by Mae Martini
“Where are you,” Robyn repeated.
Melanie blew out a breath. She didn’t want to tell her none of your business because, well, this was her friend. She missed having a girlfriend to talk to and laugh with. What harm could it do?
“Robyn, please don’t tell anyone.”
“It’s me, Mel. Who am I gonna tell?”
“I’m in Texas.”
“Texas?” she said loud enough so Michael would know that she succeeded with getting the information. She was pretty proud of herself.
As he finished snorting in the other nostril, Michael looked up in surprise and mouthed the word ‘Texas’. “Where?” he whispered. “Find out where in Texas.”
Robyn motioned for him to give her a spoon full of the blow but he ignored her. She got annoyed. She got the information. Why did he want to know where in Texas?
Michael gave her a threatening look.
“Yeah, Texas. You know, I always wanted to visit here-”
Robyn cut her off. “Where in Texas?”
“Um,” Melanie hesitated. She didn’t want to give the exact location. “San Marcos,” she said instead of Wimberley.
“Oh, San Marcos. Well how nice,” she said, talking into the phone, but looking at Michael.
He was smiling from ear to ear. He turned around and headed for the door.
Robyn panicked. “I gotta go Mel. Talk to you later,” and with that, she hung up on Melanie.
Melanie stared into the phone at the sound of the click and then hung up thinking how odd that was.
“Michael, where are you going?”
“I got work to do.”
“What about the party?”
“Oh, yeah. Wear a bathing suit if you want, it’s at poolside. I’ll have Vinnie pick you up and bring you there.”
“I thought I was going with you?”
“No. I’ll meet you there.” And with that he walked out.
Michael whipped out his cell phone, “I found Melanie,” he said to Frankie Fose as he waited by the elevator in the hallway of Robyn’s building. “She’s in Texas.”
“Texas? What the fuck’s she doing in Texas?”
“I don’t know. I want you and Ralphie down there to keep an eye on her. I can’t get away for a while. I got shit brewing up here. Check in with me in a few days.”
“Yes, boss.”
“And if anybody touches her. Keep note. I’ll want em dead. Blow a fucking hole in em.”
“Yes, boss.”
Chapter 24
Melanie spent the next few days hunkered down to catch up on work.
Logan tried to persuade her to go out but she was adamant. He even popped over her house and she dragged him in for a quickie then threw him out so she could concentrate. He understood. He went home a happy man, but while he was home he found he was missing her.
Melanie went to Heath’s last game of the season. They lost, but not by much. Then she went with him and Logan to dinner.
After, Logan dropped her off at her house and she said her goodbyes and told Heath to enjoy camp. Logan was taking him home to his house then driving him to camp early the next morning.
Heath gave her a hug and a kiss and she just melted.
Logan had been bronc riding, bareback, in the small corral. Cody and Trevor were there in case he needed help.
Melanie and Gabe walked up to the fence, climbed it and sat on top. They watched Logan take command of the horse. And yep, he was wearing his chaps, black with black fringes, Melanie noticed, first thing.
Cody called time and Logan quickly removed his hand from the cinch on the horse and jumped down with a graceful landing.
Melanie had a silly grin on her face when he caught sight of them.
He jogged over and put his hands up on Melanie’s bare thighs and lifted his head as she brought hers down for a kiss.
“That was amazing, Logan.” She knew he was practicing for the fundraiser coming up in a few days. He had told her about it the week before and she was excited about going, especially to see him compete in a rodeo.
“Yeah? I don’t always dismount that well. I’m glad you didn’t see how I hit the dirt sometimes. Not pretty,” he said, smiling.
“I can’t imagine.”
“Oh, I’ve nursed many a bruises for this guy,” Gabe said.
“Hi, Grandpa,” Logan said and he gave him a handshake and a quick hug. He turned back to Melanie.
“What are you doing here? I thought you had a lot of work.”
“I caught up some and I needed a break. I talked Gabe into going riding with me. Is that okay?”
“Absolutely. Trevor, go get Zeus and Comanche saddled up,” he said and Trevor walked over to the barn.
He brought out the two horses. Comanche was an American Cream Draft, gelding. Melanie jumped down from the fence.
“Can you ride with us?” she asked Logan as she pet Comanche. She noticed Zeus trying to nuzzle her. She quickly began petting him and laughed at his jealousy.
“No, darlin’, I wish I could, but I have a lot of work left.”
“Okay.”
“Geli called me before, she’s going to the Salty Dog tonight. You want to get some dinner then go there?” he asked her.
“Sure, that sounds good.”
“Great, I’ll pick you up around 6:30.
“Okay.”
Logan pulled her to him and she leaned up against his hard body.
“You ever think about wearing nothing else but those chaps?” Melanie whispered, close to his mouth.
Logan raised the corners of his lips up and grinned before claiming her lips for a deep kiss. When he released her lips, he said, “Tonight.”
She smiled devilishly as she licked her lips.
“Oh, yeah. You can put that tongue to work later, baby,” he whispered, smiling as he placed her hand in his and helped her up on Zeus. He said bye to his grandfather and walked away singing, “when I first saw that bikini top…..”
“He likes you, you know,” Gabe said to Melanie, in his raspy voice, after they slowed from a run. They trotted along the river.
“I like him too,” she said, her gaze on the clear blue horizon that she’d come to love since being here. No buildings to get in the way, just big beautiful sky.
“Charlie will be home in another month. Do you know what you’ll be doing at that point?”
“No.”
“Ever think about staying and settling here?”
“Yes. I’ve been thinking about it.”
“My grandson can be stubborn, pigheaded and arrogant, but he’d make a great provider.”
“Why, Gabe, are you proposing marriage to your grandson?” she asked teasingly.
“Yes, because he may be too stupid to let you go.”
“You are so sweet, Gabe.”
They traveled a little more, and then Gabe slowed to a stop.
Melanie turned around to see him looking around. She tilted her head to the side and he brought a finger up to his mouth and quietly shushed her.
She looked around, not sure of what she should be seeing.
Gabe slowly guided Comanche to her. “I think we’re being followed,” he whispered.
“I don’t hear any-” she began in a normal speaking voice.
“Shhh,” he said.
Melanie saw him reach behind his back and under his plaid shirt. She gasped, wide eyed when he pulled out a handgun, cocked it and motioned for her to get off the horse. They both dismounted and she followed his lead of putting the horse in front of him for cover.
They stayed that way for what Melanie thought was an eternity, even though it was about ten minutes, whereupon, she re-thought her desire to live in the wild wild west.
He uncocked the gun and slid it back in its place at his back. In a gruff voice he said, “They’re gone.”
“Who?” she croaked. Her voice just wouldn’t work.
“I don’t know. But someone was out there, following us for the last few miles. Come
on, let’s head back.”
Melanie was beginning to believe that Gabe wasn’t as sane as she thought he was. After all, he was in his early 70’s. She had made a mental note to bring it up to Logan later.
Chapter 25
Logan pulled up in front of Melanie’s house with his motorcycle at exactly 6:30. His grandfather was sitting on the stairs watching him and he called Logan over.
Logan strode over to him. They exchanged a few words and then Logan rang Melanie’s door bell.
She gave him a huge smile and a hug.
Normally it lifted his heart that she always looked so happy to see him. On more than one occasion, he thought about how it would be, coming home to her after a long days work and seeing her sunny smile. Sunny smile in referenced to her. Boy, he’s got it bad. But after speaking with his grandfather a moment ago, he had a serious look on his face.
“Logan, what’s wrong?” Melanie asked as her smile faded at seeing his stoic expression.
He didn’t want to alarm her so he plastered on a smile, grabbed her and crushed her to him, and kissed her.
“Ready to go?” he asked.
“Yes.”
They sat at a table at Satan’s Skull. It was early, Jay wasn’t even at his usual bar stool yet, but there were a lot of bikers there. The Eagles ‘Take it Easy’ had been playing on the juke and Selma brought over a glass of beer and a glass of water to their table.
After looking around and spotting a few apparitions, Melanie turned to Logan and whispered, “Is the bathroom safe?”
Logan chuckled. “Should be.”
She rolled her eyes. “Point me in the direction and if I see an apparition there, I’m holding it in.” She snickered.
When she came out, she saw Jay and went over to say hello.
“Hello, darlin’, I see Logan brought his better half here. How you doing?” he warmly asked as she kissed his cheek.
“Good, thanks. You?”
“Better, after seeing your beautiful face.”
Melanie became shy and all she could do was smile and bite her lower lip.
Jay smiled and cupped her face gently. He quickly removed his hand. He didn’t want her to feel uncomfortable. He liked her and thought she and Logan were good together. Plus he saw Logan watching and he didn’t want him to get the wrong idea.
When Melanie turned around to see Logan, she saw Richie standing by the table, talking to him. She caught his eye and he started to walk away from the table toward the door.
“Excuse me, Jay,” she said and she left to catch up with Richie.
Logan was about to get up and go to her but something told him to sit back and let them work it out.
Richie was already out the door and she caught it before it closed. He turned around.
“Oh, excuse me,” he said, not realizing it was her but thinking it was someone who wanted to leave. His eyes widened when he realized it was her.
“Oh.”
“Where are you going?”
“I, uh, was just leaving.”
“Richie, don’t leave on my account. I’m not angry with you. It was Logan I was angry with for not telling me.”
“I told that assho, um, moron to discuss it with you first.”
“No, you were right the first time, asshole,” she said giggling. “Come back inside. Sit with us and, yummm, I was told you love these burgers,” she said with a silly grin on her face.
Richie laughed. “They are my favorite burgers.” He paused, “You sure?”
“Yes. Come on. I’m starving and I think Jay has a glass of some good wine waiting for me at the table as we speak,” she said as she placed a hand on his bicep and pulled him back toward the door.
“Jay likes you, he doesn’t share his wine with just anyone,” he said as he grabbed the door with his other hand and ushered her in.
Logan never removed his eyes from the door and smiled when he saw them walking over to the table. He rose as Melanie removed her hand from Richie’s arm.
“See, I told you there’d be a glass of wine waiting for me,” she said, pointing to the full wine glass on the table. She picked it up, tipped it toward Jay, who nodded with a smile, and took a sip.
Logan waited for her to put the wine down, then put his arm around her waist and brought her in for a kiss. When he broke the kiss, he whispered in her ear, “thank you, darlin’,” as he pulled out her chair for her.
Richie chuckled as he took the seat across the round table from her but closer to Logan.
They ate their meal and spoke with some people who came over to their table. Jay stopped by with more wine for Melanie and stood a while.
The talk was mostly of motorcycles and the Republic of Texas Motorcycle rally in Austin they all attended back in June. It was right before Logan asked Melanie out or he would have definitely taken her there.
They talked of their upcoming trip to Sturgis that year. Logan hoped to have Melanie ride behind him there.
The guys even told Melanie some wild stories about their past trips up there. Thousands and thousands of motorcycles and thousands and thousands of naked girls.
Melanie noticed that Logan didn’t say much when the talk of naked girls came up. He just shrugged and grinned crookedly at her.
She shook her head and smiled.
The three of them sat at the table, with their burgers already eaten, and they talked about going to meet up with Geli at the Salty Dog. ‘Devil went down to Georgia’ had been blaring from the juke.
“Don’t look now, man, but Betty’s making her way here, Rich,” Logan said.
“Aw, shit,” he replied as he rolled his eyes.
“Move your chair out and you owe me big time,” Melanie said to Richie as she got up.
The boys looked at each other and shrugged, but Richie did as she asked.
She walked over to him, straddled his lap, threw her arms around him, and brought her lips close to his. “No tongue,” she warned. Then she kissed him.
Logan watched as Richie’s arms came around her waist. One hand snaked its way up and his fingers threaded her long hair.
Logan was taken aback at how he felt watching her kissing another guy. He wanted to rip her off of Richie and beat the shit out of him.
He caught Betty as she stopped in her tracks.
Betty made eye contact with him and she frowned. She turned and walked back to where she came from.
Okay, okay. Get the fuck off him, woman, Logan thought.
They were still going at it.
“Ahem, okay guys, she left,” he said, sticking his head by their faces.
When Melanie rose off of Richie and walked back to her seat, he let out a breath.
Richie had a crooked smile on his face as he watched Melanie take her seat. “Damn, that was hot, Melanie,” Richie said to her.
“Yeah, well, just don’t get used to it, pal,” Logan said, before Melanie could say anything.
He placed his hand on her thigh in a show of possessiveness.
Melanie placed her hand on his hand and he quickly turned his around and squeezed hers gently as he looked into her eyes.
She slowly smiled at him and the corners of his lips moved up.
“Oh, geez. You two need to get a room. Logan, you look like a wolf ready to pounce.”
Melanie and Logan turned their gaze on Richie and they both laughed as he shook his head grinning.
“Let’s get out of here before Betty wants in on our action, Mel,” Richie said, chuckling as he rose and threw down some bills on the table.
Logan and Melanie rose and the three of them walked over to Jay, said a quick goodbye and left.
Outside, Melanie noticed the Indian chief looking around and when he saw her watching, he faded out.
Logan and Richie stopped talking and watched her.
“She sees dead people,” Logan joked.
“I heard,” Richie said, laughing.
Melanie laughed as she turned toward Richie’s bike. “Ducati Diavel?” s
he asked.
“Yeah. Dark, AMG. You know motorcycles?” he asked.
“No, just this type. My brother–in-law wants one. It’s beautiful,” she said, admiring the all black bike.
“Thanks. I’d offer to give you a ride to the Salty Dog, but Logan will beat the shit out of me.” He chuckled.
“Fuck you,” Logan said, grinning but he put a possessive arm around Melanie. “See you at the Dog,” he said as he walked Melanie over to his bike.
He drew her into him and kissed her deeply. He wanted to do that all night. God, he loved the taste of her. He moved his hips into her to let her feel how hard she got him.
She moaned as she seductively rubbed up against him. A promise of what was to come when they got home later.
It was never a dull moment when Logan and Melanie stepped into the Salty Dog. Linda was there and she was drunk.
Heath was in camp, but it still bothered Logan that his kid’s mother was a falling down drunk. This was a small town and people knew each other.
Linda came over to them and shoved Melanie out of the way so she could be face to face with Logan.
Slurring her words she said, “If I see that bitch with you again, I will sue for sole custody. Do you understand me?” she yelled the last part.
Melanie’s face fell. She didn’t want to be the cause of a battle over their son.
Richie felt her pain. He put a protective arm around her shoulders.
Melanie was grateful for the support. What a complete turnaround, she thought.
Logan wanted to smack Linda, but held back. He never hit a woman before and didn’t want to start.
He moved in real close to her and in a lethal tone, whispered in her ear, “Never, ever lay a hand on Melanie again. You want a fight? I’ll give you a fight. I guarantee you will never be able to go anywhere near Heath when I’m done.”
Linda stormed away.
Logan began telling Richie to keep an eye on Melanie so he could go after Linda. There was more he wanted to tell her.
“Oh, no. No, not again Logan,” Melanie said, grabbing his arm.