Raw: The Ultimate Mc Collection (89 page)

“Are you okay? I'm beginning to think you like head injuries.”

“I don't. I promise.” I said, as I laid my hand over his, our mutual pain making me feel close to him once again. “I'm beginning to think just being in your presence is going to kill me.”

“That's an awful thought. Don't say that. I think you're just clumsy. It's okay, you don't have to admit it.” He chuckled in my ear, and as the pain began to fade, I realized just how close he was, and my hands began shaking again. I was thankful I was sitting down this time.

“I'm as graceful as a ballerina, I don't know what you're talking about.” I said, opening my eyes and looking into his very close eyes.

I sighed as we silently stared at each other, reconnecting in an instant. It felt like forever since I had felt him near me, and I was so thirsty for it. I didn't care about anything that happened, any anger I had just disappeared and all I wanted was to be close to him and be in his life. So he wasn't like regular guys, fine. I could adapt to his lifestyle.

I just had to prove it to him.

“How can I help you, River?”

His hand caressed my cheek as he smiled at me warmly.

“You already have, sweetheart.” My heart fluttered in my chest as I leaned into him. “But there is one other thing you can do for me. As long as you promise to do your best to avoid hitting your head while you do it.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Turns out, it was easy as pie.

The Outlaws had suspected they were being followed for weeks. Their clubhouse was impenetrable, but suspicious things had been happening at club member's homes. So River believed the members were being followed to their homes and other places in town they were doing business. Thinking someone might try to break into one of their houses to plant something or to hurt one of them or their family members, they wanted to prevent something like that from happening before anyone got hurt.

My job would be to watch and follow club members and see if anyone else was following them.

Hilariously, it was like a dream come true. It was so odd, but River, and Colby - who joined us in our meeting later - had insisted over and over that I was the perfect person for the job. Nobody would ever think I would have anything to do with the club and I could blend into the scenery like I was camouflaged.

I wasn't sure if I should be offended by them saying I was virtually invisible or take it as a compliment. I choose to believe it was a good thing, instead of dwelling on it.

The only instructions they gave me were to not follow either of them under any circumstances. They were very adamant about that, insisting that if they were being followed, they would know it and would handle it themselves. It was the rest of the club they were worried about.

That took the wind out of my sails a little, but I was still intrigued. So, I agreed.

They weren't sure if it was a rival gang or the cops that were following them, but they promised me that I would never be in danger. I would just discretely watch the comings and goings of the members of the club, and see if anyone else was as interested in them as well. If I saw something, or someone, I would simply take some pictures with the digital camera they gave me and return the pictures to the two of them at a safe distance. I was to tell nobody what I was doing, and if someone got suspicious, I was to explain that I was trying my hand at photography and leave. The club members would know I was following them, and if I needed some protection, they were to look out for me at all costs.

I had been doing this for years, so I knew it would come naturally to me. And being able to spend time with River was a bonus. I was surprisingly not apprehensive about it at all, in fact, I was excited to have something fun to do.

After our meeting at the shop that night, River and Colby had left together, citing club business and leaving me alone with my thoughts. They had given me instructions to start tomorrow night, and on the days I didn't have any appointments, I would work during the day. They wanted to make sure it didn't interfere with my new business, which was thoughtful of them. The three of us had exchanged cell phone numbers to keep in touch.

When they mentioned compensation, I refused. I already had two hundred dollar bills tacked to my fridge at home, and I didn't want any more of their money. I was trying to let go of the opinion that River thought I was hooker. I still didn't understand why he would do such a thing as leave me money like that, but I was dropping it. Colby had overpaid for his shave, and that was easy to chalk up to a large tip, but the thing with River still rubbed me the wrong way. The last thing I wanted was to take money from him.

“I'll do it for free. Just give me permission to write about it if anything interesting happens.”

“Well, maybe, as long as you put one of those 'this is a work of fiction' disclaimers if you ever publish it.”

“I don't publish anything. It's all strictly for my own writing entertainment.”

I blushed when I remembered the night I had first followed River, the view I had outside of his bedroom window. They both looked at each other and chuckled knowingly.

“Uh huh. Writing for entertainment. Whatever you wanna call it, Dixie. You let us know if you decide you want some cash for helping us out, but either way, we sure appreciate it, darlin'.” Colby left with those parting words, leaving River and I staring at each other awkwardly again.

“I'll meet you outside, boss,” he said to River as he left.

“How's your head?” River asked, staring gently into my eyes.

“It's okay. Thanks. How's yours?” I smiled at him, embarrassed that I had hurt him this time in my clumsiness.

“I'm fine. Seems you just might be contagious. Maybe we both need to wear helmets around each other?” His laughter echoed through the room, filling the space between us with warmth.

“I hope not!” I replied, laughing along with him.

He was simply irresistible and it took all of my power not to lock the door, throw him on the couch and devour him all night long.

As if reading my mind, he closed the distance between us and kissed me gently, pulling back slowly and caressing my cheek again.

“I have to go. I wish I didn't. Let's talk tomorrow night, okay?”

“Sure.”

“Thank you,” he said seriously, his gaze lingering on my face before he walked away and closed the door, leaving the bells jingling in his wake.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

After another sleepless night, I started my morning with the strongest coffee I could swallow. I was exhausted, and my mind had been racing all night with thoughts of how I could best help River and Colby. I didn't know why, but I had such a strong urge to stay on their good side, now that they had come to me for help.

I had every reason to be mad at them, but after last night, I was beginning to think perhaps I had just misunderstood somehow. I had decided to give River the benefit of the doubt and move on. When he looked at me with those damned sexy eyes and caressed my cheek like a long lost lover, it made it a whole lot easier to let go of any anger I had towards him.

Sure, I could talk to him and ask him about the money and the two blondes, but I didn't really feel like I had any right to ask about the Barbie doll's making dinner in his house, especially considering I wasn't supposed to be there. That would just make him mad at me again. That was the last thing I wanted.

So, I choose soft kisses and gentle words from the leather clad stud that had obviously been created to spread around handsomeness and joyful sex appeal. It was much more pleasant than being mad at him.

I didn't know what the future held, but I was willing to help him out and take the ride, even if all I got to enjoy was the scenery along the way.

Today I had three appointments, and I was closing up shop at five o'clock. Then, my work for the boys would begin. I had the camera ready and loaded with a fresh memory card, snacks in my car in case I got hungry during my surveillance, a notepad and a pen in case I needed to take notes, my cellphone was fully charged, and I was wearing comfortable clothes and sensible sneakers. I had brought a big hat and a pair of sunglasses, in case I needed to be incognito for some reason also.

River called me in the middle of the day to check in, giving me details on when and where to watch the first club member. Chief had been complaining about having weird feelings of being watched, or not feeling alone and comfortable in his house, but every time he went to look around his property, he never found anything or anyone. He lived a few miles outside of town, in a secluded house surrounded by trees, not unlike River's house, he mentioned. Chief was going to go home as usual at five-thirty, and they wanted me to follow him and keep an eye on his house and report back if I saw anything.

Easy, and probably very boring.

The day wrapped up, and as I closed up shop for the day, my stomach filled with butterflies. It all did sound boring, but I supposed anything could happen. If there really was someone following them, I had to make sure they didn't see me seeing them. I was determined to do a good job and keep my focus.

I filled a thermos with much needed fresh coffee before I got in my car and pulled up into a closer parking space to the clubhouse. Right on time, Chief roared out of the clubhouse parking lot on his bike, the vibrations shaking the windows of the clubhouse as he drove down the street.

I pulled into the street a few cars behind him and after a short jaunt on the freeway, he exited and I followed him at a fair distance. So far, I hadn't seen anyone else following him, and no other cars exited with us. I slowed down as he turned off into a driveway on the left, one of only three houses in sight off a country road.

There wasn't much around besides trees, road, and the few structures that made up the houses and garages. I slowly drove past Chief's house, taking in the terrain as I did. After driving about a half mile past his house, I turned around and drove past again, looking for a place I could park my car and be hidden to some degree.

I found the perfect spot between a few trees directly across the street from his house. A small trail led into the trees, dead-ending where the forest became more dense. Quietly backing my car into it, I turned off my headlights, and my ignition, removed my seat belt and settled down low into my seat.

Once Chief had disappeared inside, I detected no movement around his house. His property was well-lit and I had a partial view through the trees up and down the street. The sun was beginning to set behind me and after turning on my camera and phone and placing them both on the seat beside me, I poured myself a cup of coffee.

As I slowly sipped the sweetened concoction, I continuously scanned the space around Chief's house. It was quiet and calm, and I saw nothing unusual at all. Various lights came on throughout Chief's house as the hours passed, and I imagined what he might be doing in there. Was he alone? Did he have a wife? I didn't know, and I hadn't thought to seek more information from River when he told me that I would be following Chief. He said Chief knew I was there, and that was it.

About two hours had passed when the front door opened, and Chief walked out with a big plastic bag. Strolling to the garbage can on the side of the house, he opened it and placed the bag inside. His gaze trailed around his property, until he focused on my car. With a quick nod, he turned and walked back inside.

I took my notepad and began to write.

“7:52 p.m. - Chief takes out garbage.”

If this was exciting as this was going to get, I was not going to enjoy it. I was quickly coming to the conclusion that this was nothing like my own adventures. I tried to pick people to follow that had already caught my interest in some way. Chief may lead an exciting life as a MC member, but his home life was seriously lacking in excitement.

I yawned and opened a box of crackers I had packed, munching on them and drinking my coffee as I listened to the car radio. Classic rock poured into the car as I continued to watch, hoping something exciting would happen. Another hour passed, and I realized I wasn't exactly sure how long I was supposed to sit here and wait. Did River expect me to stay here all night?

If so, I probably didn't bring enough coffee to keep myself awake.

Unfortunately, I had drank enough coffee to over-fill my bladder and I needed to find a place to pee and fast. Groaning, and holding it as long as I could, I finally gave in and flung open my car door. I stumbled into the woods behind my car, wishing I had remembered to bring the flashlight, and some toilet paper. Neither of which had dawned on me, of course, until I needed them and didn't have them. So much for being prepared.