Primal Need (Primal Howlers MC Book 2)
Page 20
* * *
Hatch
I dumped an armload of parts onto the front counter of Bruce’s Specialty Auto Services, and pulled out my clipboard to check them off. My buddy’s shop was one of several I’d made deliveries to today, but luckily it was the last and the least amount… it meant I’d been able to carry everything in the saddlebags of my Harley Fat Boy. The day was too nice to be locked in a cage. I’d needed to ride. And now I wanted beer and pussy, not necessarily in that order, but I had to wait ’til I got back to the compound to enjoy either.
“Hatch!”
“Yeah?” I called back, still scribbling on the order sheet.
“Hot one comin’.”
I glanced up to see a woman navigating the intersection and heading toward us. She wore a fitted light-blue blouse, tight, white jeans that hugged her shapely legs, and heels that looked like they cost more than my bike. Her long, blonde hair hung in straight sheets, but as a gust of wind caught her locks, she had to fight to keep the strands out of her face. She slid her sunglasses on top of her head, pulling her hair away from her face and my breath left my body. She was like the first ray of sunshine after the rain. Damn, she was a knockout.
She walked into the tiny customer area and gave me a tentative smile. “Hi,” she breathed out. “My battery’s dead and Triple-A’s going to be a while. Is there someone here who’d be willing to give me a jump?”
My dick took notice of her sweet, British accent.
“Yeah, sweetheart, I’ll jump you. Anytime, anyplace,” Bruce said, and I watched her step back slightly, her face a little paler than before. For whatever reason, Bruce’s dirty innuendo made me want to beat the shit out of my old friend.
“Piss off, Bruce,” I ordered quietly, then turned to face her. I was shocked by a sudden need to protect her, but I planned to help her and get her the hell out of my space. I needed a woman to protect as much as I needed a hole in the head, but I did have a sister and I’d never leave a woman stranded. “I’ll get you goin’ again. Where are you parked?”
She pointed to the parking lot across the street. “Just over there.”
“Bruce, where’s your portable jump pack?”
Bruce grabbed it from the back room and handed it to me.
I smiled at the woman and nodded. “I’ll follow you.”
“Thank you.”
“Be back, Bruce.” I nodded to the clipboard on the desk. “Sign off on the delivery so I can get out of here, yeah?”
“No problem, Hatch.”
I followed the woman to her car and she popped the hood, sliding inside the car to start it. After hooking up the jumper cables, I called out, “Okay, turn the key.”
After several tries, we were still unable to get the Lexus going. She joined me at the front of the car with a sigh. “It’s not the battery, is it?”
“Nope.” I dipped my head further inside and checked all the cables before facing her. “Do you mind if I check your fuse?”
“I don’t know where that is, but sure.”
I opened the front door, pried open the fuse panel and pulled out the troublesome little buggar. “Your ignition fuse is blown.”
“Crap,” she said. “Please tell me you have one in the shop.”
“It’s my buddy’s shop, so I’m not sure, but give me a minute and I’ll find out.”
She nodded, and I called Bruce. “Hey man, you bang her yet?”
I turned away from the woman with a scowl. “Shut the fuck up, asshole. She’s got a blown fuse. You got one over there or not?”
“Depends on what car.”
“Ma’am?” I asked. “Your car’s new, right?”
“Maisie.”
“Sorry?”
She smiled. “My name’s Maisie. I’d rather that than ‘ma’am,’ and yes, my car’s new.”
I forced myself not to react to the fuckin’ sexy ass name attached to the fuckin’ sexy ass woman as I rattled off the information to Bruce. But hell, if I wouldn’t be conjurin’ up her image as I fucked some other pussy later on that night, wishin’ her sexy-ass voice was callin’ my name as she came.
“Yeah, I think I got one,” Bruce said. “Let me find it and I’ll bring it by.”
I hung up and slid my phone in my pocket. I closed the hood of the car and turned to Maisie. “Bruce is lookin’ for your part and then we’ll get you on your way.”
“Thank you.” She smiled, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. Despite her obvious politeness and confidence, there was a sadness about her. “You’ve kind of been my knight in shining armor today, I must say. I’ll just give Triple-A a ring and cancel.”
I nodded, and she pulled out her cell phone, canceling the truck just as Bruce jogged over, part in hand. I replaced the fuse and Maisie’s car started without issue.
“You’re all set,” I said.
“Thank you. How much do I owe you?”
“Sixt—” Bruce started to say.
“Nothin’,” I interrupted.
“You deserve to be paid for your time,” Maisie countered.
“It’s all good,” I said. “Just drive carefully.”
“Well, thank you, Mr. Hatch… and, ah, Bruce is it?” she said.
Bruce’s head bobbed up and down like the douchebag he was, but Maisie didn’t seem to notice, her million-dollar smile back on her face. “Thank you again.”
She climbed in her car and took off, giving us a sexy little wave as she headed toward the freeway.
“Fuck me, that woman was fine,” Bruce sang out.
“Shut the hell up, Bruce,” I ground out.
“You gonna pay for that part?”
“Yeah, man, I’ll pay for the fucking part.”
We headed back to the shop where I grabbed my shit, climbed on my Harley, and headed for the only place I knew I could get the beautiful woman out of my head.
* * *
Maisie
“I’m sorry?” Alison, my best friend and business partner, snapped over the speaker. “She just left you there?”
“Um, yes,” I said, and guided my car onto the freeway. Alison had called just as I hit I-5 and was now on hands-free.
“Who does that?” she continued. “It’s woman code, bitch. Never leave your sister behind.”
“I know! And I gave her a thirty-percent tip!”
“Did you annihilate her and then tell her you were never coming back?”
“No,” I admitted. “I was so in shock I lost my words for a period of time.”
“Your British politeness was a hindrance wasn’t it?”
I smiled. “You may have a point.”
“Why didn’t you call me?”
“Because it would have taken you an hour just to get over the bridge. I figured Triple A would be faster and in the end, the nice but scruffy man who helped me was even faster.”
“Mmmm, scruffy good or scruffy bad?”
I thought about that question for a second. Mr. Hatch had long, dark hair, pulled back into a partial ponytail, which was sexy as heck, and his beard was full and slightly peppered with grey, but not out of control. He obviously manscaped, which a woman like me appreciated. “Scruffy good.” I nodded. “Definitely good.”
Ali giggled. “Only you would meet some hot guy after blowing a fuse.”
“No doubt.” I smiled. “How’s Poppy?”
Ali was watching my twelve-year-old daughter while I took some time for me.
“She’s good.”
“Hi Mummy,” she called in the background.
“Hi Poppet.” I smiled. God, I loved that girl. “I should be there in about twenty minutes.”
“Okay, we’ll see you then,” Ali said.
Ali hung up and I continued down the freeway. My thoughts turned to Mr. Hatch, then almost as quickly to my very dead husband, Niall. It had been nine years, but I was still quite miffed with him for leaving me. We’d been in the States for about five years when he got cancer and beat it into remission twice.
&nbs
p; Unfortunately, third time was the charm in the form of a nail in his literal coffin, and he was gone. We thought we had more time. We didn’t. If Ali and her cop husband, Ryan, hadn’t been there, not only would I have crumbled, the business Niall and I had built together would have as well. Much to my family’s disappointment, I had no intention of going back to England and had sent my brother home alone despite his pleas for me to join him. Even my sister Kenna, whom I was closest to, couldn’t convince me to go back. I’d needed the distance.
I could only thank God that Poppy was too young to remember, because truly, I think it would have broken her. It took me a good two years and two visits a week to a therapist to get to the point where I could get out of bed in the morning on my own. Currently, I was down to one visit a month for “maintenance.”
I was now somewhat in control of my insanity and no one could be happier than me. Or maybe Poppy. Or Ali. I sighed. Now I was even rambling in my head. Maybe I wasn’t in control after all.
I pulled up to Ali’s home and climbed out of the car, rushing up to the front door and letting myself in. “Mummy’s home,” I called.
“Kitchen,” Ali returned.
I headed through the large great room and into the newly renovated kitchen, where my daughter wrapped her arms around my waist and squeezed. “Can I stay a little longer, Mum? Please?”
“Sure, darling. Fifteen minutes, okay?”
She let out a little girl squeal and went to find Ali’s daughter, her best friend, Grace. Ryan and Ali also had a twelve-year-old son, Merrick, who was probably lying in wait to torture his sister. I hugged Ali briefly, then pried off my heels and sat at her island.
“You hungry?” she asked, pulling open the fridge and grabbing me a bottled water.
“No, I have Chinese waiting in the car. Have you eaten?”
“No. Kids did, but I’ll wait for Ryan. I did feed Poppy, hope that’s okay.”
“You can feed my kid anytime,” I said with a chuckle. “She likes your food better than mine anyway… although, tonight it’s takeout. More for me.”
She grinned. “Did you snap a photo of the hottie mechanic?”
I shook my head. “I probably should have, eh? God, lovey, the more I think about him…” I sighed. “He was edible. Rollo from Vikings edible.”
Ali joined me at the island. “So… not your type.”
“How do you figure?”
“Bad boy, sexy, edible.”
“You may have a point.” I sighed. “It doesn’t matter. I’ll never see him again. I’ve had my great love, so he’d only be a dalliance anyway.”
“Which you would never do. You’re a one-man woman… and only do long-term.”
I’d met Niall in kindergarten and it was love at first sight. He’d moved from Scotland into my neighborhood and, when we were old enough to walk alone, he started walking with me to and from school. We’d been inseparable ever since. I’d been so blessed to have a best friend who protected me with all of his being and loved me just as much. He was my first, my last, and everything in between.
“You’re probably right.” I smiled and slid off the stool. “I should get the Poppet home. The bathtub is calling my name.” I stepped to the mouth of the hallway and called, “Poppy, love, we’re going.”
“Are you still good if I come in late tomorrow?” Ali asked. “Ryan’s taking me to a few doctor appointments I’ve been putting off.”
“Of course,” I said. “Anytime, you know that. I still have the gremlins this weekend, right?”
“Yes.” Ali grinned. “Ryan and I need some sexy sexual time.”
I giggled. “I think that’s a bit too much information, darling.”
“In our business?” she scoffed. “There’s no such thing.”
“You might be right.”
“Are you sure you’re okay with staying here?” Ali asked. “The kids can come to you.”
“No, it’s fine. I love your home.”
“I know, but I want you to be comfortable.”
I smiled. “It’ll be less upheaval for your kids and Poppy loves staying over, so it’s perfect. As long as I have internet and can get some work done, I don’t mind where I am.”
“This is one of the many reasons I love you,” Ali said, and hugged me again.
“Ready!” Poppy announced, Gracie on her heels. Grace looked so much like Ali it was like they were cloned. They had the same long, dark hair and tall, lanky build. Her big blue eyes were the only difference. Ali’s were more of a periwinkle, whereas Grace’s were darker.
“Thanks, love,” I said, and Poppy and I headed home.
I left Poppy to watch a movie while I soaked in my tub, then after our bedtime ritual of reading a chapter from a favorite book (her choice tonight), I fell asleep dreaming of the scruffy Mr. Hatch.
* * *
If you liked the sneak peek of Road to Peace, you and order it HERE!
The Guardians Series
Witness
Justice
Spotlight
Dogs of Fire MC Series
Road to Desire
Road to Redemption
Road to Absolution
Road to Passion
Road to Victory
Road to Peace
Road to Forever
Road to Hope
Road to Grace
Road to Freedom
Dogs of Fire Spin-Off Stories
Ryder
Reese
Hatch
Kissing the Biker’s Boo-Boo
(Children’s Book)
Dogs of Fire MC: Savannah Chapter
Saving the Preacher's Daughter
Stealing the Biker's Heart
Redeeming the Biker's Past
Quieting the Biker’s Rage
Keeping the Biker’s Oath
Hacking the Biker’s Code
Primal Howlers MC
Primal Howl
Primal Need
Cauld Ane Series
Bound by Blood
Bound by Fire
Bound by Secrets
Bound by Song
Bound by Dreams
Bound by Tears
Bound by Light
Bound by Joy
Bound by Sight
Limelight Series
Broken Road
The Road Back
Civil War Brides Series
The Bride Price
The Bride Found
The Bride Spy
The Bride Ransom
The Rebel Bride
The Bride Star
The Bride Pursued
The Bride Accused
The Brides United
Connecting Books
Witness
Justice
Road to Desire
Road to Redemption
Road to Absolution
Road to Passion
Road to Victory
Road to Peace
Spotlight
Ryder
Road to Forever
Reese
Saving the Preacher's Daughter
Road to Hope
Stealing the Biker's Heart
*Bound by Sight
Road to Grace
Road to Freedom
Redeeming the Biker's Past
Quieting the Biker’s Rage
Keeping the Biker’s Oath
Primal Howl
Primal Need
Hacking the Biker’s Code
*Dalton’s book Bound by Sight can be read after Stealing the Biker’s Heart, but I recommend reading Bound by Blood first.
Piper Davenport is the alter-ego of New York Times Bestselling Author, Tracey Jane Jackson. She writes from a place of passion and intrigue, combining elements of romance and suspense with strong modern-day heroes and heroines.
She currently resides in the Pacific Northwest with her author husband and two kids.
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