by Erin Osborne
“O-okay,” she stutters in reply as I make my way out the door so that I can get her car down and begin replacing the tire.
It’s taken longer than what I thought it would, but Callie’s car is finally finished. The damn tire that was on it didn’t want to come off. Once I got that off, the rest of the job went smoothly. However, she did decide to look out the window for a while and all the guys decided that it was time to take a break and stare at her. I was not impressed or happy with the turn of events. It took me yelling at them to finally get them back to work. I must have yelled a little too loud since Callie soon disappeared from view. There’s gonna be questions as soon as she leaves here today. Questions that I don’t want to answer.
Pulling her car out, I take a quick trip around the block to make sure that there’s no more issues before parking it close to the door of the office when I pull back in. I about had my ear drums blown out with the music she was blaring, but I can’t say that her song choice was bad as Free Bird by Lynyrd Skynyrd blasted through the speakers. Walking in the office, I see a few neat piles of papers sitting on the desk while Callie’s head is resting on her folded arms. She’s sound asleep and I really don’t want to wake her up, but I know I have to. The sun will be setting soon and I don’t want her driving around in the dark. Fuck! I can feel myself get hard as I gaze down at the angel sleeping at the desk.
“Callie,” I call out as I make my way over to her. “Callie, it’s time to wake up.”
I gently shake her shoulders and she jumps in response. The first thing I see is her tank top falling down below her bra. Her tits are on full display as she jumps up and wipes the sleep from her eyes. My gaze is looking down at her chest while she becomes aware of the fact that her shirt has fallen down. The swell of her tits almost falling out of her bra captures my attention.
“Oh, um, I’m so sorry,” she says, pulling her shirt back in place and covering her chest. “I guess I was more tired than I thought I’d be.”
The cute blush covers her face again and slowly creeps down her neck and chest. I can’t remember the last time I saw a woman blush the way that she does. It only adds to the knowledge that she’s so innocent and untouched. I’m not going to be the one to touch her that’s for sure. Even if that’s the only thing I want to do right now.
“It’s okay. I took the car for a drive to make sure nothin’ else was wrong. Everythin’ seems good to go. Do you know where you’re goin’?” I ask, as I reach out to steady Callie when she stands up.
“Yeah. I’ll figure out where I’m going one way or another. From what I’ve seen it shouldn’t be too hard to get home,” she replies, walking out of the office and toward her car.
I think she’s about to take off when she opens the door and leans inside putting her ass on full display. There’s catcalls and whistling coming from the garage as she stands back up quickly and her blushing takes on a whole new level. Fuck! Instead of getting in her car, I see that she’s holding a wallet and looking expectantly at me.
“How much do I owe you?” she asks, while opening up her wallet. I’m not sure what happens, but suddenly the entire contents of her wallet end up on the ground.
Running around the car, I bend down to help her pick the contents up when I see a few condoms laying at her feet. My thoughts immediately turn to taking her back in the office, closing the blinds, and using a few of those condoms. But, that’s not gonna happen. I’ll just have to keep an eye on things and make sure that no one takes advantage of the sweet girl squatting in front of me with a look of complete horror covering her beautiful face.
“On the house sweet girl,” I tell her, pretending that I didn’t see a fucking thing so that she can relax. “You good to make it to your house alone?”
“Yeah, I’m good,” she responds, finally standing up with her things gathered in her hands. “I need to pay you something. You picked my car up and fixed it. That’s going to cost money.”
“Nothin’ for you to worry about. We’re straight here,” I tell her, handing her keys back to her since I picked them up off the ground.
There’s a doubtful look in her eyes as she realizes that I’m not going to take any money from her. I stand next to her as she gets in the car and begins to close the door. For some reason, an overwhelming urge to keep her here surfaces and I can’t beat it back down. In the end, I’m going to have to let her go and try to make sure that I keep my distance from her.
“Well, sweet girl, if you need anythin’, you know where to find me,” I tell her, making sure that she knows that she’s not alone here.
“Thanks Mr. Jones,” she says, reaching forward to start her car.
“Nope, you can call me Bear,” I answer, backing away as she offers a small wave and backs out of the parking lot.
I stand there until her car disappears. Bishop makes his way over to me, wiping his hands on a rag. A smirk is already on his face and I know that he’s going to talk some shit right now.
“Whatcha got to say?” I ask, knowing from experience it’s best to just get it out of the way now.
“Not a damn thing. Fine lookin’ girl there. You gonna go after her?” he asks, turning to look at me.
“Nope,” I respond, walking into the office so that I can figure out what the next project is.
Callie
It took me a little bit to get to my grandma’s house. Well, my house now. I may have taken a wrong turn, or two. As I pull in the circular driveway and up to the garage, I park and take a look around. The yard is mowed and looking really good from what I can see in the dusk of night. On the outside of the house, a light is on over the door, and the curtains are halfway open on the windows. For sitting empty the past three years, it doesn’t look like I’m going to have too much work to do on the outside of the house. That thought may change in the morning when the sunlight hits everything.
I get out of my car and pop the trunk so that I can take a few things in with me. It’s going to take several trips to get all my stuff inside, but this place is all mine and I know that I’ll be happy here. I’m going to forge a new life for myself based on my rules and wants; not what someone else has laid out for me. As I get to the front door, I set the one bag down so that I can get the key in the lock and open the door. Once the door swings open, a sudden realization hits me. My grandma will never be here with me. The laughter, talks, and her sheer will to make sure I was the best person I could be would never be heard once again in these walls. There’s an overwhelming urge to break down and cry right here outside of the house. But I steel my spine as a few tears slip from my eyes and roll down my cheeks.
I’m so lost in my own grief that I don’t see a lone man standing on the edge of the property. As I make trek after trek to the car to get my belongings, I’m being watched. The tears rolling down my cheeks continue to go unchecked as I gather up my new clothes and the other things I’ve gotten to begin a new life with. When I have the last box in my hands, I close the trunk and set the security alarm before going inside and shutting the door; closing myself off from the outside world.
Leaving my boxes in the entry way of the house, I begin to make my way through the house. The living room is a huge room with a lot of space. There’s a new TV sitting on the wall with a stand underneath it. I see there’s a DVD player and stereo system already sitting there. Everything has been unplugged as I make my way over to pick up the picture that sits on top of the stand. It’s a picture of my grandma and me the last time I was here. I’m standing behind her with my arms wrapped around her shoulders. My head is resting on her shoulder as one of her hand’s rests on my arm. More tears roll down my face as I remember that day. One of her friends, Gloria, had stopped over and taken the picture for us. I have the same one packed away in one of the boxes I brought with me. We had spent the afternoon playing card games and talking about the future. I’ve never laughed so hard in my life as my grandma described men that were single in town. Yeah, she may have been trying to convince me to move he
re with her.
It’s in that moment that I remember her talking about Damon Jones. The man I just left. She used to talk about him on a regular basis when I was with her. Telling me all about how hardworking he was and what a sense of loyalty and humor he had. My grandma definitely had a soft spot for the man that helped me today. But I remember her cautioning me that he was a few years older than myself and that he has a strong sense of doing the right thing. Yeah, I could tell that today from the way that he wouldn’t let me pay and the feeling I kept getting whenever he looked my way. Even if he wouldn’t say anything to me
I walk through the room and begin to pull the sheets off the furniture that’s sat empty for the last few years. The first thing I’m gonna need to do is give the house a deep clean after sitting empty for so long. Hopefully everything is still good in the kitchen so that I don’t have to go out again tonight. The last thing I want to do is find the store and walk through the aisles.
Making my way into the kitchen, I open the fridge and a few cupboards to see that they’re completely empty. Well, it looks like I may have to make that trip anyway. I’m going to need to eat before too long. Opening up the pantry and then the closet my grandma always stored her cleaning supplies in, I see that they’re also empty. Well, damn! I grab the pad of paper that is still on the counter by the fridge and make a list of everything that I’m going to want to get tonight. I’ll make another trip in the next few days to get anything else that I’ll need.
It didn’t take me very long to make my way to the local store. Walking up and down the aisles, I realize my mistake of coming here on an empty stomach. While I continue to look at my list, I grab everything on it and add in a bunch more items that I don’t need. There may be an addition of ice cream and cookies in my cart that didn’t make it on the list when I was at home. As I round the last aisle so I can grab the rest of my cleaning supplies, I bump into someone. Looking up, I see a man that’s built more like a God than the average man. Taking in his appearance, my heart rate begins to slow as I realize that he’s wearing a cut like Grave.
“Um, I’m so sorry. I wasn’t paying attention to where I was going,” I say, feeling the heat creep up my cheeks.
“No big deal,” the stranger says, a smile on his face. “I’m Renegade. I believe you met my brother earlier today.”
“Grave? Yeah, he helped me out a lot earlier,” I say, mesmerized by his deep voice. “I’m trying to think of a way to thank him.”
“Not necessary,” Renegade says, breaking my train of thought about how I can help the man that stayed with me this afternoon.
“My grandma taught me that it is necessary. So, excuse me, Mr. Renegade, but I need to get back to the house,” I say, moving my cart around him and then making my way down the last aisle of the store so I can go home.
“Who’s your grandma?” Renegade asks, continuing to follow me.
“Silvia Patton,” I answer, not sure why this man is following me as I look back at him again.
I notice that the cut he’s wearing is slightly different from Grave’s. While his had an enforcer patch on it, this man has one that says he’s the President. Must mean he’s the man in charge. I take a few minutes to take in the man. He’s tall with dark blond hair that reaches his shoulders and blue eyes that have a hint of pain for anyone to see that takes a few minutes. Renegade is built like a man who knows what hard work is mixed with some time spent in a gym. I’ve heard the expression of wanting to climb someone like a monkey and Renegade definitely fits those words.
“Knew her. She was a great lady,” Renegade finally says, continuing to follow me like it’s an everyday occurrence. “You ashamed to be seen with me?”
“Not at all. I don’t know you enough to have an opinion of you Mr. Renegade,” I say, turning back around and finding the last few items that I need so I can get back home.
“It’s not Mr. My name is just Renegade,” he answers, grabbing a bag of chips off the shelf.
I nod my head, so he knows I’ve heard him before stopping in front of the cleaning supplies. I grab a mop, bucket, and anything else I can think of that I’ll need over the next few days to ensure that the house is clean and smelling good the way my grandma always kept it. Once I have everything, I turn around and make my way up to the front of the store so that I can cash out and head back home. Two more men join Renegade and he introduces them as Ink and Psycho. They nod their heads at me and remain quiet while I begin to place my items on the belt so the cashier can begin ringing them up.
In a way I feel protected as the three men stand behind me in line. I watch as the other customers begin to move into other lanes and avoid the one that we’re standing in. They give the men standing behind me a wide berth as they do nothing but look at the items lining the register and then back at me to see how much longer we’re going to be here. Finally, the girl finishes ringing up the items I’m buying so that I can pay her before loading everything in my cart. When I go to turn and start grabbing bags from the lane, I see that another man from their club has joined us and made sure all my bags are loaded up in the cart sitting in front of me.
“Thank you all for everything. I’ll see you around I guess,” I murmur before pushing the cart forward and out of the store.
Making my way to my car, I can feel eyes following me. The feeling I get isn’t one of fear, it’s one of curiosity of being new in town. Yeah, I’ve been out in town with my grandma when I was here, but not in a long time. I’ve changed since I was here last and I’m sure that’s why everyone is looking at me. I don’t really care one way or another if I’m honest with myself. The opinions of others don’t bother me in the least. Not when I’ve lived with my parents and sister for the last twenty-three years. They’re the most judgmental people I’ve ever seen.
Once everything is loaded up in the car, I put the cart in one of the corrals, and walk back to my car. I hear the rumble of several bikes starting up and look over toward the noise as I open the door and get in. Starting it, Outlaw In Me by Brantley Gilbert begins to blare through the speakers. Making my way out of the parking lot, I begin to think of everything that I need to do inside the house to make it clean and fresh after sitting empty for so long. It’s nice enough out that I can open the windows as I clean and let the fresh air in to help get rid of the staleness. I’m going to have a very busy few days ahead of me.
I’m standing in the entryway of my home trying to decide where to begin. Since I’m hungry, I guess that I’ll start in the kitchen, so that I can eat before I pass out. After forty-five minutes of mopping, waxing, and scrubbing the cabinets, floor, and every appliance, the kitchen sparkles like it did when my grandma lived here. Since I am on a roll, I move on to the living room, dining room, and family room. Everything is dusted, mopped, swept, and vacuumed. I have lit several of my favorite candles so the house smells like cleaning supplies and a cinnamon roll candle. I am making a list of the bigger chores that I need to do, like the windows and baseboards but that can wait for a few days. All that I need to finish today is the bedroom so that I have a place to lay my exhausted body tonight. Then I’ll go through the house room by room and give it a good cleaning and go through things that I want to keep and want to donate.
Deciding I need a break, I make myself a sandwich and wander into the family room and sit at her desk after turning on the radio. Five More Minutes by Scotty McCreery plays as I think about my best friend and confidant that’s no longer here. I am overwhelmed with the memories of the times I spent here. As the memories flood my brain, I remember her sitting at her desk to write letters to her friends. Gram always told me that writing letters is a lost art with all the technology and other things out there now. She paid her bills here, read her mail, and most of the time her newspaper too. I open a drawer and see her stationary, and favorite pen. Taking them out, I lovingly place them on her desk as pictures of her sitting here continue to play on a loop in my mind while fresh tears roll down my cheeks. My grandma was my rock and
I don’t know what I’m going to do without her here to lend me advice and remind me that I’m the creator of my own destiny. I can do anything in my life I want to now that I’m free from my parent’s clutches.
Rummaging around her desk I find an envelope with clippings and some pictures. I swear the picture I’m holding looks a lot like Renegade and Grave, but why would she have any pictures of them? I look through the clippings and they are all of the club Grave mentioned, Satan’s Anarchy. This makes no sense to me, but I guess she was just interested since they are from her town. As I look at more of the pictures, I see they include pictures of her and them together. How in the hell did my grandma get to be a biker babe? She is on the back of Renegade’s bike in one and she is smiling like she is the queen of the world. There is even a picture of her sitting with Grave in her kitchen. They are wrapping Christmas presents for the children at a local domestic violence shelter, I know because I picked out the wrapping paper for the event and she only used that paper for it. There are still fifteen rolls in the attic for next year. This brings me to a stop; she will not be there for next year. I will have to see if I can carry on in her place If I ever see Grave or Renegade again, I will try to let them know about what I found and see if they want the pictures. If they were friends, I think they would, but that’s something to think about tomorrow.
Making my way upstairs to the bedroom that I used to stay in while visiting my grandma after finishing my sandwich, I begin to pull the sheets off of everything. Once I have them all in a pile to go down and into the washer, I begin to open the windows before getting down to cleaning. It’s going to need to be dusted, vacuumed, and I’m going to have to make the bed before I can even think about crawling into bed. With the fine sheen of sweat covering me, I’m going to need to take a shower too. Thankfully, I claimed the room with an attached bathroom so I clean that right along with the bedroom. By the time I’m done, I’m more than ready to pass out and hopefully have a peaceful sleep.