I put my arms around his neck as he set me on my feet beside the sleeping bag that’s still on the floor of the living room. “I love you.”
“I love you sweetheart.” He cupped my face for a second, then drove his long fingers into my hair as he tilted my head back lifting my chin. Bright blue eyes looked deeply into mine and I’m sure he can see straight into my soul. “I think we should get married on a sailboat.”
“You do?” That was unexpected.
“The way you looked on that boat today, with the wind in your hair, and your eyes closed to the peaceful caress of the sun. I will forever have that image of you in my head. An image to conjure on a bad day when I need a smile.”
“You could just come find me for a kiss on bad days.” I leaned into him and locked my arms around his middle. He’s lean, but strong. I can feel his muscles move slightly under my arms.
“I’m going to be finding you for kisses everyday for the rest of my life.” He closed in and kissed me until clothes seemed to remove themselves as the passion ignited between us. Damn birth control. I’d welcome him tonight. I think I know where we need to go first tomorrow.
“A free clinic?? No baby, I’ll call Doc. He writes all the girls scripts.”
“I’m not sure I like the sound of that.” I broke off a piece of banana nut muffin and popped it into my mouth. Lou and I decided we should get out of the solitude of his house. Too much time alone was going to tempt us a little too much. I’m not ready for children. Yet.
“It’s no big deal. I don’t want you going to some nasty clinic. Doc has a real office and everything. He just happens to be a member too.”
“I don’t like the idea of one of your friends seeing my goodies.”
Lou spit coffee all over the table.
I grabbed napkins and started wiping, “Are you okay? Did you choke?”
He’s laughing harder than I could have imagined. It’s a fascinatingly display of male happiness I’ll spend the rest of my life trying to elicit from him as often as possible. Although for the life of me I can’t figure out what he’s laughing so hard about.
“Lou?”
He finally settled down and sat back with his hand over his stomach as he caught his breath. “Did you just refer to your girly parts as ‘goodies’?”
“Oh, I wondered what was wrong with you. Yes, I did. I don’t care for the more vulgar terms.”
“Such as?” He’s messing with me hoping I’ll say one those foul words.
“No way. I am a lady, and ladies do not talk that way. I would rather you didn’t use those vulgar terms when talking to me about my goodies either.”
He chuckled again. “You are so damn cute. Okay, no vulgar sex talk.” He leaned forward and picked up my hand to play in his. “You’re going to keep me on my toes, aren’t you?”
I smiled and squeezed his hand, “If you let me, yes.”
“I look forward to it.” He leaned in closer and kissed my hand. “Finish your breakfast. We need to get to the club soon.”
“Yes dear.” I replied sarcastically to scold him for his bossiness.
“Please.” He added giving me a look that told me he was teasing me.
“This is your ‘club’??”
“Well, it is now. Our old club got bull-dozed because of residential expansion a few years ago.”
“They just bull-dozed it??”
“Might as well have. The state offered up fair market value, which was shit because of the economy. Cracker Jacks is still pissed, so don’t bring it up.”
“Cracker Jacks?”
“The President of this chapter. He’s the General’s son. General retired about five years ago. You’ll meet him today I’m sure, this is his and his wife’s place. You’ll like Liz.”
“This place is a mansion, almost like yours but yours is more modern, and has a lot more windows, but just as big.”
“Jacks invested in Microsoft before anyone knew who they were.” He didn’t knock, just opened the large ornate front door. “This is home away from home for me. Relax Barbie, some rich people are cool.” He’s enjoying my surprise and confusion.
“Please don’t call me Barbie in here.” I begged stepping just inside the large foyer.
“What would you prefer to be called? Barbara seems little stuffy for the biker world.”
“Bobby.”
“Bobby?” He put his hand on my lower back as I looked up and around.
“Yes. It’s a fairly common nickname for Barbara, and easier to cheer for than Barbara.”
“Cheer for?”
“Myles would cheer for me when I tried my hand at sports. Evidently I’m much better with a gun than a ball.”
He wrapped his arms around my middle and kissed my neck from behind me. “I beg to differ. Or should I say, my balls beg to differ.”
I elbowed him playfully, “Lou!!”
He laughed and turned me in his arms. “Hey, I didn’t say one vulgar word.”
I laughed and felt a little bit more relaxed being in this large stranger’s house. “You’re pushing it.”
“Yes, and you love it. Come on, let’s go downstairs. This house sits on a steep hill. The basement is actually where you get out to the backyard. That’s where the club moved to until we couldn’t find another spot.”
“His wife let him put this sign up?”
He opened a normal looking interior door with a sign on the front that read, ‘Warning. Keep out unless you have really big boobs.’ “It keeps drunk bikers from opening wrong doors all over her house.”
I giggled. “I think I like her already.”
We descended two levels of stairs that rounded a corner. I looked around taking in the scene. “It looks like a sports bar.”
“A lot of times it is. The guys like to bet and grill. You’ll find we have a lot of excuses to throw parties.” He ushered me slowly over to a large table of eight that sat six at the moment.
A large portly man with salt and pepper red hair and bright green eyes stood and took Lou’s hand. “Welcome back Bro.” He took my hand next, “You must be Barbie. I’m Jacks.”
“Bobby, and yes. Nice to meet you Jacks.” His grip was firm, but not too hard. He was a gentleman, but didn’t treat me like I was to gentle for a real shake.
I was introduced to the rest of the table before Lou walked me over to the bar and sat me in the corner at the end. “Sorry to abandon you in a strange place baby. I’ll be as quick as I can, but you can’t be in on this meeting. If you need me just wave your hand in the air. I’ll just be right over there.”
“I’m a big girl Lou. Go have your meeting.”
He cupped my face and kissed me possessively. Good. That should keep men from hitting on me. Although I’m sure I’m not their type. Come to think of it, they wouldn’t know that from the way I’m dressed. Oh well. When he pulled back he said, “I have an open tab here, get whatever you want. Blue usually keeps newspapers behind the bar if you want to catch up on current events.”
“That’s not a bad idea. Take your time Lou. I wouldn’t mind a little while to soak all this in.”
“Thank you love.” He stole one more kiss then left me for his meeting across the room.
The bartender, who introduced himself as Blue, stepped up wiping his hands on a dishtowel. “Can I get you something to drink?”
“Yes please, do you have iced tea?”
“I do.”
“I heard a rumor you might have a current newspaper hidden behind this beautiful bar.” I hinted.
“I have several.” He hooked me up with fresh iced tea, sugar, and three different newspapers. I read, sipped, and people watched for probably an hour. The time didn’t drag as there was a lot to take in.
A few of the women gave me that typica
l territorial look women give when they feel their turf is being tread upon. Knowing I’m the new girl on the block I just gave a polite smile and went back to reading. Maybe once they realize the only man I’m after is Lou, and not theirs, they’ll warm up.
Myles walked in from outside and I all but fell off my stool to crash into him, “MYLES!!!” Okay, that was completely undignified, but I can’t help it.
He hugged me hard and spun me around twice. “Hey kid. Miss me?”
He set me on my feet and I stepped back, “You have no idea how much I missed you.”
“Lou been treating you right?” He looked around for Lou.
“Oh yes! It’s not that. I just missed you. Wow.” I stepped back. Myles is wearing chaps and a black leather vest. Gone is the suit and tie. “You look, amazing.”
He turned around and showed me the back of his jacket. “Looks like I found a new cause.” It read Prospect across the bottom.
“I’ll say you did. Are you happy??”
He took my arm and we went to the bar to catch up and talk about what to do with my father’s, I mean, Mr. Whitmore’s, assets. Maybe I should go back to referring to him as my father. He’s not so bad when compared to Paulie.
We decided to put everything up for sale after a quick fix of the books. Pay off any debts, no matter who the loanee, and make sure any illegal operations are ceased immediately. Then put them on craigslist.com and have us a fire sale.
As far as Paulie was concerned we decided to let the club check things out first. Slider said he would look into what happened and pull some strings for information. Two weeks should be enough time for him to settle this matter peacefully.
“If he can’t, tell him I’ll pay the eight million. I have that in cash.”
“It doesn’t work that way. Paulie is going to assume you’ll keep paying money to avoid starting a war. You’re a woman. Soft hearted.”
“What do we do?”
“I’m not sure. Aside from bankrupting your cash supply so there’s nothing to come after, I don’t know.”
“So I can’t give the money to him, and I can’t keep it?”
“Right, at least he can’t think you have it”
“I need a drink.” Blue set a shot glass on the bar in front of me. “Whiskey, please.”
“You still run the risk of pissing him off if you give the money away. Best to let him think the Feds got it all if we can.”
“True.” I downed the shot and chased it with my tea. “Bleck.”
Myles laughed. “You look good kid. Biker clothing suits you better than those ugly grey suits.”
“Yeah, I can’t say as I miss the stockings either.” I scratched my leg.
“How’s things with you and the other biker in your life?”
“Good. We’re getting married, someday. There’s no date set, just rings We put them away for a fancier proposal, but had a private one between us. He’s rather sweet under that scruffy young beard.” I laughed and waved off the offer of a second shot.
“He’ll be good for you. But if he ever gets out of line you call me, I’ll come kick his ass back in shape.” He promised.
“Deal. Are you going to show me your bike?”
“Absolutely.” We went upstairs and out front where all the bikes were neatly parked in short rows of five or six in the front yard. That poor grass.
A little while later Myles had to go run an errand with another prospect so I went back to the bar. A woman with medium length light brown hair in a ponytail turned on her barstool as I walked over. “Barbara?”
“That’s me.” I replied cheerfully. She has happy puppy dog brown eyes. I doubt this woman could make an enemy if she tried.
She held her hand out, “I’m Liz, Cracker Jacks wife.”
I shook her hand eagerly, “Oh! It’s so nice to meet you!”
She beckoned Blue over as I sat down beside her at the bar. After ordering a cup of coffee she turned back to me. “How are you adjusting?”
“So far so good. I’m definitely out of my element, but I seem to be meeting the most friendly people.”
She smiled proudly, “Yes, we are more like a big family. We have our squabbles and issues, but the love is always there for each other. Would you like to go up and check out my big fancy house while these guys finish their business?”
“I would love to. From what I’ve seen it’s lovely. Even your biker bar basement is lovely. I could have never pulled this off.” I stood with her as we gathered our drinks and headed for the stairs.
“Sounds like you’ll be doing some decorating soon.” She hinted for more information. That’s all it took. Liz became my best friend over the next hour.
We ended up having a lot in common. Her family is from Virginia, so she understands a little about southern culture. We also have similar taste in decor, so she gave me phone numbers and names of places to shop. On our way back down to the guys we exchanged phone numbers and promised to go shopping on Monday.
I promised to talk to Lou and make sure it was okay for me to come by tomorrow morning and let me help her and the other girls set up for the big party after the Poker Run Saturday morning. She explained that most people wouldn’t get here until around dinner time, but the pre-party was nothing to dismiss either. Those who can’t ride in the run for whatever reason come help out and get the festivities started.
Lou was standing in a small group of bikers when I saw him. His smile went ear to ear and tugged at my heart strings. He met me halfway and quickly put his arm around my back and pulled me against him for a long possessive kiss.
I let him get away with it for a few seconds before I remembered where we are. “Lou, behave. People are watching.”
“Oooh, kinky.” He teased and nipped my neck playfully. While he was by my ear he asked, “Ready to go shopping?”
“Yes, please.”
He stood upright and set concerned light blue eyes on mine, “Did you enjoy your visit with Liz?”
“Oh yes, for sure. We’ve exchanged numbers so we can get together on Monday. I just missed you, that’s all.”
“So you’re okay here? Not scared?”
“No, not scared at all. It’s kind of like the first day of school, but it takes a lot more than that to put me out. Would you rather stay here than shop with me?” It just dawned on me shopping may not be up this biker’s alley.
“I’d rather be with you wherever you are. Besides, I need to make sure you don’t put up pink lace and buy ugly fuzzy pillows.” He teased and waved to the guys.
I waved too before he escorted me up the stairs. “Do I look like the fuzzy pillow type to you?”
He filled his hands with my tush and squeezed. “I like these pillows.”
I swatted his hands away. “Remind me not to walk up stairs in front of you.”
“Remind me to melt butter on those sweet biscuits later.”
“Lou!!” I had to laugh though. He’s having too much fun working around the definition of vulgarity with his talk of biscuits. I like the way he thinks. He’s risky fun with his words. My beautiful, tall, sliver-tongued biker is going to be keeping me on my toes as well.
“Don’t you think that’s a little big Lou?” He’d just flopped down on the biggest, fanciest, mahogany four-post bed I’ve ever seen. The ornate twisted posts really would go nicely against the sharp angles of his large windows.
“I’m a big guy.” He argued.
I studied the linens. “It is beautiful, and yes, you are a big guy. It just seems a little, excessive.”
“You don’t like it?” He rolled to his side and propped up on his elbow to reach for me, “Come here.”
“No way.” I jumped back. “You’re dangerous in beds.”
“Dangerous?” He’s loving this.
“Yes, and floors.” I wiggled his booted foot as I walked around to look at the rest of the bedroom set.
“You should lay down on a mattress before you buy it.”
“I’ll trust your judgement.” I opened drawers. The light marble tops are beautiful. I’m in love with this set. It’s intimidating in it’s beauty. Kind of like Lou. His eyes are intimidatingly cold one minute, and sparkling happily the next.
“Wow. You trust me??” He rolled over and tried to catch my arm again. “Barbara, get over here. You know I’ll come get you.” He threatened.
I turned back around to face him, “You better not!!”
He started to get off the bed.
I ran over and sat on the edge. “Okay! Behave. I’m here.”
He lunged and next thing I know I’m being tickled on top of this huge bed in the middle of this very nice furniture store.
“Lou!! Stop!!” I grabbed his ears finally.
He laughed and hopped off the bed to help me up. He looked at the sales lady who appeared suddenly. “We had to give it the tickle test. Very important.” He assured her making me giggle.
I hid behind Lou as she replied sternly, “I suppose that we’re lucky that’s the only test you two have in mind. Are you interested in this bed?” A huge smile on her face gave her away.
“I want the whole set. When can you deliver?”
“We can order the set today and have it to you in about two weeks.”
“Fine.” He looked over his shoulder at me, “Okay?”
I nodded still completely embarrassed.
He looked back to her, “What do you have in living room furniture?”
13
“You want to leave at what time in the morning??” Lou asked as we carried bag after box after bag after box into the house. We’d come back here to get his truck after ordering the furniture.
“I want to help. There is a ton of cooking to do and coolers to fill. I had no idea what kind of work goes into these biker parties of yours.” I teased using my foot to hold the door open for him.
Salem Charm: Book 3 of Colson Brothers Series Page 18