“He roughed him up, but…” Army’s gaze shot to him. “…you should’ve.”
“Deserved worse, but not something I wanna do in front of a woman.”
She surprised him by saying, “He had it coming, so thanks.”
He took a gulp of beer. “That means I have your permission to beat the shit outta him next time I see him?”
“I got dibs on kickin’ his ass,” Army said.
She laughed. “It’s a moot point. Don’t think either one of you will ever run into him again considering we’re leaving tomorrow.”
“You’re forgetting I’d pay good money for a flight to come here and kick his ass, Allie.”
Trig would do it right then if he could. “I second that.”
She met his stare and smiled softly, a smile that was just for him.
Yeah, he was the luckiest trash on earth.
****
“Allie, why haven’t you packed?” Army asked.
It was morning, and they were scheduled to leave early that afternoon.
Allie poked her head out of the closet, pointed at the boxes in the corner. “What do you call that?”
Army walked toward her. “What about the rest of this stuff?”
Trig agreed. From the look of the three boxes stacked in the corner, she’d barely packed anything. He’d been inside her closet the night before, and it was huge. He couldn’t recall how much she’d packed in there. He’d been focused on the tears streaming down her face and the sadness emanating from her hazel eyes, but he bet she hadn’t packed much of that either.
Allie sighed then headed into the closet. Army followed her. Trig right behind. Once inside, his gaze raked the entirety. As he’d predicted, she barely packed a thing. Her closet, bigger than the trailer he’d lived in growing up, was nearly filled. The right side was lined with shelves small enough for her shoes. At the far end, another series of shelves stacked with purses. To the left were her clothes: dresses, skirts, pants, blouses. In clothes alone, what she planned to leave behind was four times what he owned and probably worth more than his GI bill.
“I have what I need.”
Army’s arm shot out, pointing out the rest of the clothes, shoes, and bags. “What about the rest of this?”
That would’ve been his question.
“I’m donating it. My friend—”
“You should take most of this with you,” Army insisted. “And donate what you don’t want, but come on, you’re gonna tell me you don’t want any of those designer purses, that you don’t want some of those shoes?”
Her shoes. Damn. They were all heels, high as hell and hot. She had them in every color and style, with straps, without, closed-toed, sandal-looking ones, sling-ons. Some even had red bottoms instead of the normal black.
She sighed. “I don’t need them. Where am I going to wear half this stuff in a small town? It’s too fancy.”
He had to agree with her, and yet those fuck-me heels she should take. Any man would appreciate them. On her, they’d hand over their balls.
“It’s a small town, but we got nice restaurants. Not far to the opera and—”
“I hate the opera.”
“You should take the shoes,” Trig said without thought.
Their attention turned to him. Her jaw dropped. Army’s eyes widened.
Shit. Maybe he shouldn’t have blurted that. Too late to back down now. “When you start dating, you’ll want them, and your man will appreciate them.”
Army smirked. “You giving my sister dating advice?”
Shit. Why the fuck had he given her advice on how to turn on another man?
She smiled. “Fine, I’ll take some of the shoes, but I don’t want—”
“Allie, you should take some of the clothes and purses, too,” Army insisted then looked to him.
“Women get tired of wearing the same shit. You should take the clothes and purses, too.”
She chuckled. “And you know this because?”
“Gotta sister and a niece.”
“Fine. You’ve both exasperated me, but I’m not taking the furniture.” She paused, her eyes narrowed on Army. “Ty, I’m serious. Do
not
have it shipped.”
“It’s your stuff.”
She turned away from both of them, grabbing purses from one of the shelves. “No, it’s stuff Dad insisted I buy. I didn’t even get to pick out my bedroom furniture.” Facing them with purses in hand, she finished, “I don’t want it.”
He hoped he didn’t run into her father, ever. He did, he’d have to teach the bastard a lesson, and he didn’t think she’d like that.
Chapter Nine
Her phone rang. Allie dashed out of the bathroom with a towel tightly wrapped around herself and into her brother’s room to pick it up from the bed where she’d dropped it. Looking at the caller ID, she smiled.
She picked it up and brought it to her ear. “Hello.”
“Ms. Holden?”
“Yes, this is she.”
“This is Regina Carter from Merriweather Group Corp. I’ve called to inform you we’ve decided to hire someone more suitable for the job.”
“Oh.” She couldn’t help the disappointment in her voice. This was the third company who’d called to inform her they wouldn’t hire her despite her degrees and three years’ experience at a larger company.
“While your resume is impressive, we’ve decided to go another way.”
She’d been to four interviews the week prior. The interviews had gone well, too well, and she left feeling confident she’d be hired. Friday, she received two calls from two different companies to say the same. She couldn’t understand why, so she asked, “I mean no disrespect, but may I ask the real reason?”
A long moment of silence at the other end. Regina, the human resources manager who’d interviewed her, contemplated whether to tell her. “This stays between us.”
Allie swallowed, a hollow feeling forming in the pit of her stomach. “Yes, of course.”
“We didn’t receive good recommendations from your previous employer. They cited tardiness, missed work days, and the inability to perform at a high standard.”
In an instant, all the love she once felt for her father vanished. He’d done this. To her. Her father hired her out of college, but she started at the very bottom. She’d been hired as an accountant’s assistant, although she was a certified public accountant, and she worked her butt off, days, nights, and weekends to make it to the top, to gain his approval, and to gain the approval of her co-workers.
“I understand you worked for your father’s company, Ms. Holden. It came to my attention, via the news media, you left recently. It wouldn’t be farfetched to presume there is some family issue between the two of you. Because I figured as much, I spoke to several employees. Because of the comments they made, my hands are tied. I cannot hire you regardless of your experience.”
Her father was a bigger asshole than she’d thought. It was one thing to make false claims about her work ethic to suit his motives, another completely to force his employees to do it. She should’ve expected it. Her father would do anything and everything to get his way. More than anything, he wanted her to return to New York and marry a man who hurt her. All to give his company publicity and make more money.
“I understand. Thank you for your honesty.” She hung up then slumped on the bed and ran her fingers through her wet hair, wondering what the hell she should do now. She had to find a job, the sooner the better. Unused to being inactive, she was antsy. Perhaps, though, it was a blessing in disguise. With her father bad mouthing her skills, she’d be forced to look for a job outside the accounting profession she never liked. Though she didn’t know who’d hire her without experience.
She sighed heavily, then dressed, intent on heading downstairs to make dinner. Tyler told her she didn’t have to cook for him, but she did. A little she could do to help he wouldn’t fight her on. Not to mention, without a job, it gave her something to do.
As she headed past the living room, she scanned the area. She always did. She wouldn’t admit it aloud, but she was looking for Jace.
Since they’d returned from New York, she hadn’t seen him once. As ludicrous as it sounded, it made her think he was avoiding her. She didn’t know why she felt that way, but she did. She’d hoped after he willingly comforted her something had changed between them. Maybe it was just her wanting to get along with the angry biker who wanted nothing to do with her. Maybe it was the inexplicable magnetic attraction she felt. Maybe it was all of the above.
“Hey, Classy.”
She turned, spotted Dash behind her, and smiled. “Hey, Dash.”
He wore his cut, a leather vest with the club’s insignia on it. Tyler recently explained what a cut was. According to Ty, they all had one and wore them. Besides that, they all had tattoos with the insignia, a set of angel wings in flames with a skull in the middle. Under it read, Hell Ryders.
Dash usually wore his cut without an undershirt, revealing not only his tatted arms, but several other tats on his chest, including the club’s insignia. “You makin’ dinner tonight?”
“I am.”
He rubbed his stomach. “Mind makin’ me some?”
She crossed her arms over her chest. “Getting tired of take-out?”
He smiled. “Nothin’ like a home-cooked meal.”
She caught sight of Cuss moving toward her. The first thing she noticed, as usual, were his eyes. Right then, it wasn’t just the sapphire color, but the mischief she read in them. “You cookin’ again?”
“That was the plan.”
He grinned, turning on the charm. “Classy, I’ll give you a ride on my bike if you make me some extra.”
She laughed.
“She won’t be riding on anyone’s bike.” Tyler’s voice boomed.
Turning, she spotted him at the end of the hall taking long-legged strides toward them. “It’s okay, Ty. I hadn’t planned on taking him up on his offer, and before you say it, I don’t mind cooking for a house full of bikers.” She faced Cuss and Dash, smiling. “But I’ll warn you, once I find a job, you’ll have to find someone else to make you home-cooked meals.”
Cuss lifted a brow. “How’s that comin’ along?”
“Um, well…unfortunately, I haven’t had any luck.”
“I know the daycare center off of Main Street’s hiring. Don’t know if that’s your thing.” Cuss shrugged.
Her eyes widened. “Really?”
“Yeah, know one of the girls there. I can talk to her if you want.”
It would be a great opportunity. She’d probably love it too. She always wanted to teach and work with kids, but she didn’t have experience. “I don’t have experience.”
“You gotta record?”
She shook her head. “No.”
“Think you’re good then.”
She smiled. She couldn’t believe her luck. Moments ago, she’d been worried about a job. Now, not only was there a chance she’d get a job, but that job would be something she would enjoy. “If you talk to your friend, I’ll make you dinner every night for a week,” she promised.
“I’d do it for free, Classy, but I’ll take you up on that offer ’cause you’re a good cook, and I like home-cooked meals.”
Smiling widely, she wrapped her arms around his waist, hugging him tight. He hesitated, but she didn’t care. She was a hugger, her way of expressing gratitude. “Thank you. Thank you. Thank you,” she whispered.
He patted her back awkwardly. “Don’t start cryin’ on me.”
She drew away from the embrace. “I’ll hold my tears, promise.”
Grinning, he pulled his phone out of his back pocket, then made the call.
****
Allie in another man’s arms, in his brother’s arms. Lucky fucking bastard.
First time he sees her in days, and she’s hugging Cuss like he just handed her the world. Cuss patted her back like an idiot because he was too stupid to realize he held the world in his arms.
Damn Cuss. There was something about the brother every woman loved. He couldn’t figure it out, but apparently Allie wasn’t immune.
She never hugged him, and he’d roughed up her ex. He’d held
her
when she cried and tried to comfort her.
Worse, her brother, Army, was standing there chuckling like it was hilarious, like Cuss was worth her.
And lucky Trig, he witnessed it. It hurt worse than the burning ache he felt every time he looked at her and remembered she’d never be his.
Trig needed to get the hell out of there before he did something he’d regret, like beat up Cuss or Army or both. He turned toward the wall, punched his fist through it, and walked away.
Chapter Ten
Mia took a sip of her drink. Her gaze narrowed on a brunette wearing a leather mini-skirt crop top, and clear stripper heels. The ensemble left little to the imagination. “She comes near my man again, and I’m going to slap the shit out of her.”
Allie had only endured one Friday night at the compound before, but she’d began to refer to them as Friday Night Fiascos. A full house, everyone drinking, shooting pool, watching TV, listening to music, and trying to get lucky with the numerous half-dressed women strolling around.
Mia, Lynn, and she sat toward the back of the living room at the bar lined with stools.
Taking a pull of beer, Allie smiled, then turned her stool slightly to get a good look at the woman Mia referred to.
“Sweetie, didn’t you see he wasn’t interested,” Lynn asked.
“Don’t care if he’s interested or not. I don’t want her near him,” Mia sniped.
Allie grabbed some chips and popped them in her mouth with the intention of hiding her smile.
Mia and Lynn were two old ladies part of Hell Ryders MC. Mia, a petite brunette with curves and spunk, often called “firecracker,” had been part of the club for five years. Three of those, she’d been married to Stone. He barely spoke, barely moved unless he had to get Mia out of trouble, or so Allie heard. Lynn, a sweet blonde with pretty green eyes and a soft smile, recently married Wild, who never let her out of his sight.
A week and a half ago, Allie met them. She’d been in the kitchen, keeping her promise to make Cuss dinner, when they’d entered and introduced themselves. Since then, they’d become fast friends. Both women had taken her under their wing, invited her to the mall, dinners, movies, and so on. She confided in them, telling them her brother had the tendency to get up in the middle of the night, leave, and not return for hours. She’d never asked him why, primarily because she didn’t want to butt into his life. He was almost thirty. Mia and Lynn told her it was club business and not to bother asking. He wouldn’t tell.