Steel Love: Alpha BBW Motorcycle Romance (11 page)

Jack sat up at Ash’s words. Finally his eyes started to clear and he began paying a little more attention to what Ash was saying. “What the fuck? You think that shit-head tried to run you off the road? I thought you said you hadn’t seen him around. You weren’t even sure that he was in town.”

“That’s exactly why I need another set of eyes on this.  I can’t keep my eyes on Maggie and my own back at the same time. I need Prentice. Someone who can hang back and watch from a distance. I know he’s working muscle at the bar right now, but you got three prospects who can take over for him.”

Jack stretched his arms high over his head and let out a loud bear like yawn. “Why not take one of the prospects?”

Ash narrowed his eyes at Jack.  Why was he making this difficult? “Because I know Prentice. I trust Prentice. I need someone familiar on this. Not some little piss ant prospect that doesn’t know me, and better yet I don’t know.”

Jack sighed and let his arms fall back to the cushions. “Yeah ok, take Prentice. Whatever. I’ll put the prospects on the door. Just make sure Maggie is ok. She’s all that matters right now. We gotta do right by Seamus. No one will say we left anyone behind. In the end they will say our loyalty was legendary.”

Ash frowned at Jack’s poetic words. “Who the hell was this guy Jack? I mean I know he was an OG, but who was he to you? This seems more personal than other jobs. Is there something else I should know?”

“All you need to know is that your only job is keeping Maggie alive. That’s it. This club owes Seamus Quirke. And death isn’t remotely enough to break that debt. This is how we fulfill it. Keeping him alive through Maggie. So stop asking so many God Damn questions and TAKE CARE OF IT!” Jack’s voice rose at the end into a yell that would make most men shake. Ash merely cocked an eyebrow at him and turned around calling over his shoulder as he made his way toward the exit. “Whatever you say Jack.”

When he got outside Ash sent a quick text to Prentice letting him know he would be with him tonight, and not on door duty. Ash‘s shoulders relaxed for the first time in days. He hadn’t realized how high they had crawled toward his ears. He needed Prentice with him that’s all there was to it. He couldn’t keep this up on his own.

Ash swung his leg over his bike, knocked it into neutral and backed it out of the spot. After starting the engine he headed toward the diner across the library to settle into his usual seat near the window so he could drink his coffee and watch the library. And fantasize about all the things he wanted to do to Maggie.

Chapter 12

MAGGIE

Maggie finished putting away the last rack of books as the announcement came over the speaker. The library would be closing in ten minutes. She made her way back to the front with the empty book cart, pushed it behind the counter into place with the other carts, and took up her position at one of the computers to begin checking out the guests in line. When the last was finished Maggie walked him to the door to close and lock it behind him.

Beth Lahey walked around the perimeter of the counter straightening the flyers, handouts, and generally cleaning up. For the hundredth time since starting her job at the library Maggie thought about how blessed she was to be here. She couldn’t imagine where she would be right now if it weren’t for her father helping her to get away from Reef, and for Beth helping her to get on her feet after her father passed.

“Are you ok dear?” Beth’s voice disrupted Maggie’s thoughts.

“Yeah, of course Beth, why do you ask?”

“You just had a look. You looked… sad. I wanted to make sure you were ok.” Beth walked over to Maggie and laid a hand on her arm. It was such a motherly gesture it took Maggie by surprise. She’d always suspected that Beth and her father had a thing while her father was alive. Seamus Quirke would never admit it. He never stopped loving her mother, but Maggie assumed it was what encouraged Beth to feel slightly responsible for her now that Maggie’s father was passed.

“Beth, I promise, I’m doing great. I’m actually going out tonight if you can believe it. For the first time in I don’t even remember how long. I’m going with some girls to a bar downtown to listen to music.” Maggie beamed down at Beth trying to put all the excitement she was feeling about the coming night out into her smile.

Beth frowned slightly, but then smiled up at Maggie, “I just want you to know that if you ever need anything at all you can ask me ok? You know that right?”

Maggie’s smile softened at Beth’s words. “Of course, Beth. And I appreciate it. You’ve always been there for me. I can’t tell you how much you mean to me. Your friendship with Dad, and now with me… It means a lot.” Maggie wrapped her arms around Beth in a tight hug.

Beth stepped back from Maggie and turned away quickly wiping the moisture from her eyes and calling out, “OK! Enough of that now. Let’s get this place closed up so you can have your fun night out.”

Maggie laughed and finished helping Beth get everything ready for the next day then headed to the employee area to collect her bag. Beth walked her to the front and waived as she locked the doors behind her.

Maggie made her way to her car and for the first time in months she looked, not for Reef, but for Ash. Sure enough he was there in the parking lot sitting astride his bike waiting for her. Maggie pulled her smile back. She was still annoyed with him from this morning. As she got close Ash pulled his glasses off, looked her directly in the eye, and nodded. She wasn’t sure what to make of that little gesture so she just narrowed her eyes at him while she opened her car door and slipped inside. She wasn’t ready to speak to him yet, but she was more than happy to have his protective presence at her back.

Maggie started the Prius and pulled out of the parking lot to head toward home. Ideas about what she would wear to the bar tonight distracted her from her annoyance with Ash. She wanted to be comfortable, but she also didn’t want to feel out of place. She looked in the rearview mirror at Ash on his bike a few car lengths behind her. There was also Ash to think about. He would be at the bar tonight. Did she want to dress for him?

Jessi said this outing was for girls only. To get out of the house and have a good time without the pressure of men, but Maggie wanted a little pressure from Ash. Even after his bullshit from this morning she couldn’t get him out of her mind the entire day. Sitting with him this morning having coffee had been really nice. It felt
normal
. There was no criticism about the coffee or the toasty-ness of the toast. He just sat with her and chatted and ate breakfast like two normal people.

Maggie pulled into her driveway. She took a moment to collect herself and her bags. She needed to make up her mind about him. She needed to stop waffling about her feelings for Ash and just move forward. Maybe it was too soon after leaving Reef, but this back and forth was going to make her crazy and she didn’t need that on top of everything else she was going through.

Maggie stepped from the car and turned to watch Ash pull in behind her Prius and cut the engine on the bike. As soon as the noise died down Maggie called out to him, “I’m going inside to eat something and change. Do you want to come in? I can make extra, and you can just hang out in the living room while I get ready.”

“Yeah, thanks. I’d like that. All I ate today was that toast this morning.”

Maggie laughed as she made her way to the front door, Ash following behind her. “Yeah that would never be me. I can’t go an entire day without eating. As I’m sure you can tell.” She gestured toward her hips looking over her shoulder at Ash as she slipped the key into the lock. The look he gave her made her eyes widen and her breath quicken.

“The only thing I can tell is the fact that Reef is a fucking idiot.” Ash nearly growled.

“Oh.” Was all Maggie could reply her mouth suddenly dry. She turned away from him before he could see the red creeping up her neck and quickly pushed the front door open. She held the door for Ash as he walked inside then closed and locked it. She felt Ash’s eyes on her as she made her way through the living room checking the windowsills and all her little safeguards. Then dropped her bag on the table in the entryway and gestured for him to follow her into the kitchen.

“I have some raw shrimp that I was planning on sautéing with a little butter and white wine. I was going to eat it with pasta and asparagus on the side. Does that sound ok?”

Ash plopped down in the chair at the table and grinned up at Maggie. “Hell yeah, that sounds awesome. Better than anything I’ve had in a long time. Do you like to cook?”

Maggie laughed at his enthusiasm. “You know, actually, I really do like to cook. It was kind of a surprise for me to realize how much I enjoyed it. Cooking was such a place of contention in my marriage. Well actually everything was a place of contention, but I was always so agonized over cooking in particular. Every meal was accompanied by a litany of criticism from Reef. The calories, the flavor, the ingredients, the tenderness of the meat. Nothing was good enough for him. So when I came back here and took over cooking for Dad and me, well it was kind of shocking to realize I actually did enjoy it.”

Ash smiled at Maggie, “How were you supposed to know what was normal in that situation? Until you get out of it, you can’t possibly know what’s good or right about you or life.”

Maggie raised her eyebrows at Ash, “You sound like you speak from experience.”

Ash looked away from Maggie and toward the window, “Yeah well... My stepfather was abusive toward my mom, until I was old enough to get in the way. And he didn’t stop until I was old enough to give back. I remember when I finally got old enough to get mom outta there. The first night in our new apartment when it was just the two of us was crazy. I remember not being able to sleep because I couldn’t hear his snoring. In the old place that was a sign of peace. Knowing he was passed out and that we wouldn’t have to worry about him for hours. I was shocked to find I couldn’t sleep without the sound of his snoring for a few weeks. I can’t imagine what it was like for mom. My point is that what we were living in was not normal. And when we found something that was supposed to be normal, it was hard to adjust.”

Maggie was shocked by that speech. She’d never thought about it like that. When she took the time to consider his words Maggie found herself close to tears. He was so right. This was normal. Easy conversation was normal. Standing in the kitchen chatting without fear was normal. Maggie turned away from Ash and headed to the sink where the raw shrimp waited to be pealed. She took deep breaths and concentrated on getting her emotions in check. It was a shock to her system having this man who she barely knew, but obviously had a connection with, put her life into such clear and simple terms.

Maggie jumped slightly when she felt Ash walk up beside her. “Can I help you?” His voice was so soft and sweet it took her breath away for a moment. This man, who by all right she should be terrified of, not only put her at perfect peace but he wanted to help her cook dinner.

Maggie looked up at him not hiding the tears sitting at the brim of her eyes. Somehow she knew he would understand. She smiled when she felt one of the tears escape and rush down her cheek. Ash reached out to cup the side of her face, his thumb brushing across her skin to smooth away the tear. Maggie’s breath caught in her throat, stunned by how soft and sweet his hands felt even with all their callouses. Never in her life had she experienced a man treating her with such reverence.

Maggie took a deep breath and broke the spell, “Yes, thanks you can help me peel these shrimp while I get everything else out.”

Ash frowned slightly as if he didn’t quite understand her then his face cleared and he pulled his hand back. “Sure thing. I’ll take care of these while you get the rest.”

They moved on from such heavy topics to speak about easier things. They talked about growing up around here. Where they went to school. Maggie tried to keep her curiosity about Ash’s club in check. It was nice talking to him. She didn’t want him to clam up and she suspected any questions about his club’s business would do just that. When dinner was ready Ash made appreciative noises as he ate. It made Maggie smile to know he was enjoying the meal. Before they knew it the food was gone and they had been sitting at the table just talking for nearly an hour.

When they realized the time Ash stood and began taking the dishes to the sink. When Maggie started to help he stopped her with a look. “Go get dressed. You cooked, I can take care of this. I’ll just wait down in the living room till you’re ready to go.” Maggie was shocked. A man doing dishes? She had surely died and gone to heaven.

“Ok, yeah thank you. I’ll um… I’ll be down in a bit.” Maggie looked over her shoulder at Ash as she walked out of the kitchen. He stood at the sink running the water over the dishes and soaping the sponge. His ass looked really good standing in front of the sink scrubbing pots and pans.

She laughed as she made her way up the stairs to her room. “Now to decide what to wear.” She thought to herself. Something that wasn’t too slutty. She was definitely going for cute, but demure. She wanted her outfit to say, “I have curves, but that doesn’t mean you can touch without my permission.”

Maggie pulled out a black flouncy skirt that hit mid-thigh and a clingy royal blue tank top with a scoop neck. She found her chunky Mary Janes that had a small thick heal. She also pulled out her best bra that just happened to be a very close blue to the color of the top. For underwear Maggie preferred to wear boy shorts. She had a pair of black silk shorts that were loose and made her think of something women would wear at the turn of the century. They had lace along the hem of the legs with little bows and made Maggie feel exceedingly sexy.

After she was dressed she went into the bathroom and pulled her hair down from her bun and let it cascade down her back. She fingered the long strands pulling it out and arranging the curls around her face. She swiped on some mascara, a little lip stain, and some rose oil on her neck. Then she put the rose oil in her hands, rubbed them together and brushed it through her hair.