by Anna Lewis
And if she didn’t follow him, she would lose her chance to plead her case, or sort this thing out. It would be just as good as giving up and handing him the keys to the only home she had. She had nothing to lose by following him, and everything to lose by being stubborn and staying put. Despite the danger that seemed to crackle like electricity around Troy, Jessica didn’t believe that he was here to hurt her. The biker gangs around here were tough, but Jessica didn’t hear of many casualties outside of their own circles, and even then, they had been quiet lately.
Jessica just hoped that they valued her ability to pay them back more than they valued petty revenge. Jessica hardened her resolve, “Let me get my things.”
Without waiting for a response, Jessica made her way into the back of the bar. She undid her apron, shed her name tag and changed into her own coat, slinging her handbag over her shoulder. When she reappeared, Troy was still there, waiting. He grinned and offered her his arm, a mockery of the gallant gentleman.
Jessica folded her arms tightly instead, keeping her head down as she walked out into a night. She was stubbing him, and she knew it. Troy’s eyes glittered with danger, and Jessica stubbornly ignored the sparks that flooded her system at the sight. She’d had enough of the bad boys. She had gotten into nothing but trouble with Kevin, and, in hind sight, she should have spotted his true colors right away. She would not be blinded again. Not again.
She was smarter this time, better than that. She had had enough of flings that started with passion and breathless nights and ended with broken promises and bitter regrets. Her life without Kevin was giving her something that he never could, security. Sure, it was hard, and it was not the life she had once dreamed of, but it was safe and secure, and Jessica valued that more than anything else. Anyone that knew her could tell you that.
Before Jessica knew it, they had come to a stop beside a massive bike. It oozed the same sort of power that Troy did and Jessica found herself drawn towards it in a way that she knew she shouldn’t. Bikes, like the men who rode them, were just bad news. Fun to be around, easy to get caught up in their presence, but bad news for those who loved them.
Troy didn’t seem to care about her hesitation. He pulled a jacket from the handlebars and jumped onto the bike like it was the most natural thing in the world, after flicking out the kickstand. He pulled it upright and slid his helmet into place, looking at Jessica expectantly, “You coming?”
Reluctantly, Jessica moved to the bike. Troy handed her a helmet and started up the engine. Jessica almost dropped the helmet in surprise. The engine purred, a welcome sound, a sound that thrilled Jessica in ways that she no longer wanted to be thrilled, touched her in places that no man had touched her since Kevin. She shivered, and found herself putting on the helmet despite herself.
Troy offered her a hand onto the bike, but she ignored him, choosing to climb on without his help. She could feel him laughing in front of her, and through the helmet she heard him speak, “Might want to hold onto me, sweetheart.”
He flicked his visor down, and before Jessica knew it, the bike was moving. She leaned in and clutched at Troy’s jacket, grabbing it tightly in her hands. Her arms found their way around him, clinging to his broad form as the bike sped out onto the road. She could feel the way he shook with laughter, the scent of leather and petrol, the wind that seemed to speed by, whipping through her clothing and through the strands of hair that had escaped the helmet.
Her anger was overtaken by wonder, by a sense of freedom that seemed to envelop her, chasing away the debts that Kevin had left her with, chasing away the exhaustion that came of working so many long nights at the bar, the regret of a failed marriage and the sorrow of loneliness.
It all seemed to melt away into nothing, into the feel of the bike and the wind and Troy. The feel of him pressed against her, solid and strong, muscles tightening as he guided the bike down its path was electric. The way he controlled such an untameable beast made her long to do the same, and for the first time that evening, he no longer seemed so terrifying and hateful.
It wasn’t easy to hate a man who was giving you such a sense of freedom, such a sense of joy. It was hard to hate a man with a laugh like the purr of a motorcycle’s engine.
***
The drive ended far too quickly, the ride coming to an end seemingly before it had even started. All too soon, the bike rolled to a stop. The building was not far from the bar at all, a thought that made Jessica’s heart catch in her throat. All of the worries and stresses that had fled while she was on the bike had returned, piling onto her and crushing her, leaving her feeling sick and uncomfortable. She jumped off the bike as quickly as possible, shedding the helmet like an old skin and dropping it onto the seat. She adjusted her clothes and folded her arms, trying her best not to look as if she was terrified.
Troy took his time getting off the bike, setting up the kickstand and taking off his helmet. This time, he didn’t bother to shed his jacket. He grinned, “Enjoy the ride?”
Jessica decided not to answer that. The excitement of the ride still burnt through her, tingling through her limbs. She didn’t want to let him know that, though. She was not about to admit to anything, “Where’s your boss?”
Troy laughed, a sound infused with both malice and humor, “Hold your horses, he’s up inside.” Jessica followed Troy through the doors into a building that was surprisingly opulent, although the biker influence was painted all across the décor, and the familiar smell of gas, oil and leather seemed to have soaked into the very walls of the place. It was dimly lit as they made their way up the stairs. Troy knocked on the door to announce himself, and then flung it open.
Jessica squinted as the light hit her, flooding the hall way. Troy didn’t seem phased, wandering into the room confidently. Jessica followed behind him as her eyes adjusted to the light.
The lighting was moody and low, but still bright enough to blind someone coming in from the darkness of the hallway. It was a well decorated room, and it reminded Jessica more of a bar than the opulent surroundings suggested. Smokey counters and club memorabilia littered the space, men sitting around. They barely looked up when Jessica entered, save to shoot her a curious glance. One look at Troy beside her, and all of their questions seemed to be satisfied.
Troy ignored them all, making his way across the room to where two men were speaking. They were both bikers, that much was obvious from once glance. One was broad chested with rugged beard, his jacket littered with badges. He was nodding as the other man spoke. It was him that really drew in Jessica’s attention.
He was tall, maybe even taller than Troy. He had the build of a man who knew how hold his own in a fight, but unlike the man he was speaking to, he stood straight. He radiated a proud sort of arrogance, a confidence that was seen in the tall stand of his back and the way he casually leaned against the bar as if he didn’t have a care in the world. His hair was dark, and his eyes were electric. His white shirt and blue jeans were stark against all of the black. The only part of him that fit in was the heavy leather jacket he wore, which had a huge crest emblazoned on the back, and the heavy boots that were planted on the ground.
He glanced up when he saw Troy approaching and a slow smile spread across his face. The other man glanced back and then nodded, turning around and heading off in another direction.
Realization hit Jessica like a bolt of lightning. This must be Troy’s boss. There was no mistaking the confidence of a man who knew that he was in charge and had no problems flaunting it.
Troy approached him easily and Jessica found herself admiring the way he approached this man with no hesitation, “Ace, I’ve brought Kevin’s girl. She wants to talk.”
“I am not Kevin’s girl.” It was stupid to talk right now, insane to run her mouth and get herself into trouble, but she just could not stand being constantly talked to like she was still in a relationship with that backstabber. He was in the past, and even though her stomach fluttered at the sight of Ace and did flips at th
e way Troy rode his bike, she was through with this type of guy.
“You’re not?” Ace met her gaze and she was startled with how blue his eyes were, “Then you’re just being a great friend and paying off his debts?” Sarcasm laced his words, but it was subtler than she had expected.
When she didn’t answer, he smirked, “I don’t care whether or not you’re still fucking him: you’re his girl, so you’ve got to pay.”
Anger bubbled in Jessica’s chest, “I didn’t borrow anything from you.” She stepped forward in a motion that was far bolder than she felt. Ace laughed, a low sound that was nothing like Troy. In an instant, she could see how Ace had risen to the top. In an instant, she could see the hardness that lurked behind his eyes, “Don’t play with me. I like a girl with a bit of personality, but do you know what I like even more?”
He reached into his jacket pocket, fishing out a lighter and a pack of cigarettes. He lit up and took a long drag, staring at Jessica as if he expected an answer. When he got none, he chuckled, “My money.”
He took another drag, “Either you come up with the cash in, say… a week… or you sell your house and we get our money that way.”
Jessica finally found her voice, “My house is all I have. I can’t sell it.” She hated the desperate edge that had worked its way into her voice, and she curled her hands into fists, straightening her posture and trying to look intimidating, to look like someone who wasn’t exhausted and on the verge of breaking down.
Ace shrugged, and Jessica could tell that this conversation was already over, before it had properly begun, “You have a week. I take it you know how much you owe?”
Ace fixed her with a hard look. Jessica felt nausea swirl in her stomach. She could recall the piles of bills at home, one that had seemed less formal, but so much more ominous. Yes, she knew how much she owed. Thousands and thousands of dollars. She was working to pay it back, but she just couldn’t earn the money quickly enough.
“I need more time.” She finally managed, but her request sounded weak even to her own ears. She was sure that, while she had barely any time to pay all of this back, Kevin must have had ages.
Jessica felt her hope draining from her as Ace shrugged and took another long puff of his cigarette. Jessica wanted to scream, to make this man understand that this was her life he was messing with! He looked so casual, so utterly composed, with broad shoulders and piercing, electric eyes and more power than he knew what to do with.
What did he understand of her life?
Before she had a chance to speak, Troy stepped in, taking her by the arm, “Thanks, Ace. I’ll see her out.”
“What are you doing?” Jessica jerked her arm out of Troy’s grasp the moment they had turned away from Ace.
“Keep walking.” Troy’s voice was low and threatening, giving no room for argument. Once they had reached the door, Troy guided her through it firmly, shutting the door behind him and plunging them into the dim light of the evening.
“Why did you do that?” Jessica knew that she was being stupid, arguing with a dangerous man on his turf, but she just couldn’t help it, “I can’t pay the money.” Her voice was a hiss, angry and bold, but her hands were shaking and she wrapped her arms around herself. What was she meant to do now?
She expected Troy to be angry, expected to face his wrath for arguing with his boss. Instead, his voice was softer than she had heard it before now, “Takes guts to argue with Ace.” The comment was casual, offhanded, and it caught Jessica off guard.
Troy shrugged as he began to make his way down the stairs, “It’s also stupid. Do you want him to add on more interest to your account?”
“He can’t do that.” Jessica’s voice sounded uncertain even to herself as she followed him down the stairs.
“I’ll take that bet.” Troy stepped into the night, a sigh escaping him as he wandered towards his bike. When Jessica didn’t follow, he glanced back over his shoulder, “So… you’re walking?”
Jessica hesitated. Walking home was not appealing at all, and as much as Jessica hated it, being on a bike cleared her head in ways that nothing else could. Besides, her thoughts piped up, Troy already knew where she lived.
Grabbing the helmet without preamble, Jessica pulled it over her head and jumped onto the back of the bike. She didn’t bother wrapping her arms around his chest, just curled her fingertips into the back of his jacket.
Troy glanced back at her with surprise, “You’ve done this before.”
“Yes, you brought me here.” Jessica couldn’t quite keep the sarcasm from dripping from her voice.
Troy snorted, “Before that.”
Jessica shrugged and flicked down her visor. She didn’t want to meet his gaze any longer and see the questions that were mirrored there. She didn’t want to talk about her ex and how she came to know the back of a bike. She didn’t want to do anything but ride, and forget that this day ever happened.
Thankfully, Troy didn’t bring up any more questions. He kicked the bike to life, the roar thundering, deafening her to her own thoughts. Then they were riding again, flying through the streets at a speed that could not be legal. Jessica’s breath was stolen from her lungs, the worries chased from her shoulders. The scent of leather and Troy’s musk filled her, the sound and feel of the roaring engine overwhelming her senses until nothing else mattered.
Jessica had tried to forget how good this felt. Tried to forget how great it felt to ride on the back of a bike, the freedom that came from no responsibilities. For one savage moment, she imagined that selling her house wouldn’t be so bad. No more rates to pay, no more needing to work her dead-end job that was taking her nowhere. No more needing to work double shifts to pay a debt that was way above her. Just freedom and the feel of the wheels on the road.
When Troy pulled up outside her house, she was jolted out of the fantasy that she had built for herself. Reality came crashing back, slamming into her and making her feel sick. Of course she couldn’t sell her house and leave this town. Where would she go? What would she do? It was insanity, and she wanted no part of it.
She stepped off the bike and handed him the helmet, “Thank you.” She wasn’t sure what she was thanking him for after he had just torn her life apart, but good manners were hard to break.
Troy looked surprised, but he recovered quickly and shrugged, “It’s fine.” He leaned against his bike, which he had dismounted from. His eyes were piercing and he stared at her for a long moment, “You know where to go for a loan?”
“Sorry?” Jessica frowned in confusion.
Troy sighed and shook his head, “A loan. You need a loan if you want to keep Ace off your back. Do you know where to get one?”
“Well, the bank…” Jessica answered, hesitance creeping into her tone when he looked at her like she was an idiot.
“No bank is gonna loan to you. You’re too far in the hole.”
Jessica swallowed. She knew that, but it stung to hear it none the less, “Well then what do you suggest?” She shot back.
Troy considered her for a moment, “I’ll look into it.”
“What?” Jessica couldn’t keep the surprise off her face this time, and Troy fixed her with a long stare, “You don’t want my help?”
“No, no, it’s not that… just…” Jessica wasn’t sure what she felt. Was this man here to help her, or tear apart her life? Was he her savior, or was he just here to drag her down even deeper?
“Why am I offering to help you?” Troy paused, before a slow smirk spread across his face, “Because it takes guts to stand up to Ace, sweetheart, even if it is stupid.”
Jessica wasn’t sure if she should be flattered or insulted, so for a moment, she just stood there, outside her house, staring at this man who she had only just met, but was making her feel so damn conflicted.
Eventually she found her voice, “Thank you.” Again, she wasn’t sure why she was thanking him, it just… seemed rude not to. Jessica was struck by the absurdity of that, how insane the manners
of her polite society could be sometimes.
Troy seemed to think so too, because he laughed, “What, are you going to invite me in for coffee next?” There was a mocking lilt to his voice and Jessica felt herself bristle.
“As a matter of fact, I was. There’s nothing wrong with that.”
Troy grinned and pushed himself up from where he leaned against the bike. The movement was predatory as he walked towards her, “Sweetheart, if you wanted me, you should have just said so.” His voice was low and it sent shivers coursing through Jessica’s body, a heat flushing her cheeks. She had forgotten the age old euphemism of inviting a man in for coffee. Stupid!
“I was just being polite.” Her voice was scathing, yet she couldn’t stop the tremor that crept in, “Why would I want you?” The comment was insulting, yet Troy never faltered. He didn’t buy it and Jessica couldn’t blame him. He moved in closer and, as Jessica stepped backwards onto her front porch, Troy wrapped one arm around her waist and pulled her in.
“Because, sweetheart… you’ve ridden on the back of a bike before, and I bet that’s not all you know how to ride.” His breath was against her neck, his voice in her ear and Jessica could not stop the shivers that ran through her, despite herself.
Troy continued, “Because I’m the ‘bad boy’ fix that you need, a break from that nice little polite world you live in.”
He smirked and she could feel his lips brushing against her neck, “Because it’s boring, and I’m sure as hell not.”
Jessica could feel the shivers working their way down her spine, making her head spin as she stepped back again, her hand finding her front door. Troy’s hand stayed firmly around her waist and Jessica couldn’t find the words to say no. She wasn’t even sure she wanted to.