by Jamie Begley
His stomach rolled at the thought of food. “Maybe later.”
Returning his attention to Viper, he said, “You could have warned me the weather was turning to shit when I was leaving Arizona.”
“I warned you to pack warm clothes.”
“There’s a big difference in packing clothes for the forties and fifties and sub-zero.”
“Blame the forecasters. I’m not the one who predicts the weather.”
“Next time, I’ll fly during the winter months. Core and I had to use window scrappers to peel our asses off our seats.”
Viper winced for him. “I hope you’re exaggerating.”
“Not by my much. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to have children after I went up the steps.”
“You should have used the back entrance.”
“I remembered it too late.”
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Arin and Jewell listening to their conversation.
“When did you remember?”
“The first step.”
“Why didn’t you go back and walk that way then?”
“I figured, if it hurt that bad going up, it would castrate me going backward.”
Was he imagining it or was there a small thawing in Arin’s and Jewell’s expressions?
“Have you heard the storm warning for this afternoon?”
“Core told me.”
“You going to stay or take your chances with the weather?”
Feeling Jewell’s threatening glare on him, Hennessy targeted her back with his impassive one.
“I wanted to try and get ahead of the storm, but Core told me his ass is frostbitten. If it’s cool with you, we may need to stay a few days for him to recuperate.”
He had planned to rest up today, despite Jewell’s warning. He wasn’t drunk still, and he’d given the bitches their free shots. If they came at him again, however, they would get more than they bargained for.
Besides not wanting to give the vindictive bitches what they wanted, he wasn’t as anxious to leave as he had been before he had stepped into The Last Riders’ club. Dark brown eyes had him reassessing the situation.
It wasn’t a change of heart, Hennessy told himself; it was a more of a curiosity than anything else.
“You and Core are welcome to stay as long as you want. If you want to earn some cash, the married brothers could use the time off from the factory to spend with their families before Christmas. I was going to call the temp agency this afternoon.”
“I’ll ask Core. We have that Florida job in January. We were going to spend Christmas there, but we’ll talk it over and see what he wants to do,” Hennessy said as Shade took a seat with them.
“Let me know what you decide. I’d be willing to pay extra for you and Core to work. I’d rather not have any new employees around the club during the holidays. You’ve worked there before, so we wouldn’t have to spend any time training you.”
The money wasn’t the temptation that was starting to sway his mind. It was the curvy cutie with a button nose that had his ass wanting to stay.
Noticing the women had fixed themselves a plate and had gone into the dining room, he fished for the deciding factor that would prompt him into staying.
“The club seems packed full; Core and I wouldn’t want to impose.” If Winter wasn’t sitting at the table, he would come out and ask what he wanted to know instead of beating around the bush for the information.
“Several of the brothers are here to become full members,” Viper explained.
“Do I get to watch?”
“Not unless you want to become a Last Rider, then you get a front-row seat.”
Hennessy shook his head. “No, thanks. I prefer the Road Kingz.”
“Figured. If there’s anything we can do to change your mind, the offer is always open. You would be an asset to The Last Riders.”
“I’m more of a leader than a follower, but you know, anytime you need the Road Kingz to take your back, we’ll be there.” Hennessy reached out, and the men shook hands again, sealing a bond between the two clubs.
“How many are trying to become full members?”
“Six.”
“How many have you chosen to take on?” Hennessy asked curiously.
“Only one.”
“Which one?”
“Jack.”
“Jack? I haven’t met him yet.”
“He’s the blond heading toward the dining room.”
The man had long hair and black tattoos going up his arms and neck. He was taller but half of Viper’s size.
“That shouldn’t take long.”
“Don’t be taken in by his good looks. He got his nickname because the brothers watched him fight. They say he can jack you up so fast you won’t know what hit you.”
Hennessy changed the subject at Winter’s concerned expression. “More women here than I remember.”
A knowing glint appeared in Viper’s eyes. “We closed the Ohio factory in December. Most of the members there have families they go visit—those who don’t, come here to spend the holidays. Jewell also has a friend visiting. I heard you met her last night.”
“I did. I got off on the wrong foot with her.”
“I heard it wasn’t your feet that you were having trouble with.”
Winter’s voice, laden with humor, had Hennessy giving his own account.
“We are riding low on funds, so we didn’t have money for a hotel room. I hadn’t slept for three nights, my motorcycle was an ice cube, and by the time we got here, I was, too. Then I did the worse thing I could do when we got here—I got drunk off my ass instead of taking a hot shower. I didn’t represent myself in the best light.”
Viper grimaced. “I’ve straddled my own bike a few times when I had to ride through cold weather.
“First impressions are hard to forget. If you decide to stay, you might correct that impression. It’d make my holiday much easier.”
“With the women out for my blood, it might be easier if I go.”
Viper shrugged. “Nothing I can’t handle if you stay.”
Hennessy cracked the first smile he had given since he’d come to the club. “Me either.”
Chapter 6
“So, you thinking of staying?”
Hennessy thought Viper’s question over. If Viper needed his answer today, he was going to be blunt. There was no reason for him to hang around the club when the main reason he would stay wanted to go. “How long is Arin visiting Jewell? I wouldn’t want to leave until I gave a better impression of myself.”
“She’s here until the twenty-sixth.”
“Core and I can work until the twenty-seventh, which gives us enough time to make it to Florida for the job.”
“Do I want to know what it is?”
“Probably not, but I wasn’t going to tell you anyway.”
Viper shrugged. “I’m cool with that.”
“I’m glad you are. Jewell or Arin might not be happy he’s staying,” Winter cautioned.
The dawning awareness that Winter was firmly on Jewell’s side had him leaning back in his chair. “I plan to be a perfect gentleman to Jewell, as long she doesn’t come at me again when I’m sleeping.”
“Are you going to throw Moon off the porch again?”
“He told you?”
“Yes. Moon told Viper and me when we got back. He showed us where he landed. You must have missed the bypass for Christmas spirit.”
“I’ve just as much Christmas spirit as Moon did when he told me to come back tomorrow instead of letting us inside.”
Stirring her coffee, she tried to excuse Moon’s behavior. “He was just joking.”
“Then I guess I had the last laugh.”
Winter angrily stood as Viper, other men at the table, and the room started laughing at Moon’s expense.
“I would wish you good luck with Arin, but that would be useless. I have faith that she’ll put you exactly where you belong.”
Damn, was he being a grinch by enjoyin
g Winter’s anger?
“Don’t need luck when my good looks are all I need.”
Winter crossed her arms over her chest. “You are good-looking. I’ll agree with that. But as far as actions, I heard you’re a little quick on the draw. A woman wants more substance than style when you get past the good looks. You blew past the free pass. Now you’ll have to put in some effort for anything else you’re given.”
“You don’t think Arin will give me another chance?”
“Do you really care if she does or doesn’t?”
He had never been a man who showed his cards before they were played.
“Don’t know. Maybe I’m looking for substance over style.”
“Clearly, you don’t recognize it when you see it.”
“Unlike women, it takes a man longer to decide.” He arrogantly puffed his chest out, looking toward the men for support.
“Brother, if you want to walk on a minefield, go ahead. But don’t drag me into it. I’m happy sleeping in my bed. Nothing personal, but I don’t plan to bunk with you when she throws me out for agreeing with you.”
Hennessy looked toward Shade when Viper failed to live up to the man code.
Shade shrugged. “I learned to wait and watch when I was in the military. And stay out of any firefights I couldn’t win. You’re not going to win this argument, so cut your losses while you still can.”
“The problem is you two got married and lost your man cards …” Hennessy snapped his fingers. “Wait—I found them. I have enough for both of you if you want them back.”
Neither man seemed affronted by what he had said, unlike Winter, who appraisingly narrowed her gaze on him.
“You could always put your money where your mouth is.”
“Anytime, anyplace.” Hennessy didn’t walk farther into the minefield; he ran.
Winter met head-on. “Bet me.”
“What kind of bet?”
“I bet Arin won’t let you get to first base with her again.”
“Hell, I’m getting past first base. I’m planning on sliding right into home.”
Winter wasn’t impressed with his bragging. Taking out her cell phone, she started doing something. “So, it’s a bet?”
Ignoring the warning shakes of Shade’s and Viper’s heads, Hennessy plowed further into the pile of shit that he had dug for himself. “You know it.”
As soon as the words were out of his mouth, he regretted them, realizing he might have gotten a little carried away. Instead of backtracking, though, he added more to the pile.
“When I win, you have to cook me a four-course steak dinner. I like my steak well-done.”
Winter glanced up from her phone. “I was talking cold, hard cash.”
“I am, too. That’s in addition to the money.”
“I’d be careful. You’re being overconfident.” She went back to doing what she was doing on her phone.
Hennessy puffed his chest out. “I’m a confident man.”
“I’m really, really going to enjoy this. I’ve wanted to buy enough headphones for the computer lab at the alternative school.”
“Not as much as me.” He grinned then stopped. “Wait … how much money are we talking about?”
“Let’s wager the amount Viper would pay you … plus the four-course dinner we have to make for the winner. I hope your cooking skills are better than your fucking skills.”
“Hennessy, I wouldn’t.” Shade broke in before he could accept the terms.
He couldn’t brag to Viper and Shade about having a man card if he was too big of a wimp to use it.
“Arin married or have a boyfriend?”
“Not that I know of.” Placing her phone on the table, Winter resumed eating her breakfast. “If she does, we’ll just call the bet off.”
“You or someone in the room going to sabotage me and tell her about the bet?”
“No. I won’t have to play sneaky. I’m expecting you to sabotage yourself.”
“Then I’m game because, Winter, you don’t know me, but I can be smooth as glass when I wanna sweet talk a woman.”
“She’s going to make mincemeat pie out of you.” Winter pointed her fork at him before stabbing into a sausage link on her plate.
It was like waving a red flag in front of a bull.
“I’ll be fa-la-la-la-ing to Florida with your and Viper’s money in my pocket,” he bragged.
“The money will be used to help disadvantaged youths’ education,” Viper’s wife told him.
“They can learn the same way I did—in the school of hard knocks without headphones.”
“Grinch.”
Hennessy winced when she bit into the sausage.
“He’s the first person I admitted into the Road Kingz. We’re bros,” he said complacently. When he was growing up, he’d felt bad the Grinch had such a bad rep. At the end of the day, who had fucking saved Christmas? It was the fucking Grinch, not Santa Claus. Though, he didn’t give a shit if it was the Grinch who had ruined it in the first place.
“Why am I not surprised?”
Laying her fork down, she rose from the table. “I need some orange juice. Viper, you want anything?”
“No, I’m good.”
“I’ll shoot you a text of me and Arin together with a big smile on her face to show you I won.” Hennessy gave the parting shot to Winter’s back as she turned.
The hair on the back of his neck stood up when she turned around with a smile that had his nuts shrinking into walnuts.
“That won’t be necessary. I’ll take Arin’s word for it. Is that okay with you, Arin?”
Jerking his head to the side at Winter’s raised voice, he saw Arin at the entrance of the dining room.
Seeing that she was the center of attention, she continued carrying her dishes to the sink and placed them inside. “His broke ass will be going to Florida with empty pockets. I’ve got your students covered, Winter. You can go ahead and order the headphones.” Frostily, Arin then sauntered back into the dining room.
Hennessy didn’t look away until Winter sat back down with her glass refilled.
“I told you that you’d sabotage yourself.”
“You knew she was there.” Desperate, he tried to wiggle out of the bet.
“Not until I turned around. And you’re not going to get out the bet that easily. I’ve already ordered the headphones.” Raising her cell phone, she showed him where she had made the purchase.
“You couldn’t have known you would win.” Too late, he was beginning to understand how Arin must have felt—fucked over without getting any of the pleasure.
Winter rolled her eyes at him. “Hennessy, take it from another woman’s viewpoint. Substance is everything to them. There was no way you were going to win.”
“Fuck.” Hennessy held back the curse until Winter finished breakfast and left before letting the word slip free.
“I tried to warn you.”
“Shade, I didn’t hear you say Arin is standing there, listening come out of your fucking mouth.”
“I told you I stay out of firefights.”
“Next time you want to warn me about something, how about you make a little bit more effort?”
“A two-by-four on the back of your head wouldn’t have stopped you,” Core grumbled, taking Winter’s seat.
“He didn’t have to go to that extreme … but a Hennessy, shut the fuck up. Arin is listening to every dumb fuck thing coming out of your mouth would be good.”
“Would be even easier if you didn’t make stupid bets,” Shade shot back wryly. “At least the one I lost to her, I had a chance of winning.”
When he saw the sympathetic gazes of the men around him, doubts began to surface under the confidence he had shown when Winter had been there.
“Winter does this often?”
“If you’re asking if my wife makes it a habit to goad the brothers into bets that she knows she can win? Then sadly, I have to admit she does,” Viper answered when none of the other men
in the room would.
“And you let her keep getting away with it?”
“Why not?” Viper grinned. “I’d be a broke man if I bought every fucking thing she thinks her students need. I’m generous, but I’m not a charity.”
“That’s just sad.”
Viper’s grin widened. “You’re only upset because you’re afraid you’re going to lose. Where did all the confidence go that had you saying you would be fa-la-la-ing to Florida with my money?”
“It took a dive into the shit tank when Arin heard.” Never one to be down for too long, especially in front of The Last Riders, Hennessy said, “I’ll apologize, and she’ll get over it.”
Viper tilted his coffee at him. “That’s right; be positive. It can’t hurt,” he said encouragingly.
“Fuck off.”
Viper laughed. “Could be worse. Arin could have told them you had a small dick instead of a big one.”
“You’re not helping.”
“I’m supposed to help? I must have missed you asking.”
“Never mind. The day a black brother needs to ask a white one how to sweet talk a woman into bed, I deserve to lose the bet.”
Getting up to grab a coffee, he nearly tripped over his own two left feet when both Arin and Jewell came out of the dining room and went behind the counter to start cleaning.
“You’re right; you don’t need my help,” Viper mocked as Hennessy managed to catch himself. “You need a fucking miracle.”
Chapter 7
Arin contained her stormy emotions until she was back in the privacy of Jewell’s bedroom. The other women had followed in from their rooms.
“He’s the most arrogant man I’ve ever met in my life!”
Jewell huffed out a puff of air. “I’ve met worse.”
Having expected her friend to agree with her, she stood in shock as Jewell simply went to her closet to grab a plastic bag before going to her bed to sit down.
“I told you I overheard Hennessy betting Winter that he could hit a home run with me.”
“You were more upset last night when he didn’t.”
“That was last night. I wouldn’t give him the time of day now.”
“Be real. Your pride wasn’t so hurt that it kept you from eye-fucking him when he wasn’t looking while we were making breakfast.”