by Jamie Begley
Rider met him before he could go to the office.
“I’m here to pick up Curt’s money.”
He had told Curt to send Tanner, who was the least abrasive. Holding true to form, though, Curt had sent the larger of his two cousins, trying to intimidate him into reconsidering firing him.
Rider reached into his back pocket, pulling out an envelope. Giving it to Justin, he then went to a bag sitting by the door and also gave it to him.
Justin snatched them out of his hands.
“I need you to sign for them.” Rider had the clipboard ready, giving it to him to sign.
“You sure you don’t want to rethink firing Curt? He’s willing to let bygones be bygones. Take my suggestion; you should accept his offer.” Justin’s jaw jutted out farther.
If Justin thought he would buy his bulldog expression, he was going to be disappointed.
“I can’t say the same. Curt comes near the factory, he’ll be arrested for trespassing. If he tries to harass Mag or Jo, I will personally see he will regret it.”
“We ain’t afraid of you or The Last Riders.” Justin’s voice rose, making the employees stop working to listen. Sprawling his signature on the bottom of the release, he pushed the clipboard back to him.
Rider didn’t respond to his threat, taking the clipboard. “You got what you came for. You can show yourself out.”
“Fuck you.” Justin stormed out, slamming the door so hard that Jewell came out of the office and Train left his worktable.
At his hard look, the employees busied themselves, returning to their jobs.
“What was that about?” Jewell asked.
“I fired Curt. Justin came to pick up his check.”
“Why wasn’t I told?” Jewell snapped.
“I must have forgotten to tell you.”
Jewell shot him a glare before going back to her office.
“It’s Jewell’s turn to cook tonight. I’d eat at the diner if I were you.”
“I’m taking Jo out tonight.”
Train blew a low whistle. “Jo’s going on a second date with you? She enter another auction?”
“Very funny.” Rider snorted at Train’s attempt at humor. “Make yourself useful and double-check the list Shade made to monitor the security system. I want two brothers on duty at all times. One to monitor the club and factory, and one to monitor the new system we put up at Jo’s yesterday.”
“Jo buy the excuse Cash and Rachel gave her for being late coming back from Lexington?”
“Cash said he thought so.”
“What are you going to say if she finds the cameras?”
“She won’t find them,” Rider assured his friend. “If she does, I’ll worry about it when it happens.”
“Brother, I wouldn’t want to be you if she finds out. Jo’s more likely to shove your explanations up your ass than listen.”
“Jo isn’t Killyama. Curt isn’t going to take being fired without reprisal. He’s a sick fuck. I had enough of playing his friend to get dirt on him. I’d rather gargle with kerosene than see his sorry ass come to work one more day.”
“I won’t miss him, though he came in handy when we needed someone to work overtime. Still, I’d rather work a couple extra shifts than use him to complete the orders.”
“You won’t have to. Viper sent for Diablo and Trip to come back. He doesn’t want to hire new workers until Curt strikes out at us.”
“Curt’s related to half the town, so that’s a good call. Most of the other employees can’t stand Curt either, but they’re afraid of him. If Curt tries to get them to sabotage any of the orders or trucks, I wouldn’t trust that they won’t cave.”
“Me either. With Diablo and Trip here, we don’t have to worry.” Rider went to the door, opening it partway to see it had started to snow.
“It’s supposed to be bad tonight. The weather report is calling for eight inches.” Train moved to his side, staring out at the swirling mess that was going to put a damper on his evening plans.
“Let’s hurry the workers along. I want to get as many orders as we can finish before two. I don’t want the driver trying to make it down the hill when the roads get bad.”
“Drake is supposed to be buying a new snow plow to help Gabe out during bad weather. He said at the auction the city council has been stymying him.” Train zipped his jacket, pressing a button on the wall that would turn the heat up another three degrees.
“Curt’s father and nephew sit on that board. They don’t want Drake buying the truck because they know Drake will hire Jo to run it.”
Rider hated small-town politics. Bliss’s husband was trying to make a difference, but so far, it was like chewing glass for Drake to get anything done. Curt had the benefit of his father’s and mother’s family connections to the Dawkins and the Demaris, Curt believing he was untouchable. He had been … until Rider decided to stop that shit.
Train left to check the security details as Rider worked diligently to fill the orders. He didn’t take a break for lunch, and when he carried several orders to the mail cart, he saw various employees had remained on the job.
Shade carried a cup of coffee to his station, setting it down. “If I knew you could work this hard, I would have made you manager.”
“You tried. I didn’t want the job. Jewell deserves the job.”
“She does, but she can’t motivate the workers like you can. Anyone who wants off, she gives it and then takes off with them. A manager needs to accept responsibility when shit doesn’t get done. She makes excuses.”
“Then talk to her.”
“Viper and I both have. The orders are lagging behind two to three days before they are shipped. She has to get better or Viper wants me to take over the job again.”
“If you’re trying to make feel guilty, it won’t work. I don’t want the job, and I won’t take it away from Jewell.”
“You want me to be the bad guy,” Shade stated.
“Better you than me. I’m not Jewell’s favorite person right now. If we demote her, she might want to go back to Ohio.”
“Would it matter?”
“She’s a friend, so yeah, it would matter.”
“Train said you’re going out with Jo again.”
“What’s more surprising, that I asked or she agreed?” Rider used the hand roller to tape a box closed.
“I’m not going to answer that question.” Shade’s lips quivered in the semblance of a smile. Taking his jacket off, he went to the order board, taking several to be filled.
“You pitching in?” Rider asked, astounded, not that he was ready to lend a helping hand, but that he would leave Lily alone. Her due date had come and gone, and Shade hadn’t left her for more than a couple minutes since.
“Her friends arrived last night. She’s in good hands. Sawyer and Vida are helping Lily re-organize the nursery.”
“What are Colton and Kaden doing to keep from pulling their hair out?”
“Kaden is using the opportunity to write a new song, and Colton hasn’t had time to unpack. Several of the brothers have been waiting for him to come and give them tattoos. If you want one, you’ll have to get in line.”
“I’m good for now.” Colton was a master tattoo artist. Being inked from Colton gave the brothers in Treepoint bragging rights over the ones in Ohio.
“I bet Diablo and Trip will hit him up when they get here.”
“They already texted him as soon as Viper called and told them to come back.”
The men grew silent as they worked, both focused on getting the orders finished. It was after two before Rider was able to wheel the last cart to the truck.
Viper was standing on the bed, moving swiftly despite the bulky jacket he was wearing. Train and Razer started removing the packages, laying them on the bed so Viper could stack them. When he tied the last ones down, he jumped down, then pulled the sliding door closed.
Rider went to the side, giving the driver a thumbs-up to leave.
“That
was close. Stuart shouldn’t have any problems with the road; Gabe just went by with the salt truck.” Viper tugged his collar closer, his heaving breaths easily seen in the cold air. “Rider, Train, get the bikes moved to the garage. Jewell, send the men home.”
Jewell hurried inside to follow Viper’s order as Rider and Train moved the motorcycles. Each of them had an extra set of the brothers’ keys.
His ass was practically numb as the temperature dropped.
“That salt isn’t going to do any good if it gets much colder,” Rider said, getting off Moon’s bike.
“Worried about your date?” Train gave him a sideways glance as he got off Gavin’s.
“No. I’m not letting Jo out of it, no matter if the snow is ass-deep. It’s the perfect excuse to snuggle together and get warm.”
“You try to snuggle with Jo, make sure she doesn’t have anything handy to brain you with.”
“You have no faith in me.”
“Until you can walk on water or feed the hungry, I’m good with saying you’re not going to get lucky on a second date with Jo,” Train joked.
Coming out of the security room, Shade and Viper overheard the joke. Both took the opportunity to dig at him.
“He could calm the storm; make it easier if Lily goes into labor and we can’t get her to the hospital.”
Rider winced when Shade nudged Viper. At one time, the three men had felt his own barbs when they had started dating their wives.
“He could change water into wine. Save me a trip to the liquor store,” Viper teased.
“Fuck all of you.” Rider took off one of his gloves, throwing it at Train for setting the brothers off.
Train caught it and tucked it into his jacket pocket. “You’re going to regret that when you get the deep freeze from Jo.”
His remark set the men off again.
Rider lifted his nose high in the air. “Keep it. I don’t need it. Don’t you know I can perform miracles?”
19
“Will you stop fiddling with that?” Jo wanted to smack Rider’s hand when he turned another dial on her CB.
“Does it work?”
“Rider, you were in the Navy. I know you know how to operate a CB.” Jo couldn’t keep the sarcasm from rolling off her tongue. He had been irritating for the last ten minutes after she had stopped by to tell him she couldn’t keep their date because Knox had asked for her help. Despite her arguments, he had gotten in the truck to tag along.
She should have texted him. She would have if she hadn’t seen him coming down the steps as she was plowing The Last Riders’ parking lot.
“I thought you worked till five?”
“Usually, I do,” Rider explained as he turned another dial. “We closed the factory early. It was a lucky break to see you cleaning the parking lot.”
Jo rolled her eyes. “Yes, it was.”
“Breaker, breaker …”
She held the steering wheel with one hand and jerked the microphone out of his hand with the other. “Behave.”
“Why do you need the radio you carry and a CB?”
“Knox gave me the handheld one so he could reach me in an emergency. I use the CB to listen to the emergency channels and truckers. Plus, some of the RVs traveling through town have had trouble, and I can respond if they need help.”
“Where are we heading?”
They had just finished plowing Rosie’s for Mick. She had tried to get him to stay there, but he refused, saying he would be bored with everyone in town being holed up from the storm.
“The church, then the diner. You want to go inside and say hello to Carly?”
“No thanks. You going to share that coffee?”
“No, I don’t have an extra cup.”
“You afraid of my cooties?”
“What I meant is, my thermos is empty. I’ll need to gas up when I finish the diner so I can refill it there. You can get a cup there, too.”
“I should have run in to grab a thermos before going with you. We have a couple of good ones.”
“Good for you. I like mine. It was my father’s.”
“I can tell. It looks as old as the CB.”
“If it works, don’t fix it.”
“I have the same philosophy myself. We can go to the diner and get Carly to fill it,” he suggested.
Jo brought the tow truck to a stop at the red light. A lamp beaming down into the interior of the car showed the expensive clothes he was wearing.
“You look nice tonight.”
He gave her a hundred-watt smile, making her wish she had kept her opinion to herself.
“Thank you. A compliment from you was worth ironing my pants.”
“You ironed your jeans?”
“I left them in the dryer too long and they were tangled up with Ember’s bra. And before you get wrong the impression, we take turns doing the chores.”
“Why would your jeans being tangled with Ember’s bra give me the wrong impression?”
“I didn’t want you to think me and Ember are a couple and we do each other’s laundry.”
Jo wanted to grit her teeth rather than listen to him explain his relationships with the each of the women in the clubhouse.
The light changed. Inching up the road, she turned into the church parking lot, lowering her shovel before resuming their conversation as she drove around the lot.
“Rider, do you think I’m stupid?”
“No …”
“It doesn’t take a genius to know you’ve been with all the women at the club, and most of the single women in town, as well as a few married ones. I’m going to tell you something about me. I don’t get jealous.”
“Every woman gets jealous. It doesn’t have to be over a man. It could be over a purse, their job, or the car they drive.”
“Not me.”
“You’ve never been jealous once in your life?”
“Not once.”
“I don’t believe it.”
“Believe it. It’s the truth. Why don’t you think I’m telling the truth? You don’t seem the jealous sort yourself.”
Rider gave a self-effacing laugh. “I get jealous all the time. I get jealous of a particular motorcycle I want and don’t have. I get jealous of some of the brothers’ clothes or boots. I get jealous of someone eating Willa’s candy when I don’t have any.”
“Okay, you win. You’re jealous-natured.”
The church’s lot cleared, she drove across the empty street to the diner, her plow making a path in the snow on the road that Gabe hadn’t plowed.
She was going to hate herself, but she was going to ask the burning question she couldn’t get to go away.
“You ever get jealous over a woman?”
“Twice.” His good humor vanished as he stared out of the windshield.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to get personal.”
“It’s cool. It was a lifetime ago.”
“From your expression, it doesn’t seem so long ago.”
“It was, so … You never answered my question. Why don’t we go inside the diner and refill your thermos there?”
“Because I don’t trust Carly not to spit in it when my back is turned.”
“Carly wouldn’t spit in your coffee. She’s more likely to wipe a booger on your burger the next time you order one.”
Jo gave him a horrified glance, which had him doubling over in his seat.
“You should see your face.”
His laughter had Jo smiling despite herself.
When she was done with the diner’s parking lot, she drove down Main Street to the gas station, her plow still down.
“Gabe isn’t going to be happy you’re doing his job for him.”
“Gabe and I have an understanding. I help him out when he needs help, and he returns the favor.”
“I can see how you’re helping him out, but what does he do for you?”
“He takes once a month off and lets me earn the money for plowing the streets.”
“One hand washes the other. That’s nice you help each other out.”
“He had the same deal with my father. I inherited it.”
Jo signaled and turned into the gas station. The owner owned a small bobcat and had already cleared the snow to let customers refuel. Parking her truck, she grabbed her thermos before turning the truck off.
“You can stay here. I’ll get the coffee.” She got out of the truck without waiting for a reply.
She was at the front of her truck when she heard the door opening on Rider’s side.
“I was going to get you one—”
“I have to use the restroom.” He lifted a curious brow at her insistence that he remain in the truck.
Jo lowered her head, trying to keep the blowing snow from hitting her in the face. Her cheeks were burning, and not because of the weather outside.
She quickly moved to the side to pretend interest in a bag of chips on display so the clerk behind the counter wouldn’t know she and Rider were together. Peering over the display, she hastily grabbed two large bags, not paying attention to what flavor they were.
As soon as Rider walked into the restroom, she went to the fountain area, hurrying to fill her thermos. She didn’t bother screwing the lid back on as she reached for a large plastic mug and filled that one with the other pot. Jostling the hot coffees, lids, and the chips, she then strode to the counter.
“Hi, Jo,” Claire greeted as she started picking up the chips to ring her purchases up.
“Hi, Claire. I’m kind of in a hurry. I forgot my radio in the truck.”
The bubbly blonde loved to chat, and Jo would usually spend the evening talking to her when she was waiting for a call to come through, but she wanted to be back in the truck before Rider came out of the bathroom.
A small display of cakes caught her attention, and she placed two on the counter next to the chips.
“Haven’t had time for dinner yet?” Claire asked, ringing the cakes up as Rider strolled out of the restroom.
Lowering her eyes, Jo reached for the cash in her coveralls.
“I’ll take care of it,” Rider called out as he went to the fast treats section next to the side of the counter. “What do you want on your hot dog, Jo?”