Rider's Revenge

by Jamie Begley

  The electrician set the toolbox down. “With my alimony payments? Believe it.”

  He was congratulating himself for his iron control when he heard Jo call out from the bedroom.

  Rushing to it, he opened the door to see Jo getting out of bed.

  “You shouldn’t get out of bed!”

  “I have to go to the bathroom.”

  Rider took her arm, letting her lean on him as they walked out to the bathroom. He tried to stop her from seeing the man who was in the small closet, working on the fuse box, but Jo was sick, not blind.

  She came to a stop. “Who’s he?”

  “The electrician.”

  “I thought you said you fixed the fuse?”

  “I wanted to get a professional’s opinion.”

  “I can’t pay for an electrician. Do you know how much they cost?”

  As Jo’s voice rose, the electrician’s beady eyes met his.

  “You paying or not?”

  “I am.” Rider sent him a warning glance.

  The electrician nodded, going back to work.

  Rider heard Jo cursing under her breath as she went to the bathroom. He leaned back against the wall outside, waiting for her to come out. When the sound of water came through the thin walls, he took the opportunity to go back to the closet and warn the electrician to keep his mouth shut about money.

  “It was supposed to be a surprise. When you’re done, I’ll go outside and pay you.”

  “She didn’t look happy at her surprise. She looked like my ex, which is why I dumped her ass. We must have the same taste in women.”

  “You and I are completely different.” Rider was so frustrated by the electrician that he was tempted to shove the expensive toolbox up his ass.

  “You can say that again,” he mumbled into the breaker box as if it would agree with him.

  Fed up, Rider was close to throwing out the electrician and calling the number that had promised emergency and prompt service. One that didn’t remind him of Greer with every word coming out of his snarky mouth.

  The sound of water being turned off had him returning to his position by the bathroom door.

  “Better?” he asked solicitously.

  Her hair was damp under the towel she had wound around her head. The sight of the gray pajama top peeking out of the neckline of her robe showed she had also changed her night clothes.

  “I need another glass of juice.”

  “Go back to bed. I’ll get it.”

  Not listening, she moved toward the living room.

  Groaning inwardly, he tried to redirect her back to her room. Other than picking her up and carrying her there himself, he was left with no choice but to follow her.

  “What is that?”

  “What?”

  Her widened eyes narrowed angrily at him as he went around her to take the juice out of the fridge.

  “Where did it come from?”

  “I bought it.” Pouring her a glass of juice, he then nodded in the direction of her room. “Go ahead. I’ll bring it.”

  “I can carry a damn glass of juice myself,” Jo snarled. “What was wrong with the other fridge if you fixed it?”

  “It had an odor.”

  “Then don’t open the darn thing.” Jo pointed at the new refrigerator. “It’s going back.”

  “No, it’s not. I paid for …”

  She became so furious he could see her visibly shaking.

  “I don’t need you to come here and fix things! I don’t need you to pay my bills!” Jo jabbed a finger to her chest. “Me, not you.”

  Rider saw the hurt pride in her flushed face. “I agree. That’s why I’m keeping a tab on what you owe.”

  “Huh?” Jo’s jaw went slack at his words.

  “The money you owe Aly, your bills, the electrician, the fridge—all of it will be added to the loan The Last Riders are giving you.”

  “The Last Riders are loaning me the money? I thought you said The Last Riders wouldn’t have lent me the money for the tow truck if they had known how deep in debt I was? The money I owe Aly is nearly twice that amount, and that doesn’t include my other bills.”

  “That was when you had no way of generating a new income. The Last Riders are willing to lease your garage. We need to expand the factory. Rachel’s work with hydroponics needs more room at the factory than we’re able to give her. It requires her to be close to monitor the plants and equipment. We can’t give her that room now. But if we use your garage to house our vehicles and bikes, we could use that portion of the factory for her.

  “You and Shade can hammer out a deal that will benefit both you and The Last Riders. Of course, we will take out the money we’re going to lend you out of whatever deal you agree on.”

  Expressionless, he waited for her reaction. He could practically see the wheels turning in her head as she considered the offer.

  “Not only would we rent the garage, but Train and I were talking about how convenient it would be to hire your services exclusively for The Last Riders.”

  “Doing what?”

  Rider carried the juice to the coffee table, not answering her question until she sat down on the couch. Going to the bedroom, he then grabbed a blanket before going back to the living room and laying it across her lap.

  “Basically, doing the same thing you’re doing now, except being paid for it. Plowing the clubhouse and factory’s parking lot, Rachel and Cash’s driveway, the church’s, and Dr. Price and Dr. Matthew’s. You wouldn’t have to answer calls at all hours of the day and night. You could work normal hours.”

  “Winter only lasts a few months; what am I supposed to do the other months of the year?”

  Rider sat down on the coffee table and stared at her before saying, “I know, Jo.”

  A puzzled frown crinkled her forehead. “Know what?”

  He waited in silence for her to figure out what he was talking about. When she still looked confused, he prompted, “I know what’s in the garage.”

  Jo looked down at the blanket in dismay. “You know?”

  Rider could barely hear her whisper.

  “How?”

  If he wanted honesty from Jo, he was going to have to give her the same in return, or partly.

  “Before offering you the loan, I thought I should check the garage out to make sure it would work with us housing our vehicles there. When you were sleeping, I took your keys and went inside. You have a cool setup there. It has plenty of room.”

  “You saw your car, didn’t you?”

  “Yes. I can’t lie and say I wasn’t surprised.” The lie rolled off his tongue so expertly she didn’t blink. That was always a good sign. Going slow, he lured her to the path he wanted her to go. “Does Carl use your garage to work on cars?” He knew damn well who was working in that garage, and it wasn’t Carl. He was testing her to see if she would tell the truth while withholding it himself.

  “No, I do. I was going to tell you when I felt better.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me when we were sitting at the table?”

  “I was too embarrassed about talking about my involvement in Aly’s plan … and showing the number of bills I have to confess to that, too. I’m sorry.”

  Rider looked away from her bluebonnet eyes and her mortified expression, steeling himself to get the rest out of her.

  “You’ve been rebuilding my car?”

  “Yes, and I did Killyama’s, too.”

  “Who owns that sweet ride I saw in there?”

  “I do.”

  “You rebuilt that one, too?”

  “Yes.” She brought her hand out from under the blanket, waving it toward the junkyard outside. “It’s not like I don’t have a yard full of spare parts.”

  “I saw the setup for where you can even paint cars. That must have cost a pretty penny.”

  “It did. I was hoping if I got the contract with the state vehicles, I could charge for repairs if any of the cars were in wrecks.”

  “Why didn’t you just
open a business working on cars?”

  “How many men do you think would hire me to work on their cars in town?”

  “I know several, in fact. Do you know how to work on motorcycles?”

  “Yes. I may not know how to fix a fuse box, but I can do anything mechanical.”

  “Train and I both hate working on our machines. We’d be glad to hand that job over to you. I have two bikes I’ve been wanting restored. Moon has one, and so does Cash. He wants the bike he crashed restored. It was his favorite ride.”

  “They’d let me do it?”

  “Without a doubt. That would give you something to do when it’s not snowing. You’ll even be able to use the tow truck to bring the bikes down from our Ohio chapter and bring them back afterward. You could do something you enjoy instead of sleeping with one eye open, waiting for Knox to call.”

  “I could do both. That way, I could pay the loan back faster—”

  “Whoa … That’s not up for debate. You either work exclusively for The Last Riders, or it’s no deal. You’re so exhausted Dr. Price doesn’t want you to go back to work for a while. You can’t burn the candle at both ends. It’s slowly killing you.”

  “It’s just the flu. I’ll—”

  “Either/or, Jo.”

  “Who will do it if I don’t?”

  “You’ll be forcing the council to hire someone else who can help out. You’ll also be giving someone else the chance to open their own tow truck business. Let them be the one having to sleep in a truck and respond to fatalities. Don’t you want a normal life?”

  “To me, it’s normal.”

  “Give it a chance. What have you got to lose? You may find out you love working in your own garage without the long hours. You would be creating a normal for yourself.” He paused. “Sometimes you have to step away from one life to discover a better one.”

  Jo sighed. “What I’m doing now isn’t working, so I’m going to give it a chance. If Shade and I can come to a deal, then I’ll do it.”

  Rider hit the palm of his hand against his thigh. “Good girl. Now, get back to bed.”

  She stubbornly didn’t move. “Are you going to be one of my bosses?”

  “Why?”

  “Because I’m already getting tired of you bossing me around.”

  “I won’t be your boss, but you’re going to wish I were,” he taunted. “You’re going have the same one I have … Viper.”

  “He can’t be any worse than you.”

  “I’ll remind you of that when you start working for us. Now, if I ask nicely, will you go back to bed?”

  “Why? Is someone else going to show up to fix something while I’m sleeping?”

  Rider smiled. Standing, he reached out to help her up. “No, I just want you to get better so you can take me out for a drive in your car.”

  26

  “Can I drive?”

  “No.” Jo grinned, feeling happy to be out of her house.

  She expertly shifted gears as they left the outskirts of town. The muscle car’s tires glided over the pavement, cutting through the water on the road like a knife through butter. Most of the snow had melted, leaving traces of water as if it had never been there.

  She turned her eyes from the road long enough to see Rider rolling his window down and putting his hand out. His enthusiasm had the memory returning of how he’d looked the night of the auction.

  The loneliness that had been weighing down on her shoulders since her father’s death was gradually lessening, replaced by Rider’s companionship. His friendly and no-nonsense approach toward her sickness had her feeling as comfortable with him as she would with a nurse. The only snag—well, two, actually—was her suspicious nature telling her that Rider wanted more from her than friendship, and her own growing physical attraction to him. He had even offered to blow-dry her hair when she had been too weak to do it herself. She had promptly taken the dryer from him after a few minutes, unable to bear his gentle touch as he had run his callused hands through her hair.

  She had finally talked him into going out for a ride, despite his concern that she would have a setback, by tempting him with the promise of a ride in her car.

  Jo breathed the fresh air in, not concerned about the chilly air. Rider, however, turned the heat on high.

  She was unused to the care he was always exhibiting toward her. It was what heightened her fear there was more going on between them than friendship. She was scared silly that it might already be too late to prevent her burgeoning feelings for him from deepening.

  It was a frightening thought, one that had her going even faster, as if she could outrun the feelings she was secretly beginning to feel for him.

  He only left the window down for a few seconds before he was rolling it up again.

  “Leave it down!”

  “We can when the weather gets warmer.”

  Jo stuck her tongue out at him, then hastily put it back in her mouth when his eyes narrowed at her in warning.

  Embarrassed, she kept her attention focused on the two-lane road, speeding around another curve.

  “You’re lucky Knox hasn’t pulled you over for having your windows tinted so dark.”

  Jo gave a joyous laugh. “He has to catch me first.”

  When they reached Jamestown, they picked Sonic to eat at. Pulling into an empty parking space, they placed their order. Jo grinned proudly as the customer in the next space gave her a thumbs-up as he pulled out.

  “People will be doing the same to me when you finish my car,” Rider boasted. “Mine is going to make yours look like a Volkswagen.”

  “Do I hear a hint of jealousy in your voice?” she teased.

  “Maybe.”

  His pout was adorable, but she wasn’t about to tell him that. Instead, she tugged the mirror down to smooth her tousled hair. Taking it out of the ponytail, she quickly pulled it back neater.

  “Why don’t you just leave it down?”

  “It gets in my face.”

  She was reaching for her wallet as the waitress approached on skates, when Rider shot his hand out before she could get her cash.

  “I’ll be right back, sweetie.”

  Jo knew the woman with the tight black leggings wasn’t referring to her. Giving Rider his burger and fries, she opened hers after stealing a fry from him.

  She was about to steal another one when the waitress came back. Instead of coming to her window, though, she went to Rider’s side, giving him the receipt and his card back.

  “Cool car,” she gushed, bending over until her face was level with Rider’s. “It’s nice of you to let her drive it.”

  “It’s mine,” Jo smarted off, forcing herself to take another bite instead of ripping the woman’s head off the way she wanted to.

  “It is. I’ve been trying to get her to let me drive it.” Rider gave her an amused look, moving his fries to his other hand and out of her reach. “Can you bring me another order of fries?” He held the card out again.

  “Sure thing, sugar. Don’t worry about it; it’s on the house.” She gave him a wink, not taking his card as she went back inside the restaurant.

  “I wonder how the manager would like her giving food away.”

  “Stop wondering. Daryl knows Missy likes her customers happy.”

  “You know her?”

  “I come to Jamestown a couple days a week,” he said, tossing his empty hamburger wrapper into the bag at his feet.

  “What days? Wednesdays and Saturdays?”

  “You keeping track?”

  “Do you take a rest on Sundays?”

  Rider shook his head, laughing. “I never rest. There’s enough time for that after I die.”

  Jo winced at the old saying. “Now who sounds like Mag?”

  “Bite your tongue. That old—”

  “Don’t you dare say what you’re about to say. I’m not sick anymore, and I’ll leave you to hitchhike back home.”

  Rider raised his hands up in surrender as the waitress came back
with his fries.

  “I brought you another burger. I knew one wouldn’t be enough to put a dent in your stomach.”

  “Thanks, Missy. I appreciate it. You coming to the clubhouse this weekend?”

  “I wouldn’t miss it. You going to be there? I missed you last week.”

  “I’ll be there. I’ll see you then. Thanks for the burger.”

  Any enjoyment she’d felt on the drive was gone. She focused on eating the rest of her burger as Rider rolled the window up and started eating it.

  “You could have told me you wanted another burger when I asked what you wanted.”

  “I was trying to watch what I ate. I haven’t been working out lately. I was barely able to button my jeans this morning.”

  Not thinking, her eyes went to his crotch. Then she jerked them away when she caught him staring.

  She had been embarrassed many times in her life, but being caught staring at his crotch had to be the worst.

  “You want some of these fries?”

  “No, thanks.”

  Starting the engine, she pulled out, heading back to Treepoint. She was kicking herself for ever suggesting driving to Jamestown in the first place. She didn’t want to know that Rider was going to The Last Riders’ Friday night party. He had spent last Friday watching a movie with her, as he had the last two weeks.

  It dawned on her that she was better and there was no longer any need for him to stay with her.

  The thought wasn’t as welcome as she would have thought. She was going to be alone in her house, listening to every sound and movement it made.

  With that thought, she didn’t drive as fast on the way home as she did going, every mile bringing the time they had spent alone to a close.

  “You happy with the deal Shade offered?” Rider broke the silence.

  Shade had come to her house that morning with the legal papers that would get her out of debt if she accepted the offer she and Rider had discussed when she was sick. It was more than she had expected, and she still didn’t quite believe she would be starting over without the insurmountable financial worries that had dogged her footsteps for the last few years.

  “What’s not to be happy about? I’m debt free, and I can start work on Monday. He even told Knox already that he needs to find another towing service.”