Riley

Arriving at the clubhouse sometime later, Gunner has me stay in the front room while he goes looking for Jasper. Moving behind the empty bar in the corner, I grab a glass and the spray gun for soft drinks.

“Oh! Just give me a minute.” A woman shouts out from across the room. A blond woman I’ve seen in here before, a Girlie I think. She crosses the room with a large container of ice. “It comes out warm, so you’ll want this!”

“Oh, thanks.” I’m not really sure what the etiquette is with the Girlies. “I’m kind of a diet coke addict.”

“I hear you, I’m down to two a day and that took a while!” Her eyes widen as she turns to smile at me and sees my cut. “Hey, that looks real good on you. Riley, right?”

“Yes, I’m sorry, I don’t know your name?” She dumps the ice in the well behind the bar, scooping some into a glass for me. “Thanks again.”

“I’m Betsy, been a Girlie a couple years now. I usually get breakfast for the guys and straighten the place up during the day. You ever need anything, just ask.” She smiles shyly at me. “I help the Ol’ Ladies coordinate parties they want to hold here also. Bree’s wedding will be here in a couple months.”

“Wow! I guess I didn’t think of the clubhouse that way.” I respond, thinking of Betsy in a slightly different light than how I considered the Girlies’ to be originally. I sit down, and fiddle with my cell as Betsy prepares the bar.

Probie soon comes out with more buckets of ice, “Riley! How are you doing? You alright now?”

Betsy’s head spins around, surprised at the question; so I guess she doesn’t know about my kidnapping. “Hi, I’m doing better. Thank you for helping the other day.”

“I didn’t do much. I felt bad I couldn’t say anything when you came to the gate, and then…” He looks quickly to Betsy, and back to me, “Well, what happened later, I am real sorry. Anything I can ever help you two out with, I’m your man.”

“Club Business. I get it.” I may not like it, but… “Hey, I’m sorry, I don’t even know your name.”

“Sorry, it’s Mick.” He wipes his hand on his jeans before reaching out to shake my extended hand. “Don’t have a road name yet. Gunner in back?” He asks, I just nod; leaving him to stand there looking between Betsy and I. He finally goes for more ice.

“Betsy?”

“Yeah, Riley?”

“Any reason Probie looked so nervous seeing us together?” I keep eye contact with her.

She shrugs, “Look, you know I hook up with them. I definitely have my favorites around here; Gunner was not on that list, he just doesn’t do it for me.” She shrugs again, almost apologetically. “He figured that out pretty quick and didn’t push it. He’s better than some when it comes to stuff like that.”

Speaking of the Devil, Frank walks in with some of his buddies. “Well, this is a motherfucking fine sight to see!” He bellows, “Betsy, why don’t you bring that fine ass over here and keep us company?”

Seeing Betsy tense up and hoping I’m not making things worse, I pipe up; “We’re talking just now, cool your jets.”

I’m not sure who’s more surprised, Betsy or Frank. Frank takes a step towards me but one of his friends grabs his arm; my ‘Property of’ cut is right in their faces.

As he’s dragged off to a corner, she leans over, “Thanks for that, but now can we make it look like we’re really having a heart to heart?”

One of his friends comes over, nodding to me, he orders a whiskey bottle and glasses from Betsy. “Hey, I’m Shade, heard about you.” He nods to me. “Where’s your Ol’ Man?”

“Right here,” Comes Gunner’s rough voice from the hallway. “Shade, Betsy, all good here?”

“All good, Gunner,” Betsy’s quickly replies. Having set up a tray for Shade, she slides it towards him while reaching over to refill my glass. Gunner orders a Jack as he crosses over to me.

Grinning at me, he leans into my ear as if to whisper. Instead, he lightly licks the outer shell before nibbling my earlobe. “Miss me?”

I wrap my arms around him and he slides in between my legs while leaning up against the bar. “I may have gotten Betsy in trouble with Frank, can we stay a little bit?” I whisper back. Shade has already headed over to his table and Betsy comes over.

“Betsy, I’m sorry. Did I make things worse?” I quickly ask.

“Nah, he’ll get drunk and forget about it. Diamond or one of his regulars will be around soon. I have to stay on the bar anyway. Thanks though.”

“Betsy, I may need some help keeping this one out of trouble around here. You up for it?” Gunner growls, while smiling at me.

“Ha, seems like she likes her trouble big and grouchy! I’m not sure she’ll need it but happy to keep an eye out for her.” Betsy winks at me before moving away, pretending to be busy.

“She seems nice,” I say shyly.

“She’s pretty decent.” He takes a sip of his drink. “You two talked a bit I take it?”

“Just a little.” I smile back at him, “Don’t worry, Gunner; just you and me now.”

He kisses the top of my head, “That’s right, Sweetheart.”

“Especially since I got my period right before we left home,” I sass back, Gunner chokes on his drink. I see Betsy suppressing a smile as she reaches for a rag.

“Yeah?” He grunts, still clearing his throat. I nod at him. “Someday, Sweetheart,” He says, rubbing my back.

“Are you disappointed?” I quickly ask him, surprised.

Betsy pours him another round, causing him to wait until we’re alone again.

“I never thought about it before, and I want you to finish school, work, and live a bit; cause we both know our lives will change after a child.” He pauses and looks at me so lovingly. “But thinking of you, full with my child? See you holding our child? That IS something I want, Sweetheart.”