Scenic Route

by D. D. Prince

  Someone knocked on the door. “Let’s go! Convoy!” came the deep voice of Spencer’s dad.

  Spencer slapped my butt and tugged my hand until we were both standing. He grabbed his bag and my suitcase.

  “I can’t do serious. We have to keep this casual. Friends. I get you wanna protect me right now, but I can’t do anything beyond casual. You need to agree to that and it’ll make me relax a bit, because you’re stressing me out with your intensity.”

  I sucked on my lower lip as I threw my purse on crossbody and then grabbed the handle for my rolling train case.

  He smiled at me.

  “Okay?” I asked. “We have fun this weekend, keep things light and lively, and just… have fun. I could really use some fun.”

  He shrugged. “Don’t worry, you want fun? We’ll have fun.” He smiled and kissed me quick. “C’mon. Let’s ride.”

  Relief bathed in denial swept through me. “Good. Let’s go.”

  11

  After an awesome long ride to Sioux Falls on the back of Spencer’s bike that I loved every second of, we were there. We stopped quick with everyone at a truck stop to gas up and get coffees and pastries and the mood was jovial. Everyone seemed to be looking forward to this weekend.

  Maybe pretending to get things straight with him helped. Seeing Jenna and Rider, Deacon and Ella, being behind Deke who rode at the head of the pack on his super cool chopper style Harley, it was all so awesome. I loved it, and a teeny tiny part of me loved it because I felt like I was one of them. I wasn’t, not really, but it felt amazing to have people look, to have kids wave at us from their parents’ cars, to just feel the wind like that on the open road.

  I was going to give myself this weekend and try to let go of shit, so I could have just a little bit of fun. I needed it so much.

  Yes, this was how I was justifying my denial about Spencer and me.

  I was treated like royalty when we arrived at the clubhouse. It was a busy place, crawling with people. The Dominion Brotherhood of my town was clearly a small charter, just having started up. I saw patches with city names from several towns in North and South Dakota. I saw a few patches of other clubs, too. I saw three Black Reaper patches. I’d heard of that club, it was a big one.

  Older biker ladies greeted the Valentine boys like they were heroes returning from war. Some were pinching Spencer’s cheeks and the president’s wife kissed me right on the lips and hugged me like I was her long-lost child. Ella whispered to me that she was like everyone’s mom, to just ‘go with it’.

  Her name was Delia and she’d started off hugging Ella, Jenna, and Jojo like crazy too and then took Andie, who she’d just met by the hands and said, “We need to match you up with someone. Hm. Let me think on that.”

  Andie blushed, but looked around and seemed absolutely on board. There were some beautiful men in this club.

  “This is Pippa,” Jojo had announced matter-of-factly, letting me know that Delia had heard all about me. I was in the back of the group at that point, so I stepped forward and waved.

  “Spency’s Pippa?”

  She gasped. And that was when I got the kiss on the mouth.

  “You are beautiful. It radiates from you! Oh goodness. Spency!” She looked at him with wonder. Spencer stood back grinning at me with the dimple.

  I didn’t dare to disagree about being “Spency’s”.

  Jojo was also beaming.

  “Be back in a minute, baby,” Spencer said and kissed me on the mouth and headed to a huddle with a few bikers off to the side. I didn’t recognize any of them.

  I was less than thrilled at that show of propriety with me. It definitely didn’t say casual. He was definitely feeding me lip-service agreeing with me just before we’d come.

  Me with the denial. Him with the playing along. Damn.

  “Never seen Spence smile like that,” Jenna said.

  “It’s rare,” Ella agreed.

  All eyes were on me.

  I shrugged.

  “You see him smile like that often?” Jenna asked.

  I nodded, face feeling pink and hot.

  Ella and Jenna exchanged looks and both smiled big.

  Whatever.

  I looked around. We were inside gated property in the lobby of a giant warehouse. There were hallways heading off in multiple directions from the big wide area.

  People were carting food and other related barbeque-type stuff outside, to a big covered patio area with barbeques and several big deep fryers. It was a warm day and there were all kinds of bikers out there getting set up to cook. In fact, the place was crawling with bikers young and old as well as kids. I was surprised at the volume of people.

  A few guys in prospect cuts were hauling baggage down a hallway, and one of them had my stuff.

  “Oh!” I caught up to him. “Hi, I’m Pippa. Those are mine. Where are you taking them?”

  “404.”

  “What’s that? A guest room?”

  “I’m told Spencer Valentine’s room.”

  “I, uh… I think that’s a mistake.”

  He shrugged. “Take it up with Valentine. I got a pile of shit to take care of and I don’t take orders from bitches.”

  He turned to keep going.

  “Whoa. What the fuck?” That was Jojo, who stepped up to block him.

  She covered her chest with folded arms and the prospect’s eyes landed on her rack.

  “What? I got orders.”

  “You don’t talk to women in this club like that. Whether they’re old ladies, biker bunnies, or anything in between unless you want a whole pile of motorcycle boots up your ass, including mine.”

  He looked surprised for a second and then gave her a lazy smile. His blond hair flopped into his eyes.

  “And who might you be?” he asked. “Bunny, old lady, or somethin’ in between?”

  He was a cutie. Even if he was an asshole.

  She glared at him.

  “Sorry, babe. I’ll mind my manners. I’m new here. Feel free to… gimme the lowdown on the rules. Who do you belong to?”

  “No one. My Dad is Prez in Aberdeen. I’m Spencer’s sister.”

  He smiled. “Oh. I’m Sax. Prospect in Grand Forks. What’s yer name and what’re you doin’ later?”

  “And Deacon’s and Rider’s sister, too. So, I suggest you not piss me off by treating women like shit or you might find yourself with latrine duty until the next millennia.”

  She turned to me.

  He stayed there, staring at her bum.

  “Go. Deliver those bags, Prospect. And watch your mouth in the future,” she ordered without looking at him.

  “All right, babe.” He stared at Jojo’s ass another moment and then wandered away with my bags.

  “Wow. Alpha-hole-in-training,” Jenna mused.

  “No kidding,” Jojo grumbled, unamused.

  “And you could totally be the first female club Prez.” Jenna dropped her voice an octave, “Deliver those bags, Prospect. Effing awesome.”

  Jojo smirked. “Here, I got Delia to get you one.” Jojo handed me a clear plastic bag with something black inside.

  A Dominion Brotherhood hoodie.

  “Oh.”

  “Wear it tonight for the bonfire,” she said, smiling.

  “That a standard issue or a special monogrammed one?” Jenna folded her arms across her chest.

  “Standard issue,” Jojo replied. “I cross a lotta lines in life but wouldn’t cross that one.”

  I cleared my throat and all eyes in our girlie huddle were on me. “Jojo, um, I told Spencer I wanted my own room. That guy is taking my stuff to his room.” I figured maybe she could help me.

  She smiled. “Well, it’s a full house. We have members from all over as well as some guests from ally clubs comin’. You wouldn’t get your own room unless we’d booked it three months ago.”

  I chewed my lip. “Is there room in your room?”

  She shook her head. “Me ‘n Andie are sharing a double bed. Sorry.�
�

  Andie was standing off to the side, in conversation with Ella.

  “I bloody well told him I wanted my own room.” I thrust my hands into my hair with frustration and stomped a foot.

  She laughed. “And how many nights in a row has he slept beside you now?”

  I stared at her, feeling my shoulders slump.

  “Did you really think he’d put you in your own room?”

  “If I have to sleep with him tonight and we party, I’ll have sex with him,” I whispered, in a panic. “I can’t have sex with him. If I do, that’s it, it’ll be a done deal. Old lady.” I was kind of talking to myself, staring off into space with horror. Unfortunately, my words were not being spoken inside my own head, but instead out of my mouth for Jojo and Jenna to hear.

  Jojo smiled big. “Let’s get this lady a beverage!”

  “No.” I grabbed her hand. “I’m not ready. I was almost engaged. I was waiting for it. He broke me. Did you hear?”

  I mean, she had to know.

  “I heard.” She squeezed my hand. “And wallowing in self-pity won’t get you happy. Moving on might. Life is short and unpredictable. Why are you keeping yourself in misery?”

  I opened my mouth, but she cut me off.

  “My heart got broken. Months ago. Not the same way, but I understand heartache, sister.”

  I squeezed her hand. “I know you do. Jenna and Ella told me.”

  “And it’s a huge gift in life to feel loved. To feel that feeling of flying. Like you’re on top of the world. I want that again. Don’t you?”

  I winced. Jenna gave me a meaningful look, with a nod.

  Jojo went on. “I want Spence to have it, too. I love the way he looks at you, sister. I’ve never seen him like this for a girl. Not even with Sherry. And he proposed. Well, sort of.”

  “Huh?”

  “I’ll fill you in later. Long time ago. It ended bad. Anyway, go get settled and we’ll talk more later. Party hard tonight.” She gave me a big smile.

  The prospect was back, giving her a once over. She shot him a snotty look as he walked by.

  “He’s cute,” Jenna said.

  She shrugged. “Maybe. But he’s too green. I want a seasoned biker.”

  I blew out a breath. “You want a biker? Growing up in this? Having three biker brothers? I’m surprised you wouldn’t rebel and go for the opposite.”

  She shook her head firmly. ”No way. I want a man. A man who believes in family and loyalty. Who will fight for something that’s right, even if it’s not within the confines of the law. A man who would jump in front of me blocking me from bullets. A man like my brothers, my dad. As far as I’m concerned, those are real men.”

  A pretty blonde girl stepped up. “And you’re around a bunch of them, who happen to think of you as a little sister. And mostly because if they thought of you any other way, your brothers would filet them.”

  “Yeah,” Jojo grumbled. “We got some fresh meat this year with other clubs visiting. Maybe I’ll get lucky.”

  “Do not count on it,” the blonde said and then she turned to me. “I’m Leah. You’re Spency’s?”

  “According to him,” I said with a shrug.

  She grinned. “My man Axel was the same. As soon as he saw me, he went all caveman ‘mine mine mine’. Didn’t back down until I caved.”

  “Why did you resist?” Jojo asked. “Ax is the shit. And shit hot.” She pointed, and my eyes followed to a tall, built, bald and bearded biker in a leather cut, dark Henley that hugged his huge biceps, and a pair of jeans that hung just right. He was shit hot. He looked mixed race and was almost Dwayne The Rock Johnson hot. Almost.

  “Because I was raised in a strict Baptist house where you went to church, you didn’t drink or cuss, you wouldn’t dream of riding on a motorcycle. And you dated guys from church, with a chaperone. Not bikers and certainly not bikers of color. My parents are not exactly racists, but… actually, they kind of are, but they’d never admit it. They’re caught up on stereotypes and they treat him strange because his mother’s black, his father white. Double whammy that he’s also a biker.”

  “Do you talk to them?” Jenna asked.

  “Sort of,” she said. “We’re getting married in the Fall. They think he’s corrupted me, but I’m really hoping they’ll come. I’m working on them. Baby steps. His parents are awesome with us at least.” She shrugged resigned.

  She looked over at her man. “Hey, honey; come meet Spency’s girl.”

  Spencer was making his way to me, too. I wondered where he’d gotten to.

  “See you guys later,” Ella called over. She and Deacon headed off somewhere holding hands.

  Jenna had moved to Rider who was standing talking to Deke and Rudy, serious expressions on their faces.

  “Hey,” Axel said, shaking my hand and then he leaned over and kissed my cheek. Spencer was now directly behind me. “She smells good, Spency. Good choice. Tell me about you, pretty lady. What do you do for cash and kicks?”

  “Cash? I’m an esthetician and I teach yoga and Pilates. Kicks? The same.”

  Axel shot a look at Spencer. “Yoga, eh? Bendy?”

  Spencer grinned. “Very.”

  Axel gave him a high five and then a fist-bump. I rolled my eyes. Leah giggled.

  Spencer grinned. “Later.”

  He grabbed my hand and we headed in the direction the prospect had gone with my bags.

  “What’s that?” he asked.

  “Your sister gave me a hoodie for later.”

  “Good. It’ll be nice to see that patch on your back.”

  “Don’t tell me it has your name on it. I know what Rider did with Jenna.” Jenna had worn one of these shirts all day, not knowing it said “Property of Rider” on the back. Damn alphas.

  “You want one with my name on it?” He raised his eyebrows.

  I rolled my eyes.

  “Had one of those, too. Sadly, I gave that one to a girl. Wish I hadn’t.” He squeezed me against his side as we walked. “Burnt it.”

  “That’s extreme. Please tell me she wasn’t in it.”

  He looked at me with a horrified look on his face.

  “I was kidding.” I raised my hands.

  A big, round, older biker blocked our way heading into a hallway. “This her?”

  “Yep,” Spencer said.

  The other biker lifted me up and spun me around, then set me on my feet and twirled me by my shoulders until I’d done a full awkward-sort of twirl that winded me. “Welcome to the club, sweet ‘lil thing. The ass on you. Holy Moses! Good goin’, Spency.”

  “Pippa, this is George. He’s my godfather. Been in the club as long as Dad. They were prospects together. He’s now the VP in our Grand Forks charter.”

  “Haven’t seen you in a dog’s age, Spency. You’re lookin’ good.”

  “You, too, old man.” They gave one another hugs. “Let’s catch up in a bit. Gotta get Pippa settled into our room and then dodge blows when she loses her shit on me.”

  “Bikers in the dog house. Nothin’ new. What’d you do?”

  “Tell ya later.”

  He winked at Spencer and gave me another hug.

  “Nice to meet you,” I said.

  “You, too, sweetheart. Shit, but you’re a pretty thing. Don’t put up with his shit, all right? He’s a hellraiser that needs the taming only a good woman’s love will bring. Catch ya later.”

  I gave him a smile. He gave Spencer a thumbs up and we kept going.

  He waved at a few people and kept us moving until we were heading down a long and empty hallway of doors.

  “Why am I going to lose my shit on you?” I asked.

  “Because I didn’t get you a room.”

  “I heard there were no extra rooms,” I muttered.

  “Wouldn’t have mattered if there were,” he said with a shrug. “You mad?”

  He was smirking.

  I pulled my lips tight and looked away with a smirk of my own. Why did he always look so cute
when he asked me if I was mad? It was almost annoying. Almost.

  We rounded a corner and he stopped and stuck a key into a door.

  He pushed it open and our bags were there on the bed. It felt like a dorm room. Small. Double bed with a blue comforter on it. Small dresser and a TV mounted on the wall. There was an adjoining bathroom, but no closet, and no window. Small folding TV tray beside the bed with a digital alarm clock on it. Very basic. A big closet with a bathroom, essentially.

  He grabbed me by the hips and pulled me to him.

  I looked up.

  “All joking aside, it felt great having you on my bike on that ride here. Really fuckin’ great.”

  “It was a cool ride,” I agreed.

  He tucked a piece of my hair behind my ear.

  “You angry with me?” And he wasn’t joking. He was serious.

  I shook my head. “No. How can I be? The vibe, the welcome here? It’s all been really cool.” I looped my arms around his neck.

  “Good.” He smiled. “Let’s have fun tonight. All right, baby? Forget your worries and let loose. That’s what these club parties are about.”

  “I plan to try,” I said softly.

  He put his lips to mine. I tried to pull back.

  “Pippa,” he sighed my name against my mouth. “Kiss me, baby.”

  I tried to pull away. He didn’t let go.

  “Let go,” I whispered. “I need the bathroom.”

  I didn’t. I just needed a minute to gather my emotions.

  ***

  I was lollygagging in the bathroom, thinking over my game plan for how to get through this next twenty-four hours keeping things breezy and fun, when I heard talking, so figured that was a safe time to emerge from the bathroom.

  I opened the door.

  “Jesse’s been assigned with watchin’ her at our temporary clubhouse,” Spencer said, leaning against the opened door. “Until we’re back, then we’ll see. Basically, she’s agreed to be treated like a hostage to convince us she’s not a double agent. Worried they’re gonna be after her, too, so she wants our protection. Don’t think it’ll go over well, her in that clubhouse. The women’ll have a hissy-fit. ‘specially Deacon’s and Ride’s.”

  “I bet,” the other voice said.

  I stepped out and saw a biker with a buzz cut and lots of tattoos, including his neck. He was dressed in the requisite biker uniform of jeans, a t-shirt, and the Dom vest. This was a muscled and angry-looking guy. His anger melted just a little bit when he set eyes on me.