His eyes followed as she moved away. He studied how her body swayed as she balanced in heels. How the skirt hugged her hips. Hips he loved holding. How he had held those hips the last few days. The things he had done. They had done.
“No personal visits allowed during work hours.” A voice from the side snapped bringing him out of his trance.
Nealy wheeled toward the receptionist and opened her mouth. Before she could form a word, she noticed Brick shake his head. She bit her lips together and glared at Taylor.
“Got this,” he voiced to Nealy before rounding on Taylor.
Edna rose from her seat and watched intently.
A car pulled up to the drive thru window, drawing Nealy's attention back to her work. She swiveled her chair and pushed the drawer to the customer.
“Need to see the manager.” He stood face to face with the receptionist now.
Eyes narrowed on him. “Do you have an appointment?” She snapped.
“Yeah. Now.”
“She’s busy.”
“I’ll wait.” He crossed his arms and stared without moving.
Silence.
He studied her a moment.
“I guess you could wait here with me. It may be awhile.” Her iciness melted to sugar as she leaned forward.
“Not cool to hit on your friend's man.”
“I am not old enough to be friends with anyone here. But I am old enough to have a good time. And…” she stood and run her hands down her side. “I have a much better body.”
He shook his head and laughed. Actually laughed.
“Listen up,” he placed both forearms on the high counter in front of her and leaned in.
“Your looks are alright but your personality is shit. Bikers turn you on? There’s plenty out there who’ll use you or pass you around. If that’s what you want, I’ll introduce you. If not, be a lady.”
Her mouth fell open. Shoulders slumped. She looked to Nealy to herself back to Brick. Words evaded her.
“Get your head out of your ass. Finish school. Stop looking for trouble. Then, maybe she’ll,” he nodded to Nealy, “bring you out. Meet someone.”
He turned and moved to the manager’s office and knocked.
“He don’t sugar coat for no one does he?” Edna spoke next to Nealy’s ear from behind. “I like that.”
“Huh?” she pushed the window drawer back out to a
car. “Thank you.” She smiled. “Have a nice day.” Nealy spun her chair and searched for Brick.
“Oh, he’s in Mrs. Tedditon’s office. Just knocked and walked right on in.”
Nealy nodded.
“I’m talking about telling our miss fashionista how it is. She was speechless.”
Her eyes grew as she glanced to the front desk.
“She’ll think twice before talking down about you. Anyway, when do I meet him? We meet him. I know Marcel wants to meet him too.” Edna's hands flew to her hips. Eyes squinted as her head cocked to one side. “Unless they have met. Is he a client of Marcel’s?”
“I don’t know about that.” She laughed. “But soon.” She leaned closer. “He just moved some clothes in this weekend. So definitely soon.”
Later, Brick emerged from the office and winked at Nealy, nodded to the others and was out the door.
Chapter Fourteen
Brick reclined on the sofa, resting his booted feet on the coffee table. Arms stretched across the back with remote in one hand, his eyes were focused on the television.
Nealy puttered around the kitchen area gathering ingredients to begin cooking. A glance toward the living room paused her. She leaned against the countertop and studied the man in her home.
This very masculine man with all his denim and leather looked so out of place in her ruffled lacy feminine home. And yet, he looked right at home. He had been here for weeks without the first complaint. He definitely filled the space in a good way.
“Feet?” He asked lifting them up.
She shook her head. “You like being here?” she asked him.
“Tired of me?”
“Not at all. I love you being here.”
He hit the off button and dropped the remote on the cushion. His feet fell to the floor as he leaned forward until his elbows rested on his knees and hands hung between them.
“But?” He encouraged her to explain.
“You have put your life on hold for me,” she sighed. “I know this is not what you’re used to. You must be bored.”
His gaze followed her as she rounded the bar to a chair across from him.
She tucked her feet under and continued. “Do you have things you need to do? You know,” her shoulders bounced. “Guy things. Club stuff.”
One corner of his mouth lifted in amusement as he listened.
“Work. I will be fine if you want to do something.”
Silence.
“I’m afraid you will tire of me or feel trapped here,” she blurted.
“Never. Get dressed. Going out.”
“No. I mean you should do something you want.”
“Want to take my woman out. You liked the House. Get ready.”
“I loved it but that’s too much. I don’t mind cooking.”
He chuckled, “I have money. I can take you anywhere. Nothing is too much.”
“You already do so much.”
He had become her personal driver, shopper, anything she needed. He dropped her off at work. He would work at one of the businesses he or the club owned until time to pick her up. There had been no more threats, but he knew better than to let his guard down. The club had checked out everyone she could think of who may be mad at her. That was very few. Brick had enemies but as far as he knew no one knew about her yet so they were not responsible.
“I’ll show you the bar. Good food.”
* * *
An hour later, they rolled to a stop next to a line of bikes. Lively music played while people mingled on and around the covered porch. The crowd appeared happy but not rowdy. They entered the building pausing at the bar.
“Well done?” he asked looking at Nealy.
“Well done what?”
“Steak.”
“Yeah.”
The biker behind the bar picked up a walkie-talkie. “Rare and well done for Brick.”
“Got it,” sounded from the device.
His arm around her shoulder steered her to a table in a back corner. Moments after they settled at the table their drinks arrived.
“Is it this busy all the time?”
“Weekends.”
The sound system squealed. “Last call from the grill,” was announced before the music resumed.
“Bar open Monday through Saturday nights. Friday and Saturday evenings grill runs six to nine.”
“I love that idea!”
“For now, everyone works. Customers learn there’s no bullshit, we’ll hire out and only need one or two here.”
“So, is this where you work now? What about your um… special sales?”
His laugh was warm.
“No more special sales.”
“Really?” Her voice hopeful.
He nodded.
Nealy beamed at the thought.
“This is the club's main business now. Everyone works. Everyone benefits. Some have other businesses. We work for whoever needs help.”
“Ahh. My flat tire,” remembering someone wearing the same patch as Brick. Now she knew that person to be Mac. “Mac’s Garage.”
He nodded.
“Work together and live together. How’s that work out?”
“Don’t live together.”
“Oh, I thought…,” she trailed off. There were bedrooms at the clubhouse. Several of them. Maybe she didn’t want to know why.
He leaned onto the table and placed his hand on hers and lightly squeezed.
“You saw my room. Stay there a lot. It’s home. King just bought a house. Did live there. Ghost and Nova live there. Others crash when they want.”
“My house.”
She searched his eyes as he paused.
“Empty space. Not home.”
King brought their food out and joined them to eat.
“KO is on the grill tonight. He does a good job of it,” King announced then tilted his head to Nealy.
“What do you think?”
“It's great!”
“I need an honest woman’s view of the place.”
Both focused awaiting her answer.
“Well, what I’ve seen is great. It’s more than just a place to hang out and drink. You can eat, sit by the water, enjoy the view. I’ve never been a bar person, but this is inviting. And you serve more than alcohol I see.” Holding up her tea.
“Not everyone drinks.” He raised his water in a toast.
Cowboy approached the table as he clicked off his phone and pushed it into his pocket. “I’m on security at The House tonight. But that was my brother-in-law. Cindy's in the hospital. It’s getting close.” His grin turned to a full smile that brightened his face.
“Congratulations,” King slapped his back.
“Go be an uncle. I got it,” Brick offered.
“Thanks, brother,” he hurried out of the building.
“Gotta work. You good at the clubhouse?” he asked Nealy.
“I’ll be fine.”
The smile in her eyes and gentle touch of her hand reassured him.
He turned to King, but before he spoke, his question was answered.
“One of us will be there by the time you get there.”
* * *
Brick slowly opened the door. His eyes were drawn to Nealy; asleep in his bed. He stepped in and without a sound pushed the door closed. He couldn’t force his eyes from her. Even in her sleep she was beautiful. Not a worry in the world. In an unfamiliar place with a man she barely knew in the next room, she never complained when he left her there while he worked. She trusted him. With her safety. With her life. No one had ever trusted him so completely. But she did. And it gave him a feeling of completeness he had never known. He knew at that moment he needed this. He needed her. She was what made him whole. She was what he had been searching for all his life. Even if he didn't realize until now that he had been searching.
His boots landed next to the chair where he hung his cut. He pulled his t shirt over his head and tossed it to the chair then unzipped his jeans and pushed them to the floor. Kicking them off, he left nothing on as he slid in bed beside her. Propped on his left arm he watched her sleep.
She lay on her back with her face toward him and hair spread across the pillow. Her hand by her face, she appeared so peaceful.
She rolled toward him as his fingers brushed her cheek.
He wrapped his arm around her pulling her close so she nestled into his warm muscled body. His lips brushed the top of her head and he breathed deep taking in her scent. Sweet and alluring. A scent all her own.
“Love coming home to you,” he whispered more to himself than to her.
“Because I love you,” she whispered back.
“I know you do.”
He kissed her again and ran his fingers through her hair moving it away from her face.
“And you love me.”
He smiled into the darkness. She never hesitated to share her feelings with him. Even in her sleep.
“Yes, I do,” he confirmed.
He couldn't see her face but he could feel her smile against his chest. His hand left her hair and traveled to her back. Down the soft material until he reached skin. Firmly cupping her bare bottom, he pulled her tight and watched her eyes flutter open.
He pulled the material up and over her head. His lips crashed down on hers and he rolled her until she was beneath him. He showered her body with kisses. Her lips. Her neck. Down her stomach. Where his mouth was not exploring his hands were. Touching. Caressing. Teasing.
Her body arched, and she moaned as her fists tightened in the sheets.
He took his time working his way down and back up her body and left nothing untouched.
Her legs wrapped around him pulling him to her.
His face just above hers, she placed her palms on his cheeks and ran her thumbs through his beard. Her eyes locked with his and she gasped as he pushed into her.
His hips began to thrust and work until he brought them to climax together. Afterward he moved to rest on his elbows and dropped his forehead to hers. Still aware of her legs propped on his ass and her hands caressing his back, his voice rumbled against her ear when he spoke.
“Who loves you?”
“You do.”
“More than you know.”
Chapter Fifteen
Brick, King, and Nova gathered around a table in the common room. Papers littered the table. Nova leaned on the table, passing a sheet to Brick who sat with his side to the table, booted foot on a knee, elbow resting on the table.
He took the application without looking and laid it down.
Just inside the next room, Nealy sat on the edge of his bed tying her shoes. When finished, she straightened and pulled her hair back into a ponytail, securing it with a holder from her wrist. She looked up and caught him watching. Her body warmed at this wink. She stood and strolled to him never breaking eye contact. She leaned in for a kiss.
He grabbed her waist and pulled her into his lap.
“What did I say about this,” his finger trailed down the front of her yoga top, “in public?”
“I'm not in public.”
She laughed when he growled.
“Brick. Focus,” snapped Nova. “As nice as it is to have a woman around, they screw with your mind. Focus. You can play later.”
“Am.”
“What?”
“Gotta go through these,” Brick tapped the scattered papers. “Hire somebody. Train. Work a schedule. Oh.” His mouth turned up. “You should get one.”
“So, you were listening.” He paused. “Get what?”
“A woman.”
“Absolutely not.” Holding a palm to Nealy as she reentered the common area pulling on a thin jacket and zipping it. “No offense.”
“None taken. I know my presence has disrupted normal business.”
“Ha! Our whole business has changed. Because these two fools and their crazy notion about women.”
“Focus,” King back handed his shoulder. “Nealy, you are welcome here. Don’t mind him.”
“Yeah, you’re family now,” conceded Nova.
King pushed on, “Get everyone here tonight so we can sort this out.”
“Gotta leave. Be back,” Brick reminded King.
“No. Honey.” She sat on the edge of the next chair facing Brick. “I’ll be fine. You can’t keep putting your life on hold. Nothing has happened in a while. I doubt anything will. Let me go to the studio by myself. You take care of this.”
“No.”
She turned to the others for help but found none. Only palms in the air confirming their refusal to cross their brother.
Sigh. “Okay. How about I call when I get there and when I leave? And I come straight here?”
“I follow you there.”
“K,” she agreed.
“Call before you leave the building.”
“Promise,” she smiled.
“Set it up. Be back.” He conceded as he followed her out the door.
* * *
Nealy pulled the studio door open and stepped in. “Hey, ladies”
“I see your man is protective. That’s so romantic,” Chelle sighed.
Nealy smiled and rolled her mat out next to hers and settled in.
“Tell me how school and those jobs are going.”
“Venus quit,” Chelle blurted.
She stopped untying her shoes and twisted to see Venus, who sat behind her.
“Quit? What happened?”
“I don’t mind entertaining sometimes, when I need to. But that bastard tried to pimp me out to his friends.
I do have limits,” she emphasized.
“Good for you,” Nealy told her and raised her hand.
Venus high fived her and grinned.
“I personally don't see the big deal,” Chelle chimed in. “You do it now alone. Why not work for someone who can offer protection?”
“I told you I do it on my terms as I need to. I refuse to do just any Joe Blow off the street,” Venus hissed leaning closer and closer to Chelle.
“Whatever. Just apply for Nealy's job when she quits the bank. Maybe you can do that, Venus.”
“I’m not quitting,” Nealy corrected.
“Oh, that bad boy will want you available twenty-four seven. You’ll quit. Then he’ll move in to support you. And we’ll never see you again. You'll be his personal toy.”
Nealy laughed out loud. He had moved in already for security reasons. Not knowing how long until he moved back to his place and sent her to hers, she kept this information to herself.
“I’m not quitting. Don’t know how the future will play out but he lets me be me.”
* * *
BUZZ.
Brick grabbed his phone. “Hey, Sweet.”
The men were scattered around the clubhouse tables reviewing applications. Some decisions had been made while others were still under discussion.
Oz was perched at the bar with his computer. Next to him lay a pile of papers. The ones that passed the brother's approval came to him. He dug into their life before making it to the final round.
“Walking out to my car. Are y’all finished for me to come there?”
“Doesn’t matter. Straight here.”
“Okay.”
“Speaker on. I hear you drive,” he ordered.
Nealy scanned the parking lot. “I don’t see anyone in the parking lot that doesn’t belong. I know you’re busy.”
“Speaker,” he growled.
Nealy climbed in the car and pushed the speaker button and placed the phone in her cup holder. She buckled and pulled into the road.
“Talk.”
She smiled though he couldn’t see it. Special and loved. Even in his rough way she felt it.
“Did y’all get a lot of business done?” she asked.
“Some.”
“Want me to hit a drive through? Food? Drinks?”
Brick Solid (Voodoo Troops MC Book 1) Page 11