” She smiled, then picked up the wineglass.

  “There’s nothing more to talk about on that topic. We now understand each other a bit better.”

  “I guess.” Autumn pressed the glass to her mouth and took a drink, all the while her gaze fused with his.

  There was something intimate about watching the way her tongue licked her lips before she set down the wineglass that made Chains want to pursue her. The chase would be exhilarating and something new for him, and there was no doubt that he’d catch her in the end.

  “You seem like you’re a million miles away. What’re you thinking about?”

  “That I’m enjoying being with you. I spend so much time at the clubhouse and with the brothers that it’s nice to have dinner with a pretty and smart woman. It’s a change of pace for me.”

  “I’m having a nice time too,” she whispered.

  “Are you ready to order?” the waiter asked.

  Chains glanced over at Autumn and gestured for her to go first.

  “I’ll have the gnocchi with pancetta and pumpkin cream sauce.”

  “An excellent selection,” the server said as he jotted down the order on a pad. “Minestrone soup or salad?”

  “Salad with balsamic vinaigrette.” She handed the menu to him.

  “And for you, sir?” the waiter asked as he glanced at Chains.

  “Lasagna. Salad with ranch.”

  “Very good.” The server took Chains’s menu. “I’ll be back with more bread and water. Would either of you care for another drink?”

  “I’m good, thank you,” Autumn replied.

  Chains picked up the tumbler. “Another Jack, and bring me an Alpine Glacier Lager.”

  The waiter nodded, then walked toward the kitchen.

  “Is that a local beer?” Autumn asked.

  “Yep. It’s one of my favorites.”

  “Besides whiskey.” Her lips held a hint of a sly smile. The light from the candles reflected in her eyes, making them shimmer.

  Chains let his gaze slowly slide over her: he loved the way her skin glowed and how the auburn locks looked like fire-spun threads. Yeah … she’s gorgeous.

  “Actually tequila’s my vice. It’s my go-to, but salt and lime have to be part of the equation. What do you like besides wine?”

  “Margaritas are good. I’m not a big drinker, so I’m a lightweight if I have strong drinks like martinis or”—she pointed at the empty tumbler—“straight whiskey … Really, straight anything.” She laughed. “I guess I did more studying than partying in college.”

  “That’s cool. I know my limit, and for the most part, I stay within it. Being sloppy drunk is never attractive, but it happens.”

  Autumn leaned forward. “I want to let you in on a secret, but you can never tell your mom, okay?” Intrigued, Chains nodded. “A while back, your mom threw me a kitchen shower. That alone is ridiculous because I don’t cook. Anyway, I was so nervous about the shower and the whole wedding thing that I got totally smashed with my friends the night before. The next morning, I was so damn hungover that all I could manage to do was smile and say thank you for a bunch of gifts I was never going to use.”

  Chains laughed. Damn, I like this woman. Autumn wasn’t a poser. She didn’t say shit to make him like her or think she was cool. So many women molded themselves to be what they thought he wanted, including his ex-wife. If Krystal had been herself, I’m sure I wouldn’t have hitched up with her. Her true colors came out after I slipped the damn ring on her finger.

  “I’m pretty sure your mom would be disappointed if she knew I was so hungover at the shower.”

  He winked. “Your secret’s safe.”

  “I was starting to have doubts about marrying Bret. Deep down I knew he wasn’t the one, even though I kept convincing myself he was. My friends also would tell me that I was just having pre-wedding jitters.”

  “Salad with balsamic vinaigrette,” the waiter said, placing the dish in front of Autumn as she leaned back in the chair. Then, he put Chains’s salad down and sprinkled some cracked pepper on the dishes before scurrying away.

  “Going with your gut is always the best. I learned that a long time ago.” Chains buttered a slice of bread, then picked up a fork and dug into the salad.

  “I agree with you, but a lot of times our rational mind talks us out of listening to our instinct. Does your mother know about the broken engagement? She hasn’t called me.” Autumn popped a cherry tomato into her mouth.

  Chains shrugged. “I don’t talk to her that much.”

  “She hasn’t called you about it?”

  “No, but she never would. I’m not involved with the family. The first time I found out that Bret was getting hitched was when my mom called and told me to come to the brunch.”

  “I’m surprised you came since you’re so removed from all of them.”

  “I did it for my mom. She rarely calls and asks me to do shit with them. I was gonna back out, but I knew she’d be hurt, so I went.”

  “You’re a good son,” she said, a smile in her voice.

  “Not really, but then, my mom wasn’t the best mother in the world.”

  Autumn put her fork down and stared at him. “Are you serious? Your mom’s like June Cleaver and Carol Brady rolled together.”

  He busted out laughing. “That’s why my childhood sucked.”

  She reached over and lightly smacked his hand. “I’m serious. Your mom is a whiz in the kitchen, she’s a great housekeeper, she dotes on Bret to the point where it’s annoying, and she adores your dad.”

  “And she favors my sisters, never stood up one fuckin’ time for me when it came to my dad, and all her housekeeping drove me nuts.”

  “I can see your point about the housekeeping. The few times she came over to my place, I saw her do the dust test—swiping a finger over the bookcase shelves and the buffet. I never found out if I passed or not.” She giggled.

  “Bret would’ve told you if you hadn’t,” he said wryly.

  “You’re right about that. Did you guys ever go out to eat when you were growing up? Going out to dinner, takeout, and ordering pizza were pretty much the staples in my house when I was young. Actually, my parents still do it.”

  “We rarely went out unless it was over to a relative’s house.” He shook his head and pushed away the empty salad plate. “When I was at home, I couldn’t wait to get the hell outta there. I just didn’t belong—that’s all.”

  “Who has the lasagn
a?” a teenage busser asked as he lowered a round tray.

  “Right here,” Chains said.

  The teen put down the plate, then he placed the gnocchi in front of Autumn, cleared the empty plates and glasses on the table, and sauntered away.

  “This is so good,” Autumn said as she put another forkful of food into her mouth.

  “Glad you like it. I’ve never had a bad meal here.” Chains cut into the lasagna. “Did you always want to be a vet?”

  She dabbed the corners of her mouth while nodding. “Yeah. When I was eight years old, I found an injured bird in the backyard and put it in a cardboard shoebox; then, I read everything I could about how to care for the bird and nursed it back to health. Eventually, the bird was strong enough to fly away. After that, I was hooked.”

  “You’re real good with animals. Thor took to you real fast, and he’s not too good with people he doesn’t know. You saved his life—I’ll never forget that.”

  “Thor’s a great dog. I’ll admit that I loved seeing the way the two of you interacted with each other.” She took another bite, then suddenly her face grew taut and her hand flew to her chest.

  “What’s wrong?” Chains asked.

  Autumn didn’t say a word, but her gaze was fixed on something behind him. He looked over his shoulder and scanned the room, and then he saw Bret sitting at a table near the kitchen with a woman. Chains turned back around.

  “Don’t let it bother you that the fucker’s here.” He reached out and put his hand on top of hers and squeezed it lightly.

  “He’s with his ex-girlfriend—Teresa. I wonder if he’d been cheating on me this whole time. Maybe she’s the reason he broke it off with me. What an asshole.”

  “Are you okay being in the same room as the jerk?”

  Nodding, Autumn’s lips pressed together to form a straight line.

  “All right, but if you wanna leave, just give me the word. We’re still going to Leroy’s for pie, even if it’s take out.”

  Another nod, but this time, it was more relaxed.

  Chains motioned to the waiter, who rushed over. “Another glass of red wine and another one of these,” he said, pointing to the empty beer bottle.

  “I’m good,” Autumn said.

  “You look like you need one,” he replied.

  She let out an audible sigh. “Just one—that’s all.”

  “I’ll be right back with your drinks,” the waiter said.

  As they finished their dinners and sipped their cocktails, Autumn seemed to have forgotten about the bastard being in the restaurant. Even though Chains acted nonchalant about Bret’s presence, inside he was seething. He wanted nothing more than to drag the whiny fucker out of the eatery and into the alley for a well-deserved beatdown. Chains was pretty sure Autumn’s heart was breaking, and he hated Bret for being the cause of it.

  While he was taking out his money clip to pay the bill, he heard the familiar voice.

  “Autumn—I thought that was you,” Bret said. “How are you?”

  Chains glanced up and glared at him. The woman Bret was with clung to him like a fucking leech. The smug expression on Bret’s face told him that his stupid brother loved that Autumn saw him with another woman. Without thinking, Chains reached over and grabbed Autumn’s hand, tucking it into his. Bret’s gaze darted from Autumn to Chains, then back to Autumn.

  “You two look like you’re having a good time,” he said between clenched teeth.

  “We are.” Chains’s jaw tightened.

  Bret’s gaze cut to his. “I was talking to Autumn.”

  “You need to be talking to me ’cause we got something to settle.”

  Autumn squeezed his hand as if to calm him down, but Chains was chomping at the bit to deck his brother right then and there.

  Bret stepped back from the table. “How’s business at the clinic, Autumn?”

  Chains felt her stiffen, and before she said anything, he leaned forward and spoke, “Stop with the stupid questions. There’s no reason for you to be standing here, so move your ass and get the fuck away, or I’ll make sure you do.”

  Bret whispered something into the brunette’s ear, and without another word, he pulled her behind him as they left the restaurant.

  You always were a fuckin’ pussy. When they were young, Bret always ended up running to Daddy whenever Chains whooped his ass, even though most of the time his brother had started the fight. Of course, Chains was the one who always got punished—because in the eyes of their father, Bret could do no wrong, and Chains couldn’t do anything right.

  “Thanks for that,” Autumn said as she pulled her hand out of his. “The only reason that asshole came over to the table was to flaunt that bitch. Did you see the way she looked at me—like she won. Won what? A selfish bastard? She can gladly have him.” Autumn’s voice hitched.

  “My brother never had any class. And the chick he was with can’t hold a candle to you.”

  “Thanks. He said he’d loved me, and he does this? Bret acts like I did something horrible to him. I don’t get it. I still don’t know why he broke up with me.”

  “’Cause he’s a fuckin’ moron.”

  A small chortle escaped through her lips. “I don’t mean to be a downer, but can I take a raincheck on that slice of chocolate cream pie?”

  “Sure. Do you wanna go home?”

  “If you’re ready. All of a sudden, I’m exhausted.”

  Chains stood up. “Let’s go.”

  Every star stood out sharply in the clear, cold air. An icy wind brushed across Chains’s face as he walked Autumn to her car. The sound of their footfalls echoed slightly off the gravel lot for a few seconds.

  “Here I am,” Autumn said as she opened the door to the car.

  “I’ll follow you home, and this isn’t open for discussion.”

  She reached out and put a hand to his cheek and caressed it. “I wasn’t going to argue about it. You’re such a sweet man, even though you pretend not to be. I saw that gentleness inside you with Thor, and now with me. I appreciate all you’ve done for me.”

  “Autumn, fuck,” he said in a low voice before grasping her hand and bringing it to his mouth.

  She immediately snatched it away. “I better be going.”

  “Whatever,” he mumbled. “Let me trail behind you on my bike.”

  He stalked away, wondering why the hell he kept fucking up with her. Maybe it’s because she keeps giving me mixed signals. Dammit! Chains blew a breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding and took out the keys to his Harley.

  When he arrived at her house, he stayed on the driveway and watched her get out of the car.

  “Do you want to come in for a while? I can make some coffee—I actually know how to do that.” A small laugh bounced off the garage’s concrete walls.

  “I should head back. I want to take Thor out for a walk.”

  She tilted her chin down and frowned. “Okay then. Goodnight.”

  “Night. Make sure to lock up.”

  “I always do. I’ve been living alone for years.” Annoyance laced her voice.

  Chains almost weakened and took her up on the offer, but he didn’t want to look like an ass when she shot him down. He’d already made a fool out of himself over a woman a long time ago, and he may be a lot of things, but getting duped more than once wasn’t one of them. There were plenty of women out there, those who wanted nothing more than a few hours or nights of pleasure. They were the ones who were safe and uncomplicated, and Autumn was anything but that. Yeah, he’d stick to the club girls. From what Eagle had told him, another sweet piece was interviewing to join the ranks, and he may just be interested enough to try her out for a month or two.

  “Thanks for dinner. I had a nice time.” Autumn’s soft voice sliced through his thoughts.

  “Me too. I’ll call you about that raincheck,” Chains said as he backed out of the driveway. He waited until she closed the garage door before taking off.

  The darkness engulfed him as he hea
ded to the clubhouse via the back roads. Along the way, he saw shadowy clumps of cacti and sagebrush, small hillocks, and large rock formations.

  The evening flashed through his mind and he had to admit that he’d had a real good time. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d enjoyed an evening with a woman, and they hadn’t even hooked up. Chains accelerated and embraced the icy wind as it stung his face and whipped around him.

  He didn’t need a citizen, especially Autumn, who was reeling from the breakup with his brother. Seeing Bret hadn’t seemed to push her over the edge, which was a good sign—it meant the healing had begun.

  So it was time for him to back the fuck away—as far away as possible.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Autumn balanced a cup of caffè mocha and a slice of chocolate chip pumpkin bread in her hands and weaved through the stream of customers until she reached the table in the corner. Just as she plopped down onto the paisley blue-and-green cushion of the wooden chair, she heard Sadie call out her name. Looking up, she waved her friend over, then pushed aside her purse and the basket of creamers to make room at the small table for two.

  “It’s freezing outside,” Sadie said, setting her oversized handbag on a chair. “Sorry, I’m late—work has been crazy all week.” Then, she checked out Autumn’s coffee and sweet bread. “What did you get?”

  “The usual. I’m so predictable.” Autumn rolled her eyes.

  “How’s the pumpkin bread?” Sadie shrugged off her down coat.

  “Delicious and decadent as always.” Autumn broke off a piece and popped it in her mouth.

  “Looks good, but I’ll probably go with my usual—a double chocolate brownie. I’ll be right back.”

  As Autumn waited for her friend to return, she glanced out the window and saw a motorcycle parked across the street. Her pulse raced as it had a tendency to do whenever she heard or saw a bike. Before she’d met Chains, Autumn hardly noticed motorcycles unless they were loud or cut in front of her in traffic.

  Of course her thoughts were filled with Chains—that, too, had become a habit. What the hell was she going to do about him? As much as she rationalized the disaster her life would become if she pursued anything with him, her body and gut told her to throw caution to the wind. And what type of relationship would they have? Friends with benefits? I could never do that. And I’d probably be one of many he’d share his bed with. Damn, why can’t I find a normal guy? I thought I did. Bret seemed normal at first. But her gut twisted with that thought. Remembering the multitude of times that Bret had canceled their dates due to work or to hang out with his buddies came back with a startling clarity. And what about that time when he took me out for a romantic dinner for my birthday and all he did was look at his fucking phone. No, the truth was that Autumn had ignored the signs until she didn’t, and she’d dealt with the troubling aspects of their relationship, sometimes gracefully, often haltingly. Soon afterward, Bret had broken it off, and relief had been the lingering feeling from the fallout.