by Lexy Timms
“I’m not.”
She looked ready to cry. “But I let him in. He said he wanted to surprise you.”
“Well, from now on he’s not allowed in my apartment.” Emily sighed and forced a smile. Mrs. Diggerty hadn’t meant to cause any problems. It wasn’t her fault.
She nodded her head. “Is Reger okay?”
“He’s fine. You can come in if you want.”
Mrs. Diggerty petted Reger for a few minutes, giving him some attention, while Emily picked up the pictures and knickknacks that had fallen on the floor.
Emily didn’t speak to her, even though she should. It was just the words wouldn’t come out.
“It’s okay, dear,” said Mrs. Diggerty gently. “I see you need some alone time.”
“See you tomorrow.” Emily didn’t try to argue.
Mrs. Diggerty closed the door softly, and Emily sank to the couch. Reger jumped into her lap and rubbed her face with his. Absently, Emily stroked her feline friend.
She closed her eyes, feeling sad. It wasn’t because she ended things with Evan. He never could claim her heart. That was the problem. In a way, she couldn’t blame Evan for being angry with her. She always kept him, and if she was honest, every man at arm’s length. It was as if there was a lock on her heart.
Emily picked up the journal Evan discovered buried in a box in her walk-in closet. She flipped it open.
I can’t believe Luke Wade paid attention to me, to me, Emily Rose Dougherty, of Wakefield, CT. When I went to my locker at lunch he was there smiling, at me! I asked what he was doing, and he said, “Waiting for the prettiest girl in school.” “Who’s that?” I asked. “You, of course.” I melted, just melted. I’m definitely not the kind of girl he hangs out with, not like Sheila Harmon who is always clinging to him. He looks so cool on that motorcycle of his…
Emily flipped forward a few pages.
He kissed me! He actually kissed me! I thought I was going to die my heart sped up so fast. When he kissed me it wasn’t a sloppy tongue kiss like Ted Healy tried to give me. No, it was smooth, and delicious, our lips sliding together like they were meant to kiss each other forever.
And then a few more.
Mom and dad are furious. Angela saw me at the Dairy Shoppe with Luke, and the little tattletale told them. Little sisters are so impossible. I told Luke we’d have to cool it for a little while and he looked so sad.
Emily shut the journal, the memories of her teenage life too much to take. Her parents didn’t understand her relationship with Luke, didn’t try to see that he wasn’t as bad as everyone else said. That day she and Luke arrived home after her curfew was a tipping point that sent her overprotective parents over the edge. Couldn’t they trust her? Didn’t they see that Luke made her happy? No. They couldn’t see past the leather jacket, the boots and the motorcycle. Her parents couldn’t believe someone like Luke wouldn’t take advantage of their little girl. But he didn’t, not ever.
“Being with you is more important,” Luke told her. “When we’re married, there will be plenty of time for that.”
“Married?” Emily said surprised.
“That’s what I think about at night, when I’m not with you. What it would be like for us together, talking in bed together, telling each other what happened during the day.”
“I’m not ready to get married, Luke,” she told him.
“I know. You want to go to college. That’s important to you. I’ll go with you, whatever town you go to. Heck, I can get a job in any bike shop.”
Such dreams.
Shattered.
Like her heart.
CHAPTER TWO
Aces and Spades
“Hey, Luke!”
“Morning, Gibs.” Luke grinned as the older man shambled into Luke’s repair shop. Gibs was a top-drawer motorcycle mechanic, but most mornings he looked like something the dog dragged in, chewed up and spit out. His clothes were often oil stained, and his gray hair hung to his shoulders and his scraggly beard to his chest.
“Any coffee?” barked Gibs.
Luke nodded toward the pot while he counted the cash receipts again. Most days his deposits consisted of checks. The credit cards were processed automatically. Yesterday, however¸ a customer paid in cash. He screwed up his face and counted the cash again. He couldn’t be twenty dollars short. Luke was more careful with cash than that.
“When?” asked Gibs. He pointed to a calendar with a swimsuit model hanging predominately on the wall. It was big, eighteen by twenty-four, with the blonde-haired, blue-eyed babe straddling a hog. She was leaning forward, her eyes gleaming, and her tits hanging over the gas tank.
When Gibs asked “when” he was asking when Luke would take it down. It was an old joke. The calendar was five years old, but Luke refused to replace it.
“When you can pry it from my cold, dead hands,” replied Luke with a smile.
“Huh.” Gibs stared at the repair tickets hanging in clear plastic folders from coffee cup hooks on the wall. “What do you want me to start with?”
“The Suzuki,” Luke said without looking up.
“Fucking rice burner,” mumbled Gibs.
“This isn’t the seventies anymore, Gibs. We don’t call them rice burners anymore.”
“Not the seventies?” Gibs scratched his head. “When did I lose a decade?”
“Every day, Gibs, every day. Now the Suzuki.”
“Okay, but afterwards I do the Dyna Glide.”
Luke shook his head. The 2000 Dyna Glide was nearly a classic, and Gibs had a nostalgia for the twin V-engine models. “Sure, whatever keeps you happy.”
Pepper, then Saks, rolled in, and Luke handed off other assignments. Pepper was a dark-skinned Latino, but since he objected to being called Pepi, they called him Pepper instead. Luke tried to tell him that nicknames were part of motorcycle culture. He explained that his own nickname ‘Spade’ had to do with an unfortunate incident with a shovel, but Pepper would respond with, “I’m just here to work.”
Saks’ real name was Anthony Parks, but since he came to work each day dressed in dress slacks and a button-down, he earned the name Saks for Saks 5th Avenue. Of his workers, Gibs and Saks were members of the same motor club, Hades’ Spawn. Much of Luke’s business came from the club.
“What about the Dyna Glide?” asked Saks.
“You know the rules. Gibs got here first. He got to pick. Next time you get in before him and you can pick what you want.”
This little rule he set up when he first set up shop and got regular mechanics saved him countless headaches when portioning out the work. He chose the first round, and after, the guys picked what they wanted in order of their appearance at work. It motivated them to get in at a decent hour.
He couldn’t figure where he went short twenty bucks. If he didn’t have other things to do, he’d track it down, but as it was, he probably miscounted when he received the money yesterday.
Luke shook his head. He certainly was off his game yesterday. While driving home from picking up a part in New Haven on I-91 he could have sworn he saw Emily when he passed a black Honda Civic. But that couldn’t be. As far as he knew, Emily was living in California, where she went to college. Still it shook him, the memories of that time, ten years ago when he was younger, and considerably thinner.
Luke glanced up at the calendar, of the girl that reminded him so much of Emily, his Emily. Not in attitude, no. His Emily was never so brazen. She was sweet, kind and loving. Until, of course, he fucked it all up and lost her forever.
He didn’t know why he couldn’t shake thoughts of her. It was over and done, ten years ago. But there was one thing that was true. No woman since compared to her, and he suspected no woman ever would.
Luke, iPad in hand, went through the inventory of stock items for his shop, and clicked his stylus against it.
“Hey, did someone use a Honda oil filter and not put it down on the ticket?”
A round of “no mans” came from the crew. However, befo
re he could say something, a familiar figure walked into the repair bay. Luke quickly greeted him, throwing his arm around him. He steered him out of the garage. People were always walking into the garage, but the insurance company had their regulations, so Luke did his best to move them out, in a friendly way, of course.
“Aces! Good to see you, man.”
The vice president of the Hades’ Spawn club clapped his shoulder.
“Need to talk to you, man. And it’s some serious shit, so I’m talking to all the club members.”
“Shall I?” Luke motioned to the repair bays, intending to call over Gibs and Saks.
“Naw. I’ll catch them at the clubhouse later. You, though, are always working.”
“You know, business owner.” Luke shrugged his shoulders.
“And you’ve got it down. Sweet shop it is.”
“Thanks. So?” Luke didn’t have time for pleasantries.
“Yeah. Bad news, Luke. Okie’s going to Enfield on those drug charges.”
Luke shook his head. He couldn’t believe the club president did anything with drugs, let alone deal them.
“It was heroin, Luke. Five to twenty on a first offense.”
“That sucks. Okie’s a good guy.”
“That he is, Luke, but we have to think of the club. I’m taking the prez’s position. Everyone is moving up, but we’ll need a sergeant-of-arms.”
“Are you asking me?”
“You’re Road Captain. Everyone likes you. You’d be a natural.”
“Sorry, I’ve got enough on my hands.”
“Then you don’t mind if I ask around then?”
“Not at all.”
“How’s the planning for the road trip?”
“Everything’s set.”
“Great. Thanks. See ya Saturday.”
“Sure.” Luke stuck his hands in his pockets. He watched Aces get on his bike and pull out on the road. He walked back into the garage disturbed at this latest development. Regardless of the evidence against Okie, Luke knew the man for years and didn’t believe for a second Okie dealt drugs. There was something he didn’t like about Aces, even though the man was popular with other club members.
“What was that?” asked Gibs.
“Bad news. Okie got five to ten.”
“That sucks,” said Gibs.
“Yeah. Aces is taking over the club.”
“Good,” said Saks. “This business with Okie has put a drain on the whole club. Don’t get me wrong. Okie’s a good guy and all, and when he gets out, I’ll welcome him with open arms. But until then, the club must go on.”
“Yes,” seconded Gibs. “Besides, Aces is a good guy. He’ll make a great prez.”
“Sure,” Luke said without enthusiasm. “I’m sure he will.” With a sigh, he walked back to his office.
#
Luke dropped his keys on the side table inside the front door of his house and sat down to pull off his boots. Almost immediately he heard the doorbell. He finished tugging off his boots and opened the door to find Deirdre, the woman he’d been dating the past three months.
“Hi, honey,” she said with a bright smile. Her dark hair flowed over her shoulders, and her brown eyes shone with happiness to see him.
He on the other hand didn’t want company.
“I brought dinner.” She held up a paper bag and gave him a kiss.
“I wish you’d called, Babe. I’m beat.” He did his best to smile and came up short.
“You’ve been busy all week.”
“I know. Sorry.”
She slid her hands around his neck. “You know I miss you, baby.”
Luke gave her a kiss on the cheek but wasn’t feeling the spark that would light up things with Deirdre. He cursed himself. It wasn’t her fault he didn’t feel sociable, but on the other hand, he didn’t ask her over either.
“What’s wrong, baby?”
“Our club president Okie, was sentenced today. He got five to ten”
“I’m sorry.” Deirdre ran her hand over Luke’s ass.
“Aces is taking over.”
“Who’s Aces, again?” Luke could tell by the flat tone of her voice she wasn’t interested, but he answered anyway.
“Jake Kinney, the vice president.”
“Oh.” She found a spot behind his ear interesting and licked it.
“Ummm,” Luke murmured. He didn’t feel anything and wished he could get her to go home.
She put her free hand up his shirt and pulled it up to suck on his nipple.
“Deirdre.”
The bag of food slid to the floor, and Deirdre palmed his crotch. “I’ve missed this.”
“Sweetheart,” he tried to say, but she covered his mouth with her red lips, devouring them, thrusting her tongue to meet with Luke’s.
She pulled her head away. “Come on, baby, show me a little enthusiasm.”
Luke tried to get his head into the game. He cupped her breast and pinched her nipple between his thumb and index finger, and though she squirmed, Luke didn’t.
Deirdre wasn’t to be deterred. She rubbed his crotch with her hand, and with expert grace, undid his belt buckle and the zipper of his jeans. “Oh, baby, you know I love those jeans on you, but even more off.”
With her help his jeans slipped down his hips to the floor, and Deirdre reached inside his boxers to take his cock in her hand.
It wasn’t happening, not this way, and Luke knew it. Slowly, he backed her to the couch, and pushed her skirt up around her hips. Her lace panties were wet from her excitement, and normally this set Luke off. He nibbled on the panties, and eased a finger inside her. She was so wet it wasn’t long before he added a second finger, sliding them back and forth.
“Yeah,” she begged. “More, I need more.”
Luke pulled her panties down, enough so that his mouth could connect with her mound. His tongue worked inside and around the folds around her clit as he worked his fingers inside her. Her hips rose and fell to the rhythm of his fingers stroking her.
“Fuck,” she said and he sucked her clit sharply. Deirdre’s back arched.
“Oh shit! Baby, oh fuck.” Her breathing sped up, and Luke took away his fingers and speared her with his tongue. She grabbed his head, pulling him so deep into her he couldn’t breathe. He could tell she was close now. Her juices mixed with his spit on his face. He moved to her clit once again, laving the sensitive flesh while his fingers crawled back inside her. He pumped his hand. She bucked her hips, muttering, fuck me, fuck me, fuck me.
She gasped and her juices flowed over his face. Deirdre lay there, her legs splayed apart as her breathing evened. Luke sat back on his heels, watching her.
“My word, Luke! I can’t wait for round two.”
Luke looked down at his cock, which didn’t show any interest at all in round two. Heck, it hadn’t shown any interest in round one either. He sighed. “Honey, sorry, but I’m just not up for it right now.”
She pulled back and gave a huff. “When are you going to grow up, Luke?”
“What? Now, wait a minute—”
But she didn’t. “If it’s not the business, it’s the club, and if it's not the club, it's the business. When is there going to be time for me in this equation?”
“You? It was all about you not two minutes ago!” He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.
“That’s all nice, but I’d like a hard cock from time to time.”
Luke bit down on his lip to keep angry words from spilling out. It was true he wasn’t as attentive as he should be, but damn he was trying the best he could. “This isn’t a good time for this conversation,” he warned.
She stood and smoothed her skirt down. “Fine. Call me when it is.” With some words muttered under her breath, Deirdre left.
The door shut with a solid thud.
CHAPTER THREE
Caught and Snared
When Emily woke the next day, the shadow of her argument with Evan seemed a distant memory. She had a dream, a good on
e, where she and Luke were talking, sitting in a summer meadow, the sky overhead clear, and a light breeze singing through the trees. Emily woke feeling warm and happy. The dream seemed so real she thought for a second it had happened. Then Reger swatted at her from the side of the bed, with a plaintive meow, and she landed with a thud back into her life.
“Yes, I’ll feed you,” she mumbled to the cat. He meowed impatiently, and she left her bed, leaving her dream behind. Reger led her to the kitchen, his tail held high, and stared at her until she opened the cat food can and gave him half the contents. He set on it immediately, as if she never fed him. Then after devouring that he looked up and meowed again.
“You’re such a liar,” she scolded him. “I just fed you and you act like I haven’t.” She covered the can with a plastic lid designed for cat food cans and placed it in the refrigerator.
Reger meowed again.
“No,” she said. “I have to get ready for work.” She noticed she hadn’t flipped her wall calendar from March to April, so she did that now.
She swallowed hard when she saw the date.
April six.
The last time she was with Luke.
She closed her eyes. No wonder things were going wrong. They always did this time of year. For a few moments, she was tossed back into time, where she was tumbling in the air. Luke clutched her furiously, as she and Luke were thrown off his bike. His bike screeched sickeningly into the guardrail, but she and Luke were falling into the ditch. Somehow, Luke twisted in the air so she was on top, and he took the brunt of the fall, the sliding on gravel that paved the slope into a small pool. At the bottom of the grade they stopped, and Emily rose shakily on her legs. But Luke only lay there, blood welling between the gashes of the cuts and scrapes on his face, hands and legs. His leather jacket protected his upper body, but his jeans were torn and his left leg lay angled to the side.
Sniffing, tears falling, Emily took her phone from her backpack, and with shaky hands made the hardest call she ever had to make.
“Daddy,” she said. “We were in an accident. Please come. Luke’s hurt.”