“Trip tells me that you’ve been doing extensive work down in Barstow taking preventative measures for young boys and girls, keeping them off the streets,” Amanda said. I nodded, and she continued. “There really isn’t an opportunity for you to do that kind of work up here, but we could use some help down here at the shelter. Trip thought you would be perfect for the job.”
I beamed inside. My heart raced, and I wanted to jump for joy. This was exactly the sort of work that I enjoyed doing, and it would be perfect to get me out of the house and be active again.
“I’ll give you a ride here before work in the morning and pick you up when I get off in the afternoon,” Trip said. “You can get a ride from Amanda, too, if we need.”
“Trip tells me that it’s best if you stay off the street, but trust me, we have more than enough experience with that here,” Amanda winked at me. “What do you think?”
“I’d love to!” I said happily. “Oh my gosh, thank you!”
“Great,” Trip said. “When can she start?”
“Tomorrow would be great,” Amanda said. “I’ll get some paperwork together and we can get you signed in. This is volunteer work, but it seems like it’s going to be a good fit.”
“I don’t mind that at all,” I said quickly. “Really, I don’t. I can’t wait!”
“Good, I love the enthusiasm,” Amanda smiled. She shook my hand again before Trip and I left, but I couldn’t stop smiling all the way to the diner.
“How did you know?” I asked when we got off his bike. “How did you know that I’d like that?”
“You were pretty upset when you had to leave your students back in Barstow. I thought you might like being able to still help people up here,” Trip said with a shrug, as if it were no big deal. “Now let’s eat. I’m starving.”
I grinned as I walked next to him toward the diner, fighting the urge to take his hand in mine. He might notice my outfits or my makeup, but those things paled in comparison to how I felt now that he’d done something like this.
This showed that he not only could see what was important to me in my life, but that he wanted to make me happy. He cared. And that meant more to me than any other compliment he could give me.
I was thrilled at the prospect of rolling up my sleeves and doing important work again. I really missed doing something that mattered. I’d throw myself into this work just as I had when I was at the school back home. It was extremely evident how personal that particular work was to Trip and it made me proud that he thought I would be a good fit. Whether he was doing it intentionally or not, Trip was letting me into his life a little bit at a time with each gesture.
And I’d die before I let him down.
17
Trip
I couldn’t quit smiling as I took Megan back to the apartment after lunch. She’d been happy and talkative overall for the past few days, minus the few times she’d revert back to her sassy mouth. But over our meal, I’d seen a whole new side to the woman.
It had really been a stroke of luck, the way things had unfolded with Amanda. I knew her through my work with the women who wanted to take their exes to court. Many of them had ended up going to the shelter when they didn’t have family or friends they could turn to, so myself or one of my men would go there to pick them up for the court dates.
Amanda had been thrilled to hear what good it did the women when they had the support of one of the Angels in the courtroom with them, so she worked extensively with us to help the process as much as she could. She was part of the reason we had been connected to so many cases in the community, even going so far as to reach out to other shelters and let them know about what we did, and assure them they could have the help, too.
But she was getting overwhelmed with all the work that had to be done. With the sudden battle that was raging between the cartel and the Souls in the south, she was having a difficult time reaching the women who were in that area.
The trouble being, those women were often more targeted with the gang and domestic violence than what we were dealing with, largely because we didn’t have nearly the same influence down there as we did further north.
So, when I heard her talking to another director for a shelter in a nearby town, I volunteered Megan for the job. Hell, I figured she was already used to fighting the lifestyle, and she loved to help people.
She didn’t have much to do with her days, and I’d noticed how clean the apartment was night after night as I came home. I didn’t bring her to Ridgecrest to be a maid. Her brother and I had uprooted her entire life and she was basically stuck in a shit situation. I felt it was the least I could do. There was no way for us to know how long it would take for Cutter to get his shit together, and I didn’t want her to end up stuck in my apartment or my shop day in and day out for months. Hell, I knew I’d go crazy if that was me, so I decided to do what I could to get her out of there.
It all came together perfectly, and I was thrilled to see how much it meant to her. She clearly didn’t know what to do with herself, already talking about how she was going to help, what she was going to do, and any ideas she was going to present to Amanda to help the place run more smoothly.
“I’m sure she’s got a lot of it figured out already, but I’m going to see what I can put together and show her. You know, there are times when a fresh set of eyes is all it takes to make a real breakthrough that really helps everyone involved. And I’m sure she’s tired with all the work she’s had to do,” she rambled.
“You’re talking a hundred miles an hour,” I chuckled. “Slow down.”
She laughed. “Sorry. I’m just so excited.”
She was still sitting on the back of my bike, her arms wrapped around my waist. We were parked next to the curb outside my apartment, and I had to get back to the shop. But I didn’t want her to go. I almost took her right to work with me that afternoon, but she didn’t have her computer or anything with her, and I didn’t want her to be bored and annoying the guys with her incessant chatter. Just because I found it endearing, didn’t mean they appreciated it.
“Well, you get in there and plan then, we’re going to head to the shelter first thing in the morning, so you don’t have too much time on your hands,” I eased the bike slightly to the side so she could climb off, and she handed me back the helmet.
I only had the one, so when we rode together, I let her wear it. Now, I buckled it under my chin as she stood on the sidewalk and shook her head slightly, a smile on her face.
“What?” I asked.
“You just surprise me, that’s all,” she said with a shake of her head. “I really didn’t have the right idea about you at all.”
“Is that a good thing?” I asked as I raised my eyebrows at her. The look on her face already told me it was, but I liked to hear the compliments from her. And that in itself, scared the shit out of me.
Never before had I cared about making a woman happy in that way. Sure, I wanted to take care of the women who were trying to better their lives, and I wanted to keep the streets safe for the kids in town – as well as their parents – but when it came down to pleasing a woman just for the sake of it, outside the bedroom, I’d never really given it much thought.
Mercedes had been the only other woman in my life I’d genuinely cared about making happy because she was my sister and I loved her. It had been that way since we were kids, and though our time in adulthood together had been brief before she was murdered, I still loved her dearly.
“It’s a very good thing,” Megan said with her hands in her back pockets, her toe twisting on the pavement. Her chest stood out as she stood that way, with the curves of her hips catching my attention as well. There was a part of me that got the impression she was doing it on purpose, and I knew I’d not be able to resist for long.
“I’ve got to get going,” I said, shaking the images of her naked and writhing underneath me out of my head. “There’s a shit ton of work down at the shop we’ve got to get to this afternoon.”
“Just one more thing,” she said. She didn’t hesitate, and with a single, sweeping motion, she planted a kiss right on my cheek.
“I’ll see you later,” she smiled.
“Have a good afternoon,” I said, trying hard to control my suddenly bucking heart. She gave me a light wave and headed back inside the complex, leaving me on the street. I sped off, but adrenaline was now pumping through my veins. The kiss she had just given me was electrifying, and I felt like going as fast as I could, speeding down the freeway to clear my head.
I tried to tell myself that the kiss what just a friendly gesture, a thank you for getting her the gig at the shelter. But I knew better. The moment her lips had brushed my cheek, I’d heard the hitch in her breath and I knew she’d felt the lightning too. I was fucked. Totally and completely fucked.
I took the long way back to the shop, pressing over ninety miles per hour when I cut onto the freeway. I needed the speed, the deafening sound of the wind in my ears to help return my thoughts and heart rate back to normal. I pulled up outside my shop and adjusted myself as I got off of my bike, my balls aching with the need to fill her up again.
“They’re on the move again,” Brutus said as we wrapped up the work for the day.
“Are you sure?” I asked. “Where are they going?”
“We think they’re going to circle around. They know she’s here, they have to,” Brutus replied. “Javi spotted another truck full of men he recognized on the East side. They’re making a loop so they don’t have to cut through town, but coming in on the other side.”
“That’s not going to fly,” I said. “We need to get everyone in and set up a perimeter around town. These fuckers aren’t going to get in on our watch.”
“We don’t have enough manpower for that Prez,” Brutus reminds me. “I’ll send out an alert to the guys in our northern chapter. Make sure they know what’s going on, and they can keep an eye on things as well,” I didn’t look up from my phone as I spoke. I was already thinking about how I would tell them and what to instruct them to do.
“That’s an idea, but we’re going to have to act fast,” Brutus said. “Javi told me they looked nervous, like they are aware that they’re being watched.”
“They are,” I said simply. “And I hope that does make them nervous. I’m not putting up with any of that shit in my town.”
“Well, that might mean they’re going to do something bold, or stupid,” Brutus said. “Don’t think that we’re safe because we’re up here.”
I gave him a look. “Thanks for the heads up.”
“I’m just saying. You’re getting pretty cozy with that girl. I’d hate to see that turn into complacency,” he said with a shrug.
“Just make sure you get the message to the guys,” I replied, a tone of annoyance in my voice. He shrugged and headed out the door, leaving me in the office alone. I sighed as I sat back in the chair. I hated the thought of the cartel members closing in, and I worried what that meant for Megan’s safety. Would I really be able to protect her from them if it came to war? If they really hated Cutter that much, why not take him out directly?
Because his sister is all he’s got in life, and they want to hit him where it hurts most. Killing him would be too easy. Shit, that’s the same reason why you know you don’t have a chance in hell with her.
I closed the doors and shut off the lights, getting ready to leave for the day. Normally, there would be a lot of excitement in my chest as I got ready to head back to my place and see Meg, but today, there was a heaviness.
It didn’t just bother me to know the cartel was there, it also bothered me to think about what Brutus had just said. He was right. I was getting really comfortable with her. Though they hadn’t seen the half of it, it was starting to become known throughout the shop.
I could deny it all I wanted, but there was no denying the connection she and I shared when we were in the same room, or the fact that I was on my phone with her so much throughout the day.
I was torn. I wanted her, I knew that, but I couldn’t have her. I shouldn’t. She was the one woman in the world I knew was off limits, but she was the only one I wanted, and I had a feeling nothing was going to change that.
18
Megan
I lit the candles I’d found and set them on either side of the table. It had been difficult to come up with a way to make a romantic dinner with a what I had on hand, but I felt proud of what I’d put together. Trip didn’t have a lot to choose from in his pantry or refrigerator, but I knew how to get creative.
I’d managed to put together spaghetti and meatballs, with a side of garlic bread, and green beans. I nodded, satisfied with the result.
Setting the candle’s I’d found in a drawer on the table with the food added the perfect touch. There was even a nice bottle of red wine in the cupboard that I pulled out and was letting breathe.
Then, I hurried to check my makeup once more. I didn’t have anything fancy to wear, and that was okay. I didn’t want to go too overboard with what I was doing. Hell, it was going to be obvious enough that I was putting on some sort of show.
But I did my hair nice and my makeup as nicely as I could manage, then I put on a clean shirt and pair of jeans. It wasn’t fancy, but I did look put together, and I was proud of how the ensemble looked.
I heard him in the hall before he walked through the door, and I quickly rushed to the kitchen. Though I wanted to see the look on his face when he came in and saw how the table was set, there was another part of me that was a little embarrassed. I’d never done this for anyone before, and I wasn’t sure what to do with myself as he came inside. Besides, what if he didn’t like it?
“What’s this?” he asked as he walked into the kitchen.
“I thought I’d put something together as a bit of a thank you for what you did for me,” I said with a smile. “I found everything in the cupboard, and the candles in the drawer.”
“Looks great,” he said.
“You’ve got about twenty minutes,” I smiled. “If you want to take a shower it’ll be ready by the time you’re done.”
Though he didn’t break into the big grin I thought he would, there was the hint of a smile on his lips as he headed to his room to grab something to put on after the shower. He’d answered the door in nothing but his towel that one day, but ever since then, he’d always dressed directly in the bathroom after his showers at night.
I wondered if he did that because he didn’t want me to see, or if he thought that I didn’t want to. Hell, there was a good chance I would have tried something if he walked through in nothing but a towel night after night, so it was probably a good thing he was careful about exposing that much of his body to me.
I finished putting dinner together and set it on the table, then I put all the pots and pans in the sink. I was still nervous, eager for him to try what I’d put together, but still apprehensive about how good it was going to be.
I really just wanted him to know how much I appreciated what he was doing for me and to apologize for being such a colossal pain in the ass about everything in the beginning. It was a small gesture but being cooped up 24/7 didn’t leave me with much choice. I just wanted him to enjoy.
Trip came back out of the bathroom freshly showered and dressed, though his hair was still damp when we sat down to eat.
“I really wanted you to know how much it means to me that you got me that job,” I said with a smile.
“I thought you might be going crazy here,” he shrugged. “Getting out of the house might be a good idea.”
“Going from here to the shop and back again does make for a small world,” I admitted. “But I like hanging out there, too.”
He glanced up and nodded, but there clearly seemed to be something on his mind. Trip wasn’t ever inclined to talk to me about the things that were bothering him,
just as I had been so careful to keep my own problems under wraps. But, sitting across from him at the table, I could see something was wrong.
I tried not to let the anxiety get to me. Had I overstepped a boundary by making a dinner like this? Did he think I was growing too attached? Was there something else on his mind that was bothering him?
The longer our dinner wore on in relative silence, the more my mind got away from me. By the time we’d finished, I couldn’t take it any longer. I rose to clear the dishes, and Trip sat back in his chair.
“Thanks for that, it was very nice,” he said.
I put the dishes on the counter and smiled as I returned to the table. But, on sudden impulse, I didn’t return to my seat. I walked right up to him, put my hand behind his head, and kissed him.
Just as it had been in the hotel room, I wasn’t sure how he’d react. It was a sudden and impulsive gesture, that was for sure, but it was what I wanted. I knew it was what he wanted, but neither of us had been willing to act on it before. I was so tired of the guessing games. Walking around each other, but never touching, knowing that the tension was there but never acknowledging.
Something had to happen and despite my wanting him to make the first move, I couldn’t wait any longer.
He didn’t pull back or turn away. In fact, he started kissing me in return. It didn’t take long for our kiss to grow heated, and I started undressing him right there in the chair. His hands were at the buttons on my shirt. When he couldn’t get them undone, he merely tore it open.
I was so wet as I pulled his t-shirt over his head, then he rose from the chair, taking me in his arms, kissing me all over. He unclasped my bra, freeing my breasts as I fought to get his jeans undone and to the ground. He did the same to my own pants, then he shoved the rest of the dishes out of the way on the table, lifting me up and setting me there instead.
Protecting Her: An Enemies to Lovers Romance Page 10