“Listen,” Trent said hesitantly, glancing between Maddox and Asher, “I hate to ask, but I could really use some help. We’re balls-to-the-wall here. My servers are getting run ragged and I’m busting my ass to get them breaks, but it’s not enough.”
Asher glanced across the bar. Just like the rest of the packed room, the line at the card-draw table hadn’t dwindled, it had simply changed inhabitants.
“I’ll take over with the cards and send whoever’s on deck to you.”
“Thanks.” Trent clapped Asher on the shoulder. “I really appreciate it.”
“No problem.”
“And I’ll see if Lenora has anyone she can spare.” Maddox pulled out his phone.
“You two are a godsend.” Trent grinned.
“Don’t count your hens.” Maddox murmured as he texted.
Asher left the two of them discussing who else they could hit up for some short-term help and made his way through the throng of bikers, thankful for their presence.
While some citizens would rather live a hermetic life, quaintly tucked away in the massive, old-growth pine forests surrounding the town, that wasn’t an option if Pine Haven hoped to flourish.
To stay with the times and have the capacity to support the diverse needs within their growing community, regular financial infusions were absolutely necessary. Transient traffic was the number one contributor to the town’s wealth, the easiest way to get cash injections with minimal disruption to the populace. And Asher knew how to orchestrate those opportunities flawlessly. Major influxes of tourists like this only happened a few times a year, but they were vital to the health of the community.
They’d already turned quite a profit this weekend in their cut of rally merchandise sales alone, not to mention all the local food, drink, and shopping. Asher spotted another group of bikers parking and got busy reorganizing the table, refilling the pen cup and making sure the rally’s branded merch display was solid.
As jobs went, pulling playing cards and helping the riders log their draw was an easy gig. Getting the bar selected as a venue for the poker run had been a much bigger challenge, but that was behind him now. And with how successful the weekend had been so far, this was sure to become an annual thing.
Not that he minded. It was fun seeing all these people, hearing some of their stories, and flirting or shooting the shit with them. While they weren’t shifters, many of these bikers had formed their own packs, and there was something endearing about that. A palpable camaraderie they freely extended to him, especially when he pulled them a good card, setting someone up for a great poker hand.
As the day wore on, the staff and various patrons kept him in a steady supply of beer and though he’d originally had other plans, Asher had to admit that this wasn’t a bad way to spend a Saturday. He did a once over on the table again as yet another wave of bikers flooded in. The ladies flirting with him already, leaning across his table and showing him their cleavage while he worked.
Another free beer landed at his elbow, and Asher had to grin. This was turning out to be a fantastic weekend.
2
Clealeanedbackinher chair, smiling at the group of tattooed bikers she’d been riding with. As relocation plans went, this one was one of her more brilliant, if she did say so herself.
“You up for another round, Duchess?”
“Definitely, thanks.” Clea grinned at Mav, appreciating the way he’d taken to looking after her since she’d joined the ride with his crew a few days ago.
“Dirty?”
“You know it.”
That earned her a wink and a smile.
As Mav ordered for the table, she had to give it to him, he made a good MC president. He’d been calling the shots all weekend, but none of his decisions were arbitrary. Mav seemed to consider his club member’s skills and moods, leading them deftly while coming across as both sympathetic and bad-ass. He was handsome too, in a gruff and tumble sort of way. But then, she’d always had a thing for tats and muscles. Quite the opposite of the asshole she’d been living with for the last two months.
Damn, it felt good to be free.
And she couldn’t wait to offload the rest of the lot she’d stolen from that no-good tech billionaire. She just had to lie low a bit longer.
“Here you go, Duchess.” Mav smiled, handing her a fresh martini as a server doled out the food.
“Who had the Reuben?”
“Over here.” She smiled, lifting her glass to make space for the plate as she observed their new server.
He wasn’t the same one who’d taken their orders or delivered the appetizers. She’d been cute, but damn, this one was something else. Tall, dark and handsome with the most gorgeous yellow eyes, like yellow sapphires or canary tourmalines. And those muscles…
