Chapter Five #2
“Thank you,” I manage, grateful beyond measure that I won’t be left to navigate this alone while Chase disappears with the men.
As we walk toward the clubhouse, I steal one last glance at Chase.
He’s deep in conversation with Alpha and the other biker, whom I think I overheard him introduce himself to Chase as Maverick, but there’s something serious in their expressions that makes my stomach flutter, and not in a good way, with worry.
What exactly have we walked into?
But Sadie’s gentle guidance pulls me forward, and I find myself stepping into a world I never could have imagined, hoping that whatever secrets Chase is keeping, they won’t put either of us in danger.
The clubhouse interior is nothing like what I expected. Instead of the seedy, strip-club atmosphere I’d imagined, it’s surprisingly clean and organized. More like a family gathering space than a den of iniquity.
“I get it, you’re wondering where the stripper poles are?” Sadie asks with a knowing smile.
“I mean, I wasn’t not thinking that,” I admit. “You all seem so… normal.”
She laughs. “We’re just a family, Lyric. A slightly unconventional one, maybe, but still a family.”
As she leads me toward the kitchen, introducing me to other women along the way, I start to understand what she means.
Despite the leather cuts and intimidating exterior, there’s something genuinely caring about the way these people interact with each other.
The kitchen is warm and inviting, with the smell of fresh coffee and something delicious baking in the oven.
Several women are gathered around the island, and they all look up with friendly smiles when Sadie brings me in.
“Ladies, this is Lyric. She’s the one who brought Doughnut home,” Sadie announces.
A stunning brunette with kind eyes immediately stands. “Oh my God, thank you so much. I’m Haven. We were so worried about that little guy.”
“I’m Rhyan,” says a young woman with bright energy. “And this is Bea.” She gestures to another beautiful blonde.
“Ellie,” adds an older woman who looks like she could be a model, but she has dirt under her fingernails like she’s been working in a garden.
The warmth in their welcome catches me off guard. These aren’t the kind of women I expected to find in a motorcycle club. They seem educated, confident, and genuinely lovely.
“So you’re a florist?” Haven asks as she pours me a cup of coffee. “That must be such beautiful work.”
“It is,” I say, accepting the mug gratefully. “Though finding a fainting goat in your delivery truck does add some unexpected excitement to the job.”
They all laugh, and I find myself relaxing despite my surroundings.
“How long have you known Chase?” Rhyan asks with the curiosity of someone much younger.
“We literally just met this morning,” I admit. “He offered to help me return Doughnut, and here we are.”
“So you took a road trip with a stranger.” Sadie raises her eyebrows. “Sounds like something from a romance novel,” she says with a knowing smile. “He seems like a really good guy from the small amount I have seen.”
Just then, Rip appears in the kitchen doorway. “Betties, I’m borrowing Chase for a bit. Club business,” he chimes, but his tone is casual enough.
My stomach drops slightly. Club business? What kind of business could Chase have with a motorcycle club?
“Don’t worry,” Haven says, reading my expression. “They probably just want to catch up properly. Men and their bonding rituals.”
But something in her eyes tells me there’s more to it than that.
After Rip disappears, the women immediately close ranks around me in the most natural way possible.
“So,” says a tall brunette who introduces herself as Navy. “Tell us about your shop. Love and Lavender, right? That’s such a beautiful name.”
I don’t know how they already know that I’m a florist, or how they know the name of my shop, but I am just going to go with it. Because if I try to overthink it, I will probably start freaking out.
I describe my business, finding myself drawn into these fascinating women’s world.
Haven mentions something about being ‘formerly dangerous’ with a laugh that suggests it’s not entirely a joke.
Rhyan talks about her studies, and it becomes clear she’s brilliant.
Sadie mentions her work with the club’s legitimate businesses, and I’m struck by how organized and professional everything seems.
“You guys aren’t what I expected,” I admit after about an hour of easy conversation.
“What did you expect?” Ellie asks with amusement.
“Honestly? Leather-clad women with questionable life choices,” I say, then immediately flush with embarrassment. “I’m sorry, that was—”
“Accurate for some motorcycle clubs,” Haven finishes with a laugh. “But we’re not most clubs. The men here… they’re good men. They protect what matters to them, and they take care of their own.”
“Like family,” Sadie adds.
“Speaking of family,” Rhyan says. “How did Chase know exactly where to find Rip? That seemed… convenient.”
I shake my head. “I honestly don’t know. He said they were old surfing buddies, but…” I trail off, thinking about all the little inconsistencies I’ve noticed.
“But?” Haven prompts gently.
“There’s something he’s not telling me. I can feel it.” I take a sip of coffee, gathering my thoughts. “He knew who I was the second I introduced myself. He had this look, like recognition, but he’d never seen me before in his life.”
The women exchange glances, and I catch it.
“What?” I ask. “Do you know something?”
“Honey…” Sadie says carefully. “Sometimes people have good reasons for keeping things to themselves, especially early in a…” she waves her hands around, “… whatever this is between you two.”
“But if he’s lying—”
“Omitting, maybe,” Haven interrupts firmly. “But I’d bet money Chase has never told you a single lie. There’s a difference.”
Her certainty surprises me. “You can tell all that from meeting him for five minutes?”
Haven smiles mysteriously. “I’m good at reading people. It’s a survival skill.”
Before I can ask what that means, we hear voices from the main room. Some of the guys are back, and I hear Chase’s voice among them, though I can’t make out the words.
“Sounds like some of the guys got let out early,” Rhyan says, standing. “You want to go find your man?”
My man.
The phrase sends a flutter through my chest that I try to ignore.
When we enter the main room, I spot Chase immediately. He’s standing with Rip, but his posture is tense, and there’s something in his expression that makes my heart race.
Our eyes meet across the room, and he comes over immediately.
“How was your meeting?” I ask, trying to sound casual.
“Fine,” he says, but there’s hesitation in his voice. “Just… old friends catching up.”
There it is again.
The omission Haven mentioned.
“Chase,” I start, but Rip bounds over with his infectious energy.
“Yo, Betty! Did you meet everyone? Aren’t they totally rad?”
“Betty?” I ask, raising an eyebrow.
“It’s what I call all the ladies,” Rip explains with a grin. “Like, gnarly vibes, you know? C’mon, let’s go hang out with Doughnut.”
We take off outside of the clubhouse and make our way into a small barn.
Chase is staring at Rip like he’s seeing him for the first time, and I can’t help but be struck by the contrast between them.
Chase, with his polished appearance and careful way of speaking, and Rip, with his sun-bleached hair and casual use of surfer slang.
“Are you two really old friends?” I ask, looking between them.
“Oh, man, the best,” Rip says, throwing an arm around Chase’s shoulders. “This dude saved my ass more times than I can count back in the day,” Rip chimes as Doughnut bounces happily up to the gate.
“Rip,” Chase says quietly, a warning in his tone.
“What? It’s true, bro. You were like, totally the big kahuna by the time I bounced.”
Big kahuna? Where exactly were they that Chase became some kind of leader?
The questions are piling up, and I know Chase realizes it. He’s looking at me with an expression that’s part apology, part plea for understanding.
Chase’s eyes subtly glance at me, the tension shifts between us, so I move to change the subject. “Chase tells me you and he go way back. You were living together in LA?”
Rip side-eyes Chase. “Ahh… yeah. We were together for two years. Really tiny home, crap living quarters, but we truly got to know each other during that time. Actually, it was Chase here who helped me get off my ass and find my balls to get my life back on track.”
“You lived in a tiny, crappy home? Somehow, I find that hard to believe,” I quip, raising my brow at Chase, then lean over petting Doughnut on his cute little head.
“Yeah, the worst two years of my life. But at least I had Rip to keep me company.” Chase weakly smiles at me.
“Well, look at you, Hallmark. You’re a big ole softy under there.” I poke his ribs, and he narrows his eyes at me with a cheeky grin.
“Starlight, there’s so much you’ve yet to find out about me.”
I cock my brow. “Is that a challenge?” I fold my arms across my chest in defiance.
Fitting, seeing as we’re at the Defiance MC clubhouse.
“Whoa! You two have nicknames for each other already? Next thing you know, you’ll be going steady and writing love poems, riding those gnarly waves of love,” Rip quips with that hint of surfer slang in his tone.
Baa.
Chase reaches out, punching his friend’s arm. “Shut up, duuude,” he mocks. “Or we’ll take your goat with us. Lyri’s gotten attached.”
I glance down at Doughnut, my heart swelling with how much I am going to miss his cute little face. So I lean across and continue petting him.
Rip exhales. “No can do. That’s my man, my broski. Who else am I gonna have my Sunday chill sessions with?” He leans in a little closer to me. “Plus, the little grommet gets under your skin, right?” he whispers.
“He sure does.” I turn to face Doughnut, running my hand over his furry head. “Well, little guy, it sure has been fun.” I can’t help but feel sad that my time with Doughnut is almost up. “Sorry about Polly. I’m sure he didn’t mean to make you faint.”
Rip raises his brow in curiosity, but then nods like he totally understands his goat would have fainted while on his vacation with me.
Doughnut nuzzles into me, letting out a little baa.
I rub behind his ear. I know he likes that.
My eyes mist up, and my heart squeezes. How one creature can work its way into my heart in such a small amount of time, I’ll never know.
But somehow, Doughnut has done just that, and I hope he has a great life here.
“Swing by and hang whenever, Lyric. Stoked you looked after him, seriously. Like, gnarly-level gratitude for bringing him back, though, Betty. I was straight up wiping out without Doughnut around.”
And there it is.
I know I’ve done the right thing.
Even if it was a little hard to understand with all those surfing analogies.
Every time I briefly thought about keeping Doughnut has led me to this conclusion. Handing him back is the right and only thing to do.
“You’re welcome, Rip. Make sure he has lots of cuddles. I’d love to keep updated on him if possible.”
Rip’s face softens. “Yeah, totes. Give me your number. I’ll send you pics.”
My chest swells with excitement. “You will?” He nods with that warm, cheesy smile. “Thank you.”
He hands me his cell, and I program my name and number into it, noticing Chase shift uncomfortably.
Rip seems to notice too, so he slaps Chase on the shoulder. “Oh, what, bro? Annoyed, I got her number before you. I’m a happily taken brother, brother. My girl Autumn is coming by tonight, man. I’m bummed you’re gonna miss her.”
Chase rolls his eyes, shoving his hands in his pockets, but doesn’t say anything in reply, making me think he’s annoyed that Rip now has my digits. I just can’t work out if it’s because Chase doesn’t or because Rip does?
“Thanks again for this, Rip. I don’t know how he does it, but that little goat has an incredible aura. I’m having trouble leaving him.”
Rip reaches out, gripping my shoulder. Chase shifts uncomfortably once more. “Yo, man, when I realized the little shit was gone, you should have seen how panicked I was. I can tell you now, the security on his pen is gonna be hella tight now. Those bastards aren’t getting near my man again.”
Raising my brow, I tilt my head. “You think someone took him?”
Rip glances at Chase, then back to me. “Club business, Betty. You don’t wanna be involving yourself in our shit. Trust me. But we do appreciate you finding our main man and bringing him back. It really does mean a whole lot.”
I pet Doughnut, feeling content that this won’t be the last time I see him. It makes leaving that little bit easier. “All right. Well, you just promise to take care of him, Rip.”
He chuckles, dipping his head. “You can count on it.”
Hesitating, I pet his cute little head one last time. “Bye, billy goat,” I murmur as I exhale, then glance at Chase. “You ready to head back?”
“I’ll meet you in the truck. But please, Lyri, you drove most of the way, so let me drive back?”
I groan. Not this again.
Thing is, I’ve driven what feels like all over California in the past few days because of Doughnut and the shop. So even though it goes against my principles, I guess I’m willing to take the break. “Dent my truck, I’m gonna sue you.”
Both men laugh. “Was that one of your speak-before-you-think things?”
“No, I totally meant to say that,” I reply, turning to walk toward the truck. “See you later, Rip.”
“Keep it gnarly, Lyri. Thanks again.”
“You’re welcome,” I yell back before I open the door, then slide into the passenger side.
I sink into the seat, watching the two men.
They’re far enough away that I can’t hear them, but Rip seems like he’s having a ball, teasing Chase with some sort of conversation.
Chase runs his hand through his hair like he’s exasperated and turns to look at me with a pained expression.
I furrow my brows, wondering what that’s all about as he turns to Rip, petting Doughnut on the head one more time.
The guys embrace, then Chase walks toward the truck.
I have no idea what the hell just transpired between the two men.
I guess I don’t want to know either.