“That might be possible.” She leaned over, grabbing the small notepad and pen next to the register. She wrote down her number and ripped off the piece of paper. Slowly she folded it and slipped it into the front pocket of his cut.
“Sure you don’t need help with that skirt? I’d love to see it hiked up and you on the back of my bike.”
She hopped down from the counter and leaned up to his ear, letting her breath blow gently against his skin, “Not this time, Sparky. I think I’ll handle it on my own,” she whispered as she peeked over into his eyes. Fully dilated with sexual frustration ablaze in them, he slowly turned toward her with a devious smile. “I’ll be looking forward to your call, Knox,” her words were breathless and heavy as she spoke his name.
“As always, Aiyana, it was a pleasure seeing you.” His dark eyes lingered with her own until she turned.
She tried to keep herself from running and as much as she wanted, she didn’t allow herself to look back at him. She hoped into her truck and took off down the road. Her hands were still shaking with adrenaline as she pulled up to her house. What it was about that man that made her feel so fierce, she didn’t know. She could feel every inhibition fly out of the window with every step he’d taken toward her. The anticipation of the weekend grew inside of her. For the first time she was thoroughly looking forward to what was to come.
KNOX
Knox mounted his bike, grabbing his erection and shifting it in his pants in an attempt to subdue the thoughts coursing through his veins. He had been in the hardware store every day for the past week, waiting, hoping that she’d come in. She was like a siren calling to him, and no different than the lowly sailors adrift at sea he conceded to her song. She was temptation in the flesh, a beautiful seductress, and he would devour her body, mind, and soul at the first chance he got.
As his bike came to life, he let out a deep breath. He knew, deep in his being, that a woman like her didn’t come around often. If you were fated to have someone like that cross your path, you owed it to yourself and destiny to follow the path to see where it led. He gripped the throttle, letting his engine growl out as he raced down the road toward the cabin, becoming one again with the road and exhaling the rest of the world.
Chapter Six
forget, forgive, and begin again
“Yes, sir,” Ani tried to keep her voice from reverberating off of the walls of her new office. “You can bring that in this afternoon.” She peeked over at Kate, who was cheerful and smiling as she helped the customer sitting at her desk. “Ok, Mr. Johnson, I’ll see you soon. Thank you.” Ani hung up the phone as she checked off another item from today’s to-do list.
She tried to not be obvious as she watched Kate walk the customer to the lobby, smiling before handing them their receipt. The last few days at work had been slightly awkward. Every attempt Ani had made to talk to Kate had been an epic failure. Aside from certain business documents she’d had to sign for Ani, Kate had avoided her as much as possible
Ani shuffled through the papers on her desk, grabbing Mr. Johnson’s regulation form and signing it. She noticed Kate’s name as the personal banker and decided to make another attempt to strike up a conversation. Grabbing the paper, Ani made her way toward Kate’s office. She could see Kate let out a deep sigh before Ani had even made it to her door. She wasn’t positive, but she’d thought Kate had let out a low growl as well.
“Hey, Kate. I need to get your signature on this please,” Ani stood at her door, waiting for Kate to invite her in.
“Sure. Come on in,” Kate huffed as she took the paper from Ani.
Ani looked down at the empty seat in front of Kate’s desk; it was now or never. Without hesitation she sat quickly in the seat, plopping down so hard the chair slid a few inches across the floor. Ani looked up at Kate with embarrassment and tried hard not to laugh, but as Kate’s face softened Ani released a loud chuckle. Ani covered her mouth, but it was too late; both of their laughter was now bellowing out through the lobby from Kate’s office.
“You have never been graceful.” Kate clutched at her stomach, “I wish you could have seen your face when the chair moved. I thought it was going down and taking you with it!”
“You’re not the only one!” Ani took a deep breath to try and calm her laughter.
As the two relaxed an awkward silence filled the room. Ani twisted her hands in her lap trying to think of something to say, but she kept coming up short on conversation starters. As Kate slid the paper back across her desk, Ani decided that she would just have to give it time. When Kate was ready to talk she would, until then it wasn’t fair for Ani to keep hounding her.
“Thanks, Kate.” Ani took the paper and made her way out of the door.
“Wait, Ani,” Kate called after her as she stepped out of the door, “Listen, I’m sorry. I have been an ass. I should’ve given you a chance to talk or apologize, or whatever it is you have been stalking me for.”
“Kate, you have absolutely nothing to apologize for. I was completely wrong in how I left things between us. I should have been a better friend and I wasn’t.” Ani stepped back into her office and slowly sat back down into the vacant chair.
“Yeah, you did owe me a goodbye in the least.” Kate’s eyes were sarcastic.
“I know, and I’m sorry. So sorry, Kate. If I could go back and do it all over again I would have done so many things differently. After everything happened between Cash and me, all I wanted to do was just get the hell out of here and never look back at that heartache again. I told myself I would get to New York and I would have so much fun that it wouldn’t matter, but I was all wrong.” Ani knew this was her moment to grovel and she would be damned if she held back; she had years to apologize for.
“I thought the whole time I was in New York that nothing back home mattered. That I was going to make something of myself and go far in life, and man was I wrong. The only thing I could think of while I was gone was you and my parents, all of my friends, and those beautiful mountains. It was like all of it was calling for me, no matter how hard I tried to ignore it. I waited five years for a reason to come back and as soon as I had one I came home.” Ani stared out Kate’s window at the mountain peaks in the distance.
“To be honest, Ani, I think I was more jealous than hurt,” Kate’s eyes reflected sadness as she spoke, “I wanted to get out of here so badly and you were getting that opportunity. Not only that, but you were so excited to go with Cash instead of me and then he let you down. I guess I kept waiting and hoping that you’d ask me to go with you and then you didn’t, and it made me feel left out.”
“I’m sorry, Kate. I wish that it had been you and I taking over the world, I really do. I can’t believe I let myself get so caught up in the fairy tale that was Cash Roberts.”
“Well, he is a good looking son of a bitch. It happens,” Kate smiled over at her and for the first time since she’d left for New York, Ani’s life was beginning to feel normal again.
She was beginning to think that maybe the path she had wanted and fought so hard for wasn’t actually the path that she was supposed to have been on. More and more the idea that this was where she was supposed to have been all along solidified in her mind. She wasn’t sure what God had intended for her here, but she was sure that she would be finding out soon.
“So, I hear you were out at The Hill this past weekend,” Kate teased.
“Talk about old times, it felt like high school all over again.”
“I think ol’ Cash Roberts still thinks you’re pretty,” Kate mocked.
“Lord, I can’t get him to leave me alone!”
“Girl, he has been waiting for you to come back for years. I give it two months and he’ll be proposing. After you left he was so tore up, he wouldn’t even look at another girl for years.” Kate relaxed back in her chair.
“He’s just going to have to get over it. He can’t expect to call dibs on me just because we used to be an item,” Ani’s voice was matching the irritation spre
ading throughout her body.
“I am surprised he hasn’t peed on your leg already,” Kate laughed.
“That’s disgusting, Kate.”
“Just give it some time and I’m sure he’ll ease up. Maybe go on a date with someone new and let him know that you aren’t playing around,” Kate suggested.
“Well…” Ani’s voice trailed off as excitement began taking over the irritation. “What’s the story with the bikers?” Ani asked.
“Why?” Kate looked at her as if she knew where Ani was going with this conversation.
“I’m just wondering,” Ani tried to be convincing.
“Lawd help me!” Kate leaned forward onto her desk and whispered, “You have it for one of those bikers don’t you?”
“No!” Ani protested, trying to wipe the shit-eating grin off of her face. “Ok, I might have met one and he may have piqued my interest.”
“Piqued your interest? Jesus, Ani, you’re gonna start wearing leather under drawers aren’t you? Riding motorcycles and smoking cigarettes too,” Kate smiled proudly over at her.
If there was one thing Kate was not, it was a prude. Kate had been a free spirit since before she and Ani had become friends. She had always lived her life to the fullest, practicing the play first and ask for forgiveness later motto.
“I’ve only talked to him a few times and I don’t even know if he’ll call me.”
“You gave him your number?” Kate’s face exuded the shock in her voice, “This is not the Ani I used to know. Where is she and what have you done to her?”
“She’s forever locked away in the shy and reserved closet she belongs in,” Ani smiled.
“I like this new Ani. I think she and I could get along great,” Kate’s eyes were devious, “So if he does call, are you going to go out with your new sweet meat?”
“I don’t know. Cash wanted to do something this weekend so I’ll have to find an excuse to get out of that.” The guilt of blowing him off began settling in her stomach.
“Tell him that you and I are going out and if you need to back up that story, then just let me know when Knight Rider is going to pick us up,” She smiled playfully as her eyes glanced toward the door and Jill’s head came leaning into the door frame.
“Ani, I’m sorry to interrupt, but I have a customer here that I need help with,” Jill smiled apologetically between her and Kate.
“Sure, let’s walk to my office.” Ani stood, “This conversation isn’t over, Kate Benson.”
“I look forward to finishing it.” The devious smile spread across her face once more before turning back to her computer.
As Ani followed Jill over to her office, she glanced toward the customer sitting at Jill’s desk. He was dressed in the same ragged leather cut and tattered jeans as the men she’d seen the day of her interview.
As they stepped into her office, she closed the door, “What’s wrong, Jill?” Ani could see the concern on Jill’s face, something about this man wasn’t sitting right with her.
“Well, he wants to open an account with over twenty thousand in cash. Of course, that threw up red flags and when I asked him how he’d acquired the money, he refused to tell me. If he won’t tell me, I can’t fill out the proper regulation paperwork and in turn I cannot open the account,” Jill talked nervously.
“Ok, do you want me to speak with him?”
“If you wouldn’t mind.” A look of relief washed over Jill’s face before she left back toward her desk.
Ani removed the papers and folder from her desk just as Jill came back, showing the man into her office. She stood to shake the man’s hand, but he refused it and plopped down sideways into the chair in front of her desk. Trying to hide her own irritation, she sat back down and looked the man over. His long hair was peppered with black and gray streaks and his face was worn in the same way as the leather of his jacket. Over the right pocket it read “Renegades” with another rocker on the other side that said “Neanderthals”. Fucking bikers.
“Sir, Jill tells me that she’s having some problems opening your account. Is there anything I can do to help with that?” Ani smiled nicely toward him.
“Well, you can open the account without asking so many damn questions,” he stared blankly over her desk.
“Unfortunately, to open the account I will need to ask a few question. Now, I will try my best to make the process as easy for you as I can; however there is certain information we have to record per government law.” She could see the irritation building further across his face as she explained the process to him.
“Ok fine. Then I want to put this in the account we already have.”
“We can do that. I just need to know the amount and the account name for the deposit ticket,” She said, reaching over and grabbing the ticket from her desk.
“Twenty thousand, five hundred, and four dollars,” he said plainly.
“Sir, to deposit that amount of money, I will need to ask you where you acquired it from,” she stood her ground. She wasn’t about to let this man come in here with his bad attitude and ugly shoes and keep her from doing her job.
He twisted in the chair until he faced her directly, “That’s none of your damn business.”
“Ok, great. Then I hope you are able to find somewhere to deposit that money. We always like to warn our customers of the dangers of carrying around large amounts of cash,” She sat back in her seat, unimpressed by his demeanor.
“Oh yeah? You know bad things happen to women who don’t do what they are told also,” his words were challenging and held a deeper meaning than what floated at the surface.
“Good thing I carry protection. It helps me feel safe,” she challenged. How dare this man come into her office and throw idle threats toward her. She wasn’t backing down.
She could see Jill and Kate out of the corner of her eye, standing at the corner of the large glass window of her office. They stared at her and the biker facing off across the desk. Ani didn’t break eye contact with the man as Kate knocked lightly on her office door and peeked her head in.
“Everything ok in here?” she said in almost a whisper.
“Yes, everything is fine. I was actually showing this nice gentleman out.” Ani stood, waiting on the man to get up from the chair.
His eyes didn’t leave hers as he stood, taking a few steps toward the door and then hesitating as he stood next to Kate. “Better get yourself some real protection. Wouldn’t want a pretty girl like you getting hurt, Ms. Forrest.” He turned back enough to give her a look that shot shivers up her spine.
“I’m sorry, but was that a threat?” Kate’s voice was angry and protective.
“No, ma’am. More like a warning.” With that, he turned and left from the bank.
Ani sat frozen as the vibrations of the motorcycles rumbled throughout the building. She could hear them as they drove around the building and faded off in the distance.
“Ani, you ok?” Kate’s voice was filled with concern as she took in the look on Ani’s face.
“Of course,” her voice sounded more confident than she felt, “Just a grumpy customer.”
“Ok, if you say so,” Kate eyed her one last time. “Do you want your door open or closed?”
“Oh, you can leave it open. Thanks, Kate.”
Ani sat at her desk contemplating whether she should call Cash. She didn’t want to use him, but something about the weighted message in the man’s words made her stomach turn in knots. She opened her desk drawer and removed her cell, turning on the screen she noticed a missed call. She opened the screen, there was a number she didn’t recognize and a new voicemail. She was hesitant as she called her voicemail, until a deep Irish accent came through the speaker.
“It’s Knox. Gonna ride out to my cabin tonight. Was gonna see if you wanted to come.” She latched onto each of his heavy breaths until the speaker went quiet. Excitement and adrenaline flowed through her body, it was everything she could do to not start shaking. Quickly she pulled up her e-mail and
typed a message to Kate.
Recipient: Kate Benson
Subject: Tonight
Message: We have had contact with Knight Rider. You game for tonight?
Ani leaned back in her chair, she wasn’t sure how Knox would react to her inviting people along, but he couldn’t expect her to saddle up on the back of his bike and ride off into the sunset when she didn’t really know him. A sudden vibration from her phone caused her to jump, looking down she saw Cash’s name come across her caller ID. Might as well break it to him now before things went any further. She hit the answer button, not really knowing what she was going to say.
“Hey, Cash,” she answered.
“Hello, princess. How’s work?” his voice was sweet as he spoke to her.
“It’s alright,” her answer was short. Damn it! This was going to be harder than she thought.
“So, did you think any further about my offer for dinner?”
“I did. However, Kate and I had a long chat this afternoon and we’ve finally made up.” Ani jumped as the door to her office came flying open and Kate came running in, silently apologizing when she noticed Ani on the phone.
Ani held her hand up covering the receiver and mouthed Cash’s name, laughing quietly as Kate pretended to fall asleep.
“Well, that’s good you girls have finally called a truce. I was beginning to think I’d have to lock you both in a closet until you became friends again.” She smiled as he chuckled. What made this so hard was that deep down she knew that Cash would do anything for her. Even if he hadn’t known how to deal with it when they were younger, she knew he had always wanted what was best.
“Yeah, so we decided to take a little trip for the weekend, to sort of get away and rekindle,” Ani looked up so see Kate making romantic faces at her and mouthing, “Oh yeah!” A quick hush toward Kate and Ani was devoting her attention back to Cash.
Wild Heart (The Wild Heart Series) Page 6