“Okay, you’re going to have to tell me what’s wrong or I’ll beat it out of you…” Britney said over the top of her magazine as the two girls sat opposite each other at the kitchen table the following afternoon.

Jenny looked up at her and shrugged and it made Britney give an exaggerated eye roll.

“Seriously?” Britney pouted. “That’s all you’ve got? Come on, I know you came home early from work last night, you slammed the door so loud you woke me up! And you left here all dolled up and have sulked since the second you set foot out of bed this morning.”

Jenny sighed and stretched.

“I don’t know,” she said. “I feel all strange.”

“Strange?” Britney eyeballed her. “As in queasy? Like you’re going to throw up all over the place? Or strange, as in sad?”

“I don’t even know,” Jenny said. “I just feel really… restless.”

Britney scowled at her and went back to reading her magazine and the snub made Jenny huff and get to her feet. She walked over to the sink and set her used plates down inside it and looked out across their back yard.

“Another lovely day,” she whispered, almost to herself. And it brought back memories of her dream. Of the sun, and the sand, and of the luscious palm trees blowing in the breeze. Which then led her to think about Diesel.

Shit, she thought. Don’t think about him…

When she had gotten home from the club, she had felt angry and slammed the front door in frustration and then marched up the stairs, kicking open her bedroom door and flopping down on the bed and screaming silently into her pillow.

She knew what was happening, but she didn’t want to admit it.

She had discovered something she wanted. She had found a man worthy of her body. She had found the one she wanted to lose it to. And now she couldn’t get him out of her mind. She had tossed and turned all night thinking of how different Diesel seemed to anyone she had ever met before. Even for a biker, he clearly had hidden depths and a kind soul. He had stepped in when she had needed saving, and he had flirted shamelessly with her later on in the evening and it had felt good.

Too good.

Because now, Jenny was afraid that she was hooked. And all she could think about was bumping into him again, but she felt as if she may explode if that moment wasn’t right then and there.

She wanted to talk to him, to learn more about him. She wanted to look into his eyes and feel his presence right there next to her.

It was a crush, but one like she had never experienced before. It was one that was threatening to dominate her entire life. And she couldn’t bear to ignore it and pretend that she didn’t feel this way.

She turned back around and looked at Britney sitting there at the table with her feet up high and crossed over at the ankles. It had been a long while since they had been out together to party, and maybe, if she could convince Britney to go to The Bleeding Bullet with her, then she would stand more of a chance of bumping into Diesel before it was too late and he had forgotten all about her.

She instantly hated herself for thinking that.

How pathetic… she scolded herself. If he forgot you that fast then he wouldn’t be worth it anyway. You’re not going looking for him. Just carry on with your life and if he’s meant to find you, then he will. 

She nodded to herself in agreement and then turned and went back out of the room and toward the front door. It may have been early in the day but already, all she could think about was her next shift at work and the fact that she was yearning to shine even more.

“I’m heading out,” she called back to Britney.

“Okay doll,” Britney replied. “Where are you heading?”

“Retail therapy,” she said. “It’s the only solution.”

Before Britney had the chance to invade her escape, she opened the door and made a run for it, racing down the driveway to her car and opening up the driver’s door.

“Sorry Brit,” she whispered to herself as she started the engine and pulled out onto the road. “But sometimes a girl just needs some time alone.”

She backed down the street and reversed onto the long road that would take her into the center of Slate Springs. It wasn’t exactly the fashion capital of the world, but for now, it would have to do.

Main Street was as bustling as ever and she was lucky to find a parking space. As she finally stopped outside one of the smaller grocery stores, she turned off the engine and rested back in her seat. The whole inside of her body felt electric with excitement.

She climbed out of the car and began to walk up and down, looking into all of the store windows and debating whether she could seriously bring herself to go inside.

Usually, when it came to buying clothes, Britney and Jenny would travel out of town to one of the malls further along the highway and on the outskirts of one of the bigger towns. Iron Hill was the closest, but after she had learned of the animosity between her bosses and the bike gang from the town, she had decided to stay away just in case anyone recognized her from working at Tanners.

Since all that had happened, she hadn’t bought herself anything new and even though she had hidden her secret wardrobe away, still complete with tags, she felt the need to treat herself to something extra special.

“But I very much doubt you’re going to find anything special here.” She half laughed to herself as she looked around Main Street. Recently, it felt as if the town was dying. Stores had been closing and even though a few new businesses had opened up in their place, it still didn’t feel great. It was as if something was looming. Something threatening to everyone in the whole of Slate Springs.

“Hey, Jen,” a friendly voice came from behind her and she turned to see Joe, the owner of the diner, walking toward her.

“Hi, Joe.” She smiled in return and quickly debated reporting Arlene for her rude behavior the previous day.

Jeez, you really are in a bad mood, she thought to herself. You’re even considering trying to get some poor woman fired. Maybe it’s time you just pulled yourself together.

Joe waved again and ducked into the bank, and as she walked on and became even more lost in her thoughts, she was completely oblivious to the man who had exited one of the stores behind her and was now walking in the same direction, following hot on her heels.

It wasn’t until she was in a full trance and he swatted his hands down on her shoulders so hard that it sent her spinning around with a scream that she knew anything about him following her. She sucked in as much air as she could, her whole body shaking as she confronted the person who had startled her.

It would have been a fright enough even if it hadn’t been him…  And when she saw his face light up, she couldn’t help but punch him on the shoulder.

His rock hard shoulder…

“Diesel!” she whined as she held her hand to her chest and breathed in and out quickly. “What the hell?”

“Your face!” He laughed as he wrapped an arm around her shoulder and started to apologize profusely. “I know, I’m a jerk, but I couldn’t resist it.”

“You scared me half to death,” she said angrily.

But she couldn’t have been less angry even if she had tried. She was face to face again with the man who had plagued her thoughts since the moment she had laid eyes on him. And he looked better than ever.

His dark hair was slicked back and looked wet, as if he hadn’t long been out of the shower, and his muscles heaved underneath his t-shirt. It was impossible not to look at him and his chest. He was so muscular it was as if he had been sculpted by a master. Jenny found herself gulping and scratching her neck nervously. Unable to bring herself to meet his eyes again in case she fell deep into his soul and could never find her way back out.

“What you up to?” he asked as he looked down at her with his brooding good looks and intense stare.

“Nothing really…” she stammered. “I’m, I’m just, well, I was going to go shopping, but… I mean, there’s nothing really here, so…”

She felt her face flame up red with embarrassment. What the hell had she even just said? Was she rambling?

“What are you talking about?” he laughed. “There’s loads of places around here… I mean look, there’s a bait shop even though we don’t have any lakes or rivers for hundreds of miles around…” He raised his eyebrows and Jenny laughed, feeling herself relax. “And I mean, check out over there, what more could a girl want…”

Jenny followed his gaze to over her shoulder and saw the battered old hardware store looking as if it was about to collapse to the ground.

She laughed and shook her head.

What she wanted to tell him was yes, she really could do with some hardware… Some big tools… Some screws….

Stop it, Jenny!

“Well, I mean, obviously you’re right,” she winked. “It looks thrilling.”

Diesel laughed and leaned back against the wall. She noticed then that he was carrying a bag and his skin was almost dewy as if he had worked up a real sweat.

“Have you been in the gym?” she asked as she looked up and realized that they were standing outside of it.

“Yeah,” he said. “After last night’s drama, I felt the needed to take out some frustration.”

Oh God, take it out on me…

Jenny wished she could have said it, but she knew she would never have the nerve. Plus, it clearly wasn’t appropriate when he was mentioning the tension back at Tanners.

“I don’t know what’s happening with you guys, but I hope everything is all right…” she offered instead with a friendly smile.

He nodded and looked down at the ground. The silence began to grow between them and she felt nervous and stupid all of a sudden. Almost like he could feel how much she wanted him but she wouldn’t break her composure. She wouldn’t act any more of an idiot.

“Well, umm…” She went to say that she better get going, but before she could finish, he interjected.

“Let’s grab a beer,” he said.

Jenny found herself fidgeting nervously and she smiled coyly like a school girl as she stared up at him. Wondering what he saw when he looked back at her. Did he see a woman of experience? Or an innocent girl hungry to find out? She could only hope he would like a mixture of both.

“Today is too good to spend indoors,” he said when she didn’t immediately answer. “Unless you already have plans, that is?”

Jenny felt her heart alight in her chest and she had to fight to keep the smile from her face. She waited a moment as if she were considering it and then she nodded her head slowly and casually as if it was nothing.

“Yeah sure,” she said. “Like I say, I very much doubt I’m going to find much excitement in these stores.”

He smiled at her and raised his eyebrows.

“I think you could find a lot of excitement around this town, if only you opened your mind to it,” he said gruffly and with a wicked flash across his eyes.

Jenny’s heart beat hard in her chest and she felt all the blood rush from her head. She was dizzy and almost euphoric. If he asked her a question in that moment, she would have no idea how she would even be able to answer. Her mind and mouth were no longer connected. She was a jabbering wreck.

“Come on then,” he said as he slung his sports bag over his huge shoulder and nodded in the direction of the very center of town.

Jenny looked down at the ground and followed him, almost unable to believe that it was actually happening. She had gone from keeping herself locked away and hidden in the shadows, to opening her mind and heart to the possibility of love. And now that it was coming for her, it was almost too good to be true.

She looked up at him and he was already staring down at her with a smile.

“You’re nervous,” he said.

She felt her mouth sag a little and she tried to fluster her way through an explanation but all she managed to say was…

“No, erm… I.”

“Yes you are,” he smiled wryly. “You’re acting terrified. I’m not that scary, trust me.”

She felt her face flush crimson.

“Sorry,” she said almost in a whisper. “I hope you realize I don’t think you’re scary…” She had to add a half laugh.

He shrugged his shoulders and kept his face straight but Jenny could tell he was on the verge of laughing himself.

“I never would have put you down for the type to work over at Tanners,” he said, breaking the awkward silence. “That place gets pretty out of control and you seem so quiet and fragile.”

“Fragile?” she asked him with a disbelieving snort. “Seriously?”

“Timid as a mouse,” he winked. “Look at you, you’re practically shaking.”

She looked down at her hands and saw that she was twisting them around each other uncomfortably and she stopped before she did it again.

“Okay, you got me,” she admitted, holding up her palms. “I am nervous. But only because you’ve taken me by surprise. A girl likes a bit of time to prepare for impromptu day time drinking.”

Diesel threw his head back and laughed so loud it sounded like a roar.

“That’s more like it,” he said with a wide smile. “I was starting to think I’d have to make an excuse and bail on you mid drink.”

Jen shot him an angry stare and slapped him on the shoulder again and he winked at her before he pointed to an open door that was coming up ahead. The place looked all blacked out and hidden away from the rest of the street; even though it was right there, it was the kind of shop front you could easily miss with no real signs to say what it was.

“You been into Faith’s yet?” he asked her.

“Faith’s?” Jen squinted, trying to see what the place was, but nothing from the outside gave it away.

“Yeah, it’s new,” he said. “And to be honest, it may not be around a whole lot longer anyhow. We lease her the building and we may have to sell it.”

“What is it?” she asked.

“A bar, hidden away from view but rather nice if you like jazz and sophisticated drinks.”

“You like jazz and sophisticated drinks?” Jenny asked him with a raised eyebrow.

And then it was Diesel’s turn to hold up his hands in defeat.

“Okay, you got me,” he said, mimicking her. “I was just trying to impress you.”

“Well, I guess now we’re even,” she grinned.

“Yeah, no more nerves and no more fake pretenses.” He held out his hand and Jenny slipped hers into it and they shook for the second time. When she felt how big and strong he was all over again, it made a tingle run right up her spine into the very core of her.

Oh God, what he could do with those hands…

“Come on,” she said, finding her nerve and pulling herself together. “Let’s just go to the crappy old bar on the end of Main Street. I’m sure they have a yard out the back we could sit in, seeing as you’ve lured me here with the promise of some sun.”

Diesel threw his head back and laugh.

“Okay deal,” he said. “But I’m buying.”

Jenny wasn’t going to argue with that one. She had no idea what he was thinking, but to her, this felt an awful lot like a date. Even if it was just spur of the moment.

It was strange, even though they had only met each other the previous evening, there was something very familiar about Diesel. It was as if he had been around her for a long, long time. Every moment they spent together felt as if she was recovering a memory. As if he was so familiar to her it was insane to comprehend that she had never met him before. Inside her purse her cell phone suddenly trilled and she reached inside and turned it off. Guilt was beginning to rise in her, but she knew that it would only be Britney wondering where she had gone to and if she could join her. And for the first time in forever, Jenny was going to go with her gut instinct and just roll along with her day with Diesel.

For once, she was going to put herself first.

As they approached the old bar, Jenny felt a small sense of dread. She couldn’t remember the last time she had been anywhere near the place, and it looked like no one else had either. The windows out the front were half broken and half boarded, but the door was open and the stench of stale booze drifted out from deep within.

“You sure?” Diesel asked with a grin. “No turning back once we’re in there.”

Jenny just gritted her teeth and nodded her head. It had been her suggestion, she couldn’t wuss out on him now.

They walked inside and the darkness was welcomed because the place sure did look terrible. She could practically feel the dirt and grime running down the walls, and she was sure her feet were sticking to the threadbare carpet that couldn’t have been replaced in well over thirty years.

“Diesel!” The old man with missing teeth behind the counter smiled as they approached. “Been a while.”

Diesel held out his hand and shook with the old man’s before he nodded to the back door and caught Jenny’s eye.

“Want to find us some seats out the back?” he asked and Jenny nodded quickly before making her way toward the small flash of sunlight blaring in from outside.

She had never been more relieved in her life to get out of somewhere, and that made her feel terrible. What had she been thinking to suggest this place? It was like something out of a horror movie! The terrible décor that was from somewhere back in the seventies, the old man with missing teeth… the dirt and the stags’ heads on the walls. It wasn’t her usual watering hole, that was for sure, but at least she was with someone she trusted.

If they got into any trouble there, she was pretty sure Diesel would be more than capable of protecting them both.

She looked around the small courtyard that was actually really pleasant considering the building it was attached to. It was almost like the owner had forgotten about the inside and concentrated solely on the outside. The courtyard had been maintained and had several tables dotted around underneath multicolored parasols, and a small fountain bubbled and splashed away along one of the walls. The tiles underfoot were cracked but they were still kind of beautiful, and as Jenny chose the corner table with the most sun shining down on it, she looked up and saw Diesel walking toward her through the back doors.

He was holding two bottles of beer and he looked so goddam good with his hair falling down around his eyes and his big arms bursting free that she had to physically stop herself from letting her jaw fall down to the floor.

“Here you go,” he said as he set the bottle down on the table and took the seat next to her. “Not so bad out here then, considering…” He laughed.

“Tell me about it.” She smiled. “Who’s the old guy?” She sipped her drink and watched him do the same. The movement in his throat was heavy and powerful, just like him, and she felt herself fall even further.

“He’s been around this town for as long as I care to remember,” Diesel replied with a hint of nostalgia. “Just an old timer trying to get by. He’s harmless. But I really do wish he’d sort this place out.”

He looked around again and grimaced.

“I don’t really know why I suggested here,” she admitted.

“Hey, I don’t mind, this is all good with me,” he said. “But you’ve got to admit he’s let it all go to waste.”

Jenny nodded. She couldn’t agree more.

They both looked at each other for a moment as if they were waiting for the other to speak and then Jenny cracked a smile first and took another sip of her drink.

“I thought you promised you weren’t going to be nervous anymore?” he asked with a twinkle in his eye.

“I’m doing my best,” she said. “But you’re kind of intimidating.”

He sat up tall and straight and let a smile play around on his lips before he nodded and shrugged.

“Comes with the territory, I suppose.” He laughed.

Jenny watched him out of the corner of her eye with fascination. Where had he even come from? She had lived in Slate Springs her whole life and they had never crossed paths. And then, suddenly, there he was, a big fireball of sexiness right there in front of her, demanding her attention.

“Anyway,” he said, “I want to know more about you… Jennifer…” He said it testing the water and she instantly shook her head.

“Never Jennifer,” she said sternly. “Jenny yes, preferably Jen… But never, ever Jennifer.”

“Oh, serious,” he grinned. “Bad memories?”

“Something like that,” she said. “More like when I’m used to getting my ass ripped by mom.”

Diesel threw his head back and laughed. “Yeah, I can see that.”

“So, why Diesel?” she asked curiously. “Not your average name.”

“Well, obviously it’s a nickname,” he said as he sat his bottle down on the table, almost fully empty. “When I swore into the Forsaken Riders, I gave up a lot. My past life was part of that, I wanted to start again and I didn’t want to be known by the name my goddam parents had given me.” He said it almost with a sneer. “So the boys gave me a new life. They christened me Diesel on account of the fact that before I joined them I lived my life out on the road. I used to be up and down these highways driving my truck. But I craved the fresh air and the freedom. Trucking was never fully going to be for me.”

“Wow!” She smiled. “I never would have put you down as a trucker either.”

“Well, I’m not anymore,” he said. “That life is long gone.”

He looked deep into her eyes and held her there in a trance. He was fascinating and completely different. All of the boys she had ever met were weak and flakey with no idea what they ever wanted out of life, but Diesel was most certainly a man. He knew what he wanted and he clearly went out and took it. Maybe that was why he frightened her so much. He clearly wasn’t afraid to take the lead. It was such a turn on she felt her legs tighten together and she had to look away. She just hoped to god she wasn’t blushing.

“I can’t call you Diesel,” she said finally as she took another swig of her drink. “But what about D?”

He rolled his eyes and laughed before he slapped his hand down on the table and shook his finger.

“You’re a piece of work.” He laughed. “I like it. You can call me whatever you want, babe.”

He winked at her and Jenny licked her bottom lip.

What was he doing to her? It was so raw and carnal, she was barely able to keep her hands off him.

“D it is then.” She grinned and slipped her hair behind her ear.

He drained the rest of his bottle and looked on at her longingly.

“I almost didn’t go to that fucking meeting last night,” he said as he reached out and took hold of her hand. “But I’m glad I did.”

Jenny’s heart beat wildly in her chest and she swallowed hard. He was gripping her hand and looking deeply into her eyes and she wanted to say something back. She wanted to tell him that she felt exactly the same. That she was more than glad he had walked in when he had and come and saved her from the crowd of moronic bikers. But no words would form. She was mute and he was drinking her in. Watching her, committing her face to memory so he could take it away and store it just like she had tried to do with him. 

“I have to go,” he said sadly as he trailed a finger down the side of her cheek.

“I hope you’re not pretending you have somewhere to be.” She winked, referring to their earlier conversation.

“I think you know that definitely isn’t the case.” He smiled.

And she had to admit she really did know that. She believed him entirely. She could feel his sincerity.

“Well, thank you for asking me to come along,” she said.

“No, thank you,” he said. “Before I ran into you I was just going to head home and spend all day caught up in all the goddam mess we have going on with the club.”

Jenny felt nervous again, as if she should really ask him what was happening with it all, but she had the feeling that maybe he thought she already knew. She nodded slowly but kept her face blank and emotionless, if he wanted to tell her then he could, but she would never pry.

“You working tonight?” he asked as he got to his feet and pulled her up to meet him.

“Yes,” she smiled, “I went home early last night though because I wasn’t feeling too good. So if it isn’t breaking your brotherly code too much, maybe don’t mention to Bull I was drinking here with you today…” She clenched her teeth and smiled sweetly.

“Your secret is safe with me.” He winked. “But only because it’s you. Any of the other girls and I’d be turning them in straight away.”

Jenny laughed.

“Come on,” he said as he led the way. “Let’s get out of this dump. Next time, I’ll take you somewhere fancier, I swear.”

Jenny’s heart skipped another beat.

Next time…