Sal (The Ride Series)

by Megan O'Brien

  I let myself into my building, which was far more secure than the place I’d shared with Scarlet. This was one of Cole’s requirements that I allowed him to press upon me. All of the Knights were hard to detract when they had their minds set on something.

  I took the elevator to the third floor and let myself into my loft. It was a nice sized space with hardwood floors and high ceilings. My bed sat up on a platform to the far right, leaving room for a large living room space. The galley-style kitchen was simple but featured brand new appliances. I always ate at the bar, so I had no need for a dining table.

  I put my purse down and moved toward the bathroom. I had a huge tub, my favorite part of my place. I loved taking baths and planned to do just that to decompress before bed.

  My phone rang as I sunk into the warm, soapy water.

  I smiled as I answered. “Can’t sleep?” I asked Scarlet knowingly. She had been uncomfortable these past few weeks. She still looked beautiful though, and had only gained weight in her belly, the lucky bitch.

  “No,” she groused.

  “Anytime now,” I replied soothingly. I couldn’t wait to meet my new little niece.

  “That’s what Cole keeps saying, too,” she said with a sigh. “I guess this little one is just getting a head start on keeping me up all night.”

  “She’s a party animal like her Auntie Kat.”

  She laughed quietly at my quip. “You should come by tomorrow. I could use a distraction,” she said as I heard Cole’s deep voice murmur in the background. “I’m fine, babe,” I heard her tell him quietly. “I’ll be there soon,” she added in the soft voice she only used with him.

  No doubt Cole wanted her back in bed. He’d been incredibly caring if not a bit overbearing since she got pregnant.

  “Sure, sounds good,” I agreed, more than willing to distract her in any way I could.

  Scarlet and I both had difficult pasts that we didn’t like to talk about much. She’d lost both her mother and father, while mine were still living (as far as I knew of anyway) but just as lost to me. She’d always claimed I had it rougher. At least her parents had filled the role while they were alive. She’d been loved and cared for.

  My parents, on the other hand, had been something else entirely.

  I’d gladly left Oregon in the dust as soon as I could. Aboard a Greyhound bus, I left the gray skies and rain in search of the sun. As it turned out, I loved the dry heat of the desert and was perfectly content to call Nevada home.

  The little town of Hawthorne, about a half hour outside of Reno, was just what the doctor ordered. It was small enough to be quaint, but not so small that everyone knew my business. It also happened to be run by a certain group of bossy bikers, one of who had been my first love.

  Quite possibly the great love of my life.

  I hung up with Scar, sinking deeper into the warm water in an attempt to search for a sense of peace. At best, I could wash away the day and hope tomorrow would be the day when I’d feel ready to move on.

  Chapter 2

  The next morning, I arrived at Scar and Cole’s place after I’d stopped off to get her favorite cupcakes at a nearby bakery. Cole opened the door smiling warmly at me. If I didn’t feel like he was a brother at this point, I’d have to swoon every time I saw him. He was gorgeous with bright blue eyes and blond hair that always looked like he’d just run his fingers through it. He was tall and built with an air of menace to him that he could call up at a moment’s notice. I was glad it hadn’t ever been directed at me.

  “Hey Kat,” he greeted.

  “Hey, how’s my girl?” I asked, walking into their adobe style home.

  “Uncomfortable,” he replied. “Anytime now though.” He grinned, his eyes full of delight at the thought.

  “Yeah.” I smiled, sharing in his excitement. I leaned down to pat their giant bullmastiff, Chief, affectionately. The dog looked like a beast but was a real sweetheart.

  “Kat, is that you?” I heard Scarlet’s voice call.

  “Yep! Coming,” I replied, walking back to their bedroom where she was lying on the bed reading a magazine.

  I flopped down next to her and grinned. “How’s my niece doing?”

  “Active as ever,” she complained before breaking into a smile, her green eyes shining. “As uncomfortable as it is I’ll miss feeling her move,” she sighed wistfully.

  I nodded as I placed my hand on her belly.

  “I had to take my ring off,” she informed me as she held up her swollen fingers. She and Cole had gotten engaged right around the time she’d gotten pregnant, but they’d decided to hold off on getting married until after the baby was born.

  “Oh well, it’s not like Cole would ever allow anyone to think you’re not spoken for,” I smirked.

  “Damn right,” his deep voice affirmed as he appeared in the doorway. He turned soft eyes to Scarlet. “I’m going out for a little bit. Do you need anything, baby?”

  “No, I’m okay,” she replied, turning soft eyes to her man. If I didn’t love them both to death, they would be seriously nauseating sometimes.

  “Okay, take care of my girls,” he instructed me.

  “Aye, aye.” I saluted as he walked away chuckling.

  “How’s work?” she asked as we both perused the magazines she had stacked up beside her.

  “Fine,” I responded with a shrug.

  “Any plans tonight?” she asked with a lifted brow.

  I narrowed my eyes at her. I knew exactly what she was insinuating. “I already told you I’d go out with him,” I replied, referring to Gavin.

  She grinned. “Who knows, maybe sparks will fly,” she encouraged.

  It was seriously doubtful, but I nodded dutifully.

  Of course she saw right through me.

  “I don’t think he’s coming back, sweetie,” she said softly, and I knew it pained her to say it. We didn’t talk about Sal often, but even now after six months, I still winced at the mention of him.

  “I know,” I agreed, feeling slightly sick. “I’m doing my best to move on,” I assured her, knowing how she worried about me.

  “Are you still going to the shop?” she asked quietly but directly.

  I swallowed audibly before answering. “Sometimes,” I admitted. What I didn’t share was that I’d been there this morning. It was odd, I knew, to find comfort in a garage filled with cars and bikes in various states of disrepair, but I couldn’t seem to break the habit.

  “Kat,” she muttered in soft admonishment.

  “I know, I know. I’m trying to move on. I swear,” I assured her.

  “That’s all you can do.” She gave me a quick squeeze of the hand and let the subject drop.

  We spent the rest of our afternoon painting our toenails; I had to paint Scar’s because she couldn’t reach, watching movies and gabbing as we always did.

  ******

  I felt the familiar prickle at the back of my neck when I headed back to my place. I was on the two-lane access road I often took rather than the highway to get back to my place from Scar’s. I glanced in my rearview mirror expecting to see nothing unusual as always, but instead saw a huge grey truck bearing down on me.

  “What the hell?” I demanded aloud hoping it was just some jackass wanting to pass. I slowed down considerably hoping the truck would go around. Instead, it came that much closer to my tail, flashing its lights and gunning its engine.

  I shrieked in fear wishing like hell I’d taken the much more trafficked highway. There wasn’t another car in sight.

  I looked immediately to my purse, wanting my phone and groaned at finding it far out of reach on the passenger side floor.

  The truck continued to rev its motor while coming frightfully close to my bumper. I sped up as much as my poor four-cylinder could handle, feeling the steering wheel shake under my sweating palms. No way in hell was I pulling over for this bastard. I just had to make it a bit farther before I could get on the highway.

  “Fuck it,” I muttered, m
aking a desperate grab for my purse strap. I managed to hook it with my pinkie and haul it into my lap, immediately feeling around for my phone.

  Why the hell did I always have to have such a massive purse?

  It felt like an eternity later before I had my phone to my ear.

  “Kat?” Cole’s deep voice asked clearly confused why I’d be calling him after leaving their house.

  I saw the highway ramp up ahead and sighed with relief. Just as I was about to speak the truck swerved into the left lane and sped off at a frightening pace onto the highway and out of sight.

  What in the hell had that been about?

  “Uh,” I began lamely.

  “Kat?” he prompted as I heard Scarlet call out in the background.

  What could I really tell him? Some random guy was showing some road rage, please come get me?

  “Nothing, Cole, everything’s cool. Tell Scarlet I’ll call her later,” I replied, trying to sound much more collected than I felt. The last thing he needed was to worry more about me.

  “You sure?” he asked skeptically.

  “Sure,” I replied firmly. “Talk to you later,” I said hurriedly while still glancing out my rear window.

  “Okay,” his deep voice rumbled in reply still sounding confused.

  I hung up, throwing my phone back into my bottomless pit of a purse and pointed my car for home.

  Chapter 3

  I seriously debated cancelling on Gavin. I couldn’t really think of a worse night to have a first date. I was a bit of a mess after being nearly run off the road. But then again, I might as well get it over with. I poured myself a whiskey neat and got dressed.

  I caught my reflection in the mirror as I stood in my bra and panties applying my makeup. My hips shimmied to Kongos as I got ready. I’d always been comfortable in my own skin. My body was toned and lean while still soft and feminine. I’d taken up kickboxing in recent months. It was a great way to work my shit out, and the subtle definition which resulted wasn’t half-bad either.

  I was tall for a girl thanks to my long legs. My waist curved nicely into my lean hips and my butt was firm and round. My breasts were on the small side, but at least they were perky. At twenty-eight, I hoped they would stay perky for a good while longer. My eyes were wide and blue, framed by dark lashes, which I swept with mascara.

  I couldn’t afford anything designer, but I liked to think I had an eye for fashion. I was always able to find pieces that looked expensive, even if I’d found them on the sale rack at Marshalls. I chose my favorite little black dress that boasted a deep V in the front and was short enough to barely be on the right side of decent. I paired it with my favorite black pumps. A quick spritz of perfume and I was ready to roll.

  I met my gaze in the mirror and was briefly surprised at the resolution on my face. Not giddiness or excitement about my date, but a quiet determination to take this first step.

  “Wow,” Gavin sputtered when I opened the door. “Scarlet didn’t do you justice when she said you were drop-dead gorgeous,” he complimented, his eyes traveling the length of me.

  “Thanks,” I smiled. “You’re pretty handsome yourself.”

  And he was. In another life, he might have been my type, that is, before a certain bad boy had entered the picture. Gavin was what many would call classically handsome with his brown hair and blue eyes. He was tall and obviously built. So many women would count themselves lucky to be going out with him. But I missed my tattooed, motorcycle boot-wearing man too much to be one of them.

  Over dinner, we talked amicably about his practice, my job at the bar, and briefly touched on our childhoods. I was never one to share much in that department. Having drug addicts for parents, who I’d gotten away from as soon as I turned eighteen, wasn’t something I wanted to scream from the rooftops, especially to a freaking doctor who, though nice enough, had probably been raised with a silver spoon in his mouth.

  The food was delicious and the restaurant was beautiful, if not a bit pretentious. I was more of a pub food kind of gal. I didn’t feel like I belonged in a place like this, but I’d never really cared about that kind of stuff. I was comfortable with who I was. Gavin, on the other hand, did belong in a place like this, and I wondered what he saw in me aside from a pretty face. A doctor and a bartender didn’t scream compatibility. Surely he’d prefer to date someone who ran in his circles.

  “So you and Scarlet are close?” he verified, taking a spoonful of the chocolate cake we were sharing.

  I smiled, thinking “close” didn’t begin to cover it.

  I’d been just finding my way when Scarlet started coming to the coffee shop I worked at. I recognized some of myself in her. She had the same wariness of people. And something inside of me wanted to help her overcome it and in doing so, heal myself a little, too.

  We’d been best friends ever since. She was the only family I’d ever known.

  “Yeah, we’re close,” I replied, simply not wanting to get into the details.

  My phone rang in my bag as we were finishing up. I ignored it because I didn’t want to be rude, but when it rang again seconds later I looked at it briefly.

  Speak of the devil.

  “I’m sorry, it’s Scarlet. I want to make sure everything’s okay,” I apologized.

  I was on high baby alert.

  He gestured that he understood as I held the phone to my ear. “Hi, you okay?” I asked.

  “Yeah, I’m fine,” she assured me.

  I instantly breathed a small sigh of relief.

  “Where are you?” she wanted to know.

  “Out with Gavin,” I answered. “Why?”

  “Oh, no reason,” she said breathlessly. “I don’t want to interrupt. We can talk later,” she said quickly.

  “What’s going on?” I asked suspiciously. She sounded strange.

  “Nothing, I’ll call you tomorrow,” she answered hastily.

  “That was weird,” I muttered to myself as I ended the call.

  “Everything okay?” he asked, seeming genuinely concerned. He was such a nice guy. Why couldn’t I muster some butterflies? Hell, I’d settle for just one flapping around.

  “Fine,” I said with a smile.

  “Are you up for getting a drink or do you need to head home?” he asked as he paid the bill.

  I thought for a moment about how to respond. I didn’t want to be rude, he was clearly a nice guy. But leading him on wasn’t doing him any favors.

  “I should probably head home, but thank you so much for a wonderful dinner.” I cringed inwardly at how expensive it had to have been.

  He drove me home in his beautiful BMW and parked at the curb. Being the gentleman he clearly was, he moved to my side of the car, opened my door, and helped me out. My heart started to thud in my chest as he walked me to the front of my building.

  Oh, god, please don’t let him try to kiss me.

  “Can I see you again?” he asked as his fingers trailed my jaw. His eyes shone down into mine and I swallowed nervously. His other hand moved to the small of my back drawing me closer, and I took a deep breath ready to give him the brush off.

  “That’s my woman you’ve got your hands on,” a painfully familiar voice growled from behind me.

  My heart felt as though it spontaneously combusted in my chest at the same time my stomach rolled and my knees nearly gave out.

  Sal.

  “Who are you?” Gavin asked clearly confused, his brows knitted as he peered behind me.

  “What the hell!” I demanded, spinning to face the source of all my heartache for the past six months.

  And there he stood, looking more beautiful than anyone had a right to. His black hair was longer than when I’d last seen him. It was unruly and as wild as ever, curling slightly at the base of his neck. His dark eyes shone brilliantly on me and I hated myself for wanting to run into his arms. Instead, I latched onto the feral anger I felt toward him and narrowed my eyes. His tattooed, muscular arms were crossed over his chest, and I vic
iously fought the urge to feast my eyes on the beautiful form I knew I’d find.

  Sal clearly didn’t feel the need to fight his own urge, and his eyes swept up and down my frame with a savage expression.

  “Who the hell are you?” Gavin demanded again.

  “He’s no one,” I bit out angrily, nearly choking on the power of my emotions.

  What the hell was he doing here? Suddenly, Scarlet’s call made perfect sense. She knew Sal was back in town. I could have strangled her for not warning me when she had the chance.

  “No one? That’s not the impression I got last time I had you screaming out my name, baby,” Sal responded arrogantly.

  Oh no, he did not just say that. He wasn’t going to stake a claim when I’d finally made a significant step to at least try to move on.

  Was he?

  “You have some fucking nerve,” I seethed. I felt like I’d just run a marathon, my heart was pounding so hard. But I took a deep, fortifying breath and turned to my date. “Thank you for a great date. I’m sorry about this,” I apologized, waving toward Sal.

  “Are you safe, maybe I should see you inside?” Gavin asked, his brow wrinkled with confusion and concern.

  “You’ll see her inside over my dead body,” Sal growled. “Or yours.”

  Seriously? I tried hard to keep calm and turned to face my date.

  “I’m fine. You should go,” I assured Gavin.

  Gavin looked between us for a few moments, clearly trying to get a handle on the situation. “Okay, I’ll call you,” he said before glancing again at Sal. He folded himself into his BMW and, with one last look, took off down the street.

  I didn’t even glance in Sal’s direction. I pulled out my keys and put them in the door hoping he didn’t notice my hands shaking.

  “Baby,” he began, his tone softer now.

  “Don’t,” I practically whispered. “Just, don’t.” I shook my head. Then I spun to face him with a question burning on the tip of my tongue. “Are you back because I finally took a step to move on? Is that it? Did Wes call you?” I demanded.