Chapter One
Dana
“Glad to have you back, Dana!” My brother, Mitch, excitedly raised his mug of beer and clinked with mine. Coming home after being away for a few years to rejoin the only family I have, I found everything in Lowtown comforting and smallish. Yet, I’m glad to be back, if only for my brother. He had sacrificed so much for my sake--I finished college despite the death of our old folks all thanks to him. And now, I’ve come back to my roots, hoping for the best.
“Hey look, a table has opened up,” I noticed out loud, gesturing over to the pool tables. We both grabbed our drinks and went that way.
“I got pretty good in college, Mitch, so watch out,” I told him playfully. We had always competed when it came to games, especially pool. Of course, he was six-feet-three to my five-feet-three, so shorter legs were a detriment in most sports or games for me. He racked up the balls and I chalked a cue stick, looking around. A few women were eyeing my brother. His shaggy brown hair and chiseled features were a good draw for the local girls. I saw my reflection and smiled slightly. I hadn’t turned out too bad either, I thought, blowing the dust off the tip of the cue. I had shaggy blond hair and my mother’s figure. Large breasts encased in a black tank top and a Kardashian-style ass looked good in jean shorts, cut-offs. I was getting looks from the guys in the bar. I tugged my top down a little to keep my flat stomach from showing too much.
“You’re up, Dana, go ahead and break,” Mitch said and I did. It scattered good and a solid went in the corner pocket. I grinned and got two more in before missing an easy one. I wrinkled my nose in disappointment.
“I was hoping to run the table on ya, Mitch,” I told him as he walked around the table, looking over his possibilities. He glanced at me with a smile.
“Not this time,” he said and walked around the table again, slowly. He did like to take his time, I thought, and glanced around the place once more. Rocky’s Pub and Grill was an old establishment with plenty of locals and local flavor. It really was nice to be home, I told myself. I caught the eye of a strong-looking man at the bar. He had black hair and a black goatee. Dangerously handsome. His shirt was half-unbuttoned, showing how his chest muscles were as enticing as the rest of him. He winked. I smiled before getting back to the game. My brother made two good shots and blew his third. My turn!
Mitch won the game by one shot and I was determined to win a re-match when his phone rang. He pulled it out, checked it and sighed. I knew that sigh and gestured him to go ahead. I set up the table for another round, since no one was waiting for it. After chalking my cue again, I glanced over at the bar and saw the big guy on the other side smiling at me again. It was my turn to wink before turning back to the table. A little flirting never hurt, I thought. My brother was nodding as he said something into his phone and then hung up. I knew what was coming.
“Look, Dana, something has come up. I don’t want to…” he began and I shook my head. He was as fanatical about the Wild Wolves brotherhood as he was about keeping me safe.
“Don’t worry, Mitch,” I said. “If you have things to take care of, go ahead. I am a short walk from home and will have no problems.”
“Are you sure?” My brother looked so worried and conflicted about having to leave me. I hugged him, grateful for him, as always.
“I love you, Mitch. I know your brotherhood kept you going when Mom and Dad passed and I was at school. Go do what you have to. I’ll play a few rounds and drink a few more beers before heading home. It’s all good.” I meant it. He hugged me back, nodding. Mitch grabbed his jacket off the chair and left. I ordered another beer and began shooting the balls into the pockets. I saw a beer being set down and turned, surprised it was the handsome guy from the bar.
“Hey, I told the barmaid I would handle it. Need someone to shoot against?” he asked with a deep, melodious voice that was both warm and inviting. He was only a few inches taller than me, so I didn’t have to look that far up.
“Are you any good?”
“Pretty good. You?” He asked as he picked a cue from the rack.
“Not bad. What’s your name, stranger?” I asked humorously.
“Jake Handleman. And you are?”
“Dana Kilgore. Nice to meet you, Jake Handleman. I will be the judge of if you are good.” I gestured him to rack ‘em up. When our eyes met I felt something, some unspeakable attraction. It made me blush. The night just got interesting. Welcome home to me, I thought with a gulp of my beer.
By the third game it was getting late and I was getting drunk. I waved off a fourth, and he grinned.
“What, no re-match, Dana?” Jake asked. He was down two games to one. I returned his grin, enjoying the sparkle of his green eyes in the low bar light.
“Not tonight. It is my first night back in town and I should be getting home. But I do look forward to beating you again at the next opportunity,” I said and he laughed.
“We’ll see. How are ya getting home, girl?” He was leaning against the table next to me.
“I’m gonna take a walk. I don’t live far,” I said. We were almost touching arms and the sheer masculinity he exuded was adding to my buzz.
“Let me escort you home. I need to walk off some of this beer before I take off, anyway,” he said. “Not to mention it is the gentlemanly thing to do.” That made me chuckle.
“Not to mention if anything happens to me, you will never get a re-match,” I said and he laughed.
“That, too. Lead the way, fair lady,” he said and I laughed. I could tell he meant the gallantry thing and it was working. It kind of turned me on. Most guys will heap loads of praise on me, but didn’t really mean it. We both got our coats off the hooks by the door and I tucked mine under my arm. The night was chilly, but not enough to warrant putting on the denim. He obviously felt the same way and held his jacket over his shoulder.
“So, you grew up in town and then went off to get some higher learning?” He asked. We had made small talk while playing pool and hadn’t got too deep into it. I had been distracted by the muscles on him and how it all went well with his boyish smile.
“Yeah, I decided to get it done. Now my mathematics degree may help me get a job at the local tax accountant,” I said. “What do you do for a living?” We were walking down Main Street when I accidentally touched his hand and thought, wow, that hand seemed strong.
“I didn’t go to college. Hell, I dropped out of high school when I was sixteen. Now though, I work at Harrisons Furniture over on Fifth Street. All handmade and local wood. Good stuff.” He smiled.
“I’ll keep that in mind. You like working with your hands?” I asked to keep him talking. I loved the sound of his voice.
“I do, among other things. I can put it on auto pilot and go. The time passes quickly and it’s fun. What more could I ask for?” He squeezed my hand gently. I felt a tingle in my stomach and leaned against him briefly as we walked. He put his arm around me.
“Sounds like a good gig. I am hoping to land one. I just want something that will take care of bills so I can live my life. I don’t want to have to live for work, I would rather work so I can live, ya know?” I said. I realized my buzz was showing. I only got philosophical after a few strong beers.
“I completely agree,” he said. I was about to say something when a reedy voice interrupted us.
“Hey, baby, wanna spend some time with real men?” Three rough-looking guys emerged from the shadows of the porch of an old house on First Street. Jake stared at the men, his moves careful, guarded.
“You boys want to back off now. It won’t go down nice if you keep moving this way,” Jake’s voice had a hard edge, which seemed to have the intended effect—two of the three looked nervous as Jake handed me his jacket. I stepped back. I could take care of myself, but I had watched my brother get in fights and knew getting out of the way was the smartest thing to do right then.
“Why stay with this little guy when you can have three men show you what having fun is really like?” The tallest and apparent ringleader said, ignoring Jake. That was his first mistake. Jake moved as if in reflex, and the tall guy did not even notice it until it was too late. Jake’s fist struck in a blur. The man’s head snapped back and he fell over. The other two rushed forward, but Jake proved to be too fast and too agile for any of them. Jake quickly hit one with an arm bar that knocked him on his ass, while the other hesitated a touch too long and got a fist to the jaw. The ringleader got to his feet and rushed forward, his second mistake. Jake caught the guy in the chest with a solid kick, sending the tall man staggering back and gasping for breath while his buddies got to their feet next to him. The smaller one pointed a trembling hand towards me.
“The guy’s a Flaming Dragon!” All three men stiffened and Jake chuckled.
“That’s right, boys. Now crawl back into wherever hole you came from and don’t be bothering this lady, or any lady, in Lowtown again, got me? If I hear any of you causing any more trouble…” his voice trailed off and the three guys were shaking their heads vigorously. The leader said nothing as they hurried up the steps to their house and the door shut behind them. Jake turned to me grinning.
“Now my chance for a re-match is insured, huh?” It took a second to realize what he said and then I laughed.
“Oh, you will get your re-match, Jake. After standing up for my honor, it’s the least I can do for you.” A beat, then I asked, “So you’re a Flaming Dragon?” It was a rival club to my brother’s Wild Wolves. I had no idea how the three thugs knew it, though. He held up his jacket and only then did I notice the patches and cut. No shit, Sherlock, I thought.
“Yeah. Do bikers bother you?” He put his arm around me as we continued our walk.
“No, I have known a few.” I wasn’t sure how to tell him we may have a problem. I didn’t want to, to be honest. I really liked him and wanted to spend time with him, but his cub affiliations might present a problem I didn’t want.
“That’s good. I am enjoying just walking with you tonight. I can’t wait to find out what sitting with you is like, or other things…” He trailed off with a friendly grin and I had to return it. I was feeling the same way, despite my knowledge of his affiliations. I gestured to where my house was and we kept walking.
“My parents left this house to us when they passed away two years ago,” I said as we stood outside my place. “I stay here, while my brother has another place he prefers.”
“Sorry about your parents. So, your brother gave up your home. Is it because of sibling rivalry, or is he living with a partner or something?”
“Neither. He is a Wild Wolf and prefers the MC and being close to his brothers. I get that, and get the house most days,” I said and saw the surprise on his face.
“Ah, shit. That big guy you were playing pool with before I came over, that was your brother? I thought he looked familiar.”
“Yeah, Mitch Kilgore. He got called away for something or another. This isn’t going to cause some problems, is it, Jake?”
“Not for me, darlin’. For the clubs? Probably. I have decided I don’t give a shit about that. I wanna get to know you better. What do you think?”
I let out a long sigh. I knew it would piss off my brother, but it made me happy to hear Jake say those words. “Not for me either. I am kind of a coward though, so could we keep it on the downlow until I find the right time to say something to Mitch about it?”
He nodded. “You’re not a coward, girl. I feel the same way and am not one, either. Is it okay if we try to get to know each other even without the beer and pool?”
“That is exactly what I want,” I began. “I think we are going to get along just fine without the beer and—” His kiss stopped my words. He wrapped me in his strong arms and held me tightly. My head swam in myriad emotions. I felt protected, cared for, and lusted after, which was what I was feeling, too.
When finally, the kiss broke and he took a step back, he muttered, “Do you know Windy Park?”
I nodded, confused as to why we stopped kissing.
“Good. How about we have lunch there tomorrow? I can pick you up here at noon.” It was then when I realized this biker was being a gentleman! He knew I was drunk and was making sure there would be no doubts the first time we went past kissing. Damn it! A handsome, strong, protective guy, and he doesn’t rush into things! What was the world coming to?.
“Sounds good, Jake. I will make some sandwiches and a side if you want. I am a good cook, by the way. Even better than my pool playing.”
“I will be the judge of that,” he winked, then leaned down for another kiss. “I will see you tomorrow, Dana!” He made an almost theatrical bow before he turned and walked away. I went up to the porch and turned to watch him walk down the street. His gait exuded strength, or a solid physique. He walked like a man who was not afraid of anything. He stopped at the corner and turned back. I went in before I could do anything stupid. I needed a shot of something strong and a cold shower. Damn. A gentleman biker? Maybe I needed two shots and a bath.