“Muuuum,” he complained making the single word longer. “I’m playing on Solar’s bike.”
“Fine.” She turned back to her family and kissed them all goodbye before they left.
“Alright, dude, I gotta get going.” I pulled him off my bike and set him on his feet.
“You’re leaving?” Jasmine asked.
“Yeah, I gotta get to the club. Club business and all that stuff.” I threw my leg over my bike and she went to come to me but stopped and looked at Nate. I nodded at Tyler to take the kid out of the way.
“Hey, Nate? How about you show me your football net?” Tyler asked. He nodded and they rounded the side of the house. Jasmine walked towards me slowly. When she was in reaching distance, I wound my arm around her waist.
“I had fun last night,” I told her.
“Me too.” She smiled and blushed. I rubbed my thumb over the crimson that covered her cheek and placed my lips on hers. She eagerly kissed me back. I pulled away when my phone started ringing. I looked at it to see that it was Tat calling me.
“I gotta get going. I’ll see you later.”
“Are you coming back here tonight?”
“Do you want me to?” She nodded. “Then I’ll be here. See ya, flower.”
“Bye, Aiden,” she whispered. Oh how I loved hearing my name fall from her lips.
***
Jasmine
“Do you boys wants some lunch?” I yelled out through the back door. Tyler and Nate had been outside playing football for the last three hours.
“Mum, can I have mine in front of the TV, please?” he begged as he ran around the corner to the kitchen. He had dressed himself today in a pair of army combat trousers and a black hoody.
“Yes.” I handed him over a ham and cheese sandwich and a packet of crisp.
“Thanks, you’re the best.” He smiled.
“I made you one too,” I said to Tyler. He joined me at the kitchen table and got stuck in. “I’ll never be able to thank you enough, you know.”
“It’s all part of my job. Well, when I get patched in. I just had a bad feeling about that car, you know?”
I nodded. “Has he mentioned it to you? He refuses to talk to me about it and I’m not really sure what to do.”
“He said he felt scared at first as he didn’t know what was going on. But then they just shut him in a room with Eden. They got food and got to watch movies all day. They just weren’t allowed out of that room. He seems to be handling it well.”
“Thanks for talking to him. How are you? Tanya seems nice.”
“Yeah, I wasn’t expecting that at all. I was so happy when she told me she was pregnant but then she dropped the bomb that she was getting an abortion. I pleaded with her not to but she said she had no other choice, so I walked away from her. I couldn’t be with someone who could do that.” I grabbed the orange juice and poured him a glass, pushing it towards him.
“Do you think you’ll get back together?”
“I don’t know. She stayed with me at the club last night. She said she had nowhere else to go. I couldn’t just chuck her out. She’s carrying my kid.”
“I’m always here if you want to talk,” I said covering his hand with mine.
“Thanks.” He paused when his phone started ringing. “Hello? Yep, no worries.” He placed his phone back on the kitchen table. “That was the Prez, he wants to see you.”
“At the clubhouse?” I asked, glancing at Nate.
“Yeah, you can bring him.”
“Ok, let’s go then.” I stood to my feet, picked up the empty plates and glasses and placed them in the sink. “Nate, we gotta go out! Get your shoes on.”
***
We arrived at the clubhouse in my car as Tyler had brought Solar his bike to him this morning.
“Wow, look at all the bikes,” Nate gushed.
“Shall I take him to the park?” Tyler asked, pointing at the park that was by the grass area next to the clubhouse.
“I’d rather keep him with me for the minute.”
“No worries.” Tyler strolled off and I grabbed Nate’s hand as we walked into the clubhouse. It was busy and noisy. Music was blasting out of the speakers and people were either sitting around drinking or dancing to the music. What stopped me in my tracks was the view in front of me; Solar had his arms wound around some girl at the bar. They were at a closer distance than ‘just friends’ would be.
“Jasmine?” I stopped staring and looked ahead of me.
“Hi, Prez. You wanted to see me?” I picked Nate up and held him on my hip. I saw movement out of the corner of my eye, Solar was shrugging the girl off and headed this way.
“I just wanted to check on you to make sure you were both ok.”
“We’re great actually. I can’t thank you enough for helping me with this. Um, we just need to discuss payment.”
“The hell you do,” Solar boomed from beside us. I ignored him and continued to look at the Prez.
“How much?” I asked.
“We’ll discuss it another time. There’s no rush.” He squeezed my hand and walked away. I went to do the same when Solar grabbed hold of my elbow.
“What?” I sighed.
“Where you rushing off to?” he asked, looking confused.
“I don’t really feel like being here, watching you with her.”
“It’s not what you think.”
“And what do I think?” I asked, tipping my head to the side, waiting for whatever bullshit reason he was about to spew at me.
“Um… I can’t really discuss it in front of…” He nodded his head at Nate. He was searching for someone in the bar. “Ash!” He called out. Her head shot up and smiled at him and she walked closer while carrying a small girl on her hip.
“Hi,” she smiled at me.
“Ash, Lacey, this is Nate,” Solar introduced my son to them.
“Hi.” Lacey smiled and waved her tiny hand.
“Nate, we’re going outside to the park. Do you want to come?” Ashlyn asked him. I tightened my grip on him.
“He’ll be fine, flower. You’ll be able to see him through the window.” He pointed at a far window over by the sofas and I could see the small park that consisted of a set of swings, slide and seesaw. Nate started wriggling in my arms to get down.
“Do you want to go outside?” I asked him.
“Yes, please.”
“Ok, you behave for Ashlyn.” I kissed him on the cheek and placed him on his feet.
“Yes, Mum.” He held Ashlyn’s hand and they wandered off outside.
“Flower,” Solar mumbled as he took a step closer to me, I could feel the heat radiating off his body as he pressed himself into my side.
“What?” I sighed. I hated feeling like this, my body was tense, my heartrate was accelerated and I felt stupid for believing that there was something more than a one-night stand between us.
“Look at me,” he demanded. My eyes rose to meet his and he turned my body to face him. “I have never been interested in having a relationship.” Great, one-night stand was all it was then. I started to back away when he grabbed hold of my hips. “I’ve been having these feelings and I wanted to believe that it was only you that made me feel that way, so I…” He nodded to the woman behind us.
“So you went and fucked someone else. The day after we were together.”
“What? No. I… I was going to kiss her, dance with her.” I rolled my eyes and tried to move again. “But I couldn’t. I didn’t want to taste anyone else.” I scoffed, I bet he had used that line many times before in the past. “Come and dance with me?”
“No.” I didn’t have time for dancing, I had a son to look after.
“Please. One dance. Listen to the song, it’ll explain exactly how you make me feel; like no one ever has before.” I sighed and shrugged my shoulders. His smile broadened and he dragged me over to the dance floor. He left me there while he found the song he wanted on the juke box. The desire that crossed his face as he strol
led over to me had me wanting him all over again. I don’t ever remember feeling like this, reacting this way to a guy.
He pulled me closer to him and I laid my hands on his biceps as he pressed one hand on my lower back and the other squeezed at my hip-bone. The music started and I recognised the song. ‘Starving’ by Hailee Steinfeld.
“I like this song.” I smiled.
“Pay attention to the chorus.” He started swaying us to the music and soon I was lost in the music. Our hips were moving in sync and I gasped when he spun me around so my bum was against his groin. His beard tickled my ear as he sang the line; “I didn’t know that I was starving until I tasted you.” Then he ran his tongue over my neck, causing my body to tremble.
Once the music started fading out, he spun me back around and covered my lips with his. I rose up on my tiptoes to deepen the kiss and only pulled back when we were met with catcalls and cheers from the club. I lowered to my feet and hid my burning red face into Solar’s chest. The rumble of laughter from his chest made me smile and I looked up at him. His green eyes shone with desire and I didn’t want to move away from him.
“Do you realise that just cost me my man card?” He chuckled.
“But was it worth it?” I ran my fingertips over his chest and his eyes darkened slightly.
“If you keep doing that, I’m gonna bend you over the pool table and really give everyone a show.” Why did I throb at the thought of that?
“Solar?” a high pitched voice came from over my shoulder.
“Yes, babe.” Babe? I stepped away from him to see one of the club bunnies standing near us, she had a really short leather skirt on, knee high boots and a bright pink belly top that just about covered her breasts and she wasn’t wearing a bra.
“One of the barrels needs changing. Do you think you can help me? Put those strong muscles to use?” I looked at her and she was twirling her long blonde hair around her finger and chewing on gum. I think this one was Lottie. Was Solar still fucking the bunnies? Had I just made a fool of myself in front of everyone? Were they all now laughing behind my back, knowing that I wanted him but he was fucking everyone else too?
“Sure, I’ll help you, babe.” I didn’t miss his eyes sweeping her body. My skin prickled and a chill erupted over my body and not in a good way. I took another step back. “I’ll be back in a minute, flower.”
“I’m going home,” I muttered as I headed for the main doors to find Nate.
“Wait, flower! You can’t go home alone.” He stopped me with his hand on my forearm. I tore my arm away from him and crossed my arms over my chest.
“Why? You have the other guys, right?”
“Yeah, they were handed over to the police this morning but there is another guy we have to find.” I noticed Eden walking over to the bar. Why was she still here?
“Why is Eden still here?”
“It’s not safe for her either.” I brushed past Solar and walked up to Eden.
“Jasmine, hi. How’s Nathan?” She smiled as she sat on the stool at the bar. She was wearing a pair of skinny jeans and an oversized hoody; it was way too big for her.
“He’s fine, thanks. Nice hoody.”
“Ah, it’s Tats. I’m not allowed to go home yet.” She pulled the sleeve down and began fiddling with it.
“Would you rather come and stay with me?” I offered.
“Really?” She perked up at this offer.
“No, it’s not happening,” Solar said. “I’ve had to beg the Prez to let you and Nathan go home when it’s not safe. Once this Harold Jones is found, you’ll both be safe.”
I noticed that Eden and I both gasped at the same time.
“That’s who wanted my son?” I asked.
“And you. Flower, do you know him?” I nodded as Eden said;
“I know him.”
Chapter 14
Jasmine
“Hold that thought.” Solar looked into the bar and yelled, “CHURCH!”
All the guys immediately climbed to their feet and headed towards the secret room that we weren’t allowed in.
“Flower, Eden, come on.”
“In there?” He nodded. “But we aren’t allowed in there.”
“This one time, you are.” He placed a hand on both of our backs and urged us in ahead of him. All the guys were seated at the large oak table, Prez was at the head with Holes to his left. The chair to his right was empty and that’s where Solar sat, pulling me down onto his lap. Tat hooked his arm around Eden’s waist and did the same. The Prez slammed down the gavel and nodded at Solar.
“Flower, tell them how you know Harold Jones.”
“He’s Harvey’s dad,” I muttered.
“Who’s Harvey?” Holes asked.
“Nathan’s dad.” Eden gasped and covered her mouth with her hand.
“Red, what is it?” Tat asked her.
“Harold is my dad.” She stated. My head whipped around to look at her.
“Flower, how did you not know this?” Solar asked.
“Harvey’s family lived up country. I only met his mum and dad once. They never even came to visit when Nathan was born.”
“Red?” Tat urged.
“I fell out with my mum and dad when I decided to marry Kirk, that was seven years ago. I’ve not spoken to them since. I tried getting in contact when we split up but they ignored all of my calls. I only found out that Harvey had died last year when I moved to Cornwall.”
“How do we find this guy?” Toes asked.
“I have an address for where they live. That’s if they still live there,” Eden said.
“Write it down.” Prez passed her a pen and paper and she jotted it down, passing it back.
“This is in Leicestershire, we can send Pipe and his boys to check out the address,” Prez announced.
“Wait, they only live in Leicestershire? Harvey said they lived in York?” I said to Eden.
“Yeah, they moved to Leicestershire about ten years ago,” she explained. Why would he have lied about that?
“I’ll contact Pipe at the Leicestershire Crusaders.” Prez slammed the gavel down and the room emptied.
“Come on Flower, I’ll take you and Nate home.” Solar pushed the chair back and I climbed to my feet. I couldn’t get my head around why this man would want me and my son.
“What about Eden?” I asked.
“She’s safe here with us,” Tat answered as he slung his arm over her shoulders.
“We’ll talk soon,” Eden said as she walked towards me to hug me. I nodded, emotions were cascading through my body and I felt uneasy. Were we safe at my house? Tat pulled Eden out of the room and I turned towards Solar.
“Are we safe at my place?”
“You’re safe when I’m with you. I won’t let anyone hurt you. But if you feel safer, we can stay here or at my place?”
“Can we stay at your place?”
“Of course, flower. Come on, let’s get Nate.”
I was still unhappy about Solar calling that bunny babe, but I had just found out that my son’s grandfather was paying money to have us kidnapped. My head was all over the place, I just wanted to be somewhere safe and that was with Solar. I didn’t want to be arguing with him, distracting him from looking after us.
***
Solar
We had been to Jasmine’s house to collect some clothes for her and Nate, and some toys to keep him entertained. I wasn’t sure how child friendly my apartment was. I drove Jasmine’s car, it was safer this way, but it made me miss my bike a hell of a lot more.
“Here we are,” I announced as I unlocked the door and pushed it open for them to walk in first; Nate barrelled his way in.
“Wow, look! I can see the water!” Nate yelled, standing on the low window sill in the living room.
“Nathan, get down from there please,” Jasmine told him as she hurried in after him. I felt a bit nervous with having them here. No one except the guys had been in here. I never brought women here, I always took them to th
e clubhouse.
“The bedrooms are down here.” I said waving my hand. Jasmine held hold of Nate’s hand as she walked closer towards me. “My room is this one. This is the spare room.” I pushed the door open, revealing a double bed and matching bedside table and wardrobe. “I’ve only got the one bathroom, I’m afraid. It’s next door.”
“Thank you for this. We’ll be fine in here.” Disappointment soared through me when she didn’t want to share my bed. Was this because I called Lottie babe? It was habit, I always called all the women I had bedded babe, saved having to remember a name.
“This is my bed,” Nate announced.
“Am I not allowed to share it?” she asked him.
He shook his head.
“Mummies and daddies are meant to share a bed.” What the fuck did he just say? I had to grip hold of the door frame to hold myself up. Jasmine looked at me with worry in her eyes.
“But Solar’s not your daddy,” she tried to explain.
“I saw you kissing, like mummies and daddies do.” He shrugged his shoulders as he dug through his bag until he found his tablet. “Solar, can I watch the TV?”
“Please,” Jasmine added for him.
“Please,” he repeated.
“Sure, dude.” I ruffled his hair as he rushed past me.
“I’m sorry about that,” Jasmine said as she settled on the end of the bed and looked up at me.
“I guess we have to be careful when we are around him.”
“Yeah, I guess so.” She sounded deflated. So she did want me.
“Bring your bag into my room. Use whatever you want. You don’t have to ask.” I started to walk back down the hall and I heard her shuffling feet.
“Wait, what about what he thinks?” she asked.
“If I wanna kiss you, then I will,” I simply said.
“And what if I don’t want you kissing me?” I looked at her over my shoulder as she sounded sassy. Her arms were crossed over her chest and her hip was cocked to the side.
“Flower, you always want to kiss me.” I winked at her before I strolled away. Her voice stopped me in my tracks.
Unexpected Love (South Coast Brothers Book 5) Page 9