Chapter Seven
Amelia
I watch Gage swagger out of the diner without even trying to kiss me or grab my hand or anything that I half expected. I can’t believe he remembered his threat to take me out this afternoon and still wants to go through with it, even after I walked out on him.
A low hum of conversation stirs, and it hits me that the whole place went silent for the entire time Gage was here. Not that I’m surprised. Mama Coco’s isn’t known for attracting smoking hot bad boys. Add the fact he’s also a member of the Bastards and I’m only amazed all the regulars didn’t flee in terror.
Poor Colin. I’ll have to go and calm him down and promise Gage won’t make a habit of sauntering into his beloved little empire.
He’s in the kitchen, chugging down a black coffee. “Amy.” He takes my hand, and I smother a sigh. I’ve been working here for almost three years, and he’s very protective of all the staff. “Are you in trouble, honey?”
“No, I’m fine.” Although, why does he immediately think I’m in trouble? Gage was almost perfectly behaved just now. “He’s the boss of the bar I just started work in, and wanted to, um, straighten out a few details.”
“Is that safe? Did you see what he was wearing, Amy? He belongs to one of those motorcycle gangs.” He says the word in a horrified whisper, and I bite the inside of my mouth so I don’t giggle.
He has no idea of the life I led up until I was thirteen, when Mom had to change our name so the Wolves wouldn’t track us down. The fact Gage wears colors doesn’t faze me. It’s only his allegiance that does. Well, that and his blood connection to Axel Reynolds. That’s enough to sober me up, and I give Colin a reassuring pat on the arm.
“It’s okay. I can handle myself. And don’t worry, he won’t cause any trouble here.”
…
After my shift ends, I squeeze into the tiny bathroom and replace my uniform with my skinny jeans and a sweater. They’re not exactly great, but I didn’t dress this morning with a date in mind.
I groan at my reflection and dig out my makeup to touch up my face. This is hardly a date, no matter what Gage decided to call it. He’ll do anything to get inside my panties, and I can’t afford to forget that.
What the hell are you playing at, Amy?
Am I going back to work for him? I’ve already told Rex I’m not going through with our plan. So it’s not like I’d go back to Odin’s with a secret agenda or anything.
What about Gage’s dad? For ten years I’ve hated him, the faceless Bastard who killed my dad for no other reason than the fact he was a Silver Wolf. I’ll never forget the night Mom told me what had happened. Even though there are things I want to ask her about it, like why the Bastards killed him in cold blood, I never will. She’d fall apart if she had to relive that night.
I screw my eyes shut and grasp my mascara as if it’s a magic wand that has all the answers.
I’m not expecting a big romance with Gage. Nothing’s ever going to come of this crazy, wild attraction, but it’s been so long since I’ve met anyone who could turn me on with hardly a glance.
Make that never.
It’s addictive. I can’t stop thinking about him. It doesn’t matter how often I remind myself who he is, all I can remember is how mind-fuckingly amazing he made me feel in the kitchen.
I won’t sleep with him, because there’s too much unspoken history between us. But maybe we can flirt. He seems up for it, which is surprising, but it’s probably a novelty for him. It’s not like he won’t be getting sex whenever he wants it elsewhere. Just not from me.
And with Christmas less than three weeks away, I need the money. I’ll go back to Odin’s until I find another job, and I’m not making excuses. I’ll start applying right away. Well, tomorrow.
I grip the edge of the sink and take a deep breath. It’s only temporary. Deep down I know I shouldn’t go back. That I should end this right now, before it goes any further.
Except I can’t.
…
Gage
I’ve no idea where to take a chick on a date. When I hook up, that’s all it is. Sex. Where the fuck am I going to take Amelia? If we were going out tonight, I could take her to a club, but where do we go in the middle of the afternoon? I guess I could ask Zach, since he’s gone all domestic since meeting Grace, but I’m not sure the grief he’d give me is worth it.
Tod ambles into the kitchen, and I shove my cell back into my pocket. Not that he’d be able to see I was surfing the net searching for clues on first dates. I scowl at him, but he doesn’t notice as he reaches for the coffee.
“Need to find another girl if Amelia isn’t coming back,” he says, as he scratches his balls through his baggy jocks. When I first took over Odin’s, I didn’t care about having to share the apartment with my cousin, but he’s such a fucking slob, and after five years of living together, it’s getting on my nerves.
I grunt in reply, since instead of persuading Amelia to come back to work, I’ve still no idea whether she is or not.
“Fuck, she was hot.” He takes a swallow of black coffee and misses the glare I shoot him. “You should’ve seen what she wore to her interview. Tits to fucking die for.”
If Tod wasn’t family I swear I would’ve buried him in the backyard years ago. “Shut the fuck up about Amelia.”
He leers at me from across the kitchen. “Saw you couldn’t take your eyes off her. Is that why she quit?”
“You want me to break your nose again or what?”
His grin vanishes. “Hey, I’m just messing with you. I didn’t know you and her were…whatever. It’s all cool, cuz.”
It’s not fucking cool because I just lost my shit over a chick. And Tod’s giving me a speculative look, as though he thinks something’s going on. Since when do I care what other guys say about a girl I want?
Since Amelia walked into Odin’s.
…
I park just down the street from the diner so I can see when Amelia leaves, but not so close that the owner thinks I’m casing the joint. I get off my bike and don’t miss the way people cross the road in order to avoid me, as though they think I’m going to cut them down if we make eye contact.
It doesn’t bother me. I’m used to the looks, but I’m not used to hanging around quiet streets with no bar or dealer in sight. The diner seems to be the local magnet for families, although the old guy across the road, wearing a coat that’s flapping around his ankles, looks as out of place as me.
My gaze sharpens on him. Is he the same guy I saw earlier today after I left Amelia? As I take a step toward him, he vanishes down a side street, almost like he knew I was watching him.
“Hey.”
I swing around and see Amelia standing there smiling at me. She’s fucking gorgeous. What was I thinking when I told her I’d keep my hands to myself until she changed her mind?
“You ready?” I might’ve shot myself in the balls with my insane promise, but at least she’ll wrap her body around me when we get on the bike.
“Sure.” She runs the tip of her finger along my handlebars, and there’s no mistaking the awe on her face as she checks out the Harley. “Where’re we going?”
“Wait and see.” I hope to hell no one else I know sees where I take her.
“Okay.” She looks like she’s trying not to laugh again, as though she knows how hard this is for me. “Your bike or my car?”
I scoff. “I’m not getting in your car.”
She slings her purse across her shoulders, takes my spare helmet, and waits until I’m back on the bike before she swings her leg over. It’s like she’s done this a thousand times before, and disappointment stabs through me when she clutches the grab rail behind her instead of me.
It doesn’t take long to get there. She pulls off the helmet, shakes her head, and gives me a disbelieving look. “We’re going to the movies?”
“Yeah.” Fuck, I thought she’d be impressed, especially since it’s some chick-flick shit. I stroll inside as though I’m used to doing this stuff, even though I don’t remember the last time I even went to the movies. I download everything I want to watch. Who doesn’t?
“Are you sure you want to do this?” She’s on her toes, leaning toward me but not quite touching. “I thought you’d take me to a bar or something.”
I frown. “You want to go to a bar?” I sure as hell do. Just shows how much I suck at this whole dating thing.
It’s not a date…
Yes, it fucking is.
“No, of course not.” She presses her palm against my bicep to keep her balance, but I’ll take it. “This is awesome. I was going to see this movie with my sisters next week.”
“Huh.” So, she has sisters. Not sure why I think that’s important, but I file it away.
“Do you want me to get popcorn and drinks?”
I can’t help it and glance around, just double-checking that I don’t recognize anyone. If this ever gets back to my brothers, my life won’t be worth living. “I’ll get it.”
“No you won’t. I pay my own way, remember?” She gives me a challenging grin before sauntering off to the counter.
We sit in the back row, and as far as I know that’s for one reason only. The place is half empty, and it’d be too easy to slide my hand under her sweater and play with her gorgeous tits. My dick stirs, and I grit my teeth. It can’t be good that I have a permanent hard-on whenever she’s near me.
I watch her from the corner of my eye as she digs into her popcorn. The lights dim, and it’s real hard not to sling my arm around her shoulders, but I have the weird feeling she expects me to—just to prove that I can’t keep my word.
She’s only a chick, and the only time my word is everything is when it comes to my brothers. If Amelia wasn’t interested, she wouldn’t be here with me now. We can spend the next ninety minutes making out like a couple of horny teens, and I won’t think any less of myself for breaking my word.
Or I can be a fucking martyr and call her bluff.
When the movie starts, she wriggles in her seat and rests her arm next to mine on the armrest. Is she doing it on purpose? We’re barely touching but it’s like an electric charge zaps through my body.
This is going to be the longest ninety minutes of my life.
…
When we finally leave the movies it’s late afternoon and dark, which is a relief. Not that I’d expect to see any of my brothers hanging around, but I guess I’m paranoid. As we reach the bike, Amelia bumps her shoulder against my arm.
“You didn’t fall asleep. I’m impressed.”
I shrug. “I’ve seen worse.” No way will I admit the movie wasn’t nearly as bad as I thought it was going to be. It’s still way too early to take her to a club, but I’m in no hurry to let her go, even if she isn’t going to put out at the end of the night. Guess we could get something to eat.
Before I can figure out whether I’m ready to ask her that, because movies and eating out in one evening is kind of full-on, she takes the helmet and hugs it, like it’s a shield.
“Well, thanks for inviting me. Can you take me back to my car now?”
What the fuck? Is that it?
“Sure.” I’m pissed off and don’t know why. I’ve had some shit ideas in the past, but taking Amelia out has got to be one of the worst. If this is dating, then they can keep it and I’ll stick to my easy no-need-to-think-about-it hookups.
“Only, I need to get home and freshen up before my shift starts at Odin’s.” She pauses for a couple of seconds, as if she’s letting that sink in. Christ, I’ll never understand how chicks’ minds work. “That’s if the offer’s still open?”