Chapter 13: Chapter 13

“Run your new girlfriend off so soon?”

Country had just emerged from his room, freshly showered and ready for a night of fun, when the question was thrown at him. Looking up, he saw Repo headed his way, those disturbing blue eyes laser focused on him.

“Country has a new girlfriend? Why am I always the last to hear about these things?” Taco said as he rounded the corner to join them.

“Taco, shut the fuck up,” Country said with a light chuckle. He shrugged his cut on over his bulky shoulders, feeling the leather hug tight around his armpits. If he didn’t cut back on the protein or at least cut back on the workouts, he was going to be shopping for a new wardrobe.

He’d rather burn himself with lit cigarettes than spend any length of time in a department store.

“You of all people know I don’t have any use for a girlfriend,” Tucker reminded his VP. Repo might have been scary, but lately he’d been catching glimpses of a well-hidden soft underbelly whenever he got around a certain redheaded bartender, and Tucker wasn’t feeling all that moved to run in the other direction when he saw him anymore. “You on the other hand…”

“My love life, or lack thereof, has no place in your vocabulary.”

The warning in his voice was clear as glass. There were a lot of things he could say, but Tucker didn’t figure he should push his luck. He might not be afraid of him, per se, but he still had a healthy respect for the man and what he could do.

“Ditto, my man.”

Repo jerked a nod in his general direction, turned to Taco who was occupying the space to his right, and with just a look, Taco backed off completely, giving the brother all the space he wanted. As he walked away, Tucker thought, yeah, he’d built himself a solid reputation as a man who wasn’t to be screwed around with. It didn’t hurt that he looked like the love child of Mr. Freeze and Santa Claus. People weren’t sure whether to sit on his lap or run away, but if they crossed him, they learned real fast.

“I don’t care how many years he’s sat at the table, I don’t think I’ll ever get used to that man.”

Tucker grunted his agreement. Taco was just saying what everyone else was thinking. None of them wanted to find themselves opposite the man in a dark alley, but they were more than happy to ride and fight alongside him.

Heading out into the main room, Taco fell into step with Tucker.

“So, are you partying tonight, or are you heading out to…party?” he asked, his gaze running over Tucker meaningfully.

So what he’d cleaned up? It wasn’t as if he never took a shower or anything—he may have gone a tad heavy on the cologne, though. “What are you gettin’ at?” Leaning an elbow on the bar’s counter, he lifted a finger when Ginger looked his way, letting her know he wanted a beer.

“I’m not getting at nothin’,” Taco said, his pitch a little too high for it to be nothing. “Just wondering if you might be seeing that little fil’ you brought back last night?”

Tucker gave him a deadpanned stare in return. “That ‘little fil’ you’re talkin’ about was a one-time deal. Tonight I’m looking for fresh meat.”

“Then you’re in luck.” A hand clapped Tucker’s back, making him lurch forward. “We got all kinds of fresh meat coming in tonight with the Northwest charter, and I hear they’re lookin’ to have some fun.”

“Blake, you dick,” Tucker cursed, rubbing the sore spot on his shoulder. “If those meat hooks you call hands leave a bruise…”

“What are you gonna do, tell your momma on me?” Blake taunted, his smile stretching ear to ear.

“I might! She’d tan your hide somethin’ fierce.”

“Ah quit your bellyaching, ya big baby, before you embarrass yourself.”

“Speaking of embarrassed. Does Gabby know you’re here, what with all the ladies coming in?” Tucker asked. “I’d hate to see what she’d do if she caught you red-handed with your hand down some bunny’s pants.”

“One, that would not happen. Gabby is the only woman whose pants I’ll be puttin’ my hands down, and two,” he said, getting all shifty-eyed, “I need to take off.”

He knew what that look was about. Every man under that roof who had an old lady had used it more than once. Tucker and Taco burst into laughter, the kind that started deep in the belly. “Oh, shit, you are so pussy whipped!”

“Dude, seriously!” Taco held up his hand and Tucker high-fived it.

Blake glared at them. “Fuck you both, seriously. There’s nothin’ wrong with wanting to be in a committed relationship.”

“I don’t know,” Tucker teased, “seems kind of boring to me. One pussy for the rest of your life? Count me out.” Except Talia’s face rose up in his memory banks and for some reason, he got a little pang of…something—guilt? Longing?—in the pit of his stomach. But that couldn’t be right. She wasn’t anything special, and she was long gone.

“Hey, don’t knock it till you try it. There’s something to be said about having a woman who loves you to come home to at night.”

Taco’s expression began to fall. “That would be kind of nice, actually.”

“Dude, not you too?”

“What? It would be nice, and isn’t that what life is all about anyway, finding the one person out there who was made for you, so you’re not alone? Tell me that doesn’t sound good.”

Ginger finally made it over with his beer and Tucker snatched it up like it was a lifeline. “Thanks, momma.” He gulped some down, then addressed his brothers as honestly as he could. “Look, while I respect the sanctity of marriage and relationships and all that, it’s just not for me. I like my freedom too much to ever get tied down to any one woman.”

Blake’s lips curved up into a knowing smile. “You say that now, but mark my words, one day a woman is going to come along and change your mind, and I’m going to be right there beside you laughing in your face.”

Smirking, he said, “Keep dreamin’, brother.” Falling in love was one thing Tucker knew for certain was never going to happen.

“Yo, Country! There’s somebunny at the door askin’ for ya!”

Laughter rippled around the room. Puzzled as to who it could be, Tucker swiveled around and stood. Aside from a few curious faces, everyone had already gone back to whatever they’d been doing as he crossed the floor to answer the door.

Outside, the air was humid and stale, making his clothes cling to his skin immediately. Nice night for a party? Yeah, right. If the unseasonable heat didn’t let up by nightfall, he was staying inside and taking full advantage of the AC.

The brilliant rays of sun temporarily obscured his vision as he stepped out and closed the door behind him, sealing in the frosty air…but that didn’t last long.

“Um, hey. Hi.” The somebunny waved awkwardly, looking as if she’d rather be anywhere but standing on his doorstep.

“Talia, what are you doing here?” The last person he’d expected to see was her. Sure, he’d had plenty of women try for a second or even third chance at rounding bases with him, but she didn’t seem the type to give chase. After she’d refused his offer of a ride, he’d taken her to be that rare gem who knew how to avoid overstaying her welcome.

Maybe he’d been wrong.

“I uh…” Her cheeks flushed, and her gaze darted away as if she was uncomfortable. Funny, because she was an open book last night. He’d had a lot of fun figuring out just where and how she liked it best to bring her trembling into climax. Now, she was acting cagey, nothing like the confident woman who’d picked him up at the bar, and he was curious to know why. “I forgot…I lost my earring. It was my, uh, mom’s. I was wondering if you’ve seen it? Maybe in the bathroom or…”

Tucker studied her with a critical eye as she trailed off. So that was her game, was it? The old “I left something important behind” act? Well, color him disappointed. He’d thought she had more integrity than to try that old game on him.

She tucked her hair behind her ear, a nervous gesture if not for the fact that she just happened to reveal the ear that was missing its piece of jewelry. Trying to lend credence to her claim? He almost felt sorry for the “little fil,” as Taco had referred to her. Tucker was far from being a pushover.

Still, standing there in the waning sunlight, her hair combed back into place, a fresh pair of faded, torn-at-the-knees jeans and one of those tank tops with the bra built in that offered minimal support and a whole lot of nipple porn, and the scent of fresh flowers drifting from her skin had Tucker pulling back the reins on tossing her out of the gate so soon.

Maybe he should, oh…entertain her a bit before she left?

“I haven’t seen it, but you’re welcome to come in have a look around. I’ll even help you look for it.” If he’d expected her eyes to light up and for her to flash that pretty smile that’d snagged him on first sight, then he was sorely mistaken. If anything, Talia looked to be even more hesitant when he stepped back, opened the door, and waved her inside.

Huh. There was something he was missing—his gut never steered him wrong—but what? His instinct was to run his eyes over her, see if he caught any signs of a weapons bulge anywhere, but all her curves were on display, and there was nothing that set off any alarms other than that fine ass swaying in front of him.

Sticking close to her, Tucker surreptitiously shifted his hard-on. “Just head on back to my room. I’m right behind you.”

She didn’t indicate whether she’d heard him or not, but she went the right way, so he followed.

All around them, things were getting underway for the party that was due to start any time. The barbeque was fired up out back with a prospect behind the grill, the salads and drinks were laid out alongside a mountain of paper plates, napkins, and plastic cups. Ginger was prepping the bar, getting ready for an influx of orders, and one of the bunnies who’d offered to make herself dispensable in any way they needed was currently going through the music selection for the night. Someone was going to have to tell her that Spice Girls was not proper for a biker party.

Tucker caught Taco’s eye as he passed by.

“Yo, Country, I thought you said you were hunting for fresh meat tonight.”

At least the dumb fuck was smart enough to keep his voice down. Tucker made a slashing motion across his throat, indicating that he’d better shut his pie hole or else, then mouthed “Later.” If he changed his mind about the one-time deal with Talia, then the last thing he needed was his big-mouthed brothers ruining his chances.

Unfortunately, several times on his way to the back people called out to him with “Twice in one night?” and “Going for a new record?” and a few “Country’s got a girlfriend!” comments that got the hair standing up on the back of his neck.

By the time they reached his room, Tucker was fuming. He slammed the door behind them and breathed a sigh of relief. Those dicks were going to get a reminder of what his fist felt like later.

Hands twisted together in front of her, Talia turned to face him and said, “Looks like you’re having a party.”

Definitely cagey. Not at all horny. Shame.

Pushing off from the door, Tucker walked around the bed, making a show of looking for the imaginary earring. “Not me, the club. Some of our brothers are coming in from out of state, and we’re celebrating.”

At the somewhat snarky response, the fire in her eyes rekindled, and her back straightened. The change in her demeanor was starkly noticeable. “Well, yeah, I figured that much. At any rate,” she said as she got down on her knees beside the bed and stuck her head under it, “I only asked for the sake of making small talk. To break the ice, since, you know, I hadn’t really planned on ever seeing you again.”

“Is that so?” Coming around to her side of the bed, Tucker stood over her and crossed his arms over his chest, enjoying the view from above. She had a spectacular ass, all round and plump. Flashbacks to it jiggling as he pounded into her from behind clouded his vision, and he groaned low in his throat.

Damn, one time definitely wasn’t enough. Maybe he’d ask her to stick around a little longer, hang out with him, have a few drinks. Properly introduce her to the Spartan way of life.

“Yep, that is so.” Crawling around on the floor. Lifting the blanket. “Do you have a flashlight or anything? I can’t see a damn thing under here.”

Tucker unclipped his keychain from his belt loop and selected the long, thin penlight he kept on it. He handed it over. “Here.”

Lifting her head, fine hairs stood on end like a halo. “Oh, thanks.”

While she went back to searching, Tucker studied that ass a little longer. “So you didn’t come here looking for a little extra somethin’?”

“Something meaning…”

“Sex.” Obviously.

She started to laugh. “Wow, that’s some ego you’ve got there.”

“Come on, don’t act like you didn’t enjoy it. I seem to recall you screaming my name and God’s in equal measure.”

She crawled around to the other side of the bed. “I didn’t say I didn’t enjoy it. As far as sex goes, you ranked up there pretty high. Does that mean I would lower myself by returning to the scene of the crime and throwing myself at the feet of a man who probably entertains a different woman every night? Nope. Not for a second. Sorry, bucko, but I have way more class and self-esteem than that.”

Tucker was torn between frowning and smiling. She enjoyed herself, ranked him up there with…well, he wasn’t sure who, and she wasn’t eager for seconds? Should he be offended? All those hours and years he’d dedicated to the craft of pleasing a woman, and she hadn’t even walked in there with a limp.

He’d definitely done something wrong.

Dammit, he was disappointed in himself. What if she wasn’t the first to walk out of his room without being fully sated? This would not stand. Could not stand.

That settled it. He was going to have to talk her into Round Two. Hell, maybe even three if he failed to turn her world into a pile of rubble.

“Found it!”

Shooting her arm up, Talia held the earring in the air. The small gem caught the light from the table lamp, glittering faintly. She began affixing it to her ear as she stood.

“What a relief. My mom would have a fit if I’d lost it for good. Thanks for letting me look for it.”

She patted him on the arm on the way back out, all friendly-like. She didn’t even look back.

Tucker didn’t like that one bit. “Hey, Talia?”

Pausing at the now open door, she turned to look back at him. Her soft smile was breathtaking, and his heart leaped a little.

“You feel like sticking around for a coupla drinks?”