by Chiah Wilder
“What the fuck does that mean?” Smokey asked as he grabbed the man by the front of his shirt.
“He did sick stuff to her.”
“Bullshit!”
The shaggy-haired man held up his hands. “He did—I swear.”
He tightened his grip on the man. “Like what? And if you lie to me, you’ll be joining your friend on the ground, only you won’t be breathing.”
“He showed her his dick.”
“And?” Klutch said as he walked over to the guy on the ground.
“He touched her.”
Smokey cast a sidelong glance at his brother. “Is that true? Did you touch his sister?”
“No,” Ryan choked out. He tried to stand, but he stumbled. “I’d never do something like that.”
Nodding, Smokey turned back to the man, frowning. “Sounds to me like you’re lying.”
“I’m not.”
His jaw tensed. “Sure about that?”
“I’m just telling you what my sister told me.” Sweat ran from under the attacker’s hairline, trekking down his pallid face, with a rank odor of perspiration and urine emanating from him.
Scrunching up his nose, Smokey growled, “The pussy pissed his fuckin’ pants.”
Rags and Klutch guffawed.
Smokey buried a fist in the attacker’s stomach, and a guttural groan escaped the man’s throat as he doubled over. “You’re not so tough now, are you?”
“Whaddaya wanna do with ’em?” Rags asked as he kicked the legs out from under the guy.
Smokey walked over to Ryan and helped him to his feet. His brother smiled, then winced, pressing two fingers to his swollen lower lip. “Thanks for helping me out.”
“Yeah.” Bending down, he rummaged through the pockets of the man he’d shot in the leg. He pulled out his wallet and memorized the guy’s name and address, while Klutch strode over and did the same to the other man.
“We know who you are and where you live. Consider this your lucky break—we’re not gonna kill you.” Smokey cocked his head to the side. “But if you flap your fuckin’ mouths, we will hunt you down.”
“And your death won’t be easy,” Klutch said.
“Forget about us and him”—Rags pointed to Ryan—“and life will be good. But fuck up, and you’ll pay the price.”
“Disrespect is never tolerated,” Smokey said.
Nudging Ryan with his elbow, they walked side by side toward the alley with Klutch and Rags following behind, the sound of their boots shuffling along the pavement.
“I’m glad you guys came by when you did.” Ryan wiped his nose with the heel of his hand. “I’m sure they would’ve killed me.” A hacking cough erupted from his lungs, and he gasped for air. “It hurts like a motherfucker.”
Smokey gripped his brother’s arm. “You’ve probably got some broken ribs. I’ll take you to the club and have Doc look you over.” He knew Hawk wouldn’t be happy if he found out Ryan was back at the clubhouse, but there was no way Smokey could take his brother home in the shape he was in. Their mother had never been known for her caring ways when it came to them. If Hawk kicks my ass over this, then that’s what he does. He pushed out a long breath. Ryan can be such a fuckin’ pain in the ass.
“We’ll deal with Ray,” Rags said, breaking into his thoughts. “You take care of Ryan.”
Klutch pulled out his cell phone. “I’ll call Bones and have him pick us up.”
Smokey lifted his fist in the air. “I owe you.”
Putting his arm around Ryan to balance him, Smokey led him toward the SUV, focusing on their surroundings for any signs of danger. In the past, he and his club had encountered citizens who didn’t understand that they should never provoke hardcore bikers, and those men had learned that lesson in a brutal way. Smokey wanted to make sure the jerks who’d beaten the crap out of Ryan didn’t come back for an encore with a group of their buddies.
Smokey opened the passenger door. “Here we are.” Loading him inside, he rounded the front and hopped in behind the wheel, bringing the engine to life.
“It hurts like hell when I breathe,” Ryan said as the SUV pulled away from the curb, making a U-turn.
“You gotta stop this shit, dude.”
“I didn’t do anything. Those guys grabbed me, threw me in their car, then brought me here. I was minding my own business. I didn’t do jack.”
“Except flash your dick to the dude’s sister. What the hell is up with that?”
Ryan slinked down in his seat and stared straight ahead.
“This is like the fifth time in almost two years. What the fuck? I saved your ass in the past, but the fuckin’ badge said his damn hands are tied. You’re gonna be charged.”
Ryan just sat there, bouncing his leg against the door panel. From the corner of Smokey’s eye, he saw the fear that crept over his brother’s face, and an ache tightened in his chest as Ryan wiped his nose with the back of his hand.
Reaching over, Smokey squeezed his brother’s shoulder. “It’ll be okay. Hawk’s old lady is a lawyer. I’ll give her a call.”
He wiped his eyes with the hem of his T-shirt. “I didn’t mean it.”
“I know—you never do. You gotta get help with your drinking or you’ll end up like our old man.”
Ryan nodded. “I don’t know what Mom’s gonna do.”
He scoffed. “Don’t worry about her. She’s never given a damn about anyone but the old bastard.”
“She’s still pissed at you for not going to Dad’s funeral.”
“I know, but I don’t give one fuck about it.” Smokey glanced over at him. “I’ll take you home tomorrow and tell her how it’s gonna be.”
“Thanks,” Ryan whispered before leaning his head back and closing his eyes.
In the silence enveloping the ride home, thoughts of Ashley ricocheted Smokey’s mind. At that moment, he’d like nothing better than to have her in his arms again, their lips and bodies fused together.
Shifting in place, he turned the radio on low, ground his teeth, and banished the black-haired vixen from his mind.
9
Ashley was sound asleep when the doorbell rang. Groaning, she buried her face into the pillow to drown out the noise, but the ringing wouldn’t stop. Cracking open an eye, she cringed at the daylight pouring through the half-open blinds. The clock read eight thirty.
“Who the hell is making all this racket so early in the damn morning?” she muttered as she scrambled to sit up.
Covering herself in a bathrobe, she walked to the front door in her bare feet, disengaged the alarm, and opened the door. Staring back at her was Mark Ames, and behind him was a man in overalls carrying a toolbox.
“What are you doing here?” she asked, stepping back.
“I’m here to work,” Mark replied.
“Don’t you believe in calling?”
“Zach set it up. Can’t help it if he didn’t tell you.”
His piercing gaze unnerved her so looking away, she said, “I have plans today.”
“That has nothing to do with me.”
She looked up at him, straightening her spine. “I mean, I won’t be home.”
“That’s not a problem.”
“I should be in the house while you’re here.”
“You don’t trust me?” His voice was slow and steady, but there was a thread of anger slithering through it.
The fine hairs at the nape of her neck rose and she swallowed, her words stuck in her throat. An awkward silence stretched on for several seconds.
Mark began to reach for his back pocket. “I’ll call Zach.”
“No, don’t do that. It’s just … I didn’t know you were coming over today.” She unlatched the screen door. “Come in.”
Mark opened the door wide and Ashley backed away, clutching her bathrobe tight. Without saying a word, he walked past her, the fellow behind him following suit, avoiding her eyes.
“If you could start working in the family room first, that’d be great.”
“I don’t know—maybe a few hours. How long will you be working?”
“We’ll put in eight hours today.”
“I’ll be back before you leave.” Ashley smiled at the man in the overalls and extended her hand. “I’m Ashley.”
He took her hand in his. “Gage.”
“So you work with Mark?”
“He’s here with me, isn’t he?” Mark said as he walked into the kitchen.
Heat spread across her cheeks. Turning away, she started for the bedroom.
“I’ve been working with Mark for the last few months,” Gage said. “You’ve got a nice place.”
Ashley looked over her shoulder. “It’s not mine. The company I work for owns it. I’m only here for a few months.”
“Then where are you going?”
“Back to Denver.” There was something vaguely familiar about him, but she couldn’t place what it was. “Have you ever lived in Denver?”
A slight pause and then he replied, “No. Why?”
“You look familiar.”
“I get that a lot. I guess I have one of those faces.” Gage guffawed.
Figures Mark would have an oddball like him for an assistant. Thanks a lot, Zach. Ashley waved toward the kitchen. “I have cans of pop and bottles of water in the fridge. Feel free to help yourselves.”
Mark grunted.
Gage gave her a wide smile. “Thanks, Ashley. Appreciate it.”
Ashley finally had her bike on the rack mounted to her car. Hard rock played on the radio, and a cool breeze rushed through the open windows as she sped toward the riding trails she’d read about before coming to Pinewood Springs. The area was about thirty miles away, and she hoped there wouldn’t be a lot of cyclists on the trails, craving only the quiet comfort of nature. Ever since she’d arrived in Pinewood Springs, her well-ordered life had been thrown off-kilter, and the reason for that was Smokey. Ashley hissed. Mr. Sexy is proving to be an enormous complication in my life.
The cell phone ringing interrupted her thoughts. Lifting the phone from the cup holder, a wide smile spread across her face.
“Nicole. How’s it going?”
“Pretty good. What’re you up to?”
Ashley turned the volume down on the radio. “I’m headed to Pinewood Canyon. I read there’s an awesome trail that leads up to a waterfall.”
“Sounds like fun. Are you riding solo?”
“Yeah. I miss you and Danielle.”
“We miss you too. We can’t wait until you’re back home. I’ve got a surprise for you—I’m coming to Pinewood Springs tomorrow! I—”
“No way! Are you joking?” A rush of excitement shot through her.
Nicole laughed. “Calm down.”
“I’ve been doing nothing but working since I got here. I can’t believe you’re going to be here. Is Danielle coming too?”
“No. I’m headed to Steamboat Springs. My cousin’s insisting I help her pick out stuff for her wedding and try on possible bridesmaid dresses.”
“Mariah?”
“Yes. The whole Breton clan lives in Denver, but Mariah wants everyone to trek up to Steamboat Springs for her wedding. I mean, we have older aunts and uncles, and Mariah’s grandmother—my Aunt Marge—is over eighty. The whole thing is ridiculous, but what can I do?”
“Nothing. You two are like sisters.”
“The only good thing about it is, I get to see you on the way up and back down,” Nicole said.
“You know how long our talking fests last, so you’ll have to spend the night. It’ll be too dark for you to drive around those mountain roads, and I have plenty of room.”
“I was planning to. This is going to be so much fun.”
“I can’t wait to see you.” Slowing down, Ashley took a left onto a dirt road.
“Me too. I’m starting out early in the morning, so I should be there before noon. I’ll call when I get close.”
Ashley spotted a rough-hewn sign indicating the Visitor Center was straight ahead.
“I’ll text you the address to the house.”
“Okay. See you tomorrow.”
“Bye.”
Ending the call, she took in the mixture of pine and aspen trees bordering the road on both sides. The car bounced through ruts in the road for a half mile, kicking up dust behind her before a large parking lot appeared. A wooden sign, painted in white, hung across a two-story stone building, announcing her arrival to the Elk Fall Visitor Center, where several people were milling around in front of the large glass doors. She switched off the engine and jumped out of the car.
Forty-five minutes later, she turned down a road that wasn’t mentioned in the guidebook. Through a landscape of rocky canyons, aspen groves, and alpine meadows, one of the most breathtaking waterfalls she’d ever seen came into view. The segmented cascades spilled through cracks in the granite sides of the mountains, rushing down into a large lake. Ever since she could remember, she’d been crazy for the thunder and crash of wild water. An iridescent rainbow danced in the mist at the base of the splashing falls.
“So beautiful,” she said as she got off her bike.
Scanning the area, she found a large tree with low hanging branches that would provide adequate protection from the sun’s rays. She took out a thermo blanket from her backpack and spread it out over the fallen needles covering the ground under the branches.
The rush of water echoed in the canyon, along with birds chirping in the trees. The sounds were tranquil, and Ashley relaxed as she sat cross-legged, sipping on a bottle of green tea. For a long time, she stared at the bars of rainbows dancing in the mist, enjoying the natural beauty surrounding her.
A deep rumbling, like the roar of several boulders tumbling down the mountainside, ripped through the canyon.
“What the hell?” Jumping to her feet, she scanned the area, but nothing seemed amiss.
The noise grew louder as it got closer, echoing through the quiet, pounding against her eardrums. What the fuck’s going on?
Then she saw it. Several motorcycles appeared, kicking up dirt clouds behind them. Her pulse racing, she sprinted away, pressing herself against the trunk of one of the trees as she took in the bikers. All at once, the deafening noise stopped, and she could hear the rush of water again, but she continued to cling to the tree like it was a life preserver.
A man on one of the motorcycles noticed her. “Whatcha hidin’ for?”
One of the men snickered. “Maybe she thinks we’re gonna bite her.”
Cringing, she shifted her gaze away from them.
“What the fuck?” a familiar voice said. “Ashley?”
Whipping her head around, she gasped in shock as Smokey approached.
“You know this pretty little thing?” the first man who took notice of her asked.
“Yeah. And lay the fuck off—all of you.”
She loosened her death grip on the tree and sighed in relief.
“Hey,” she mumbled in greeting.
“Hey yourself. I never expected to bump into you here.” His gaze roamed over her face, stalling at her lips.
Her heart thudding in her chest, she looked down at the ground, fidgeting in place. “Ditto.”
“You want some time alone?” a voice from the group asked Smokey.
Looking over his shoulder at his friends, he turned back at Ashley. “Are you uncomfortable with them being here?”
She took a moment to observe the rough-looking men. “They are a bit intimidating, but seeing as you’re here, I guess not.”
His quiet laugh skimmed over her like velvet heat. “I’ll be right back.”
She watched him walk away, admiring how his jeans fit just right over a firm ass. And, of course, she couldn’t help but notice the way his tattoos flexed as his toned arms moved. He was one hot man. So hot, in fact, he had her clenching her legs together, and that’s what made him so dangerous.
The roar of engines once again
thundered through the canyon, leaving Ashley to watch as the bikers began to ride off—all except for one. A vague smile curled the corners of Smokey’s mouth as he ambled toward her.
“Your friends didn’t want to stay?”
“Not really.” He stood motionless before her, his stare pinning her in place.
“I feel bad. I didn’t mean to run them off.”
“Don’t. They’re going to Emerald Lake.” He pointed at her bicycle. “How’d you like the ride up?”
“It was breathtaking. I’d planned to take the guided trail to Falls River Ridge, but I spotted this dirt road and decided to see where it led.” She waved her hand toward the waterfall. “But I never expected this. I love it.”
“Not many people hang out around here. Tourists stay on the guided trails. You want a beer?”
“No thanks. I brought tea and water, so I’m good.” She tipped her head toward the blanket. “Do you want to sit down and talk for a bit?”
“Sure. Lemme grab a couple of beers from my saddlebag.”
Settling down on the blanket, she unscrewed the cap to her green tea and took a sip. “So those guys are part of your club?”
“Yeah. They’re my brothers,” he replied, plopping down on the throw. “How long have you been cycling?” He brought the beer bottle to his lips
“I got into it a few years back. It helps me unwind, as I tend to be a bit uptight.”
“No kidding? Hell, I didn’t notice.” He winked at her, and feeling her cheeks heat, she quickly turned away, which caused him to chuckle.
“If I were in Denver, I’d be working for sure, but I had to get out today. I’ve been feeling a bit restless.” She shook her head. “I can’t believe I told you that.”
“Why not? We all get antsy sometimes. Anyway, everyone needs to take a break.”
“I suppose. What do you do to relax besides having sex?” Grimacing, she covered her face with her hands. “I can’t believe I said that.”
“Damn, woman, I don’t fuck twenty-four seven.” Smokey laughed, and all she could do was groan. “For your information, the thing I do the most is ride. If I could ride all the time, I’d be just fine. When I ride, I relax, heal, overcome, breathe, and just live.”