She didn’t dare breathe, her whole body was frozen. As he held her stare all she could focus on was how handsome he was and how he was pretty much undressing her with his eyes. No one had ever looked at her like that… and it was turning her on. Big time.
The machine juddered to life and dropped a can of diet coke at the bottom with a loud thump. Gunner reached down and picked it up for her and slid it into her hand.
“Hope to see you around,” he said as she took it from him and smiled.
“Me too,” Courtney said as she turned on her heel and began to walk away from him to the door of her room.
It had been the most intense and sexy meeting of her entire life. And now she had looked into his eyes, she knew that he had to be related to King. Gunner was going to be someone important to her, and to Slate Springs and the Forsaken Riders. She could feel it in her bones… and now, she couldn’t wait to see him again.
6.
Courtney spent the rest of her day lying on her bed in the motel room and looking up at the ceiling. She was tingling with anticipation and she couldn’t stop thinking about Gunner. His eyes were so dark and intense they made her bones shake… and his voice… it was incredible…
Even if he hadn’t born a similar resemblance to King, the man she had secretly lusted after since she had arrived in town, she still would have found him unbelievably attractive. It wasn’t just his looks… it was the way he carried himself, the way he had so much confidence and was at ease with himself and who he was in the world. She could tell instantly that he was an alpha male, one who wouldn’t be afraid to go out there and get exactly what he wanted in life. And the way he spoke, his gruff voice and the way he seemed to ooze sex appeal was just pulling her in even more.
The one thing that she couldn’t get out of her head was why he had chosen to part ways with the Forsaken Riders in the first place. Courtney didn’t know much about bike gang land, but she knew that leaving a charter wouldn’t have been easy. She had seen how fiercely loyal and committed the members of the Forsaken were, and she could never imagine one of them leaving for anything but a life or death situation.
She rubbed her temples and exhaled. Her day off had been spent in turmoil, churning the events of the day over and over. All she wanted to do was ask King who Gunner was and why he was back in town… but she knew she couldn’t.
As she got up and began to get ready for her shift that evening, she opened her closet and looked inside. She had such a large selection of cut off shorts and t-shirts that she almost wore them as a uniform… but since her encounter with Gunner, she was feeling on top of the world and as if her inner sex kitten needed to be released.
She pulled out a tight black dress and some heels and slipped them over her slinky frame. She often looked at the girls who danced night in and night out, and she considered dressing more girly to match the vibe of the venue, but her stubbornness and the fact that she didn’t want any of the customers chatting her up prevented her from doing it.
She looked at herself in the mirror. Her hair just skimmed the tops of her shoulders and as she winged out her eyeliner and smoothed some bright red lipstick across her lips she recognized the girl she used to be. Before she had come to Slate Springs, Courtney had been someone else entirely. She had been more confident and she had embraced her sexuality and womanhood… since she had left her hometown and travelled across the country, she had lost a sense of who she was… and now she was determined to get it back.
“It’s time to show the men of Slate Springs who Courtney really is,” she smirked. “No more of the shy, timid, tomboy who’s heaved heavy crates around the club for the past four months. And, no more of the girl who turns up there on a Friday night in sneakers. I’m one of the managers at Tanner’s bar… and I’m going to command that room when I walk in.”
She smiled at her reflection and felt empowered. And in that moment she realized that she could have anything in life, as long as she wanted it enough. And she knew what she wanted.
She wanted Gunner.
She picked up her purse, opened the door to her motel room and swept out into the night. It was Saturday and she knew that the club would be busy and bouncing, and for the first time in a long time, she couldn’t wait to get to work.
***
As she approached the club she could see and hear that it was already jam packed. The rumble of music and the roar of motorcycles filled the air for miles around. She walked slowly, perfecting her entrance in her head, just in case Gunner was already inside when she got there. She had noticed his truck was still at the motel, but the bike he had had strapped to the back was gone.
As she pushed the door open and entered the fray, she looked straight up to the stage to see Chrystal shaking her stuff. Courtney trotted quickly over to the bar and slipped behind it, pushing her purse down deep below the counter to the back of one of the shelves.
Another girl was working with her and had been doing the day shift. Courtney smiled at her and asked her how the night had been so far…
“Rammed,” Jill said. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
She could tell that Jill was looking at her, giving her the once over and wondering about her new look. Courtney pretended as if nothing was different and got straight to work, she slipped one side of her hair behind her ear, smiled as wide as she could and leaned over the bar to ask one of the customers what he wanted.
The night was busy and she didn’t even have chance to take a look around to see if she could spy Gunner. But she was glad. She didn’t want to be the one to spot him first. She wanted to see if he would come to her, or even if he would recognize her at all after her change of style.
***
It wasn’t long before even more men filtered through the doors and it became almost impossible to see through the crowds. The dancers on the stage were all nude apart from their teeny, tiny thongs and they wrapped their hands around the poles as they licked their fingers and made eyes at their customers whilst thrusting their hips.
Courtney had even found that she was getting quite a bit of attention. With her change of dress and the heels she was wearing, she noticed how many of the men that approached the bar stared at her intently and watched the way she moved. Usually she would have been mostly covered up and have her hair out of her face, but with her bob swishing across her shoulders and her slinky dress, she could tell that she was hitting the spot for a lot of the men in Tanner’s.
“Can I take a break?” Jill asked with a sigh as she leaned over to Courtney. It was only 9pm, but she was aware that Jill had been on her feet for most of the day.
“Sure,” she smiled. “But do me a favor and take it out back. We’re so busy I don’t want any people gathering in the doorways.”
Jill nodded and picked up her purse. Courtney leaned back against the bar and watched as she pushed her way politely through the crowd and made her way to the back of the room, next to the stage, and went out of the double swing doors that led down to the dressing rooms.
Whilst she was staring off into space, she didn’t notice the main doors open, and the small hustle that came from behind her. The first time she was aware that something was wrong, was when a couple of guys at the bar started nudging each other and nodding towards the main door. She could hear the hissing of whispers and she turned to follow their gaze to see who they were looking at…
At the doorway to Tanner’s, walking in with his head held high and a mean look on his face, was Gunner.
Courtney felt her breath catch in her throat and for a moment she was transfixed. Unable to look anywhere but at the sexy man before her. The crowd was rapidly becoming quieter and the noise in the place went to almost silent, apart from the blare of the music, now sounding completely out of place in the quiet room.
Courtney looked around nervously, waiting for someone to speak… it seemed to take an eternity, but finally, out of the crowd, King stepped forward.
He and Gunner stood opposite each other, starin
g deep into each other’s eyes. The expressions on both of their faces were mean and angry, and Courtney felt her heart rate spike as she feared a huge fight.
“Oh God,” she whispered to herself. “What’s about to happen…”
She held her hand up to her mouth to shield her shock and the tension around them was escalating. Everyone in the club seemed to know who Gunner was, and they were all waiting with baited breath…
“So here you are brother,” King said sternly.
Courtney almost closed her eyes, sure that one of them was about to swing a punch… but then, in a complete change of direction, suddenly a smile spread wide across King’s face and Gunner followed suit.
The two men lunged at each other with open arms and pulled each other into a welcoming embrace. The room cheered and as King patted Gunner heartily on the back, Courtney finally allowed herself to breathe. Everything was going to be okay…
“Everyone!” King shouted above the crowd noise and the music was quickly shut off.
The whole room turned their attention to King and Gunner, and what they were about to say.
“As most of you know,” King began. “This man here… is my brother.”
Courtney smiled to herself, pleased with her intuition.
“He has been away from Slate Springs and the Forsaken Riders for almost five years. But now he’s back, and he’s here to help us.”
The rest of the bike gang had crowded close to the front where King and Gunner stood and they all launched into a loud roaring cheer before they went up to Gunner one by one and started to greet him.
“For one night only,” King continued. “The drinks are on the house!”
Everyone in the whole club cheered and Courtney suddenly felt the surge of bodies pushing their way towards her at the bar.
She moved back instinctively, almost frightened that they were going to trample her, even with the protective barrier of the bar counter in between them.
“Okay,” she said holding out her hands palm up. “Okay, one at a time!”
As she started to work through the crowd of people barking drinks orders at her, she managed to steal a glance up in Gunner’s direction and her heart almost hit the floor when she realized he was staring directly at her too.
As their eyes met and her heartbeat flooded through her ears, they could have been the only two people in Tanner’s. His eyes were so intense and searching, she felt as if she knew him inside out already. They softened, wrinkles forming at their corners, as he face cracked into a warm but wicked grin.
Even though she was trying her best to stay cool, she knew that she wouldn’t be able to suppress her own smile. There was something palpable between them, and it was intensifying with each time they lay eyes on each other. She didn’t know how long she would be able to stop herself before she would have let her guard down and let him consume her completely.
7.
The night passed by in a blur of orders, the sweet scent of sex drifting over from the stage and the bouncing music. Courtney barely had chance to look up and when it finally hit 11pm she called to Jill that she was going to have to take a break. She reached under the bar for her purse and pulled it free, before she headed out of the main room of the club through the swing doors and went out into the back corridor.
It was still dark in there. The lights weren’t working and she didn’t even expect them ever to again. She walked slowly as she rooted around in her bag, looking for some gum, whilst she wandered past the changing rooms, looked in and smiled and waved at some of the girls.
As she pushed open the back door and made her way out into the night she sighed as the cool breeze rolled over her skin. The stars twinkled brightly above her head and she could hear the rumbles of trucks heading out on the highway.
“Well, well, well,” the voice came from behind her. “I didn’t see you as the type to work here.”
Courtney spun around with surprise to find Gunner standing in the doorway, looking down at her. She smiled and waited for him to speak again. Her eyes were wide and glued onto his, and she was desperate to feel him closer to her again.
“I like the dress,” he said cheekily as he took a step closer.
“Thanks,” Courtney said as she swept a strand of hair behind her ear.
“So,” Gunner said as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a packet of cigarettes. “I’ve been asking my brother about you…” he trailed off with a glint in his eye.
“Oh yeah?” Courtney put her hand on her hip.
“He says you’re a good kid,” he winked. “That you’re one of the people that helped turn this place around after… well… after what happened.”
Courtney straightened up and swallowed.
“I do my best,” she said honestly.
“A lot’s changed around here since I was last in town…” Gunner said as he slid a cigarette between his teeth and lit it quickly with a flick of a silver lighter. “But you’re my favorite change so far.”
He smiled at her through the dark and she felt her pulse quicken.
“Well, that’s good to know,” she teased.
“A pretty girl like you makes it more than worth coming home…” he trailed off as he looked out across the back parking lot of the club.
“What made you leave?” Courtney asked bravely, unsure if she was overstepping any boundaries.
“A lot of reasons,” Gunner said sadly. “But none of which I want to talk about right now.”
He looked at her dead in the eye and she instantly felt embarrassed for being so interested. She looked down at the floor and kicked a small rock with the tip of her shoe.
“I didn’t think it would take long…” King interrupted from the doorway. Courtney breathed out in relief.
“Ha, what’s that supposed to mean?” Gunner asked.
“Just I knew you wouldn’t be able to stay away from this gorgeous gal,” King said as he wrapped an arm around Courtney’s shoulder.
She smiled, but more for the fact that for the first time since she had met King, she hadn’t got butterflies in her stomach when she saw him.
“Like a moth to a flame,” Gunner said with a wink.
“I assume he’s introduced himself?” King asked.
“Yes,” Courtney smiled.
“Actually, we met earlier today,” Gunner stepped in. “At the motel.”
“Of course,” King nodded. “Courtney’s another one who didn’t feel like she wanted to bed down at the club house.”
“She’s got her head screwed on, that’s why,” Gunner joked.
King laughed and reached for a cigarette out of Gunner’s packet. Courtney couldn’t believe it, she was stood between them and she didn’t know where to look. Her heart was pounding and she wanted to be witty and cool, but she was afraid that if she opened her mouth she would say something lame and mess it up.
“Looking good tonight Court,” King said as he looked her up and down. “Nice change.”
“Thanks,” she smiled shyly.
She waited for a moment, unsure of where to look and aware that Gunner’s penetrating eyes were fixed directly on her. She swallowed and smiled shyly.
“Well,” she said. “I better get back to work… the boss here is a real ball buster.” She jabbed King in the ribs and walked back to the door.
“Yeah and don’t let me catch you slacking again!” King laughed as she flipped him the bird and walked as sexily as she could away from them back down the dark corridor.
Even though she couldn’t see them, she could feel both of their eyes burning into her behind.
She pushed the door open to the private girls’ restroom and flicked on the light. She locked the door behind her and turned on the faucet so the water ran loudly in the sink. She looked at herself in the mirror. Her pupils were fully dilated and her heart was still pounding so hard it felt as if it could burst out of her chest.
“You’re a mess,” she said to her reflection. “You’ve got to pull yourself
together and stop going to pieces whenever you’re around either of them…”
She knew the second she had lay eyes on Gunner that she wouldn’t be bothered about King anymore… but just then, being with them both outside, had felt very overwhelming.
“A Forsaken Riders sandwich,” she whispered with a giggle. “Now wouldn’t that be something…”
She shook her head and slapped the back of her own hand before she pulled her small make-up bag out of her purse and dabbed some powder across her forehead and nose. She reapplied her lipstick and eyeliner and ran her hands through her hair to smooth it out and keep it blunt and sharp.
“Best get back to it,” she smiled at herself in the mirror and turned on her heel.
***
Back behind the bar she and Jill were relieved that things were starting to quieten down. Courtney dismissed her and thanked her for her day of hard work and she pulled up a stool and sat behind the counter watching one of the girls twirl around on stage.
Over in the corner she could hear the childish giggles of a group of young women, and when she looked up she wasn’t at all surprised to see Jamie sitting there with a couple of her girlfriends laughing at the strippers and whispering to one and other. Courtney rolled her eyes. She couldn’t be bothered making small talk. She didn’t mind Jamie, but once in one day was more than enough, especially when Jamie was drunk and Courtney was sober.
It wasn’t long before the swing doors moved and she watched Gunner and King come back into the main room of the club. They whispered to each other and King pointed to various places in the room. Gunner shook his head and it looked as if King was telling him something hard to handle. She instinctively thought that it must be something to do with the past owner and Tanner… the more people mentioned it, the more Courtney was starting to piece together what may have happened… and so far she had the distinct feeling that they had been murdered by someone close to the Forsaken Riders.
GUNNER: MC ROMANCE (Forsaken Riders MC Romance Book 4) Page 4