Phoenix Bar: A Steel Demons MC Novel

by Annelise Reynolds

  “I don’t think so. If she does, then I will find some other place for y’all to stay. If all else fails, you and Dec can stay at Brice’s house, and Brice and I will move back into the house with her or upstairs to the apartment after Philip goes back to New York. ” After I met Piper and found out that she needed a place to stay for her and her son, I offered to let them take over living at the house with Mac, because I figured Mac could use the distraction and didn’t need to see Brice and I climbing all over each other, which we have been doing a lot of.

  We had decorated the bar with balloons and banners. I was just waiting for her to get out of the hospital. I had Hannah whip up some food. All the Steel Demons were there ready to welcome Mac out of the hospital, even the club girls showed up to the party which wasn’t surprising. According to the guys, the girls wouldn’t miss any kind of party. Brice made it a known rule among the club girls that he was with me and if they touched him without permission, they would be out of the clubhouse period. He wanted me to feel comfortable around them and truthfully, they were okay women. Their choices were theirs. I didn’t want to be best friends with women who had fucked my boyfriend, but I wasn’t going to hate them for their life choices either. The only thing that could change that was if they tried to come between me and Brice. In that case, I now have a gun and Brice taught me how to use it.

  Philip came into town after Brice had called him and he’s been staying in the apartment above the bar. Brice has gotten over my friendship with him and they have even started to build one of their own. Titan wasn’t happy when he decided to stay until Mac woke up and we did the reopening, but he hasn’t been anywhere except at the hospital anyway. I don’t think he left her side once.

  Belle was trampled with media for a few days. The secret is out as to who Mac and I are, which is shit, but we aren’t about to try and move. We’ve waited out the press. Most of them left to bigger and better stories now. There are a few that have stayed around to keep updated on news of Mac, but mostly she is old news. It’s just a relief that she is finally awake.

  Last night, Brice presented me with my jacket, but living in Texas, I would not be wearing it until winter, all two months of it. The club emblem, a motorcycle that had the frame of a skeleton, was patched on the back with rockers that said, ‘Property of Grit’ across the top. He didn’t pee on my leg. He just patched my back, but the result was the same. I was claimed as his.

  He also put a ring on my finger and we made love all night. I am his, and he is mine. ‘Some bridges are meant to be burned and beauty made from the ashes’, just like Grams used to say. I found my beauty after the burn. Now, I just hoped McKenzie would find hers.

  THE END

  About Me

  I am a single mother to the two most amazing kids in the world. I am not at all biased on that. My kids are my world and what keep me going. I am a student by day and a writer by night. My life is chaotic at best between classes and writing.

  One thing I hope to show my kids is that dreams do come true. Writing a book and publishing it has been a dream of mine since I was young. Now that it is finally here, I am so excited to be able to call myself an author and say that a lifelong dream has come true.

  Want more Steel Demons?

  Visit me at

  www.annelisereynolds.wix.com/annelisereynolds

  Follow me on Facebook www.facebook.com/authorannelisereynolds

  Take a Look

  I have the honor of calling these two women my friends. Take a look at part of chapter one of Loving Lo Book 1 of the Devil’s Knights Series, available now on amazon and nook, and a blurb for Finding Cyn Book 2 from the Devil’s Knights Series by Winter Travers coming out August 1. I also have a sneak peek at the first chapter of author Jemma Bell’s debut novel Nerd Girl Book 1 from the Modern Girl Series coming out August 18th.

  Loving Lo

  Devil’s Knights MC Series

  Book 1

  Winter Travers

  Chapter 1

  Meg

  How did just stopping quickly to get dog food and shampoo turn into an over flowing basket and a surplus pack of paper towels?

  “Put the paper towels down and back away slowly.” I mumbled to myself as I walked past a display of air fresheners and wondered if I needed any.

  “Oh dear. Oh my. I… Ah… Oh my.”

  I tore my thoughts away from air fresheners and looked down the aisle to an elderly woman who was leaning against the shelf, fanning herself. “Are you ok, ma‘am?”

  “Oh dear. I just… I just got a little… dizzy. ” I looked over the woman and saw her hands shaking as she brushed her white hair out of her face. The woman had on denim capris and a white button down short sleeve shirt and surprisingly three inch wedge heels.

  “Ok, well, why don’t we try to find you a place to sit down until you get your bearings?” I shifted the basket and paper towels under one arm to help her to the bench that I had seen by the shoe rack two aisles over. “Are you here with anyone?” I asked as I guided her down the aisle.

  “Oh no. I’m here by myself. I just needed a few things.”

  “I only needed two things and now my basket is overflowing and I still haven’t gotten the things I came in for.”

  The woman plopped down on the bench chuckling, shaking her head. “Tell me about it. Happens to me every time too.”

  “Is there something I can do for you? Has this happened to you before?” She really was looking rather pale.

  “Unfortunately yes. I ran out of the house today without eating breakfast. I’m diabetic. I should know by now that I can’t do that.” My mom was also diabetic so I knew exactly what the woman was talking about. Luckily, I also knew what to do to help.

  “Just sit right here and I’ll be right back. Is there someone you want to call to give you a ride home? Driving right now probably isn’t the best idea.” I set the basket and towels on the floor, keeping my wallet in my hand.

  “I suppose I should call my son. He should be able to give me a ride.” The woman said as she dug her phone out of her purse.

  I left the woman to her phone call and headed to the candy aisle that I had been trying to ignore. I grabbed a bag of licorice, chips, and a diet soda and went to the check out. The dollar store didn’t really offer a healthy selection but this would do in a pinch. The woman just needed to get her blood sugars back up.

  I grabbed my things after paying and headed back to the bench. I ripped open the bag and handed it to the woman. “Oh dear, you didn’t have to buy that. I could have given you money.”

  “Don’t worry about it. I hope if this would happen to my mom there would be someone to help her if I wasn’t around.”

  “Well, that’s awfully nice of you. My names Ethel Birch by the way.”

  “It’s nice to meet you, Ethel. I’m Meg Grain. I also got you some chips and a soda.” I popped open the soda and handed it to Ethel.

  “Oh thank you, honey. My son is on the way here, should be only five minutes. You can get going if you want to, you don’t need to sit with an old woman.” Ethel said as she ate a piece of candy and took a slug of soda.

  “No problem. The only plans I had today was to take a nap before work tonight. Delaying my plans by ten minutes won’t be a problem.”

  “Well, in that case, you can help me eat this licorice. It’s my favorite, but I shouldn’t eat this all by myself. Where do you work at?” Ethel asked as she offered the bag to me.

  “The factory right outside of town. I work in the warehouse, second shift.” I grabbed a piece and sat down on the floor. If I was going to wait for Ethel’s son to show up, might as well be comfortable while I waited for him.

  “Really? Never would have thought that. Figured you would have said nurse or something like that. Seems like you would have to be tough to work in a warehouse, sounds like a man’s job.”

  I laughed. “Honestly, Ethel that is not the first time I have heard that and it probably won't be the last. You definitely need a
certain attitude to deal with those truckers walking through the door. I have an awesome co-worker, so he helps out when truckers have a problem with a woman loading their truck.”

  “Sounds like you give them hell. My Tim was a trucker before he passed. I know exactly what you are talking about.” Ethel took another drink of her soda and set it on the bench next to her.

  “Feeling better?”

  “Surprisingly, yes. It’s a wonder what a little candy can do. How much do I owe you?” Ethel asked as she reached for her purse by her feet.

  “Don’t worry about it. I’m just glad that I was here to help.”

  “Mom! Where are you?” Someone yelled from the front of the store.

  “Oh good, Lo’s here. You’ll have to meet him.” Ethel cupped her hands around her mouth and yelled to him she was in the back.

  I started getting up off the floor and remembered I wasn’t exactly as flexible as I use to be while struggling to get up.

  “Ma, you ok?” I was halfway to standing with my butt up in the air when his voice made me pause.

  It sounded like the man was gurgling broken glass when he spoke. Raspy and so sexy. Those three words he spoke sent shocks to my core. Lord knows the last time I felt anything in my core.

  “Yes, I’m fine. I forgot to eat breakfast this morning and started to get dizzy when Meg here was nice enough to help me out until you could get here.” Ethel turned to me. “Lo, this is Meg, Meg this is Lo.”

  Oh lord.

  I couldn’t talk. The man standing in front of me was… oh lord. I couldn’t even think of a word to describe him.

  I looked him up and down and I’m sure my mouth was hanging wide open. I took in his scuffed up motorcycle boots and faded, stained ripped jeans that hugged his thighs and made me want to ask the man to spin so I could see what those jeans were doing for his ass. I moved my eyes up to his t-shirt that was tight around his shoulders and chest and showed he worked out.

  I couldn’t remember the last time I worked out. Did walking to the mailbox count as exercise? Of course, I only remembered to get the mail about twice a week, so that probably didn’t count.

  His arms were covered in tattoos. I could see them peeking out from the collar of his shirt and could only imagine what he looked like with his shirt off. Tattoos were my ultimate addiction on a man. Even one tattoo added at least 10 points to a man’s hotness. This guy was off the fucking charts.

  My eyes locked with his after my wonderful voyage up his body and I stopped breathing.

  “Hey, Meg. See something you like, darling?” Lo rumbled at me with a smirk on his face.

  Busted. I sucked air back into my lungs and tried to remember how to breath.

  Lo’s eyes were the color of fresh cut grass, bright green. His hair was jet black and cut close to his head with a pair of kick ass aviators sitting on top of his head. He was golden tan and gorgeous. The man was sex on a stick. Plain and simple.

  “Uh, hey.” I choked out.

  Lo’s lips curved up into a grin and I looked down to see if my panties fell off. The man had a panty-dropping smile and he wasn’t even smiling that big. I would have to take cover or risk fainting if he smiled any bigger.

  “Thanks for looking after my ma for me. I’m glad I was in town today and not out on a run.” Lo said.

  Ok. Get it together Meg. You are a 36-year-old woman and this man has rendered me speechless like a sixteen-year-old girl. I needed to say something.

  “Say something.” I blurted out. Good lord, did I really just say that. Lo quirked up his eyebrow and his smirk returned.

  “Ugh, I mean no problem. I didn’t really do that much. No problem.” I looked at Ethel, while Lo was smirking at me; Ethel had a full-blown smile on her face and was beaming at me.

  “You were a life saver, Meg! I don’t know what I would have done if you weren’t here.” Ethel looked at Lo and grinned even bigger. “You should have seen her, Lo. She knew just what to do to help me. I could have sworn she was a nurse the way she took charge. She’s not though, just has a good head on her shoulders and decided to help this old lady out.”

  “That’s good, Ma. You got all your shit you need so we can get going? I got some stuff going on at the garage that I dropped to get over here fast.”

  I took that as my cue to leave and ripped my eyes off Lo and bent over to get my basket and paper towels.

  “Yes son, that’s my stuff right here. I just want to get Meg’s number before she leaves.”

  “Why do you need my number?” I asked as I juggled my basket and towels.

  Ethel grabbed her purse off the ground and started digging through it again. “Well, you won’t let me pay you back for the snacks you got for me so I figured I could pay you back by inviting you over for dinner some time. So what’s your number sweetheart?”

  “I don’t eat dinner.” I blurted out. I was really going to have to have a talk with my brain and mouth when I got home. They needed to get their shit together and start working in unison so I wouldn’t sound like such an idiot.

  “You don’t eat dinner? Please don’t tell me you're on a diet.” Lo said as he looked me up and down.

  “No.” I said. Lord knew I should be.

  Lo and Ethel just stared at me.

  “So, no, you don’t eat dinner?” Lo asked again.

  “Yes. I mean no, I’m not on a diet. Yes, I eat dinner. I just work at night so I meant that I wouldn’t be able to come to dinner.” I looked at Lo and blushed about ten shades of red. “Why is this so hard?”

  “What’s hard, sweetheart? Can’t remember your phone number? I can barely remember mine too. Don’t worry about not being able to make it to dinner; I can have you over for lunch. You eat lunch right?” Ethel asked with a smirk on her face. Lo had a full-blown smile on his face, even his eyes were smiling at me. That smile ought to be illegal.

  I could see where Lo got his looks from. With Lo and Ethel standing next to each other, I could totally see the resemblance. Especially when they were both smirking.

  I had to get out of here. I’m normally the one with the one and making everyone laugh, now I couldn’t even put two words together.

  “Lunch would be good.” I rattled off my number and Ethel jotted it down.

  “Ok, sweetheart, I’ll let you get your nap. I’ll give you a call later and we can figure out a day we can get together.” Ethel shoved the pen and paper back in her bag and leaned into me for a hug.

  I awkwardly hugged her back and patted her on the shoulder. “Sounds good. Have a good day Ethel. Uh, it was nice meeting you Lo.” I mumbled as my gaze wandered over Lo again.

  “You too Meg. See you around.” Lo replied.

  I gave them both a jaunty wave and booked it to the check out. Thankfully there wasn’t a line and I quickly made my escape to my car. I threw my things in the trunk and hopped in. I grabbed my phone out of my pocket and plugged it into the radio and turned on my chill playlist, as the soothing sounds of Fleetwood Mac filled the car.

  Music was the one thing in my life that had gotten me through so much shit. Good or bad, there was always a song that I could play and it would make everything better. Right now I just needed to unscramble my brain and get my bearings. Fleetwood Mac singing “Landslide” was helping.

  I pulled out of the parking lot and headed home. All I needed was to forget about today. If Ethel called for lunch I would say yes because she did remind me so much of mom, but I wasn’t going to let Lo enter my thoughts any more. A woman like me definitely did not register on his radar, he was better just forgotten.

  When I was halfway home, I realized I forgot dog food and shampoo.

  Shit.

  Finding Cyn

  Devil’s Knights Series

  Book 2

  Winter Travers

  Coming August 1, 2015

  Beaten and broken down by the man who was supposed to be her happy ending, Cyn’s lost and alone, with no happy ending in site.

  Can Rigid break thro
ugh Cyn’s walls, showing her she is more than her shattered past, or will her demons consume her before Rigid can find her?

  To get more of Lo and Rigid visit Winter at

  www.facebook.com/wintertravers

  www.wintertravers84.wix.com/devilsknights

  Nerd Girl

  Modern Girl Series

  Book 1

  Jemma Bell

  Chapter 1

  Nerd Girl problem #101

  That moment when you awkwardly run into the sexiest man you have ever seen while he’s hiding in the Men’s room. Yes, I did say Men’s Room. You’re probably now asking yourself how I, a girl, am in the Men’s room with said sexy man? You see, this is my luck or rather bad luck.

  Do I have your attention? Good. My name is Amy Jenkins, and I’m a Nerd Girl. I wear glasses, ponytails, and no make-up. I mean sure with a little make-up I might look less granola and maybe even pass for pretty, but it’s just, too much effort for no reason. I have had exactly one boyfriend, and that lasted long enough for me to lose my virginity and for him to move on to someone else. After said bad relationship I turned to reading. I read. I read a lot. I read so much that some might call me a book whore. I can read about a book boyfriend being a gritty biker in a motorcycle club or a sexy drummer in a world famous band. He can be a military man with a bad case of PTSD or Billionaire with a fetish for bondage and spanking. Any way you slice it having multiple book boyfriends is a hell of a lot safer to my feelings than one living breathing idiot who’s going to eventually break my heart.

  I traveled from where I live in New Jersey to Philadelphia for an author signing when I found out my favorite author Anita Wells was going to be there. I had all of Anita’s books and wanted to meet her and get her to sign them. This is a very popular signing with over 100 world famous New York Times bestselling authors. Some authors even brought the model/muse that graces the cover of their book, so there’s some nice eye candy here as well.