Chapter 3
Steel rattled off the address to Apex Tattoo before I could even finish typing the studio’s name into Google. I didn’t even glance up to glare at him. I just played it off like I was engrossed in my phone. We were already halfway there before he spoke again.
“So, I guess you’re really dedicated to this man-hater persona, huh?” Despite the assholish quality of the question, the man actually sounded like he was sincerely curious.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I meant it too. I had never hated men.
He scoffed. “Okay. You’re a gorgeous little slip of a girl who runs around playing badass biker chick. You drive a Harley, and own an auto-repair shop. You’re being forced, by men, to either marry a man or lose your business, and you just bitched out your friends for surprising their old ladies with a visit while they’re in Vegas. Hmmm, you’re right, when you add it all up like that it doesn’t sound like you have an issue with men at all.” His sarcasm at the end wasn’t missed.
“I don’t play biker chick, bad ass or otherwise. I enjoy the open road and the club allows me to have buddies with like interests to run with. I use to race bikes as a teenager. I drive a Harley because my dad put me on one at fifteen, and I prefered the feel of the cruiser to the bikes I raced. I’m going to lose my shop because I’m a woman, my mechanical skills be damned. In spite of the marrying mandate, I don’t hate men either. I would rather not watch my legacy and livelihood be dismantled, but it just might happen. As for you, well, I just really dislike you a lot. That has nothing to do with the fact that you’re a man, and more because of the fact that you’re a giant dickwad.”
His chuckle had me glancing over at him. When the man laughed it did something special to his steely persona. As soon as he noticed me watching him, he leashed the humor evident in his face. It was quick, and that’s a damn shame.
“Besides, I’ve heard you really are a woman hater, so wouldn’t that be the pot calling the kettle black to call me out if I actually were hating on men instead of my circumstances?”
Steel’s only indication that he heard me, at first, was a slight twitch to his shoulders. Otherwise, he kept his feelings on the matter bottled up tight. “I’m a man, so it’s expected of my kind. You’re a chick. Your kind are supposed to fawn all over us even when we are assholes.”
My jaw dropped as I shot a death glare his way. Not that he’d been paying attention. No, he was busy paying the cabbie who had pulled over to the curb and was currently laughing at Steel’s idiocy. “Man, you are definitely getting the cold shoulder instead of a warm bed tonight.” The cabbie tried to enlighten Steel.
Steel glanced at me briefly before gracing the cabbie with a genuine smile. “She’s too cold to warm my bed anyway.” He unfolded himself from the cab with the ease of a man who didn’t realize he might have just taken his last breath. He had just called me frigid, again. The man had no clue who I was or what I was about.
The cabbie’s smile fell away when he noticed my face. I’m sure more than frustration was evident there. After all, it wasn’t the first time someone called me frigid, or told me my attitude was too hard to mesh with my small frame. Men expected me to be meek and submissive because I was short and petite. I just didn’t have it in me to be diminutive in nature. My father once told me that there were men out there who would want a tiny little spitfire, but that I’d have a hard time searching through the assholes who didn’t to find him. Hell, it was one of the reasons I had liked Eddie so much. My size and attitude were never a turn off for him.
Steel’s muscles bunched and popped as he unfolded himself from the cab fully. I focused on that, only so the cabbie wouldn’t continue to throw me sympathetic looks. I kind of wanted to punch the cabbie in the face for noticing my hurt expression, but that would just draw attention to it.
“You coming?” Steel asked as he held a hand out to help me from the car. I refused his chivalrous gesture and all but tossed myself out of the cab and onto the curb in front of Apex Tattoo. Just a glance in the front window had my face lighting up. Eddie was there, laughing with a younger guy at the front counter as he shook his hand.
I moved past Steel and through the door to the shop. A little bell tinkled overheard as I entered, which immediately caught Eddie’s attention. “Holy shit! JoJo?” My name was a question on his lips as the man made his way to me, and damn if I didn’t check him out while he stalked my way. His once unruly blond locks were styled up into gelled spikes on his head, making him look far more badass than he used to. The gleam in his deep blue eyes, that was now evident because he didn’t have hair falling in place to hide them anymore made him so much more handsome. His muscles definitely held a lot more definition than they used to as well. “Damn, girl, you’re looking good!” His comment made me feel a tad better considering I’d just been told I wasn’t good enough for someone else. Also, because I was wearing an old pair of jeans, and while they hugged my ass nicely, they were a bit threadbare and worn in spots. My little blue halter top showed a tiny sliver of my toned and tanned stomach, and a smidge of what little cleavage I had, but nothing that I would write home about.
“I was thinking the same, Ed. You filled out and finally learned how to lay the ink down in a decent tat!” I teased him.
His soft chuckle reminded me of better, carefree days, before my dad got sick. The sweet smell of his cologne was different when he hugged me though. My nose got twitchy and I ended the hug before he planned on it, but still far beyond what an acceptable friendly hug should have been. His chuckle turned into full blown laughter as I lost the battle and sneezed. Sadly, there was nothing petite and feminine about my sneeze. No, it was just as loud and obnoxious as my personality could be at times.
“Sorry, its something new I tried. I guess not many people can tolerate it. You’re the third woman to sneeze on me today.”
“I prefer the way you used to smell, for sure. Nothing wrong with the classics, Eddie.”
“No, there sure isn’t.” There was heat in his eyes as he surveyed me again. Hell, he was leaning in again, almost like he was coming in for a kiss when a throat cleared behind me.
Eddie glanced up over my shoulder. His modest 5’11” height for a man still towered over my tiny self, and I knew he was looking at the mammoth of a man behind me. I noticed as his eyes darted between myself and Steel a number of times before he nodded and turned away a minute to school what he was showing on his face. “How do you two know each other?” He finally asked me.
Steel’s big, beefy paw landed casually on my shoulder. “I live in Sierra High now. We have a new chapter there, and we’re friendly with the girls from S.H.E.”
“Oh,” Eddie took a moment before saying anything else. “I guess I have you to thank for the compliment on my improved work then?” His smile didn’t reach his eyes anymore as he spoke.
“Yeah, when JoJo said she had a friend tattooing here and explained who you were, I thought it was a cool coincidence. How’s the old lady? She popped out your rugrat yet?” Steel squeezed my shoulder a bit then as I continued to watch Eddie and ignore Steel’s presence.
“Um,” Eddie seemed taken off guard and embarrassed, maybe remorseful, as he accidentally made eye contact with me before looking away again. “She’s good. Should be ready by next week. Doc’s saying she may go late.”
Deciding to do away with the awkward turn in the conversation, I offered up a genuine, wide smile for Eddie. “Congrats! I’m sure you’re going to make a great dad. Just remember you can’t yell at your kid for coloring on the walls or you might turn them on to coloring on people instead.”
That made him laugh. Eddie’s mom had once told me that’s why he got into tattooing, because it was the only canvas she couldn’t yell at him about using. His face sobered all too quickly though. “Hey, I heard about your dad,” he began. It was my turn to look away then. My dad being sick was the reason I couldn’t follow Eddie to Vegas, and the reason staying with me was too much o
f a time sink on him. “I’m really sorry, Jo.” His voice held a note of regret I didn’t need to hear. I didn’t bother responding beyond an acknowledging tip of the head. “My mom said there’s some crazy stipulation in your dad’s will.”
“Yeah, there is.”
“Do you really have to get married to keep the garage?”
I nodded again, finally meeting his eyes and seeing the regret that I’d heard moments ago. “Damn. I can’t believe your dad did that to you after everything you gave up to take care of him.” The small crack in his voice let me know he definitely included himself in the loss category.
“Yeah, it sucks, but what are you going to do?” I sighed. “Two more weeks and my jerk-off brother will get to sell the place out from under me to the highest bidder.”
Eddie was fluttering his eyes back and forth between Steel and I again. I was surprised to finally realize Steel still had his beefy hand on my shoulder. Of course, it took his other hand being placed on my other side and massaging the tension knotted in the muscles there for my awareness to kick in. “So, um,” Eddie cleared his throat. “Why aren’t you two running off to get married to stop it then?” My laughter burst free of me without any thought as Steel’s grip tightened on my shoulders.
“What’s so funny?” Eddie questioned as he continued to glance over my shoulder at the big wall of a man who stood there.
“We’re not together like that,” I managed to get out through my laughter. “Hell, we just met recently and don’t even like each other.”
“Oh, I thought,” Eddie pointed to where Steel was touching me.
“”Nah, man.” Steel finally stated. “You seemed a little too interested though, and after meeting your wife last time…” his vice tailed off.
“We’re not married,” Eddie was quick to clarify.
Steel made a sound of pure annoyance at the back of his throat. “She’s your baby momma, and you’re together. Your regrets shouldn’t complicate that shit for JoJo, or your current woman.”
“Ah, so you don’t want her, but you’re protecting her from other men, huh?” Eddie’s voice rang out in humor before he turned to me. “Let me guess, he’s one of them?” I nodded in affirmation. Ed knew of the trouble I’d had dating before him. The men who thought I had too much mouth for such a little girl or that I had a man’s job when I needed to be sitting behind a computer ordering parts for the boys instead. “Dumb fuckers!” Eddie sighed the words out. “All of them,” he was eyeballing me hard then. “I was a dumb fucker too, just for different reasons.”
“Yeah, time to start batting for the team, I guess.” My joke sent off a spike of heat through Eddie’s eyes and that reaction caused Steel to flex his fingers down hard on my shoulders.
“What’s the meaning behind ‘one of them’?” Steel asked. “The other chicks in your club don’t seem to have issues with the Aces High MC members.”
It was my turn to scoff. “He means the assholes who can’t handle all the attitude I have packed into my tiny frame.”
“Before I came along, she’d never made it past a second date. The guys where we’re from expected her to be a submissive push over because she’s such a tiny thing. They weren’t man enough to handle that she could take care of herself and wouldn’t bow down to their every whim.”
“I don’t like my women weak. Sure as shit don’t want a slave. You have me pegged way fucking wrong.” Everyone grew quiet for a minute. “If she only lasted two dates with the others, how long were you two together?”
“Six months,” we both chorused together.
“So, you walked away from her after six months, knowing she was going through hell being the caretaker of a sick parent?” The admonishing tone in Steel’s voice couldn’t be missed.
Eddie flinched and took a step back. “You were seriously trying to flirt with her after that, and knowing you have a pregnant woman at home?” Steel continued on.
“Steel, stop!” I hissed out.
“No, he’s right, Jo. I fucked up, again. Hell, I probably would have let myself take it too far if he hadn’t been here.” He shook his head then looked at me again. “I’m so sorry, sweetheart.”
“For what? Being an asshole now, or leaving when she obviously needed you before?” Steel’s tone had gone from condescending to downright enraged while protecting my honor. I thought that ironic considering he’d all but told me I wasn’t worthy just a few moments ago in the cab.
“I think we should go,” I said as I turned and placed my dainty little hands on Steel’s massive chest. I tried and failed to get him to back up. “Eddie, it was good to see you. Do yourself a favor and try to stick it out and be happy.”
“Yeah, I hope you work things out too, Jo.” He turned to walk back over to the guy at the counter, who he’d been talking to when I walked in. The man did not appear to be happy with Eddie. It made me wonder if he knew Eddie’s girlfriend. “Too bad you two aren’t together though. What would be more perfect than another mechanic involved in the garage?” His comment caught me off guard and I stumbled a step. Steel also stopped walking as his gaze fell to my face.
“Later, Eddie!” I called out before resuming my flight from the tattoo shop and further embarrassment.
“He has a point, you know.” Steel finally said as he attempted to snag a passing cab.
“What point would that be?” I asked before ducking into the car and telling the cabbie which hotel to take me back to.
“I’m a mechanic in need of garage space. You are a garage owner in need of a man to help run the business.” When I bristled, he amended his statement. “Not that you need the help, just to appease the stipulation of ownership.” When I didn’t reply he pushed on again. “So, here we are in Vegas. I think opportunity is knocking.”
My jaw seriously needed to be picked up off the floor. He couldn’t have offered what I think he just did. “You don’t know what you’re asking. I have to be married a minimum of five years before my business is out from under any pursuit of action against my ownership.”
He was quiet for a few moments, seemingly working out extensive mathematical computations or something. “Okay, well, in five years I’ll only be 33 years old. Still plenty young enough to start a family if it doesn’t work out and that’s what I decide I want.”
“You can’t be serious,” I managed to choke out.
“Why not? I went there with Quickshot to work a deal for garage bay space anyway. You need someone to keep the garage. It’s a win-win scenario.”
“Except the part where I don’t like you and you think I’m some frigid, man-hating bitch.” Nervously, I dug through my backpack and pulled out a Dum Dums. Root Beer flavor, thank goodness, because I hadn’t even looked before I unwrapped it and popped it in my mouth. My eyes closed inadvertently as I savored the flavor explosion in my mouth.
“I don’t think any of those things. Truth is, we don’t hate each other. We just don’t know each other. We each have our own baggage that caused us to start out on the wrong foot. That’s all.”
“Yeah? So, what’s your baggage then?” Yup, I was trying to change the subject. Besides, he knew all of my issues thanks to the hellacious fit I threw earlier, and my far too flirty ex.
“Not open for discussion,” he snapped out curtly. “What’s the deal with those things?” He pointed to the lollipop stick dangling from my mouth.
I shrugged. “I enjoy them, and I don’t smoke this way.”
“You’re a smoker?”
“No. I used to smoke. Hell, it was practically a family bonding experience when I was younger. Smoke breaks together at the garage were a thing. When my dad got sick, I smoked my last cigarette as he told me the news. Never picked up another one.”
“Makes sense, I guess.” Steel muttered. “So, about this business arrangement?”
“I’m not really certain what to say here. I really think you should take some time to think about what you’re offering to get into.”
“Already
done. I thought about it after Quickshot explained everything to me when we left your shop the other day. When the said they were coming to Vegas to track down their old ladies, who were here with you, I asked to come along.”
“You planned to do this?” I couldn’t hide my incredulous tone.
“Well, I came knowing it was an option I’d put on the table, maybe.”
“Maybe?”
“Yeah, I just had to be sure about something first.”
“What something did you have to be sure of?”
“Quick said you were a good person, trustworthy, and loyal. I needed to see that for myself.”
“And you saw that in the couple hours since you got here?”
He nodded his head. “When your girls night was ruined you didn’t kick the guys out in a bitter rage and make their women stay with you, although you honestly had every right to. Sure, you were upset to see me there, and rightly so I guess, considering what you thought of me. Still, you sent your girls to have fun, sacrificing your own happiness for theirs. Then you went to say ‘hello’ to an ex who left you in what I think is the worst possible way. You were genuinely happy for him when you thought he was in a good place. Hell, you didn’t even get mad or fall for his shit when he blatantly flirted with you. You just brushed it off. Besides, you didn’t mind my hand being on you while you talked to him, so you can’t hate me completely.”
I laughed at that. “How do you know I wasn’t just trying to make him jealous and rub you in his face?”
“Because while you didn’t mind my hands on you, you never returned the gesture except to push me out of the shop. Plus, you were pretty quick to point out that we weren’t together like that, even while not making yourself available to him.”
JoJo (S.H.E Book 2) Page 3