One
Chelsea
Mom never cared about me. Scratch that. She cared, but she cared more about herself. When her boyfriend wanted to move in, she let him. He brought his three kids. It didn’t matter that we were living in a three-bedroom house with less than fifteen hundred square feet. She sure as hell didn’t care that he liked to scream and smack around his kids. He started in on me when I smarted off to him the first time. Yeah, my mouth tends to get me in trouble.
I promised myself when I got out of there that I would never be like her, but look what happened, I gave myself to the first man that told me he loved me. I was an idiot. Who does something like that? A woman, a weak woman. That’s who. When I was younger, I was determined to prove I’d never be like my mother. I was going to be better than my mother.
“Sweet cheeks, go get me another beer, will ‘ya?” Charlie, one of my customers says. He’s one of the founding members of Steel Daggers and only comes by to drink beer and shoot the shit. He told me this the second time I waited on him. I now see him three to four times a week, and he always sits in my section. He’s like the father I never knew.
“Charlie, I told you not to call me that. Yet, every time we talk, that’s what you call me. Can you tell me why?” I ask, holding my tray to my side, with my other hand cocked on my hip. I tap my foot, waiting for him to answer.
“Hoowee darlin’. You’s a sassy one, ain't ya? Be nice and bring this old man a beer, please.” He smiles and bats his eyelashes at me.
I laugh. “You know I can’t tell you no.”
I walk to the bar and wait for Camden to finish with a customer I’ve never seen before. He gives me a funny look but then goes about drinking his beer and watching some of the women try and entice Rash and Jester. Like that’s hard. The thing about working at Spanky’s is it’s a biker bar. Not only is it a biker bar, but it’s also the clubhouse for the Steel Daggers. Occasionally they’ll have parties, like the night Emersen came and fell for Ryker, or as everyone else calls him, Pres. Most nights though we have our usuals who are friends of the Steel Daggers and then the Steel Daggers themselves.
“How are you doing tonight Chelsea?” Camden asks while pouring the refill for Charlie.
“I’m good I guess. Ready for tomorrow. It will be nice to have a day off to just sleep.”
“But you’ll be going to Pres and Emersen’s for Thanksgiving dinner right? Everyone is supposed to be there.” His brows draw together, and he doesn’t release the glass we’re both holding onto. I look at him, waiting for him to give it up.
“I’m not everyone. The officers must be there, and anyone else that wanted to join could go too. I’m neither of those things. Hence, I’m not going.”
“It’s expected that you’re there.” He says. I can’t tell if he’s pissed or he’s trying to help me make the right decision.
“Expected by who?” I ask wondering who would expect me to be there. When he says nothing I do my best to hurry him along. “Come on Cam, I need to get this to Charlie.” Before he has a chance to respond, I feel his warmth at my back. Only then does Camden release the glass.
“There a problem here Cam?” Rock questions.
Camden’s eyes bore into mine, and I shake my head no. He smirks before flicking his eyes to Rock.
Tilting his head to me, he says, “Your girl here isn’t coming to dinner tomorrow night at the Pres’ house.”
My cheeks instantly heat, and I know the blush travels much further down than my black Spanky’s t-shirt allows you to see. The guys have been hinting at Rock and I being together for the past week. I don’t know what’s changed, but Rock’s lingering looks aren’t as conspicuous as they used to be. His passing interest has turned into very interested, and I have no idea what to do with it. I’ve decided to ignore it until I’m ready to face him, which will likely be never.
“Is that right Chelsea?” He asks low and steps impossibly closer, placing his hands on the bar on each side of me, caging me in. His spicy male scent assaults me, and all I want to do is get lost in him. I don’t miss the tree limb digging into my back or the way he rubs his nose up my neck before growling in my ear.
“Why?”
Shit. “I’ve got plans.” I push the lie through my teeth, almost regretting it. My need to keep him as far away from me as possible outweighs the throbbing between my thighs whenever he’s near.
“With fucking who?” He says and turns me around to face him. I look up into his dark, angry eyes.
I look around the bar trying to come up with something to tell him.
“You forget where I was sitting Ms. Chelsea? Rock, why don’t you move so Ms. Chelsea can get back to serving her tables.” Charlie drawls lazily.
Rock looks over at Charlie then back at the beer in my hand. He snatches it from me and pushes it into Charlie’s chest, beer sloshing out of the mug and onto the floor.
“There,” he grits out, dismissing Charlie and focusing his attention back on me.
“Who do you have plans with tomorrow Angel?”
“I, I -”
“She’s coming over to help my Darla make pies, then we’re delivering them to the shelter,” Charlie announces, saving me.
I look to the side and see him taking a sip of his beer, he notices and winks at me.
“Fine. I assume Darla is picking you up to bring you to their place. I’ll pick you up when the pies are done, then we’ll go deliver them, together. After, we’ll go to dinner at Pres’ house. You good with that Angel?”
Camden chuckles behind me, and I’d like nothing more than to beat him in the head with my tray.
“Yep.” I agree, knowing there’s nothing else I can say here. “Look I’ve got tables Rock. I’ll see you later.” He allows me to push him to the side and I stomp off, pissed that he’s making me do something I’m not ready for.
∞∞∞
Rock
Damn, she’s pissed. I look at Charlie and point. “You pulled that out of your ass quick old man.”
He laughs and drinks his beer, admitting nothing, staring at my woman.
“She’s special Rock.” He says looking me in the eyes.
I nod. “She’s more than that Charlie. She’s a gift I don’t deserve, but I’m accepting because I know I’ll never meet another like her.”
He sighs and runs his hand across his unkempt beard. “I’ve never had any children, but I’d be proud to call her mine. You treat her right when she finally lets you in, or it will be your ass on the line son.”
I reach over and shake his hand. “I’ll never let her regret choosing me.”
“You’re one cocky son of a bitch.”
He has no fucking clue how sure I am about this. I’d place every bet, lay down all my possessions, and bet on Chelsea and I. Chelsea River Thomas is my beginning and end.