Payback (Viking Bastards MC)

by Phillips, Christina

  This is the perfect time to tell Rex I’m calling it quits. But my stupid pride is wounded that he thinks all Gage wants from me is sex, even if deep down I know that’s the truth, and the words are out before I can stop them. “Yeah. He wants to take me on a date this afternoon.”

  I screw my eyes shut and cover my face with my hand. Nice one, Amy.

  “I’m impressed.” He sounds it, too. “This is going better than I expected.”

  That does it. “I turned him down. I’m sorry, but I can’t do it. I don’t sleep with people on command.” Okay, so I’ve twisted the truth a little there, but I have to salvage some pride from this mess.

  A strange prickling sensation skitters over my arms, and I prop my chin on my hand and open my eyes.

  What the holy fuck?

  I don’t even care that Rex is speaking. I cut him off, drop my cell on the table, and watch as Gage Reynolds swaggers toward me, looking as though he owns the place and everything in it.

  Did he hear me talking to Rex? No, he’s too far away. My mouth dries and it’s getting harder to breathe. He was hot in his natural habitat, but in Mama Coco’s, which is the least cool place on earth, he looks like a freaking alien sex god.

  I’m so screwed.

  …

  Gage

  I’ve never chased after a girl in my life, and up until a couple of hours ago had no intention of hunting Amelia down. If she wanted out, then fuck her.

  Except her cute smile and the way she waved her finger at me kept running through my mind until I could hardly think straight. Finally, the question I’d been avoiding all night smacked me in the face. Did she quit because she didn’t think I could respect her boundaries?

  Chicks in my world don’t give ultimatums or back off when it’s obvious we both want the same thing. My head’s telling me to forget her, but I can’t, and that’s why I’m at Mama Coco’s Diner, the place she put as a reference, which is full of old people with little kids.

  Amelia’s staring at me as if she can’t believe her eyes, and it’s crazy how good she looks in the buttoned-up, ugly-as-fuck uniform she’s wearing. I forget about giving her a hard time, as if that was ever my intention, and instead I grin at the expression on her face, pull out the chair opposite her, and sit down.

  She slowly straightens and sits back in her chair. “Well,” she says at last. “I didn’t expect to see you again.”

  It’s hard, but I resist the urge to stretch out my legs and hook my feet around her ankles. “You walked out on me. Need to know why.”

  Guilt flashes across her face. “Kat said she could get someone to cover for me.”

  For a second I’m thrown. She feels guilty for letting Kat down, but not me? I lean my forearms on the table and lean into her space. “Are you scared of me?”

  She laughs, which isn’t exactly what I expect, but it’s a relief to know that isn’t the reason she bailed.

  “Get over yourself. You’re not that scary. I could bring you to your knees no problem if I needed to.”

  “I’d like to see you try.” I don’t bother hiding my mocking tone. She’s a tiny thing, and the thought of her being able to bring any guy to his knees is laughable. “Carry a baseball bat in your purse, do you?”

  “You’d be surprised what I carry in my purse.”

  “You’ll have to show me sometime.” What the hell? Did I really just say that? I’ve no interest in what shit chicks have in their purses, but when Amelia smiles I guess my comment wasn’t so crazy after all.

  She inches forward and rests her elbows on the edge of the table. “What’re you doing here, Gage?”

  I wish I knew. Not that I’m going to tell her that. “You want to tell me why you bailed on me, baby?”

  She doesn’t get prickly when I call her baby, and I’m taking that as a good thing. Christ, what’s wrong with me? It’s kind of funny, in an unbelievable way, how badly I want her to come back to Odin’s.

  “I just…” She drops her gaze and frowns at the table. “I think it’s a bad idea, that’s all.”

  “Why? Because you wanna sleep with your boss?” I leer at her when she glances up at me, and she pulls a face like she just sucked on a lemon. Since when has talking with a chick ever been this much fun?

  “No. Because my former boss can’t keep his hands to himself.”

  “Sure I can.” I wait for a couple of seconds so she knows I’m serious. Am I really having this conversation? “I just don’t understand why you want me to.” And right then it hits me—the reason why she’s so determined to hold me off. Why hadn’t I thought of it before? “Are you seeing someone?”

  She doesn’t answer right away, and I’m pissed off. Why didn’t she tell me yesterday? Sure, I don’t do the whole dating and commitment thing, but I don’t chase tail that’s not available.

  Would it have made any difference with Amelia? I ignore that thought.

  “No,” she says at last, as though she was debating whether or not to tell me the truth. Then she sighs. “It’s complicated.”

  “No, it’s not.”

  “It really is.”

  I change tactics. “What if I swear to keep my hands to myself until you’re ready? Will you come back to Odin’s?”

  Zach would piss himself if he could hear me. Fuck, I’m almost pissing myself. I never thought I’d all but beg a girl to come work for me.

  “Suppose I’m never ready?”

  I can’t help it—I shoot her a filthy grin. “Then I’m gonna have blue balls.”

  Instead of laughing she looks fascinated. “Seriously? With all the girls that hang around the Bastards? I find that real hard to believe.”

  I’m finding it hard to believe, too. Not that I said it to her—hell, guys say anything to get some pussy—but because a part of me means it.

  No way can I let her know she’s managed to mess with my head that much. “Hey, I might be an asshole, but I don’t go back on my word. I won’t push you into doing something you’re not ready for.”

  What. The. Fuck?

  She leans a little closer, almost as though she doesn’t realize what she’s doing. “It sounds like you want to date me. Exclusively.”

  I give a choked laugh, mainly to hide my shock that what I said sounds exactly the way she describes. “Don’t push it.”

  “So you don’t want to date me, you just want to screw me?”

  “Anything wrong with that?”

  She looks as though she’s trying not to laugh. “And being exclusive isn’t in your vocabulary?”

  “Is that a problem?”

  “Hmm.” She appears to consider it. “I guess not, if it preserves the state of your balls.”

  “You’re the craziest chick I’ve ever met. You know that?”

  She’s smiling at me, and it kills me that I can’t wrap my hand around the back of her neck and haul her over the table for a kiss. If she takes me up on my offer, my dick’s going to love me. Not.

  “And you’re nothing like I thought you’d be.”

  “I’m better, right?”

  She groans. “Your rep was right about one thing. You’re so full of yourself.”

  “Where’d you hear about my rep?” There’s something about her that intrigues me, besides wanting her in my bed. She’s not part of the biker life, but it’s like she belongs, in a weird way I can’t figure out.

  “You’d be surprised.” For a second, her smile slips, as though she doesn’t want to think about it. “And I’m not going to stroke your ego by telling you what I’ve heard, either.”

  An old guy wearing a stripy apron hovers by the table, and when he realizes I’ve caught him eyeing my colors, he takes a hasty step back. “Amy, honey, could do with some help here when you’re ready.”

  Amy? I shoot her a glance, but she doesn’t seem to get my message. She drops her cell into her pocket and stands up. “Sorry, Colin. I’ll be right there.”

  Colin gives me another look, and I favor him with a lazy grin that appe
ars to scare the shit out of him. As he turns tail, Amelia sighs.

  “You just had to do that, didn’t you?” It’s not a question, and again I’m struck by her attitude. I know plenty of sassy chicks who’ve chanced their luck by being mouthy when we’ve hooked up, but it’s more than daring flirting with Amelia. It’s like she has the right to say what she thinks without fearing the consequences of pissing me off.

  And I get the feeling she’s not flirting with me at all, either.

  “Yeah, I did.” I almost grab her hand but stop just in time. “And what’s with the Amy?”

  “People call me Amy.” She shrugs as though it’s no big deal. “You can, as well, if you want.”

  I lean back in the chair and run my gaze over her, the way I do when I check out a new hot chick I want to nail. She folds her arms and stares right back, and I have the crazy urge to laugh again. “Nah. You look like an Amelia to me. What time do you finish here?”

  She blinks as though that was the last thing she expected me to say. “In a couple of hours. Why?”

  Before I can stop it, the words come out. “We have a date, remember?”

  Chapter Seven

  Amelia

  I watch Gage swagger out of the diner without even trying to kiss me or grab my hand or anything that I half expected. I can’t believe he remembered his threat to take me out this afternoon and still wants to go through with it, even after I walked out on him.

  A low hum of conversation stirs, and it hits me that the whole place went silent for the entire time Gage was here. Not that I’m surprised. Mama Coco’s isn’t known for attracting smoking hot bad boys. Add the fact he’s also a member of the Bastards and I’m only amazed all the regulars didn’t flee in terror.

  Poor Colin. I’ll have to go and calm him down and promise Gage won’t make a habit of sauntering into his beloved little empire.

  He’s in the kitchen, chugging down a black coffee. “Amy.” He takes my hand, and I smother a sigh. I’ve been working here for almost three years, and he’s very protective of all the staff. “Are you in trouble, honey?”

  “No, I’m fine.” Although, why does he immediately think I’m in trouble? Gage was almost perfectly behaved just now. “He’s the boss of the bar I just started work in, and wanted to, um, straighten out a few details.”

  “Is that safe? Did you see what he was wearing, Amy? He belongs to one of those motorcycle gangs.” He says the word in a horrified whisper, and I bite the inside of my mouth so I don’t giggle.

  He has no idea of the life I led up until I was thirteen, when Mom had to change our name so the Wolves wouldn’t track us down. The fact Gage wears colors doesn’t faze me. It’s only his allegiance that does. Well, that and his blood connection to Axel Reynolds. That’s enough to sober me up, and I give Colin a reassuring pat on the arm.

  “It’s okay. I can handle myself. And don’t worry, he won’t cause any trouble here.”

  …

  After my shift ends, I squeeze into the tiny bathroom and replace my uniform with my skinny jeans and a sweater. They’re not exactly great, but I didn’t dress this morning with a date in mind.

  I groan at my reflection and dig out my makeup to touch up my face. This is hardly a date, no matter what Gage decided to call it. He’ll do anything to get inside my panties, and I can’t afford to forget that.

  What the hell are you playing at, Amy?

  Am I going back to work for him? I’ve already told Rex I’m not going through with our plan. So it’s not like I’d go back to Odin’s with a secret agenda or anything.

  What about Gage’s dad? For ten years I’ve hated him, the faceless Bastard who killed my dad for no other reason than the fact he was a Silver Wolf. I’ll never forget the night Mom told me what had happened. Even though there are things I want to ask her about it, like why the Bastards killed him in cold blood, I never will. She’d fall apart if she had to relive that night.

  I screw my eyes shut and grasp my mascara as if it’s a magic wand that has all the answers.

  I’m not expecting a big romance with Gage. Nothing’s ever going to come of this crazy, wild attraction, but it’s been so long since I’ve met anyone who could turn me on with hardly a glance.

  Make that never.

  It’s addictive. I can’t stop thinking about him. It doesn’t matter how often I remind myself who he is, all I can remember is how mind-fuckingly amazing he made me feel in the kitchen.

  I won’t sleep with him, because there’s too much unspoken history between us. But maybe we can flirt. He seems up for it, which is surprising, but it’s probably a novelty for him. It’s not like he won’t be getting sex whenever he wants it elsewhere. Just not from me.

  And with Christmas less than three weeks away, I need the money. I’ll go back to Odin’s until I find another job, and I’m not making excuses. I’ll start applying right away. Well, tomorrow.

  I grip the edge of the sink and take a deep breath. It’s only temporary. Deep down I know I shouldn’t go back. That I should end this right now, before it goes any further.

  Except I can’t.

  …

  Gage

  I’ve no idea where to take a chick on a date. When I hook up, that’s all it is. Sex. Where the fuck am I going to take Amelia? If we were going out tonight, I could take her to a club, but where do we go in the middle of the afternoon? I guess I could ask Zach, since he’s gone all domestic since meeting Grace, but I’m not sure the grief he’d give me is worth it.

  Tod ambles into the kitchen, and I shove my cell back into my pocket. Not that he’d be able to see I was surfing the net searching for clues on first dates. I scowl at him, but he doesn’t notice as he reaches for the coffee.

  “Need to find another girl if Amelia isn’t coming back,” he says, as he scratches his balls through his baggy jocks. When I first took over Odin’s, I didn’t care about having to share the apartment with my cousin, but he’s such a fucking slob, and after five years of living together, it’s getting on my nerves.

  I grunt in reply, since instead of persuading Amelia to come back to work, I’ve still no idea whether she is or not.

  “Fuck, she was hot.” He takes a swallow of black coffee and misses the glare I shoot him. “You should’ve seen what she wore to her interview. Tits to fucking die for.”

  If Tod wasn’t family I swear I would’ve buried him in the backyard years ago. “Shut the fuck up about Amelia.”

  He leers at me from across the kitchen. “Saw you couldn’t take your eyes off her. Is that why she quit?”

  “You want me to break your nose again or what?”

  His grin vanishes. “Hey, I’m just messing with you. I didn’t know you and her were…whatever. It’s all cool, cuz.”

  It’s not fucking cool because I just lost my shit over a chick. And Tod’s giving me a speculative look, as though he thinks something’s going on. Since when do I care what other guys say about a girl I want?

  Since Amelia walked into Odin’s.

  …

  I park just down the street from the diner so I can see when Amelia leaves, but not so close that the owner thinks I’m casing the joint. I get off my bike and don’t miss the way people cross the road in order to avoid me, as though they think I’m going to cut them down if we make eye contact.

  It doesn’t bother me. I’m used to the looks, but I’m not used to hanging around quiet streets with no bar or dealer in sight. The diner seems to be the local magnet for families, although the old guy across the road, wearing a coat that’s flapping around his ankles, looks as out of place as me.

  My gaze sharpens on him. Is he the same guy I saw earlier today after I left Amelia? As I take a step toward him, he vanishes down a side street, almost like he knew I was watching him.

  “Hey.”

  I swing around and see Amelia standing there smiling at me. She’s fucking gorgeous. What was I thinking when I told her I’d keep my hands to myself until she changed her mind?

/>   “You ready?” I might’ve shot myself in the balls with my insane promise, but at least she’ll wrap her body around me when we get on the bike.

  “Sure.” She runs the tip of her finger along my handlebars, and there’s no mistaking the awe on her face as she checks out the Harley. “Where’re we going?”

  “Wait and see.” I hope to hell no one else I know sees where I take her.

  “Okay.” She looks like she’s trying not to laugh again, as though she knows how hard this is for me. “Your bike or my car?”

  I scoff. “I’m not getting in your car.”

  She slings her purse across her shoulders, takes my spare helmet, and waits until I’m back on the bike before she swings her leg over. It’s like she’s done this a thousand times before, and disappointment stabs through me when she clutches the grab rail behind her instead of me.

  It doesn’t take long to get there. She pulls off the helmet, shakes her head, and gives me a disbelieving look. “We’re going to the movies?”

  “Yeah.” Fuck, I thought she’d be impressed, especially since it’s some chick-flick shit. I stroll inside as though I’m used to doing this stuff, even though I don’t remember the last time I even went to the movies. I download everything I want to watch. Who doesn’t?

  “Are you sure you want to do this?” She’s on her toes, leaning toward me but not quite touching. “I thought you’d take me to a bar or something.”

  I frown. “You want to go to a bar?” I sure as hell do. Just shows how much I suck at this whole dating thing.

  It’s not a date…

  Yes, it fucking is.

  “No, of course not.” She presses her palm against my bicep to keep her balance, but I’ll take it. “This is awesome. I was going to see this movie with my sisters next week.”

  “Huh.” So, she has sisters. Not sure why I think that’s important, but I file it away.

  “Do you want me to get popcorn and drinks?”

  I can’t help it and glance around, just double-checking that I don’t recognize anyone. If this ever gets back to my brothers, my life won’t be worth living. “I’ll get it.”