by Claire Rhine
Beard
Alpha Pack MC
Claire Rhine
Copyright © 2020 Jennifer Munch
All rights reserved
The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.
No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher.
ASIN: B08BLT7MP5
Cover design by: Claire Rhine
Contents
Title Page
Copyright
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Epilogue
Afterword
About The Author
Books In This Series
Chapter 1
Regan
Money really could buy anything I thought watching the three college students carrying boxes into my new rental. The chances of me doing this alone, successfully were slim. With a rambunctious four year old circling my feet I probably would have thrown in the towel and decided to live out of the the rental van, which would have cost more money and probably got me reported. Better to spend it and save some of my sanity then figure out how to live on four wheels with a four year old.
“Where would you like this ma’am,” one of the men asked.
“Can you put that one in the closet please?”
I thought I had been well organized but I must have missed a few boxes when I was labeling.
Two hours later all of our belongings were inside. One of the men had even offered to set up my daughter’s bed at no extra charge. I had thanked him profusely. He waved me off and said he had a niece and knew what a hand full kids could be.
I was still feeling bad about not being able to tip the man. I made a mental note to pay it forward the next time I could afford it.
We spent the remainder of the afternoon setting up my daughter’s room. I had to make a game of it to get her to help and not whine about playing outside. Most of my brain power these days went into figuring out how to get my daughter to do what I needed her to.
People always talked about the terrible twos, and the threenager phase but no one mentions the attitude a four year old girl can throw at you. It’ll come in handy when she’s an adult but right now mommy’s sanity could use a little help.
“What would you like for dinner sweetheart?” I asked as we finished putting the sheets on her bed.
“Can we have ice cream?”
“No ice cream is not dinner. Try again.”
“Cookies?”
“How about we go get chicken nuggets instead?”
Still not the healthiest dinner but if I could get her to eat at least two meals a day that didn’t consist of complete junk food I was happy.
A quick trip through the drive-thru for dinner and a car picnic was all it took to settle my sweet girl down and have her fading on the drive back to our new place.
I managed to breeze through our bed time routine since she was almost asleep. A few soothing songs to calm her and she was out like a light.
Walking into the living room I heaved a sigh and settled onto the couch. I was tired but I still needed a shower. Even without doing all the heavy lifting I was sweaty and dirty.
I had kept all my toiletries and a few extra towels in the car with me so I knew exactly where they would be. I snagged the pile off the kitchen counter and headed to the bathroom.
I turned the water on to heat up and then proceeded to undress and pile my hair on top of my head. It was too late to wash and dry it. Testing the temperature I stuck my hand under the shower stream and noticed it was still cold. I fiddled with the knob thinking it might be backwards. Still no luck. I turned on the sink and waited. Nothing. Shit this wasn’t good.
I grabbed my phone and sent my landlord a text.
I reluctantly washed my face with cold water and found a pair of baggy sweatpants and a t-shirt to throw on. No point in getting nice clothes dirty because I couldn’t shower.
My phone buzzed.
Be over in ten.
Well, that was unexpected. I was waiting for the typical I’ll be over tomorrow to look at it response, at which point they would show up at the end of the day when everything was closing and I would have to wait another day before it was fixed.
Sure enough ten minutes later I heard the rumble of a bike and then a knock at the door.
I peeked out the side window to find a giant bearded man standing on the front porch.
“Evening ma’am,” he rumbled when I opened the door. “Heard you have a hot water problem.”
I stood holding the door open staring. The man was magnificent, tall and muscular with piercing blue eyes and arms covered in tattoos. Damn. I coulnd’t the last time a man had been this gorgeous to have me lusting after him? Since when did I like tattoos?
“Yeah, I thought it was me but neither the shower nor the sink in the bathroom has hot water,” I finally answered feeling frumpy in my sweats and a t-shirt.
“Let’s see what’s up. Mind if I come in?” He asked.
“Please,” I said and stepped back to let him by.
The man passed me and my body instantly reacted. I could feel the butterflies flutter and my heart began to race. His scent had me wanting to close my eyes and sniff him like a candle. He smelled like wood and leather. There was a hint of something else in the mix as well but I couldn’t tell what it was.
What was wrong with me? A grown woman wanting to sniff a man like a damn candle. I needed to get it together.
“I’m gonna head out back. We put the hot water heater in a small side room off the back of the house. I’ll be back in a few,” he said and exited out the back door.
I had found an amazing one bedroom cottage style house for rent with its own fenced in backyard. I was skeptical but when I had called the number it had been a rental agency. Rental papers had been signed and I was the proud new tenant of a cute and modern cottage.
I was sitting on my couch scrolling through my phone when the magnificent bearded giant returned.
“Not sure what’s up with the thing. I’ve got a buddy coming over who knows plumbing. Should be able to get it fixed tonight.”
“Really,” I said in shock.
“Yes ma’am.”
“Wow you’re the best landlord I’ve ever had. You can never fix anything again and you would still be better than all the others.”
“Don’t see any point in being a landlord if you’re not willing to fix the problems. I’m Beard by the way,” he said and stuck out his hand to shake mine.
“Beard?” I questioned. “Like what’s on your face?” I asked.
The man let out a rumbling chuckle. The sound travelled down my arm and made my nipples tighten.
“Beard’s my road name but I’m so used to it now it’s what I go by.”
“Sorry,” I said knowing my cheeks were pink with embarrassment. “I didn’t mean to be rude. Regan.”
“Very nice to meet you Regan.”
My name on his lips was too much. It was like honey when he said it. I was having a hard time remembering how to breathe. I needed to get it together. I was a single mom in a new town. I didn’t have the luxury or desire to date.
Chapter 2
Beard
Regan took my breath away. I had given up on finding love a lo
ng time ago. This though was nothing like I’d ever felt before. The pixie of a woman had the deepest chocolate brown eyes and auburn hair I wanted to loose myself in.
Even when I thought I had been madly in love with my high school sweetheart I had never experienced the raw need to claim someone like I did now.
My ex had broken me and left me wondering if I would ever trust another woman. Up until today I never wanted to try.
“Hey Beard you got a minute to help me?” A voice called from the back door. Tank our newest member was my go to guy for all things plumbing.
“Be right there,” I called back as I headed for the door.
I saw Regan wince slightly as I walked by and wondered what I had done to make her uncomfortable.
A few minutes later I walked back into the house and froze.
A small child was sleepily walking out of the bedroom. Regan quickly jumped up and scooped the little girl into her arms. I walked further into the house and watched as the woman with her child cradled in her arms used her foot to move the comforter out of the way and lay the child back down. She covered her and waited a moment.
I was transfixed. The pure love radiating from the pair was overwhelming. Regan came back out quietly shutting the door.
“I’m sorry if we woke her,” I finally managed to say.
“It’s okay. She sometimes sleep walks so I doubt she’s even heard you,” Regan smiled.
“Would you like anything to drink? I’ve got some water and...” she stuck her head into the fridge. “Juice boxes.”
“I’m all set. Thanks though. Gotta get something from the van. I’ll be back.”
Watching Regan bend over in front of the fridge had gotten me hard and I needed to retreat to calm myself down.
I walked out to the service van Tank had brought.
The scene of Regan with her child kept replaying in my mind and then it hit me.
“Fuck,” I muttered into the darkness.
Regan and her daughter were in a one bedroom house and the bed I had seen was for a child. My erection quickly disappeared and I stalked back into the house. Sure enough a blanket was folded neatly on the back of the couch with a pillow on top of it.
“Everything okay?” She asked hesitantly.
“Let me go see how Tank’s doing.”
Tank wasn’t going to need to finish fixing the water heater tonight. Regan could manage one evening without hot water. I was moving her first thing in the morning to one of my other houses.
“Hey man you can call it a night,” I said walking up behind Tank.
He turned around and looked at me.
“Something wrong?”
“Yeah woman in there is moving tomorrow.”
“I’m not following you.”
“I’ll explain later. Be back here tomorrow morning with the moving van.”
“You got it.”
Tank picked up his tools and headed out the back gate.
I took a few steadying breaths to calm myself before I went back inside.
“Regan,” I called out softly.
“What’s up?”
“Got bad news. Looks like we’ve got more than a hot water problem. I’m gonna move you to another house tomorrow morning.”
“You don’t need to do that. I can manage for a few days without hot water. I’ve done it before.”
“It’s gonna take longer than a few days. I’m gonna have some of my guys come over first thing in the morning to move all your things.”
“Beard it’s not a problem. This place fits my price,” Regan tried to argue.
“Rent’s the same and it has a fenced in back yard. Same as this place. We’ll be here by seven to get you moved,” I said and headed for the door.
“But...” Regan said louder than she probably meant. “Mia’s room is all set up. I don’t have time to take everything down before you arrive. And I have to be at the school tomorrow morning to get my classroom set up. Its really not a problem. I can manage without hot water for a little while.”
“Managing isn’t good enough,” I practically growled as I stepped off the porch. “My guys will take care of it tomorrow morning. I’ll text you the new address. When you finish with work tomorrow everything will be in the new house.”
I didn’t turn around to wait for her to continue to argue.
My blood was boiling. What had this woman been through that going without hot water was not a big deal? What else had she had to endure?
I went straight to the bar to round some guys up for the morning.
“Something wrong?” Dallas my VP asked when I walked into the back area of the bar. The front of the building was for the public. The back half though had been converted years ago to be the members only club area for the MC.
“Yeah something’s wrong. I need guys over at the Cherry lane property at seven tomorrow morning. Got a new tenant needs to be moved. Oh hey Grace sorry didn’t see you there,” I said when Grace walked out of the kitchen area.
“Evening Beard. Anything I can help with. I don’t have anything tomorrow morning.”
“If you could help out that would be great. Woman I need moved has a young daughter and her room needs to be packed up. You think you can handle it?”
“I’ll call Angie and we’ll get it sorted,” Grace smiled.
“Should only need a couple guys. Not a lot of boxes and only a few pieces of furniture. Tank will bring the moving van.”
“All handled. I’ll have a few guys there first thing,” Dallas replied.
I headed for my office. I needed time alone to think.
Chapter 3
Regan
True to his word Beard had a half dozen guys at my house at seven sharp.
“Morning ma’am. I’m Dallas,” another bearded giant greeted me when I opened the door. “My guys are ready when you are to get things loaded and to the new house. Beard mentioned your daughter’s room needs to be packed up. My girl should be here shortly to help.”
To say I was a bit overwhelmed was probably an understatement.
“Thanks this isn’t necessary but it looks like I can’t argue the point further.”
“Nope won’t work. When Beard has a problem that needs to be fixed it gets fixed.”
“Thank you. Let me just finish up and then my daughter and I will be out of the way.”
I quickly finished getting Mia ready and grabbed our essential bags. Mia was starting preschool today and I needed to get my classroom set up for the new school year. Day one in our new town was off to a rocky start but I wasn’t going to let this bother me.
“Morning,” a female voice said from the doorway.
“Hi,” I said plastering on a friendly smile.
“I’m Grace, Dallas’s girl,” she said.
“Regan. Nice to meet you.”
“My friend Angie and I will help pack up your daughter’s room. Anything I should know?”
“That is really nice of you. Thank you. Nothing fancy. All the empty boxes for Mia’s room are in the hallway. They are labeled so it should be pretty easy to toss everything back into where it came from.”
“Don’t worry about anything we’ll take care of it all. Did Beard send you the new address?”
“He did, thank you again. I’ve got to get going so we can get to school on time,” I put on a huge smile and looked down at my daughter.
“You ready my big girl?”
Mia smiled and nodded her head yes.
I spent most of the day worrying about Mia settling into her new school I didn’t have time to think about moving to a new place. Could I even call it moving since I hadn’t started to unpack at the first house?
I picked up Mia and was distracted by my daughter’s excitement about how her day had been. When I turned down the new street we would be living on I saw a bike parked in front of the address I was going to. Pulling into the drive way I quickly realized the house was twice the size of the other one.
Beard walked down the porch a
s I got out of my car.
“Afternoon.”
“Beard this seems like it’s a bit larger than the last place. I can’t afford this,” I blurted out instead of being polite and greeting him.
I was interrupted from arguing further when Mia started yelling to be let out of her car seat.
“Nothing to worry about. The rent’s the same,” Beard smiled as he met me at the back of the car and waited while I got Mia out. “Here are the keys. You ladies enjoy your new place. I’ll be by tomorrow with the new papers for you to sign.”
Beard walked away and was on his bike before I could protest. That was the second time he’d done it and it was starting to piss me off.
When I walked inside I was speechless.
The house was completely unpacked. The living room was set up and the kitchen had the few appliance I owned already on the counter and plugged in. I walked towards what I assumed was the bedroom and stopped. Two doors. How was it possible I was paying the same amount in rent for a two bedroom?
The first room was set up with Mia’s things. I hesitated and opened the door to the second room. A mixture of awe and panic flooded me. The second room was already furnished. A queen size bed was covered in a giant fluffy white comforter. A gorgeous dresser had a TV mounted above it and a huge comfy looking chair sat in one corner.
“Mommy why are you crying? Are you sad?” Mia asked tugging on my hand.
“No sweet girl. These are happy tears.”
I was overwhelmed. Could this be real?
I grabbed my phone and sent Beard a text.
Where did all this furniture come from?
I waited staring at my screen.
It comes with the place.
I quickly typed back.
How is that possible? How is my rent the same as the last place? This doesn’t feel right.
A minute passed before he responded.
It’s right.
I couldn’t be this lucky. A landlord who actually cared? No I had to stick with the original house.