Star
The roar of the bike punched through the gentle quiet of Main Street as Tanner pulled up at the park. Star smirked a little to herself as she checked the time on her phone. Even though she'd only known Tanner for the space of one conversation, she could say one thing about him: he was punctual. It was exactly noon.
She'd been up half the night, worried out of her mind that this was all a sham, and that the sexy biker had been pulling her leg. The other half, she'd been fretting about this not being a sham, and how she would handle the fallout of her decisions. Now, she sat there on the park bench, weighing all her choices.
One thing she knew, though: it wasn't an option to just leave her life the way it was. What kind of existence was moving from low-rent apartment to low-rent apartment, having no one other than her friend Patricia to rely on, and working awful temp jobs where old businessmen just leered at her body while she got them coffee? No reliable man in her life. No husband. No children. Did she want that till she died? If so, what was the point?
Star chewed on her lip as she watched him approach, as she traced her eyes down and around his strong, goateed jaw, over his slicked-back, wavy hair, and across his broad chest and massive arms. He looked even better out here, in the warm light of day, than he had in the dingy, poorly lit Old Crow.
She could feel herself getting excited as she thought about what it would be like if she signed this deal, if she climbed into bed with him. The feel of his flesh pressed against hers.
She bet he'd fuck her like a real man, too. Not like any of those prissy, unstable flings she'd had.
“You still in?” Tanner asked as he, wearing his MC vest and tight jeans just like the day before, came stomping through the neatly trimmed grass and planted himself right next to her. He had a big manilla envelope in one hand, and he slapped it down on the bench next to him.
Star shivered a little at his proximity, at the smell of exhaust and musky manliness that seemed to roll off him. “I don't know. I mean, how do I know it'll be worth my time?”
He stretched out an arm and put it across the back of the bench like he owned the place, and her. “Believe me,” he said as he glanced down at her, “it'll be worth your time. I brought the paperwork from Pops' estate, if you want to look at it. That way, you know I'm not just making crazy promises.”
She glanced over at the envelope, then back to him. “I probably should look over it.”
He picked up the papers and handed them over to her. “Be my guest.”
She opened the bundle up and looked inside. She immediately saw a bunch of legal documents. She pulled them out and set the empty envelope across her lap, then started to read. Sure enough, it looked like he was telling the truth. There were lots of different assets, and lots of zeroes on their financial assessment.
Geez. Was he really worth this much money?
She mulled over the decision, didn't say anything for a bit. She worried away at her lower lip. Now, with him so close, it seemed so real. She could tell just from the way he handled himself that the “old-fashioned way” would be fun. But, something inside her recognized the danger. I mean, a guy like this, he'd probably been with tons of girls. But, in the end, why her? She put the papers back in the envelope and handed it to him.
“Come on,” Tanner said, clearly just jabbing at her a little. “I've got shit to do. You in? Or out?”
“Why me?” she asked.
“Why not you?” he asked. “You're good looking, you seem smart. Even better, you're not some trashy whore. I'd be fine with you raising my kid.”
“Funny,” she said. “You want a woman you can pay to have your child, but you want one that's not a whore. The irony is strong with this one.”
“Yeah,” he said, looking around again. “I know.”
“Are you clean?”
“Do I look like a fucking moron?” he asked sharply, as his head snapped around and his eyes found hers.
“I'm still withholding judgment on that one,” she replied, smiling.
In return, he seemed to just barely allow himself a little smile. “Yes,” he said, accentuating the word. “I'm clean. Any other questions?”
With the way they were sitting on the park bench, his lips were just inches from hers. She could just lean forward and . . .
Her eyes flickered from his eyes, down to his full, delicious mouth. “Do we have to kiss?” she asked.
His eyes followed suit, but his glance down lasted longer than hers. “Why not? I've always figured work should be a little fun.”
She smiled, bit her lip again. “Okay,” she said with a nod. “I'm in. But only because I need the money.”
“Sure it's not because of my winning personality?” he asked, smirking.
She didn't respond.
“Didn't think so. I'll pick you up tomorrow night, alright?”
“Tomorrow,” she agreed, before giving him her address.
Finished with their meeting, he got up from the park bench and went to his bike. She kept her eyes on him the whole time, taking in the way he moved, the way he seemed to stalk across the grass like a predator. One part of her already regretted her decision, but another was conjuring butterflies to flutter in her stomach. It had been so long since she'd just been allowed to have fun, to cut loose.
Maybe, with this she could let things go for a little while, even while she solved her problems and gave her life some new direction.
Besides, it'd be good to get laid. Even a prim and proper priss like herself needed a good fucking every once in a while. And, as she watched the rugged, handsome biker pull out to roar away on his bike, she knew Tanner was the man to do it.