Could this be my way out of Vance’s case? Not if it’s something shit that has happened at the club, I wouldn’t want that, but King does call me in non-violent matters, or brothers being arrested for stupid shit as well.
“Maybe I should call him, see if it can wait until tomorrow. It’s a long way to go tonight.”
“Why are you working so late?”
That makes me wonder how long he has stood out here. “My job isn’t exactly nine to five, case and point,” I sigh. “You never said why you didn’t call, and don’t give me any bullshit excuses.”
The wind picks up, and my hair blows in front of my face. With my hands full I can’t move it but Eli has no such problem, reaching over and gently brushing my hair out of my eyes. I should take a step back, or tell him to stay out of my personal space but I don’t do that.
I’ve always been drawn to Eli. It started off as a crush when I was younger, the hot mechanic aptly nicknamed Handlebar who liked to walk around with his overalls hanging low down on his waist and a grease stained white t-shirt that clung to every ridge and muscle on his body. He’s only a few years older than me but always looked to me like he’d lived more years than his true age.
All the girls lusted after him, but I would only watch. He kept to himself a lot of the time, most of his love and attention was given to the machines he worked with. When I went off to college I forgot about him. But he was one of the first things that piqued my interest when I got back and started working for the club.
My principles had changed at that point. My work was for the club, I didn’t intend on having a social life here too.
Until that one momentary lapse, at a party before the shit hit the fan with the Kingsmen. I’d been forced to attend a party and only had a few drinks, my plan was to slip away when no one would notice I was gone.
Only Eli caught me trying to sneak out, said it was a bad idea to leave without telling anyone, especially given the clubhouse is out in the middle of nowhere and the brothers on security might get the wrong idea if they saw me sneaking around.
He offered me a quiet place to decompress instead. We talked, he’s a good listener and what woman doesn’t love a guy who listens, takes them seriously and doesn’t try to offer platitudes.
It turned me on and it all lead to one of the best nights of my life.
Every time I look at him, I think about how I snuck out of the room over the garage which he promised wasn’t used by anyone other than him. Sometimes I wonder how he felt when he woke up and I was gone. Whether he was surprised, or upset, or he expected it. Maybe even wanted it.
It was only afterwards I knew he hadn’t wanted me to leave. I’m not sure what he thought would come of it but all I did was push him away, make it obvious I want nothing more to do with him.
All the guilt I felt about that comes rushing back as we stare at each other. His hand is still lingering by my cheek, and he gently tucks my hair behind my ear before lowering it to his side.
“Maybe some of what Rosa said stuck with me.” He finally answers my question.
“I’m not yours to worry about,” I say quietly.
“I know that, Cassie.”
“Why did you really come?” I’m not sure what I’m hoping he’ll say.
“Part of the reason King wants to see you is my fault.”
“What do you mean? Are you in trouble?”
“No, nothing like that. Something happened while I was on a run.”
My brow arches. Brothers don’t share information on MC business. I’m privier than most, given I’m the one who keeps them all out of jail even if its need to know and very limited information.
“I told King you’re working late. If we didn’t head back right away…” he trails off.
“What are you suggesting?”
“That we talk. We were good at that, once.”
The unspoken words swirl around inside my head. From his look, he is thinking the same. We talked for hours, a strange connection grew between us, then we fell into bed and from my side, ruined it.
“What I have to say is delicate and it can’t go beyond us, or King once you get to the compound.”
Suddenly I don’t feel tired anymore. If it’s that much of a secret, the best place for us to talk would be my apartment, but that seems likeI’m asking for trouble. I was in a house for five minutes with Mace and ended up bent over a sofa.
“Let’s go up to my office.” I turn before he can see the blush rising in my cheeks as they start to burn at the thought of Mace.
