by Romi Hart
“Maybe we do have a little something in common, Rory,” he murmured, considering his own form of meditation that kept him grounded and somewhat serene. Though Eli had never been one of the types to believe in that new-age spirituality junk, he realized that mental clarity was something everyone needed, and he was no different. Maybe he’d overreacted and been foolish after all.
Eli turned to look behind him as the roar of an engine brought his attention from his momentary reprieve. Perplexed, Eli’s brows knit together as he watched, considering who might have just blown by. In all honesty, Eli had a lot to think about and Rory had been an unexpected distraction from the things that concerned him most.
The Ravens held territory in Oklahoma and even on a run, shouldn’t be this far south, but Eli could have sworn that the insignia he saw on the jackets that passed belonged to them, which put him instantly on alert, wondering if they had seen him and might come back for a little fun and games. He waited for a moment, listening carefully for the engine sounds to vanish into the distance but ready to get the hell out of there if they neared again.
They didn’t seem to be headed back, but he wasn’t taking any chances. He fired up the ignition and pulled back onto the road, heading in the opposite direction, back toward home and the clubhouse. “Need to go talk to Corey about this.”
In much less time than it had taken him to get to his pretty little spot, Eli pulled back into the clubhouse parking lot and shut off the engine, making his way toward the building. There was nobody in sight, and it was unusually quiet. Eli wondered where the hell everyone was, the clubhouse eerie a ghost town.
Then the clubhouse door swung open a little more violently than Eli had anticipated, slamming back against the building. One of the prospects came flying out, scowling, and brushed past Eli without a word. Inside, he found Harrison and Guy engaged in a casual game of pool.
“Rafe or Corey here?” Eli asked.
“Not inside. I think Rafe’s out back in the shop,” Harrison replied, “He was here earlier.”
“Good. It’s important,” Eli said, hurrying through the back door, the other two men barely even looking up from their game.
Eli blinked, the sun shining in his eyes as he rounded the corner toward the shop. In the distance, Zeke and Corey were deep in conversation, Corey bending over as he polished off his bike and Zeke watching with interest.
“Well, if it isn’t Mister Gentleman of the Year!” Zeke chuckled as he noted Eli’s approach and playfully smacked him on the shoulder, “Heard you took Rory home this morning.”
There it was again. But Eli brushed it aside. There were more vital matters to discuss, and he couldn’t get into a verbal sparring match right now. “Yeah, I made myself her designated driver. But that’s a discussion for another time. You guys know of any Ravens in the area?” Eli asked.
That got Corey’s attention. “No, last I heard they were all huddled up in Oklahoma. They’re supposed to let us know before they come through. Why?” Corey asked sharply.
“Well, I saw something disturbing on my ride,” Eli stated.
“Such as?” Zeke asked.
“I could have been wrong,” he prefaced, “but it looked like there were at least three flying through our turf today,” Eli explained.
“Where?” Corey demanded. “Dylan should have known about it, and he should have told us.”
Something told Eli that the president of the Diamond Kings, their ally, had no clue. “Riding north, just outside of Chapel Hill,” Eli told him.
“And they didn’t engage?” Corey asked.
Eli shook his head. “I’m not even sure they saw me, they were moving so fast.” He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “I wanted to clear my head, but so much for that.”
“You should have taken care of that when you took Rory home,” Zeke joked. “I’m beginning to wonder if you’re dead below the waist or something.”
“For the last time, Drunken Barfly Barbie is not my type. If I hook up with anyone, she damn well better remember it because I’m going to make it worth the trouble.”
“Can we focus, please?” Corey interrupted. “Eli is right. If he saw Ravens in the area, the last thing we need is unnecessary disruptions. Your commitment ceremony is coming up, Zeke, and I think Leigh would prefer if you didn’t have to go knocking heads right before it.”
“You’re right about that, but I doubt Rory’s going to just throw in the towel. Especially after the you got Galahad on her, Eli,” Zeke laughed, “You may have very well just gotten the stray to follow you everywhere because of it.”
Eli clenched his jaw to avoid breaking Zeke’s. “You know, with how hot everyone keeps reminding me that Rory is smoking hot, I’m sure she’ll find someone else to chase after. I’m focused on business.”
“Enough,” Corey snapped. “Let’s get a beer. I need one before I hit Dylan up to see if he knows anything.” Corey wiped his forehead with a shop rag, his brow coated with perspiration from working out in the heat.
“Sure thing, boss man,” Zeke replied. Corey led the way, Eli and Zeke in tow.
“Beer-o-clock!” Corey yelled, lifting his hand in the air as he walked toward Rocky, who appeared to have taken over the bartending duties for the afternoon. “A round on the house.” As the brothers all cheered, Eli watched as Corey got their attention again and announced, “Seems like we may have some birds of prey headed our way.”
“Seriously?” Rocky asked, his eyebrows rising as he poured pint after pint of cold brew. “What do you mean by that?”
Speaking loudly enough for the rest of the guys in the room to hear, Corey explained what Eli had told him, the mood darkening around them. There were plenty of MCs they didn’t like, but the hatred for the Ravens ran deep, not only with the Devil’s Flames but with several of the MCs nearby. Gomez, their president, was straight up crazy, with a handy helping of greed and a lack of moral standards making him extremely dangerous. Even his own club wanted him taken down, a plan that was slowly coming to fruition through the combined efforts of several clubs.
“I thought we’d shoved them back to their own territory,” Rocky muttered, looking as alarmed and Eli had felt when he saw the riders.
“Well, you know how varmints go; one day they’re gone and the next day you’ve got an infestation,” Corey laughed, but there was no humor to the sound.
“Ain’t that the truth,” Eli stated, lifting his pint glass and savoring the bittersweet taste.
“You sure you saw Ravens?” Harrison asked from his perch on the pool table toward the back of the room.
“Reasonably sure,” Eli confirmed, wondering why Harrison would question him. “I could be wrong, but even with their speed, I’m fairly certain I recognized the insignia on their cuts.”
He hated to be questioned, and it seemed that, over the past couple of days, that’s all he got. Eli spent a lot of time silently nodding his agreement with the rest of the club. Apparently, it was time to make a change and assert himself more.
5
An aching feeling pervaded throughout, from head to toe and limb to limb, as Rory rolled to the edge of her mattress and looked around, confused.
“What the hell?” she murmured aloud, glancing at the clock. Ten thirty-eight in the morning. Bright light scorching her eyes told her it was morning. She looked down at her clothes, noting she was still in the same thing she’d worn to the clubhouse last night. Scooting forward to the bed’s edge, Rory’s feet brushed the carpet below, and she leaned forward, massaging her temples gently as her hangover throbbed and threatened nausea.
“Oh, Jesus,” she groaned. Feeling her stomach lurch, she leapt up and rushed to the bathroom. Falling to her knees, Rory heaved into the porcelain bowl. She should have stopped drinking hours before she had.
After a few moments, when she was in the clear, she took several deep breaths, then stood up and walked over to the mirror, wiping her face. She turned on the tap to clean up, wrinkling her nose at her
reflection. Mascara had melted around her eyes and down her cheeks, turning her into a raccoon. “God, I look like hell,” she assessed, shaking her head. “I need a shower.”
Crossing out of the bathroom, she pulled a clean towel out of her linen closet and then traipsed to her room for clean underwear. “Where are my keys?” she wondered aloud, glancing around. Spotting them glinting on the corner of her nightstand, she narrowed her eyes. She never put them there. She walked over to pick them up, hating the idea that she might have driven in her condition.
“What’s this?” she mused as her fingers traced over the tiny slip of folded paper resting beneath the keyring. She lifted the note which had her name written in what had to be a man’s handwriting, harsh and straight rather than round and bubbly.
Rory,
I’m sure your head feels like it’s going to split in two, which ought to shed a little light on your night. You fell in the parking lot, and I knew you couldn’t drive, so I gave you a lift. Ring me if you need anything.
-Eli
A number was scrawled across the bottom like an afterthought.
Rory’s mouth fell open, and she gasped, completely shocked. With a satisfied grin, she realized that Eli had done her a favor, despite his cold demeanor. Slowly, memories started to return, and she ran to peek out the front window, finding her car there. Yes, he’d driven her car here, must have helped her or even carried her up the stairs. And put her to bed. All things he didn’t have to do. How had he gotten home?
So the jackass was really a gentleman at heart. She looked down at herself, seeing that he’d removed her boots but nothing else. So many men would have taken advantage of her in such a vulnerable condition, but Eli hadn’t touched her, even when she’d thrown herself on him. She groaned at the thought of her behavior. She couldn’t remember everything she said, but she knew it would embarrass her if she did.
Eli was a saint, and she felt a compulsion to call and thank him. But for some reason, getting on the phone just didn’t seem good enough. Besides, this made Eli ten times more desirable, and she had this ridiculous drive, similar to the way she felt when she saw a man doting on his small child. Her body ached at the thought of a genuinely good man in a society overrun by immaturity and greed.
No, she wouldn’t just call like some sprung coed. She would go see Eli and give him a personal look into her absolute gratitude.
As soon as she was showered, she called Leigh. She couldn’t hold back such a huge step in the right direction. “Guess what?” Rory nearly squealed into the phone as she toweled off her hair.
“What?” Leigh asked, sounding a bit hurried.
“I got a special ride home last night,” Rory teased vaguely.
And Leigh took the bait, asking, “What do you mean ‘special’?”
“Eli’s drove me home last night, and he tucked me into bed. I don’t remember much, but he drove my car, and I’m pretty sure he carried me in, put me to bed, and took off my boots, nothing else,” Rory explained.
“Wow! Wait, I’m lost. I thought you were leaving when you finished your drink. What happened after we left last night?” Leigh asked.
“Yeah, I’m not particularly proud of myself for it, but I drank away my pain. The last thing I remember I was walking outside to get in my car and go home after plowing through god knows how many drinks,” Rory stated. “But he stopped me and took me home. The best part is, he left me a note with his number.”
“Are you admitting that maybe you misjudged him?” Leigh asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
“No, I liked him from the start, remember? But you saw how he treated me. What was I supposed to think?” Rory had been skeptical, she supposed. But after all, Eli had treated her like gum stuck to a new pair of boots.
“Yeah, I can’t say I’m not surprised at the turn of events,” Leigh said.
“When is your celebration again?” Rory asked. She had to start planning.
“In just a couple days. You’re going to be there, right?”
“Of course, I wouldn’t miss it for the world, girl. You know that,” Rory assured her
“I was hoping so, but I wasn’t so sure you’d want to come back with the way things turned out with Eli. Of course, recent developments shed a new light on that, which I’m stoked to hear.”
“You and me both,” Rory agreed, giddy, “I’m curious about something, and I hoped maybe you could help me out, since you seem to know everything.”
“Hardly,” Leigh laughed. “But what do you need?”
“I’m considering starting ribbon class as an extension of my yoga class at the gym, but I’m not fully abreast on the legalities and liabilities behind doing that.
“There are waiver forms you can get to go along with your registration packet. You might be able to find something like that on a free site. I don’t think you’ll need anything more than that.”
“I should probably ask the gym owner, but that’s a great idea,” Rory agreed. “Are you and Zeke going to be down at the clubhouse tonight?”
“Like usual. Why, are you thinking of coming?”
Rory mulled it over, letting the idea swirl in her head for consideration. “Yeah, but it’s still early. I have a class to teach and this new idea of mine to explore. But I’m probably coming out. I’m pretty anxious at this point,” she confessed.
“I have to admit I love your sense of self-confidence.” Leigh quipped.
“It’s not easy being self assured. I’m going to head out, and I’ll see you at the clubhouse later tonight.”
“Good luck,” Leigh added before hanging up. Rory laughed, striding out of the room and lifting her gym bag from a nearby chair. She switched the door lock open and realized the deadbolt hadn’t been locked, reminding her that Eli had been in her apartment. It made her feel giddy and she shivered with delight as she left, still curious how he’d gotten home. Or where home even was.
As she entered the gym and made her way toward the yoga room, Rory still hadn’t stopped thinking about Eli and trying to process his actions.
“Hey, Rory!” Carly’s boisterous voice was louder than the faint echo of Rory’s tennis shoes as she stepped onto the linoleum floor.
“Hey, Carly. Where’s your sister today?” Rory asked, noting that the girl was alone for the first time she could remember.
“Delaney’s not feeling the best today,” she explained. “Have you heard anything about the ribbon class? We’re both super excited for it and intend to sign up right away.”
“I still need to talk to the gym manager about that. I think there are a few forms I’m going to have to get together for the legalities and to protect the gym from liability, but I promise I will have you on the pre-registers list for that, right at the top,” Rory winked.
“If you need any legal advice, you could talk to Daddy. He usually helps with most liability and insurance issues, specifically. I could ask him if you want,” Carly offered.
“I appreciate that and might take you up on it.”
Carly beamed. “Trust me on this, Rory, I can get him to help you. Especially since he knows how badly his girls want this class to happen.”
Rory smiled back. “Well, then, here’s hoping the gym manager agrees. I’ll make sure to let him know it’ll be extra revenue.”
To her pleasant astonishment, it took only a short conversation with the gym manager, along with the promise that she already had a source for the legal documents, to peak extreme interest in her idea. She grinned, wondering where the fairy godmother of great luck had come from. It seemed like everything had been going her way.
Now, she applied the final touches to her makeup and rushed out of her apartment, excited to get to the clubhouse, where she could personally thank Eli for his genuine gesture of kindness toward her and perhaps continue her string of good luck. It was the one thing she had looked forward to all day.
Tonight, as her heels clicked on the clubhouse floor, her attire was slightly tamer, a turquoise slee
veless Harley Davidson tee shirt, paired with a black leather skirt that complemented her thigh high stilettos. The ruby red lipstick she chose to wear had been properly named Sinful Delight, and it made her feel like the siren held in reserve who had finally gotten her legs. Eli was engrossed in deep conversation with Harrison, but she didn’t care, a new sense of entitlement having overtaken her, as if the lipstick removed her every inhibition.
Boldly, she tapped Eli on the shoulder. He turned to look at her, biting his lips slightly as he shot a glance to Harrison like he was asking for help. But to his credit, Harrison was already walking away, shaking his head as he went. “Hey,” Rory said with a smile.
“Hey,” Eli replied, lifting his glass to her in greeting. “Glad to see you made it back out. After last night, I figured you would be nursing your aching skull right now.” So, he had a sense of humor, too. Intriguing.
Rory chuckled slightly and gave a slight nod of concession. “That’s actually part of the reason I’m here. I’m not exactly sure what happened between here and the parking lot, but I appreciate you taking me home and making sure I was safe. I got your note with your number, but I really thought it would be best if I thanked you in person.” She bit her lip nervously and gave him a coy look, her bravado suddenly shrinking.
“Oh, well, your fall was pretty dramatic, and I couldn’t leave a fellow MC member’s friend lying in the dust,” Eli teased. Was that a hint of a smile on his lips?
“Funny. Just the same, I’m grateful. Can I get you a drink?” Rory asked.
“Sure, but you might want to go a little slower tonight,” Eli replied, his voice full of laughter.
“Sure, thing, cowboy. After you?” Rory asked, waving toward the bar. Eli shook his head and cracked a grin.