Over the next few weeks we all started to finally get into a groove of normalcy. I started working again, Abel was spending more time at the garage than the bar, and Rave was becoming an afternoon regular for me. I even started picking Raine up from school so she could do her homework while I finished out the day shift so Able could work late.

“Hey, Crickett right?” a surly voice came from the bar top while I was cleaning some glasses.

I looked up to see, Rich, Abel’s uncle. I had seen him from time to time, mostly when he was going in and out of the back room or coming in to talk to guys in the back by the pool tables.

“Yes, sir. What can I get you?”

He sat down at the empty seat in front of him. “I’ll take Old Crow and Seven Up.”

I made his drink and awkwardly stood in front of him, not knowing the first thing to say to strike up a conversation with the president of the club. I always thought of Abel as being my boss, but this was his boss and that made me nervous as shit.

He took a sip. “Ah. That hits the spot. I just wanted to properly welcome you to our little family here. I’ve been pretty busy since you arrived and I didn’t want to seem rude.”

I wiped the bar next to him, just to seem like I was staying busy in front of the big boss. “Thanks. I understand. You have a business to run.”

Holt walked through the front door and Rich turned to him. They nodded at each other and Holt came behind the bar.

“Well, I better get to the table. Crickett, mind staying a little late today? We might need Holt to go on an errand later.”

I shrugged. “Sure, I just have to grab Raine from school. But it shouldn’t be a problem.”

The front door swung open and Abel strode in with Raine on his back.

“Never mind.” I pointed to my two new favorite people in the world. “I don’t have to go anywhere.”

Raine’s eyes got wide when she saw Rich and she raced into his arms for a big bear hug.

Abel leaned on the bar. “Can I see you for a second?” His face was stoic.

“Sure?” I glanced over at Holt. “I’ll be right back.”

Abel led me over to the small room that we used as a liquor closet and locked the door behind us.

“Is everything ok?”

He didn’t waste any time. He threw me against the wall and crushed his lips onto mine.

“I have been thinking about this all day.”

I could feel how ready he was pressing hard into my lower stomach. He pulled at the button of my shorts, letting them fall to the floor.

“Abel is this really a good idea?”

He gently bit my neck, running his hand up my shirt to unclasp my bra.

“I think it’s one of the best fucking ideas ever.”

I fumbled with his zipper. I had to admit that the forbidden-sex-in-the-workplace thing was pretty thrilling.

He went to grab for his wallet and his head fell as he sighed. “I forgot a fucking condom at home.”

“That’s ok, Abel. I want to feel you.”

“Do you really want to feel all of me?”

I knew what he was getting at and I was still nervous, but he said he was clean and in that moment the need to please him outweighed my nerves.

“Yes, I want to feel just you.”

“Are you sure you’re fine with this?”

“Yes.” I stared into his eyes.

He lifted me into his strong arms and I tightened my legs around his waist. Abel pulled my thong to the side and thrust into me, making me gasp.

“Hush. We have to be fast and quiet.”

I bit down on the top of his tattooed chest as a groan escaped.

“Abel. Right there.”

The tip of his dick was massaging my g-spot perfectly; the fast part was not going to be a problem. My body started to shake in his arms as my climax started to build. His hot breath quickened on my neck as he pressed my back harder into the wall.

“Come for me babe.” He growled in my ear and that was all it took.

An uncontrollable wave of ecstasy crashed over me while his cock pulsed inside me. With a sigh his head fell onto my shoulder.

“Fucking amazing,” he whispered, setting me back down on my feet. “I will not ever be able to fuck you with a condom on ever again.”

I kissed his shoulder as he started to let me out of his arms. “Good.”

We straightened out our clothes as Abel kissed me on the cheek and breathed, “Follow my lead.”

As he unlocked the door, he yelled, “This isn’t over. We will talk about it later.”

I jumped right in, storming out of the liquor closet, arms crossed. “Yeah, whatever, Abel. I’m over it.”

I got back behind the bar with everyone’s eyes darting from me to Abel.

“Trouble in paradise?” Holt chuckled with a swift wink.

“You could call it that, I guess.” I started wiping off the bar and the club members started filing into the back room. Abel glanced over at me with a quick grin as he mouthed, “See you later.” I nodded and felt blush dust over my neck and cheeks.

Raine scooted down the bar to be right in front of me. “Was Daddy being mean to you?” Her brow was creased and her eyes looked like waterworks were about to start spraying the whole place.

I grabbed her little hand. “Of course not, Raine. He and I were just playing around. Your daddy is a very nice man.”

Her lips pulled into a soft smile. “Yeah, he’s great. Can I have a soda?”

I poured a Dr. Pepper and started quizzing her on her vocabulary and spelling for her test the next day.

After about thirty minutes with no one coming in, Holt and I were both helping Raine with homework, trying to pass the time.

“I really don’t see why Rich wanted you to stick around.”

I shrugged after taking a sip from my water. “It’s really no big deal.”

He started burning one of the ice troughs. “It’s just a waste of your time, that’s all.”

Abel came busting through the back door. “Holt. We need to see you. Now.” His face was gruff, and his tone and posture matched.

I got overly nervous for Holt as he looked over to me with concern dancing across his face. “I guess it is a good thing that you stuck around.”

“Crickett, why don’t you take Raine home? We won’t be too long and this place is dead.”

She hopped off the stool and I grabbed the drawer to count it out.

Abel grabbed it from me. “You should really leave now babe. I’ll take care of this and bring your tips home tonight.”

I was screaming inside to know what was going on, but I just grabbed Raine by the hand and walked her out of the bar.

“Can we have chicken fingers for dinner?”

A light rain tapped onto the gravel parking lot as we started to jog for my car. “As long as you eat some carrots with them.”

I strapped Raine into the backseat and started off toward the house. I hated the jumping, squeaking, skipping wipers, but it was starting to really pour and I needed to try to see the winding road. Even though it was annoying, I would rather the obnoxious noises than being pelted in the face while on a motorcycle.

I was cleaning up the plates from dinner when Holt and Abel finally came home. Both of them were smiling and talking away as their boots stomped through the front door. Then I noticed it: Holt was wearing a cut.

“Well, I guess I had nothing to worry about this whole time.” I gave Holt a hug. “Congratulations.”

“Thanks.” They both grabbed beers from the fridge.

“There’s some food in the oven for y’all.”

“Thanks babe.” Abel pulled me down to sit on his lap at the breakfast table, cracking open a beer for me too. “A toast to our newest member.” We smashed our beers together.

“Sorry for kicking you out of the bar like that earlier. I needed to keep this guy on his toes. Didn’t want to spoil a good surprise.”

I kissed his scruffy cheek. “I get it.”

The guys made plates and I curled up on the couch with Raine while they ate. Raine dozed off watching My Little Pony—not the terrible new remake that the crackheads at the network had started airing, the reruns from when I was growing up. I was more enthralled in it than I would have cared to admit; I didn’t even notice that she was passed out next to me until I started to fast-forward through a few commercials.

“I guess I better get this little lady in bed.” Abel lifted her into his arms before turning to me. “Put some warmer clothes on, let’s go for a ride.”

“It just stopped raining, the roads will be wet. I don’t think it’s a good idea.”

I hadn’t been on Abel’s bike since that day we’d gone to the diner. Once was really enough for me. I liked a thrill as much as the next guy, but there was an element of danger that was just a little too much for me.

“Come on. I want to show you something.”

I let my head fall onto the couch backrest. “Fine. But if I freak out or scream, it’s on you.”