by Jamie Begley
Jo was stupefied as Rider shut her truck door. Turning on the engine, she cranked the heat on high and started her windshield wipers. The window was covered in fine snow, and it took several swipes before she was able to see out it. And when she could, what she saw was Rider watching her from the sidewalk, his hands in his pockets, and his shoulders hunched from the cold wind.
Shivering, she got the hell out of there, not waiting for the truck to warm up. She could practically see her breath in the cold air. She needed to find a place to change her clothes before she froze to death. The diner and the gas station were closed. That left only one other option if she didn’t want to go home, which would be a waste of time. As soon as the partygoers hit the slick roads, she would spend the rest of night working.
Her choice made, she drove to Rosie’s. Come hell or high water, Mick would keep the bar open until four.
The parking lot was covered in snow, so she parked to the side of the bar and pulled in longways. Pushing her seat back, Jo slipped her feet into her boots, not bothering to lace them before gathering her change of clothes and getting out of the truck, leaving it idling to warm up.
“How was the auction?”
Mick’s greeting put her teeth on edge. “Don’t ask. You mind if I use your restroom to change?”
“Help yourself. I’ll make a fresh pot of coffee for you.”
It didn’t take her long to change. She was sitting at the bar before the coffee was finished brewing.
“You want me to fill your thermos for you?”
Jo blew on the steaming coffee as she slid her thermos across the bar. “I’d appreciate it. It’s going to be a long night. I’ll plow the parking lot for you. Call me when you’re ready to go home, and I’ll give you a ride.”
“I can drive,” Mick argued.
“Not on those roads. Besides, why take the chance when I’m perfectly willing to give you a ride home and bring you back tomorrow when you’re ready to open?”
“Okay, okay. I know better than to argue with you.” Mick went to the other side of the bar, taking out a small canvas bag he had stored under the counter. “I packed you a small dinner.”
Jo stared at the nylon bag, a lump forming in her throat. “You shouldn’t have …”
“I knew with the weather forecast that you might get too busy to eat, and I didn’t think you would eat much at the auction. Was I right?”
“Yes.”
“Then I don’t have to worry about you getting hungry. You don’t take care of yourself.”
Jo gave a wry twist of her lips. “It’s not like I’ll starve to death if I miss a meal.”
Mick studied her critically. “If you don’t get the fridge and oven fixed, I’m going to see they get fixed myself.”
“You worry too much,” Jo scoffed. Taking her dress, the meal Mick had made for her, and her thermos, she stood. “Put them on my tab. I get paid this week, and I’ll pay what I owe.”
“You don’t owe me a dime. I told you that we’d take it out in trade. You keep my parking lot plowed, and I’ll keep feeding you.”
“And I told you that doesn’t work for me. You let me pay you, or I’ll stop coming in.”
“You’re a pain in my ass.”
“You love me anyway.”
“Yes, I do. I couldn’t love you any more if you were my own daughter.”
“I love you, too. I better get busy plowing your lot before those Last Riders come in, wanting their nightcap.”
“You’re not leaving until you tell me who won the auction for a date with you.”
She nearly left without telling him. If she didn’t think one of The Last Riders would tell him when they came in, she wouldn’t have. Mick liked the bikers, and Jo didn’t trust herself not to complain about who had won.
“Rider did.”
“Rider won?” Mick gaped. “He said he wasn’t bidding. You sure he won?”
“Yes, Mick, I’m sure.”
“Damn, I wish Moon or Dustin would have. I can see you and Dustin getting along. He’s a good boy. Even Moon isn’t bad. But Rider? Can you get out of it?”
“I wish. Why? What’s wrong with Rider?”
“Nothing. I like Rider. I just can’t see you getting along with him. And I just wish Dustin would have won.” Mick picked up a bar towel, running it along the length of the counter.
“Spill. What don’t you like about Rider?”
“I do like him. He livens the place up when he comes in. It’s just that …”
“Mick … just tell me.”
Mick sighed. “I hear the other Last Riders talking to each other when they think I’m not listening. I’m not going to repeat anything, but he’s not a one-woman man.”
“That’s it?”
“That’s all I’m saying. I don’t want to see you get hurt.”
“I’ll tell you the same thing I told Rider. It’s not a date, date. It’s an act of charity.”
Mick laughed so hard his shoulders shook. He even reached for a napkin to wipe his tears.
“What did he say when you told him that?”
“He said that he planned on changing my mind.”
“I take it back. You can handle Rider. I wish I could be a fly on a wall and watch you—”
Her radio blared out, interrupting the rest of what Mick was about to say.
“You there, Jo?” Knox’s voice came through.
She pushed the button on the side of her radio. “I’m here.”
“Gabe can’t get the snow plow working. Can you plow the main roads?”
“It depends. My rates went up after dark.”
“Just do it. I’ll make sure you get paid if I have to do it myself.”
“Give me ten minutes.”
Jo clicked her radio off. “Don’t forget to call me when you’re ready to go home,” she reminded Mick as she hurried toward the door.
“Be careful out there. That truck doesn’t make you invincible,” he called out.
The falling snow was blanketing the parking lot. Trudging through it, Jo felt more confident on the icy ground in her boots and coveralls. No longer hampered by her dress and heels, she had no problem jumping into her seat. The toasty warmth of the cabin was a shelter from the wintery storm. She was back in her element, where she belonged.
Pushing the button that would lower the snow plow, she made quick work of scraping down the snow and moving the pile into a corner of the parking lot, giving access to Mick’s customers.
When she finished, Jo blew her loud horn, letting Mick know she was done, before pulling out onto the road. Instead of heading directly to town, she drove farther up the mountain, scraping the road. Passing The Last Riders’ clubhouse, she didn’t stop until she reached the turnoff for Rachel and Cash’s home.
Turning down the cutoff, she raised her plow an inch, being careful not to hurt the driveway. Then she turned around in the front yard of the cabin and went over the driveway before returning to the road.
As she neared The Last Riders’ clubhouse and factory again, she turned, plowing the parking lot and piling the snow to the side. Satisfied that all the women would get home safely, she drove back toward town.
Her headlights shining on the lonely road highlighted the solitary existence she lived. She missed her father’s company; the ache in her heart magnified by the holidays being near. She hadn’t even bothered to put up a Christmas tree this year. She missed the things that she had taken for granted before his death like restocking his existing wardrobe or the small gifts she would buy just to put a smile on his weathered face.
Her mother had complained her entire life that her father hadn’t been much of father to her, too worried about his next drink and work to care about them, but Jo saw it differently. He had flaws—she wasn’t saying he didn’t—but his failings had never canceled out the love he had given her every day of his life.
She had been blessed with her father’s love, and with the affection Mick was giving her now that her father was gone.
She was going to give Mick an early Christmas present.
14
“You’re dressing up two days in a row?”
Rider tucked his dress shirt into his new jeans as he watched Jewell throw herself down on his bed, making herself comfortable.
“Got a date tonight.” He buckled his belt, shifting it lower to hit him around his hips.
“No shit. The whole town knows you’re going out with Jo tonight.” Tucking a pillow behind her head, Jewell lifted a thigh, making her T-shirt hike to her waist.
Going to his dresser, he picked up his comb, running it through his damp hair. “What are you planning on doing tonight?”
“I’m planning on having a better night with Moon and Rush than you’re going to have with Jo.”
“Jealous?”
“Of Jo? Hell no.”
“Good.” Rider shrugged his shoulders to make sure his black shirt fit right. “Should I put on another shirt that fits me tighter around the shoulders?” He wanted to show off his muscles to their best advantage.
“You look good.” She raised her other leg. “You want me to show you how good you look?”
Rider laid his comb back down on the dresser, then went to his closet to shrug into an expensive black leather jacket.
“You’re really pulling out all the stops to impress her. Are you going to go through this much trouble when you go out with Aly?” Her lips pursed in a moue of disappointment as she flopped back onto the bed.
“No.” Rider went to his nightstand for his wallet, sliding it into his back pocket.
“So, Jo’s special?”
He stared down at her directly. “She could be. We’ll see, won’t we?” Snagging one of her feet, he pulled her off his bed. With a soft smack on her ass, he then turned her toward the door. “You shouldn’t keep Moon and Rush waiting. You know how Rush gets when you do.”
“You’re throwing me out of your room?” Jewell’s astonishment had her freezing and Rider nearly bumping into her.
“I don’t want my bed messed up in case I convince Jo to come back with me.”
“Yeah, that’s not going to happen.”
“You never know.”
“Yes, I do. If you’re expecting Jo to come back here to fuck you, you clearly don’t know her at all. The woman hasn’t been on a date since she came to town.”
“That’s because the right man hasn’t asked her.” Giving her a gentle push, he got her moving again.
Closing the door behind them, he locked his door, making sure it would be empty when he returned. Each of the brothers had their own room, and most of them wouldn’t enter his room unless the door was open, but if he was able to convince Jo to come back with him, he didn’t want to chance that it would have someone in there fucking, waiting for his return. It was a habit he would have to break if his date with Jo went the way he planned.
Rider felt Jewell tugging on the sleeve of his jacket as he was about to go down the steps.
“Haven’t you asked her out yourself?”
“That’s water under the bridge.”
Jewell’s hand fell away as he started down the steps.
“Rider,” she yelled down the landing.
Rider looked up to see she was leaning over the rail. Jewell seemed about to say something, then changed her mind.
“Have a good time,” she finished when he kept staring upward at her.
Hearing the pinging of his cell phone, he took it out of his pocket. The text was from Jo, telling him she was outside.
Returning his attention to Jewell, he could see the concern she couldn’t hide.
“Jewell, nothing is going to change our friendship. You know that, right?”
“I remember Razer telling me the same thing.”
“And you’re still friends with him.”
“We are, but it’s different now. Just like with Knox, Lucky, Cash, and Viper. It’s not the same.”
“Nothing stays the same. One day, you might wake up and decide to leave. Any of us could. They might not fuck you anymore, but that doesn’t mean that none of us wouldn’t die for you. Just like you will always be there for any of us if we need you.”
Rider knew how hard it had been for Jewell to switch from lover to friends with the other brothers. The men had gone through the same thing when Evie and Bliss had fallen in love.
“I just never expected you to fall in love again.”
“I’m not going to fall in love with Jo. That would be impossible.” Rider saw the relief she couldn’t hide at his admission. “I’m not looking for love from Jo.”
“Then what are you wanting from her?”
“I’ll know when I find it.” Rider couldn’t explain to her any more than he could explain to himself. “I have to go; she’s waiting. We good?”
“Yes. When you get home, let me know how your date went.”
“I will.” Rider opened the front door, giving a hurried nod toward Moon, who was watching the door. He then went down the long flight of stairs to the parking lot, seeing Jo’s headlights glowing in the dark. The lights were so bright he was halfway down the steps before he realized Jo wasn’t in the large tow truck she normally drove. It was only when he was walking to the passenger door that he saw it was Cash’s.
Opening the door, expecting to get inside, he was dumbfounded to see Mag already there. Cash’s grandmother was bundled in a coat with a blanket wrapped around her legs.
“Scoot over, Mag,” Jo urged the old woman.
Rider wanted to toss Mag out of the truck. Instead, he got inside and closed the door.
Placing an arm along the back of the seat to give himself more room, he tried to wrap his mind around how Mag had ended up going on his date with Jo.
“How you doing tonight, Mag?”
“Was better before we had to pick you up.”
“You know you love me. Don’t be so standoffish.”
The demon woman’s eyes glowered at him.
He shouldn’t have expected Jo to give in gracefully. Jo had lived up to her word, not taking their date seriously—the clothes she was wearing said as much. Her thick sweater and old jeans wouldn’t be seen on anyone trying to make an impression. Rider couldn’t imagine anyone he regularly dated wearing them on even the fourth or fifth date. At least she wasn’t wearing the coveralls. She didn’t even look his way as she backed up and started driving toward town.
“Rachel and Cash asked me to stay the weekend with Mag. They want to get an early start on their Christmas shopping. I hope you don’t mind.”
Rider didn’t think she would care if he did, so he didn’t answer. “I made reservations at both the Pink Slipper and King’s. I didn’t know which one you would prefer—”
“Mag wants to have dinner at Rosie’s. I thought you would agree since you spend a lot of time there, and it’ll be easier on your wallet after you bid so much on our date.”
“Saturday nights at Rosie’s can be a little rowdy, but I’m game if you ladies have your hearts set on it.”
“We do.” Jo flicked her blinker before turning into the parking lot.
Rider opened his door as Jo opened hers. From the lights on in the parking lot, he could see Jo lower the tailgate and the wheelchair resting in the bed.
Going to the tailgate, he lifted the chair down, opened it, and then pushed it toward the door he had left open.
Mag had swung her legs to the side so they were hanging down from her seat. Knowing he was facing a smackdown, he still bravely opened his arms.
“May I be of some assistance?” Courteously, he waited for the smack to come. Instead, Mag gave him a curt nod, her hands going to his shoulders.
“Did you climb into the truck by yourself?” Rider asked, lifting the woman down and turning to place her gently in her wheelchair.
“Cash helped,” Jo said as she reached in
side the truck for Mag’s blanket. “He said you would help get her out.”
“He did? That’s interesting.”
“Why’s that interesting?” Jo swung him a sidelong glance as he pushed Mag’s wheelchair toward the bar.
“He didn’t tell me his great-grandmother was coming with us tonight when I saw him at lunch.”
“Didn’t you get my message?” Jo walked farther ahead so she could open the door for them.
“Was Cash supposed to tell me?”
Rider didn’t miss the faint blush that filled Jo’s cheeks as he and Mag went inside. He thought it was because of guilt for letting Mag tag along with them without asking.
Closing the door, she placed her hand over his, preventing him from going farther into the bar. “I’m sorry. I tried to call. When you didn’t answer, I called the factory. I spoke to Jewell. She said you were busy. I explained that I promised to take Mag to Rosie’s when Rachel and Cash went to Lexington. She was sick when I made the promise, so I haven’t been able to keep it. Rachel’s been tired of being cooped up because of the weather, so Cash and I convinced her to go tonight and tomorrow. I tried to reschedule our date, but Jewell said she was sure you wouldn’t mind and said she’d pass on my message that, if you wanted to reschedule, to call me. When you didn’t, I assumed it was okay with you.” Jo started to grab the handle of the wheelchair from him.
He hadn’t answered her call earlier in the day because he thought Jo had been trying to break their date. That Jewell was responsible for their date taking a detour was something he would have to talk to Jewell about when he got home.
“I get the company of two beautiful women, so I’m not angry.” He twisted his hand under hers, averting her from pulling Mag away from him.
“I’m settled. Can I order a hamburger now, or are we going to stand here all damn night?” Mag snorted, reaching down to wheel herself.
“I got it, Mag.” Rider laughed as Mick came from behind the counter.
“Mag! Cash and Rachel finally let you escape?”
“Like I was going to let them stop me.” The old woman raised a frail hand to Mick, who ignored it to reach down and give her a bear hug. “You trying to kill me?”