Beast looks around. “You sure we shouldn’t bring her back to the club?”
“Come on. We’re already here,” Zero says.
I carry Junkyard close to my chest and try the front door. It's locked, but there’s a ‘Press to call staff” sign over a button to the side. A shadow moves behind the frosted glass in the door. “Give it a go.”
Zero pushes the doorbell. It buzzes loud. After a few minutes of nothing, he pushes it again. A face peeks out the window, wearing headphones. Ruby lips, glittery green eyeshadow over pretty brown eyes with a delicate gold loop in her right eyebrow, and bottle black hair with a hint of purple peeking through from beneath.
Hello, beautiful.
Her eyes skim over us before darting to the dog in my arms, and a moment later the door clicks open. She pulls off the headphones and I hear a faint strain of heavy club music. She glances at the three of us, probably weighing if we’re a threat or not, but if she’s intimidated by finding three bikers on her doorstep, it doesn’t show. Junkyard has her full attention.“Where’d they find you, sweetie?” she purrs, reaching out and rubbing Junkyard’s ears.
"She was hiding in the parking lot outside Hal’s." I shrug and smile. Bikers on our best behavior. No danger here, unless you want to get a little dirty. "Her front paw’s hurt, but she was running around so I don’t think it’s broken. Do you guys take in strays, or?"
“Yeah, absolutely. We have room.”
“You wouldn’t put her down, right?” Beast asks. “Cause we’ll take her with us if that’s?—”
The woman’s eyes go wide. “What? Oh my God, no. All strays get at least a week while we wait to see if someone’s looking for them, then they go up for adoption or fostering if everything checks out. If you’re worried, you can leave a number and I’ll let you know what happens, and if you want, you can get priority for adoption after the wait is over. I’m Sandra, by the way. Come on, let’s get her checked into Hotel Detch.”
Sandra turns and motions for us to follow her inside. Faded black jeans hug her curvy hips, and the name of the rescue is printed on the back of a black t-shirt that’s tied at the waist, cinching it in. She has a black choker around her neck with small silver spikes, along with a silver chain with a sparkling moon pendant.
Zero raises his eyebrows and Beast shrugs. Our gear proudly proclaims our association with the MC, which is usually enough to earn some healthy caution, but she doesn’t seem to care. It makes me curious, because I’m pretty sure I haven’t seen her around. Pretty face, a little attitude and a sexy body? I think I’d remember.
I give Junkyard a squeeze and chuckle softly to myself. "Maybe you aren’t the only one getting lucky.”
2
SANDRA
Their eyes areon my back as I lead them into the intake room before the kennel. Any one of them could easily overpower me, let alone all three, but their attention doesn’t feel like a threat, just curiosity, with a good dash of male interest. I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t flattering.
They’re an interesting trio. Two must be part Grizzly, massive with dark hair and muscles for days. The third has sandy hair and ocean blue eyes. He has a smaller build, but that’s only compared to his overcompensating friends. More of a quarterback than a linebacker, he’s still over a head taller than I am and could probably sweep me off my feet without breaking a sweat. All of them are dressed in the usual combination of black leather boots, worn jeans, and MC vests. One of the big guys is carrying their stray, and he has his MC jacket on. The way he’s cradling her close to his chest is freaking adorable.
“You the only one here?” one of them asks.
I glance over my shoulder. “Not anymore.”
That earns me a few chuckles, and damn if it isn’t an attractive sound. Technically I wasn’t alone until they showed up. Carl, one of our volunteers, was supposed to be working up front when I heard the bell. The next thing I knew, the side door slammed and he was gone without so much as a goodbye. The rush confused me until I saw who was standing outside. Chivalry is officially dead.
The big guy who isn’t carrying the stray cocks his head with an assessing look. He has a thick beard, a shock of black hair wrestled back into a short ponytail, and deep, mossy eyes. “You’re pretty ballsy for being alone in here with three strangers.”
Strangers ‘like us’comes across loud and clear.
I shrug. “Hey, I told you my name, it’s not my fault you haven’t returned the favor.”
The one with the dog gives me a crooked grin. His hair is shaved close at the sides and left a little longer in a thick slash down the center of his head. His eyes are so dark they seem black, and his nose looks like it’s been broken a few times and pushed back into place in the dark. Knowing men, and especially bikers, that’s probably about what happened. Most eye-catching is the crisp black tattoo that looks like some sort of engine part stretching around and down his neck into his shirt collar.
“Name’s Piston. That’s Beast.” Piston gestures to his fellow giant.
“Ma’am.” Beast says with a politeness that seems totally out of place on a guy with a riot of tattoos covering arms that look like they’re about to burst out of his t-shirt Hulk style. He looks likehe’d be happy to rip someone’s head off, then apologize for the mess.
Piston nods to the blond. “And that’s Zero.”
Zero grins. “There, we’re not strangers anymore. Danger’s over.” Behind his smile is a panther-like deadliness that I can't quite put my finger on, but instinctively know is there. I’m pretty sure if he wants to eat me, I’d welcome him back for seconds.
“Whew, I was worried there for a sec.” I flick on the light. The intake room is equipped to handle exams and minor injuries that don’t require a full trip to the vet. I pat the metal table. “You said you found her?”
“Yeah, outside Hal’s in the parking lot.” One of Piston’s big hands is cradling her head, rubbing a thumb behind her ear.
