“He is funny though, right? I mean, they’re all still a bit too… but, but he’s… cute with it.”
Cute? She found him cute? I turned, dragging her with me, so she couldn’t see anyone but me, and I bent my knees so we were eye to eye.
“He’s cute, is he? You like Grease, Caroline? Think he’s cute?” Her eyes widened, even though I kept my tone light, because possessive or not, I didn’t want to scare her.
“I-”
“Think he’ll look so cute with two black eyes and a broken nose? You think he’d still be a mouthy fucker then?”
She pressed her lips together, but she couldn’t fight her smile.
“Um… probably?”
And fuck me, she was right. I got us the hell out of there, because if she left there in a lighter mood, smiling and not feeling so intimidated, surely it’d leave her with good memories of the place I wanted to call home. Surely it’d leave her with a little less fear, and that was all I wanted for her.
Caroline
MY MIND WAS BUZZING with ideas for the clubhouse and compound, and we spent the evening discussing Harley’s ideas, while I took notes and even sketched some parts loosely to give me a guide to work to. I hadn’t done anything like this in so long, and I was eager to get started, only Harley the protective showed a little more of his bossy side.
First he insisted on making me dinner, which was delicious, because he had a knack of cooking chicken in spices and sauce, and filling the house with scents that made me want to drool.
After that, we talked some more before bed, but it wasn’t until the next morning that I was able to work fully on it.
I got set up at my desk in Harley’s shop, and Harley read a message on his phone as he was getting set up.
“No Rocket today. He’s got tattoo appointments at his other place.”
His other place? Tattoos?
“He’s a tattooist too?”
It made sense, I guess. His artwork was gorgeous. Why not tattoo skin and bikes alike?
“Just us, baby… I hope you can restrain yourself from jumping my bones for a few hours.”
I swear he said things like that just to see me blush. We’d grabbed coffee on the way in, so I set up a new project in my CAD program, and began to lay out the basic clubhouse grounds, marking out the size of the land, and working next on the building, based on Harley’s notes. We could always reposition it on the land if I placed it wrong.
“Excuse me, any chance you can check on my motorbike for me?” I lifted my head at the unknown voice, and Harley stood up from his chair to greet the man who’d walked in. He was a little older than Harley, I’d say, and looked friendly enough. He was carrying a black and silver helmet under his arm, and was smartly dressed with a leather jacket hanging open to reveal his shirt.
“Sure. What’s it doing?”
The guy scratched at his jaw, and pointed outside to a sleek black motorbike that I instantly coveted for myself.
“Nice. ZZR? Any mods?”
He sighed heavily. “No, she’s pretty bog standard, and I was going to upgrade her, but Jesus… Got a baby on the way, so I guess I’ll probably be selling her soon.” He looked conflicted, like the idea of giving up his wheels was breaking his heart, but the idea of the baby was making up for it.
“Congrats. You wanna bring her into the workshop, and I can take a look? What did you say was wrong?”
The guy frowned, leaning his helmet on the counter, and glancing briefly at me. I ducked my head, but I was still watching him. He was acting a little shady, and I found myself wishing that Rocket was here after all to back Harley up. I certainlywouldn’t be much use to him, even though I wished I’d be brave enough to try.
“Uh… You’re Harley, right? Of uh… Phoenix?” And there it was. The hint that he wasn’t really here to get his motorbike looked at, after all.
“Caroline, you wanna get back behind Rocket’s counter, babe?”
Harley stepped between the man and me, blocking him from my sight, but the guy was already protesting.
“Jesus, man. I’m not gonna hurt your woman, I’m just… I swear I used to be good at this. Those fuckers have really messed up my style. My name’s Adam, and I’m a PI. They uh… they wanted me to check you out, and the rest of your club.”
