“Here you go, boys,” Kady said as she passed them a bulging envelope and plastered a smile across her face that Ashley could only assume was false.
“Thank you,” the guy who she had been staring at said. “Business going good?”
Ashley couldn’t help but look up at him again and when she did, she noticed the intensity of his eyes. They were a perfect emerald and shone out across the room. She had never seen anyone with eyes like that before and they were almost otherworldly, as if they couldn’t possibly be real. She bit her lip and tried not to let her mouth sag open with appreciation.
“So, so,” Kady shrugged. “Been pretty quiet this week. Hopefully, after payday, things will pick up again.”
“Well, it looks like you have a customer now,” the guy with green eyes said as he looked over his shoulder and smirked in Ashley’s direction.
“I sure do,” Kady beamed. “This is Ashley. She’s new in town.”
Ashley closed her eyes and took a breath. Why wouldn’t the ground just open and suck her inside so she didn’t have to turn and face them properly looking so foolish?
“Cool,” green eyes said. “But I think we’ll have to call you Blue.”
He started laughing and so did the other biker and Ashley felt herself scowling at them. If looks could kill, they would both be flat on their backs twitching.
“Jeez,” the other biker said. “Take it easy, Breaker, I think you’ve touched a nerve.”
Breaker. What kind of a name is Breaker? She found herself chewing her lip and rolling her eyes.
“Yeah, take it easy on my new girl,” Kady said as she slapped Breaker playfully on the top of the arm. “You don’t get to come in here and harass my customers.”
“We get to do whatever we want,” the other biker said with a wink. “That’s the beauty of our position, isn’t it?”
Kady put her hand on her hip and now it was her turn to roll her eyes.
“You two are just too cocky for your own good,” Kady said. “Now come on, I’m working here. Out.”
Ashley smirked as she watched Kady hustle them toward the doorway. Ashley had to give the girl credit, she certainly had balls.
“Bye, Blue.” Breaker winked as he looked back over his shoulder. “Adios.”
Ashley’s face burned again and she did her best not to make eye contact with him in the mirror.
Just get out, she was willing. Just get out so you don’t have to see me looking like this for one second more.
She sank down in the chair as Kady slammed the door behind them. But Ashley could still hear the ringing of their laughter as they walked away and across the street.
“See,” Kady sighed as she came and stood behind her. “I told you they were assholes.”
“Yeah,” Ashley said as she fanned her face. “I guess you’re right there.”
“They’re only playing,” she said. “But sorry they were so rude.”
“Oh God, you don’t have to apologize,” Ashley laughed. “It’s fine. And to be fair, they do have a point. I look ridiculous!”
“Well, I’m sure Flash and Breaker will be eating their words once they see the finished result on you.”
Kady winked at her in the mirror and then turned on the showerhead to start the rinse.
Ashley relaxed back in her seat and closed her eyes as the warm water cascaded over her head. It felt so calming it was lovely, and she found herself not caring what those dumb bikers thought of her anyway. They had stupid names and were clearly immature. But they were so fucking hot. Especially Breaker. The eyes on him… they were intense and alluring.
No! she thought. He’s just mocked you to your face and he’s clearly bad news. If you were ever going to find yourself attracted to anyone again, you need to pick a nice guy. You’ve had your fair share of pricks, you don’t need another one.
She was trying to be stern with herself. Her inner dialogue was fierce and strong, but she knew that in reality, she was as weak as a kitten. Breaker was handsome and he was dangerous. And now that he had given her attitude, she knew it was only going to intrigue her even more.
Tyler. She reminded herself. Remember your brother, Ash, he’s an enemy of The Forsaken Riders. Until you know what’s going on you’re going to have to just keep your head screwed on and keep a low profile.
“Come on then,” Kady said as she turned off the water and Ashley could feel a tingle on her scalp. “Up you get, I can’t wait to show you!”
Ashley clamped her eyes shut and let Kady lead her over to one of the tables.
“Do you want to sit at one without a mirror so you only see when it’s completely finished?” Kady grinned.
“I’m nervous,” Ashley admitted. “What do you think?”
“I think you’re going to love it. But I’m going to ask you to trust me.”
“In what way?” Ashley was suddenly even more nervous.
“I think you should cut it to here,” Kady motioned toward her shoulders and bit the edge of her thumb with excitement.
Ashley had loved her long hair for years and had never cut it so short before, not since she was a kid. But as she looked at the twinkle in Kady’s eye and thought of how she was changing herself so drastically anyway, she suddenly thought what the hell.
You have nothing to lose, it’s only hair… it’ll grow back.
“Okay,” Ashley said as she covered her eyes with her palms. “Let’s do it. I trust you.”
“Awesome.” Kady clapped her hands together excitedly and winked. “I was hoping you would say that!”
5.
As she stepped back into her motel room, Ashley felt like a completely different person. She had changed in so many ways since she had set foot in Slate Springs she barely even recognized herself. So much could change in a day, and now that she was on her way, she didn’t want to slow down.
She threw the laundry bag down on top of the bed and sighed. After her afternoon in Kady’s salon, she had completely neglected what she had actually gone down to Main Street for, and now she had the added distraction of the bikers that had come in and caught her attention.
She just wished it hadn’t been for the wrong reasons.
She couldn’t believe what jerks they were. And she couldn’t believe how much Breaker had laughed at her and rubbed her the wrong way. But it had also got her thinking.
He’d certainly made his mark.
She tipped out the fresh laundry and laughed to herself as she remembered how quickly she had ran out of the salon and back to the laundromat to make sure all of her things hadn’t been locked away overnight. Her and Kady had had such fun in the salon they had talked and talked for hours and it had been a shock when Ash had realized it was almost four and that all the stores were closing down for the day.
When Kady had revealed her striking new look she had been bowled over. All her life, Ashley had wanted to be brave and lighten her hair so much it would make her stand out and shock. She naturally had pale and luminous skin and now she had the hair to match. Kady had been right about taking it up to her shoulders, and now, instead of wavy, thick curls, she had a sleek long bob that dusted just past her shoulders and was all one length.
“No one back home would even recognize you,” she said to herself as she checked out her appearance in the motel room mirror yet again. “And isn’t that just the best feeling?”
She could have squealed with delight.
She began to unpack all of her clothes and put them all away in the closet. It was exciting being out in a new place and meeting new people. It was almost like being on vacation but without the rush of urgency that time was limited. Slate Springs was fun and the people were kind – with the exception of Breaker and Flash – and she could honestly see herself spending a lot more time there. It was certainly the kind of place she’d like to call home.
When she had put everything away, she went into the small bathroom and began to fill the tub. Her and Kady had made such fast friends that they had deci
ded to go out into Slate Springs that very night and see what it was all about. As she busied herself around her motel room, she couldn’t help but think of what she might wear. She had no clue who she would meet while she was out and about, but she was feeling fierce, and she wanted to embrace her new look and to let herself shine.
She slipped off her clothes and climbed into the steaming water as she swept her hair up on the top of her head. She couldn’t believe how light it felt after years of dragging her down and in that moment, she vowed to never let it grow as long as it had been ever again. She liked the feeling of it skimming her shoulders and she felt as if she were around five pounds lighter. All in all, it had been a pretty good day!
She lay back and sighed. She had no idea when the last time was that she had given herself a day of such indulgence. She had a new look, perfectly manicured nails painted in a very cool and shocking electric purple, and now she was unwinding in a red hot steam bath.
“Ahh,” she sighed. “I really could get used to this.”
She smiled and thought ahead of what she could wear for the night that was already beginning to take shape in her mind. Kady had said she would come and collect her and they could either go over to the diner for a drink or just go straight down to Main Street and see what was happening. Kady had filled her in where the busiest places in town were and she had mentioned a relatively new jazz bar, as well as The Bleeding Bullet.
The sound of the biker bar, The Bleeding Bullet, was something that both intrigued and terrified her. She wanted to go and see what it was all about, but at the same time, she was nervous of not only finding herself in some kind of danger because of her brother, but also of making a fool of herself in a place where she really didn’t belong.
She mentally ran through the contents of her closet and wondered what would suit both occasions. She certainly didn’t want to miss the opportunity of enjoying her new look on the day it was born, but she also didn’t want to get so dressed up that she felt uncomfortable and overdone.
“Skinny jeans,” she said aloud with a nod of her head. “Heels… No, killer heels… and a low cut top that will leave very little to the imagination…”
She nodded again and breathed in deep as her body felt instantly cleansed with steam.
When she was too hot to take it any longer and she climbed out of the bath, she pulled out the plug and wrapped herself in one of the motel towels which was threadbare and scratchy. She scrunched up her face and made a mental note to go to a store the following day to buy some of her own. She hated the idea of using a towel that potentially hundreds of others had used. Especially in a dirty, run down little road side motel.
When she opened the bathroom door, she almost screamed with fright as she realized she wasn’t alone. She clutched the towel close to her chest, preserving her modesty but also to brace herself. The dark figure ahead of her spun around and his eyes were just as wide, glaring at Ashley as if he couldn’t believe what he was seeing.
“For fuck’s sake Tyler!” Ashley gasped. “You scared me half to death!”
Her brother’s mouth sagged open and he looked at her with a confused look in his eye as he shook his head and squinted.
“What the actual fuck…” he trailed off as he stared at her hair. “Am I really seeing this?”
“Oh come on!” she said with exasperation. “It’s hair, and it’s mine… I can do with it what I like. More importantly, what the hell are you doing just sneaking into my room?”
She put her free hand on her hip and glared at him with all the venom she felt.
“You left your door unlocked,” he scowled back at her. “You don’t know this town or any of the people in it and I think you should be taking care of yourself a bit better.”
“Well, it’s good to know you care.”
Ashley reached up and pulled the pin out of her hair which let it fall down around her shoulders.
“Jeez, you look different,” Tyler said. “You don’t look like you.”
“That’s the whole point,” Ashley said petulantly. “I’m done with being timid, fade into the background Ashley. I want to stand out and start again.”
Her brother’s look changed from anger to sympathy for a moment before he shook his head and sighed.
“I knew it was a mistake letting you come here,” he said. “You’re just going to cause me trouble.”
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” She glared at him, unable to believe what she was hearing.
“What I mean is, I was at The Forsaken Rider’s clubhouse this afternoon when some of the guys came back, laughing and joking about some hot piece of ass they’d just seen in the salon. A new girl, they said… Bleaching her hair white. Now I wonder who they could have been talking about.”
He had so much scorn in his tone it almost made her shake. She was embarrassed ten times over and the fact that Breaker and Flash, the two arrogant bikers that had come in and made her feel so badly earlier on in the day, were to blame yet again only made her blood boil.
“You were at their clubhouse?” she asked with confusion. “When are you going to fill me in on what’s going on here?” She stepped closer to him and searched his face for answers.
All she had ever known was The Iron Riders and The Forsaken Riders at each other’s throats, and now there they were, right in the bosom of Slate Springs, and for all Ashley could see, her brother was making friends with these guys. He was embracing them and working alongside them.
“I don’t have to tell you anything,” Tyler said bitterly. “Just keep your head down and don’t embarrass me anymore while you’re in town.”
He marched back toward the door and threw it open, letting in a big slice of sunlight.
“You can’t talk to me like that, Tyler. I’m your sister. I’m not your enemy.”
He stopped in his tracks and breathed in as his shoulders dipped. She could tell he was mad at her, but she didn’t want them to leave it on a bad note. He was all she had, and despite how annoying he was, he was her brother and she loved him.
“I have to go,” he said. “Stay away from The Forsaken Riders. They’ll chew you up and spit you back out.”
He slammed the door behind him and Ashley jumped back instinctively, even though she was at least three feet away.
Now her good mood had been dampened even more and she slumped down onto the bed and covered her eyes with a pillow. It had been such a positive start to her adventure, but now her brother had gone and ruined it. How could she even begin to think about sticking around in town now?
She wiped a tear from the corner of her eye and all she could see was Matt. She could see the way he looked at her with so much pity and impatience, and the way he had made her question everything about herself. She hated him for that. And she wasn’t about to let Tyler make her feel the same way. He was the one person in the world who was supposed to have her back. And now she just felt riled at the way he had spoken to her and treated her like an idiot.
She curled her lip and gritted her teeth.
“No man is ever going to make me feel like that again,” she said as she threw the pillow away and sat up straight.
She looked down at the clock on the nightstand and could see it was just past six pm. She had told Kady she would be ready for eight, but now she was in such a fiery mood she just wanted to throw on all of her clothes and make-up and get the hell out of there.
She picked up her cellphone and opened up her messages.
A: Kady, it’s Ash…. Can you be ready any earlier? I’m almost done, I’m going to head on over to the diner and grab a beer. I’ll see you over there, whatever time you can make it A x
She pressed send and within a minute, she had a reply…
K: Awesome! I’ll be there by seven! See you soon doll xx
Ashley smiled and stepped over to her closet. Seeing as she had completed Operation Clean Clothes, now it was time to set Operation Serious Babe Clothes into action. She reached in and found
her sexy go-to top whenever she used to go out as a single girl, long before Matt and long before the city. She smiled as she realized the significance. She was single again. She was a hunter and she was seeing the world through a fresh set of eyes. The night ahead was full of opportunity and she was ready for it.
Screw Tyler and his shitty attitude. This could easily be her town too… And she was about to step out and make her own mark.
As she looked back at herself in the mirror, she felt as if she was seeing the real her for the first time. For years, she had hidden behind her long, mousy hair and layers of clothes. She had started to cover herself up and shy away since she had met Matt. But now that he was out of her life it was time to embrace who she truly was. And she was a platinum blonde goddess who was about to show the world what she was made of.
She nipped in her waist and looked at how amazing her figure looked. Even though she hadn’t worked out for a few weeks she still looked toned and curvy in all the right places, and her womanly figure was only emphasized by her choice of outfit. Her sexy, single top was still as dazzling as ever and showed off the mound of her breasts just enough for it to not appear slutty, and her jeans fit so perfectly they were an absolute dream.
“Okay, let’s do this.” She grinned to herself as she picked up her purse.
It was only six thirty but she stepped out of the motel and locked the door behind her. She checked out her car in the parking lot and then she looked around for any sign of Tyler. She knew she would recognize his bike but it was nowhere to be seen, and she felt relieved that they weren’t going to have another run-in.
She started out to the side of the highway and looked both ways. Out in the distance she could hear the rumbling of juggernauts thundering their way across the desert and it made her arms prickle with goosebumps. She wondered how many times she would be woken by them as they flew past the motel at night and passed through town.
BREAKER (Forsaken Riders MC Romance Book 14) Page 4