Smokehouse (The Vikings MC: Tucson Chapter #5)

Chapter 1

Danica

W hat have I done?

I sat up on the bed and covered my face with my hands as realization overwhelmed me.

Last night had seemed like a fantasy come true, but now, in the light of day, I saw it for the mistake it was.

All I’d been thinking about was letting loose a little.

Maybe getting a tiny bit of revenge on my cheating husband.

But that was supposed to have stopped at some light flirting, or maybe some kissing.

It had turned into going home with a biker.

I was the quintessential good girl. I’d been married for six years, since I turned nineteen, and straying had never crossed my mind. The same couldn’t be said for my husband. Ex-husband.

Glancing up, I looked around for the man who’d introduced himself as Smokehouse last night, but he was nowhere to be found. I was both relieved and slightly worried.

I sighed, wondering what I’d been thinking.

Sure, Smokehouse was handsome—well, gorgeous.

Muscles for days, and charming…my God, no one had ever spoken to me like he had.

But I wasn’t the kind to tangle with pick up artists like him.

I wasn’t the type to ever get hit on either.

He’d charmed me, though. And I’d been upset and a little buzzed.

I wasn’t black out drunk. I knew exactly what I was doing when I agreed to go home with him.

This mistake was one I would have to embrace.

Blankets were pooled at my waist and I was naked from the top up.

I was willing to bet it wasn’t much different beneath the sheets.

There were enough memories of last night that I knew I’d slept with him.

I also knew I’d enjoyed it. A lot. I was still numb and tingly in a way I didn’t know was possible.

He hadn’t left me hanging high and dry. In fact, he’d given me the best night of sex I’d ever had. He’d delivered on the subconscious need I’d had to find someone who treated me like I was beautiful and cherished, if only for a few hours.

I got up and dressed. Shame was edging in and I needed to get out of here before he got back.

I remembered he’d brought me back to what he’d called his clubhouse.

It was clear other people lived here, though we hadn’t run into any last night.

It was imperative I also escaped without being seen.

The walk of shame I was about to do was bad enough without an audience.

Pulling out my phone, I called my sister.

“Do you know what time it is?” she grumbled when she answered.

“Early. Sorry. Hey, Keely…”

“What’s wrong?”

The shift in her tone went from sleepy to sharp. I didn’t need to see her to know she was sitting up in bed with worry marring her face.

“Can you come pick me up?”

“I’m putting pants on and will be right there. Text me the address.” She didn’t bother to ask questions. It didn’t matter that I was supposed to have stayed over at my friend’s house. I was in need and she’d be there.

“Thanks, Sis.” At twenty-eight, she was older than me by three years and she’d always looked out for me.

It was a point of pride for her. Most of the time, she didn’t need to bother.

I’d always been the brainy kid while she was the sports star.

School had been easy and I’d graduated early.

Then I’d worked hard to get my teaching degree and ended up with the premium position for me.

It was outside of the city in the small town of Picture Rocks.

I was back living with my sister in the city though, since I’d caught Eli cheating on me. It would only take her about ten minutes to get here. That didn’t give me much time to sneak off the property.

Making sure I had all my things, I prepared to leave Smokehouse’s room.

You never even got a real name from him.

I stuck my head out into the hall, my heart racing as I scanned the hallway.

Clear. They were probably all asleep. For all I knew, Smokehouse did this every time he brought home a woman.

Snuck off somewhere until the girl got the hint and skedaddled so he could go back to bed.

His light brown hair, green eyes, and handsome smile were enough to knock the socks off most women.

I wasn’t anything special, so I’d been shocked when he hit on me.

The man was drop dead gorgeous with all his muscles and tattoos.

He had abs you could wash clothes on, which I’d discovered later.

It had been flattering to have him pay attention to me.

I’d also been irritated that my so-called friend had already ditched me to go make out with some guy in the corner. Trina had promised to stick by me and she’d dropped me after the second drink and the first guy who’d hit on her.

I was about to leave when Smokehouse had shown up. He was funny, and had been sweet, and I’d let him win me over. If I was being honest, I didn’t try too hard to resist. But that had been last night, two drinks in. In the light of day, I knew this hadn’t been my best decision.

Tiptoeing down the hall, I made my way down the stairs. A small gasp forced its way between my lips, causing heads to turn my way. There were a bunch of women and a man standing in the living area of the building. My eyes widened when I recognized the mother of one of my students.

“Oh…oh, no,” I whispered to myself. There was nothing left for me to do. I bolted past them and out the door. My cheeks were on fire as I ran across the gravel parking lot. This was the worst case scenario.

I’d met Gwen this year when her son Sean had started at my school. We’d had multiple meetings about the best way to make the quiet eight-year-old feel at home in a new school.

“Mrs. Carmine!”

Groaning, I slowed my pace, but my breath was still coming hard and fast. It was hard to say whether embarrassment or horror was winning out in this game of emotional rugby happening inside of me. I turned and pasted a bright smile on my face that I knew didn’t reach my eyes.

“Gwen, hi. Please, you can call me Dani.”

“Okay. Dani, you remember Jordan?” The two women smiled at me. There was no trace of a smirk or judgment on their expressions. We all knew there was only one reason I was sneaking out of here this early in the morning, but they weren’t mentioning it. At least, not yet.

“You’ve picked Sean up a few times. I remember.”

“Good to see you.” Jordan shifted from foot to foot. “Is…everything okay?”

“Of course.” If my face got any hotter my eyebrows would catch fire.

“Good,” Gwen sighed. “You just took off so fast, we were worried…”

“I…wasn’t expecting to see so many people.” I gave them a weak smile. My feet were itching to get moving again, to carry me away from the excruciating awkwardness.

“My brother belongs to this club…” Gwen told me.

“And I’m engaged to him,” Jordan said with a laugh.

“Oh… That’s nice.” It was evident they wanted me to elaborate on why I was here. I wasn’t about to tell them that I’d had a one-night-stand with an unbelievably sexy biker last night, though. No reason to admit it out loud. To anyone. Ever.

“Well, it was great seeing you two again,” I said, inching backward. “But my ride is here, so…” I left them standing there, looking between the empty road and myself.

I refused to run again, not with them watching, but my legs carried me swiftly down the road. It didn’t take long before Keely’s car appeared and we met in the middle. I got inside and slumped down in my seat.

“Uh oh. What happened?” Her eyes flashed with concern

“I had a one-night stand,” I admitted. “And I just ran into a student’s mom while doing the walk of shame.” I covered my burning face with my hands.

Keely was quiet enough that I peeked at her through my fingers.

“Well damn. Good for you,” she finally said.

“I mean, sorry you’re upset, but good for you.

” She scowled at the road as she made a U-turn.

“Eli never deserved you. Your marriage is over, even if not officially with the courts. No reason not to hop back on the horse, or biker in your case.”

I sighed. “It’s not like me.”

“No. You sort of skipped over the wild years. But there’s no time like the present,” she said with a smile. She was trying to make me feel better. It was working.

“I think that’s the only night of ‘wild’ I’m planning on having.”

“That’s it?” She frowned. “Was it at least worth it?”

I thought back to the mind numbing orgasms he’d given me. “Oh, yeah.”

“Well that’s something.” She reached over and stroked a hand over my hair, something she’d been doing to comfort me since we were kids.

Closing my eyes, I tried to put it all out of my mind on the drive home. I’d had my fun. Now it was over. Life would return to normal.

* * *

One month later

“Oh. My. God,” I whispered in horror. My hand shook as I stared down at the object I held. The plus sign on the pregnancy test mocked me as my vision wavered. This couldn’t be happening.

My legs crumpled out from under me and I crashed onto my butt in the bathroom. “No. Nonononono,” I groaned.

“Dani!” Keely rushed into my room. “What was that noise? Where are-” She came to a stop in the doorway of the bathroom. “What the hell is going on?”

When I didn’t answer, she frowned at me. “Are you crying?”

Touching my cheeks, I realized that there were tears streaming down my face. I wiped them away.

Keely’s eyes narrowed as she spotted the test stick in my hand. She strode forward and snatched it away from me before I could do anything. Shock made her freeze as she stared down at it.

“That was my first response, too,” I whispered.

Her startled blue eyes, so like my own, latched onto me. “You’re pregnant?”

I gave her a humorless smile. “Seems so.”

“Jesus. That’s…” She sighed. “Is this going to make Eli drag his feet more about signing the divorce papers?”

My laugh was as devoid of humor as my smile had been. “I don’t think there’s a way for him to drag his feet anymore than he already is,” I admitted.