"Mom, if you want me to be there sometime this millennium you're gonna have to let me go, you can regale me with stories of Char's sorcery over dinner okay beautiful?"
"Oh alright, you didn't defile your body any more since I last saw you did you?"
"Mom..."
"Okay okay, it's just I despair of what you'll do to yourself next, and please for the sake of my sanity be careful on that death trap you like to get around on, I don't know what's wrong with that perfectly nice Volvo I got for your last birthday."
"Im not a sixty year old virgin..."
"Colton Anthony Lyon, you watch your mouth."
I could hear the laughter in her scolding, good old mom, you gotta love her, she never gives up.
"See you soon beautiful."
I rang off and went home, it promised to be a long night at the Lyon's dinner table, mom took her crack pot friend Char's words as gospel and will nit pick me to death about every female I met today.
If she only knew that the only female I met today was a timid little thing that I wouldn't touch with a ten foot pole.
I was ready for her the next day at seven thirty, I'd spent way too much time last night dwelling on her and how she would fit in here, not to mention trying really hard not to picture her face every time mom mentioned Char's predictions.
I put all of that out if my head as I awaited her arrival, I needed my head examined for even going through with this.
This person will be working very closely with me and I'm a hard task master.
I like things done a certain way and if they weren't I wasn't always too kind in showing my displeasure if you know what I mean, I could be a mother fucker when it comes to my business and if this chick turned out to be a thin skinned broad who cries and gets emotional at the drop of a hat she was fucked.
* * *
I'm extremely nervous, it's my first day on the job and already I'm dreading it. The work shouldn't be a problem, I'm kinda smart so taking orders and putting them into a computer spread sheet should be easy enough, but Jared hadn't told me his boss was so...male.
Then again Jared doesn't know my little secret, no one does.
"Kat you sure you want to do this so soon, why don't you give yourself some time?"
"It's okay dad, I need to stay busy, don't worry about me, Jared will be there I'll be fine."
"If you're sure, I just don't want you to think you have to work, I can give you an allowance until you decide what you want to do."
"Thanks dad, that's sweet but I'm cool, now eat your breakfast and get to work."
"Yes ma'am, you know you don't have to do this everyday I can always grab a bite at the diner on the way."
"It's no trouble dad, stop worrying."
"So how's this new boss of yours, he seem like a nice guy?"
I took my time answering, I knew because of what had happened in Arizona everyone felt they had to shield me from everything but I didn't want them to, I was wounded yes, but not broken, I fought very hard not to be that person.
"He seems nice enough dad, it's just answering phones and keeping track of supplies and stuff like that, no biggie."
"I could probably get you on part time down at the station as a filing clerk or something, just for the summer, until..."
"Dad, I'm fine, stop worrying about me, I'm okay, I promise."
"Okay Kat, I'll back off but if things change you let me know right away."
"Okay dad." I kissed his cheek as I heard Jared outside.
"You tell that scamp to be careful with you on that death trap or I'll have his hide."
"Yes sir."
I left the house before he locked me in my room to keep me safe from the big bad world.
"Hey Jared."
"Morning Kat, you ready?"
"As I'll ever be."
I climbed on the back of his custom made bike the legs of my baggy trousers almost covering my ballet flats.
I loved the feel of the wind on my face as it rushed by, the freedom I felt on the back of a bike, it felt like I could just fly away from it all.
We got to the bike shop way too soon and Jared left me to go in by myself as he sauntered off to the shop in back.
My palms were sweating and I felt sick.
Get a grip Kat he's just a guy, just don't pay any attention to his arms or his tattoos or his face, shit, just don't look at him.
"You plan on hanging around out here all morning Sloane?"
I almost jumped out of my skin, where the hell had he come from?
"No sir...uh..I mean no Mr. Lyon."
"Colton, my name is Colton and I believe I told you about talking to the ground when addressing me."
Shit does that mean I have to look at him, not good.
I lifted my head and hoped for the best.
Well hell, didn't the man wear anything other than muscle shirts, how's a body supposed to breathe around all that hotness.
Down girl he's way out of your league.
I took a deep breath and tried again.
"Colton, I'm ready to get to work if you'll just show me where to start."
Good, my voice didn't crack or anything.
He turned to lead the way into the office, and I got a look at his buns, shit, was there anything about the man that wasn't perfect?
And how had I forgotten that I would be working this close to him, please God let him spend most of his time in the shop and not cooped up here in this office with me, I wouldn't last a week.
"Something on my ass?" Oh shit, kill me now, the worlds hottest man had just caught me staring at his ass, my mortification knew no bounds.
* * *
Chapter 3
"Oh no, uhmmmm, I wasn't looking at your...uhmmmm,my mind just wandered there for a minute."
Yep, right into the gutter.
He kept going and dropped it thank God.
I shrugged my shoulders trying to keep the too large suit jacket from falling off of me.
I'm sure I looked a sight, I hated it, but I needed it, baggy clothes and drudgery had become my crutch since the incident and it was hard to give them up.
The fact is I hadn't really felt alive in a long time, until yesterday when I first laid eyes on Colton Lyon.
A part of me that I had believed died at callous hands came back full force without warning.
Now all I had to do was keep my head on straight and stop obsessing over his fuck hot body and those to die for tattoos.
"This will be your desk, mine's through that door, you'll have the place to yourself mostly since I'm usually in the shop working or on the showroom floor.
No one comes in here when I'm not around, my guys already know this.
I run a tight ship, no slacking off, you get an hour lunch, your hours are nine to five unless I need you to stay a little extra for some reason, that shouldn't happen too often but it could happen.
You know your way around a computer?"
"Yes sir...uh I mean Mr...Colton."
It's not my fault that I was a stuttering, blushing mess, for crying out loud you should see him, he's standing with his arms folded which only makes them seem more built, legs braced apart, biker boots, tight black tee stretched across his chest with a picture of a naked Betty Boop on the front.
His tatts are dark and sexy and cover one forearm and runs up to his neck and my panties are wet. So there!
Even my thoughts are exhausting.
He sighed as though I was a trial, whatever big boy, try being on my end of things.
He finished showing me around the office, doling out instructions, his highbrow accent and elocution in total contrast to his bad boy looks.
"You got all that?"
"Yes, I believe I do."
The first half of the day was a snap.
I uploaded the orders from the sheet he'd given me, placed calls to suppliers as he'd instructed and fielded calls for new orders.
Seems everyone wanted an Colton Lyon original.
True to his
word he was only in and out sparingly but each time was worse than the last.
Like now, sweat made his T-shirt stick to his body, he looked a little flushed, I guess from the heat in the shop and the way he was drinking that bottle of water, eeeeeeek.
"What is it now?"
"Huh, what?" Oh merciful heavens please tell me he didn't just catch me ogling his junk, but what did he expect, walking around here in those tight jeans,... that hid nothing, didn't that hurt, to stuff all that in there?
"You've been staring at me with a blush on your face for the last five minutes Swan, you got a fever or something?"
"Yeah I've got a fever alright." Of course I mumbled that under my breath, the man was going to be the death of me, no wonder I kept spazzing out, and did he have to wear that cologne?
"What was that?"
"Nothing, nothing at all sir, just getting back to work here, lots to do."
Please take your package and exit far left, I need a damn cigarette and I don't even smoke.
I turned back to the computer screen before he opened his mouth and almost gave me heart failure.
"Am I fucking you?"
Say what now?
"Uh...no?" Was my new boss hitting the pipe?
"What did I tell you about that sir shit?"
Gulp.
"Sorry, I'll try to remember."
"See that you do."
Would you get out of here already before I combust?
The big guy upstairs must've been listening because he made an exit not long after.
Jared brought me lunch which I ate at my desk because I found that the last person had made a mess of the files, not that anything was missing, it's just that there was no real order to anything.
Around two the phone rang, good, break up the monotony.
"Lyon's Place, how may I help you?"
"Where the fuck is Lyon?"
"Excuse me?"
"Lyon, the quack that runs that outfit over there, where the hell is he?"
"Sir, how may I be of service, Mr. Lyon is rather busy at the moment..."
"Listen girly..."
"No you listen, I don't know who you are and quite frankly I don't care, but your telephone manner leaves much to be desired.
Now either you speak to me in a civil tone or I'll be hanging up on the count of five, one, two three, four..."
"I'm almost there little missy, we'll just see about this."
He hung up the phone.
Oh shit, my first day and I'm gonna get canned, who the hell was that?
Damn, when will I learn to keep my big mouth shut, Jared was going to be so pissed.
Not long after I heard the same gruff voice outside the door followed by a few others, namely Colton's.
My stomach was in knots and I had to throw up.
"Marcus what the hell?"
"Fight's not with you Lyon."
"You have a beef with anyone on my staff on my property, the fights with me Grimaldi."
"I want to talk to little missy with the big mouth."
"What's this about Grimaldi?"
"You learn how to build a decent bike yet?"
"Listen we've been going back and forth with this for the last year, if you don't like my work there's nothing I can do for you, but you're not going to come here and harass my people."
Maybe I should get out there before things get out of hand, Colton was beginning to sound frustrated.
I took a deep breath and walked to the door, I had to fortify myself before opening it.
I opened the door to Colton, Jared and a couple of the guys, Tommy and Pete among them.
"Hey, you the one I spoke to?"
Okay, he did not look anything like his voice sounded, he was dressed like a refined gentleman while he spoke like a ruffian.
What was it with the men in this town not being what they seem?
I wasn't quite sure what I'd done to set him off so I decided to play it safe.
"Yes sir I think I am."
He looked me up and down with a sneer.
"Well now, you're just a little itty-bitty thing, not much to you at all."
Watch it old man with the short jokes.
Instead of actually answering his obnoxious observation I just straightened my shoulders and stood a little taller.
"Was there something I could help you with?"
"There it is, that same snooty tone she used on the phone, that how you running your business these days Lyon?"
Colton started to answer him but for some strange reason I felt the need to defend myself, especially since the old reprobate was smirking at me like a three year old tattletale who'd gotten me in trouble.
Chances are I was going to be fired anyway so what the hell.
"Fact of the matter is you were obnoxiously rude Mr. Grumpy, if you want respect you first have to give it."
"Excuse me young lady, do you have any idea who I am?"
"Marc..."
Again Colton tried to intervene but I beat him to it, enough is enough.
For the past three months or so I've been playing the coward, just because life had thrown me a curveball didn't mean I had to roll over and play dead, and I'd be damned if I was going to play the coward here like I had in Arizona.
"Listen Dragon heart, I don't really much care who you are, from the looks of you you have money and maybe that's why you think you can get away with treating people just any old way, but your money doesn't mean squat to me, so why don't you take your money and your pompous attitude and go fu..."
"Kat..."
"Sloan..."
Jared and Colton cut into my resignation speech before I could get to the good part.
Suddenly there was a burst of raucous laughter as Mr. Grumpy bent double in laughter.
"You've got the contract Lyon." He held his hand out to Colton as he almost choked on his laughter.
Colton looked from him to me and back again before shaking his head and taking the hand.
I had no idea what the hell had just happened.
"Back to work, show's over, that means you too Sloan."
I turned and escaped back into the office.
I waited 'til only Jared and I were left in the hallway, and Marcus had gone off to the showroom with the guys.
"She's not at all what she seems is she?"
"Nope!"
"What the fuck is going on Jared?"
"You'll just have to wait to find out."
Shit, she'd just landed me what could be my most lucrative deal, a contract I'd been after for a year now, a deal that will have my bikes all over the world.
* * *
Chapter 4
"Tell me something Jared, is she going to turn my place upside down?"
"Nah...well not in a bad way anyhow."
I looked at him full on with the do not fuck with me glare.
"What am I in for?"
"All I will say is that it's good to see some of the old Kat again, after what those fucks did to her..."
He stopped short and cut himself off, I felt a burning in my gut as my fists curled.
"What fucks, what're you talking about?"
"Fuck, it's not my story to tell..."
"Bull fucking shit, somebody hurt her?"
Why the fuck was I so angry at the mere thought? I looked towards the door she'd just gone through, what the fuck was going on here?
"I can't tell you man, it's up to her who she tells, just know it was a bad scene, she came out of it okay, but...fuck man it was bad."
I somehow found myself following her into the office, nevermind that the man I've been trying to pin down for the last year was even now waiting for me to conduct business, the type of business that could keep me and the boys busy for the foreseeable future, not to mention make a fuck load of money, get our bikes recognized worldwide, along with a whole lot of other perks.
Jared had hinted at something sinister in her past and foolish or not, I had the need to see her, to make sure she was okay.
She was back behind the computer, eyes glued to the screen in concentration or she was giving a good impression of concentrating anyway.
I took the time to study her, she had her hair pulled back in a tight bun with two pencils sticking out of it.
The ugly gray suit jacket looked like a box on her small frame as she hunched her shoulders.
When she looked up I was caught once again by the unparalleled beauty of her eyes, they were a deep indigo blue, without a speck of black, more than that, the thing that made them shine were the whites, there was no blemish no redness, nothing.
Just clean, clear whites, like a baby's.
I could get lost in them or maybe not.
She flicked her eyes my way and back down again, hunching her shoulders even more.
"What do you have to say for yourself Sloan?"
"Uhm..." She bit her lip and hung her head.
"Sorry?"
"Why do you phrase every thing like question?"
"I didn't know I was doing that si... I mean Colton."
"You want to tell me what went on with you and Grimaldi?"
"The gentleman was a little unpleasant..."
"Tell it like it is, the old fuck is a rude asshole, what I want to know is what you did that caused him to offer me a deal that he's been waffling on for almost a year.
"Nothing, absolutely nothing."
She sure could do I innocent well, if I hadn't heard her light into him I would've sworn she was a timid little thing, but I'd gotten a glimpse of the fire inside her.
"Didn't I tell you if anyone bothered you you were to come see me?"
"Uh, well, he got here too fast for me to do anything."
Don't let that shit happen again..."
The phone rang and interrupted me.
Just as well because I was running out of shit to pick at as an excuse to stay.
Why the hell I should want to was beyond me because the girl for all that she had amazing eyes, dressed and acted like someone's grandmother.
That is, when she wasn't spitting fire like a hellcat.
"Yes ma'am he's right here, Katarina ma'am, no ma'am it's my first day, yesterday."
I heard my mother's squeal from across the room. Shit.
I walked over to take the phone before she said God knows what.
"I'll take that."
She handed over the phone with a frown.
Lyon's Crew Page 2