Chapter 9
CHAPTER NINE
CRASH
It is the day of the annual Summer Festival and people are every-fucking-where.
The club has three tents where we are offering club merchandise, security advice, and garage discount coupons. The guys are eating up the attention they are getting from women who come to the tents.
Savage is being the usual Savage, winking and being a fucking delight, flirting with women knowing he likes dick, but like Racer said, if it gets us a sale, then carry on. Guardian had to fight off a group of old ladies who wanted to touch his arm, to take a closer look at his tattoos.
I had to cough to hide my laugh, but it still earned me a scowl.
Next to us are Madalyn and Simone, who are promoting their event business.
When we were setting up, I clocked Stevie, her aunt, and some guy helping them. All three of them were talking and laughing. Seeing her so carefree with them was like a punch to the chest.
After what went down at Val’s, I kept my distance. Even when both Target and Savage told me to go and speak to Stevie to clear the air, I didn’t. If she is anything like she used to be, she would have politely told me to fuck off.
“Crash, can you book this couple in for an installation, please?” I turn to Racer and nod.
“You got it.” I smile. “Okay, folks, what are we looking at?”
They jump right in, telling me they are expecting their first baby. They want everything to protect the house and their child, starting with inside and outside cameras, that can be checked via an app on their phones.
Once I am done with them, I tell Pres I am going to do a walk around, handing out some flyers to drum up some business. Not that we need any more, but you never know when someone needs their car or bike fixed or customized.
I spot her before she sees me. Her dog, a beautiful Siberian husky at her side, no leash on her, as she walks close.
People pet her and she ruffles her fur at the contact.
Even though I did not go and see her, I stalked her social media, but she has not accepted my friend request yet, so I need to remedy that.
Or give her my number.
Slowing my steps, I take her in. She looks fucking beautiful as she pauses at a tent, studying the cakes and cookies lined up in the display case.
Her hair falls in soft waves, some of it pinned back, exposing the curve of her neck.
The dress she’s wearing shows off more leg than I’m comfortable with, but she isn’t mine.
Not yet.
That three-letter word slams into my head, scattering my thoughts.
Why the hell am I thinking that?
Where did it even come from?
Sure, she’s been on my mind more than I’d like to admit. And yeah, I’ve been seeing her differently, thinking about her differently, but am I actually ready to settle down?
Is she?
And fuck… I hurt her the last time I saw her. She might hate me. She has every right to, with how I accused her of lying to me, which set Val off, adding to Stevie’s humiliation.
But watching her now, seeing the way she smiles and greets people, I can’t help the way my chest tightens. Stevie is such a sweet soul, and yeah, I want her.
I move closer. Her dog spots me first, eyes locked on every step I take. I offer her a small smile, letting her know I’m no threat to her human. She tilts her head, a soft sound slipping out, and Stevie glances down at her with a frown before lifting her gaze to me.
The dog takes a step forward, her body tight, ready to attack if she deems me a threat.
Good girl, she is guarding Stevie. That is something I can get on board with.
“Crash? What are you doing here?”
Bringing my gaze to meet Stevie’s, I tilt my head much like her dog did.
“Since when am I ‘Crash’ to you?”
She just shrugs, stepping away from the tent so she isn’t blocking other customers. Still always making sure that people get what they need.
“How have you been?” I move forward, her dog moving between us, stopping me from getting closer.
The dog is stunning: her fur brown and white, her pink nose aimed right at me, and she may look sweet but I have no doubt she would bite my hand off if I reached for Stevie without consent.
“Good.” She looks down at the dog. “Glory, down.”
The dog speaks, like she is answering back, maybe bitching about me. I fucking love watching the huskies online talking back; it is hilarious.
“Really? You want to show me up by not listening.” Glory whines again, and I can’t help but smile at the interaction between the two.
“Down,” Stevie says in a firmer voice, and the dog lies down, her eyes firmly looking up at me, keeping her human safe.
“She is a good guard dog.” Glory huffs, making me grin.
“She is, and she is also my best friend, who will have no issues biting you if I tell her to.”
“I would deserve the bite,” I agree.
“You would. What can I do for you, Crash?”
“Logan,” I correct her. “I do not want you calling me by my road name. I am always ‘Logan’ to you.”
She folds her arms in front of her body, pushing her breasts up, giving me a good view of her cleavage. Damn, she grew up and fucking pretty too, with a nerdy edge to her.
“Eyes up here, biker boy.” That earns another huff from Glory.
It is like she really understands us, which is cool.
Smirking, I inch closer, making sure not to step on the dog.
“Biker boy? Baby, there is nothing ‘boyish’ about me.”
Her eyes flash with heat, her cheeks grow pink, and it is not the sun that is doing that.
“If you say so.”
“I know so.” My hand reaches out to touch her elbow, and Glory not liking the contact, starts to crawl forward, her paws landing on my boots.
Dropping to my haunches, I shoot Stevie a quick wink. The movement is all Glory needs. Her head snaps up, ears pricked, eyes locked on mine. I turn my hand palm-down and offer the back of it, slow and steady, letting her decide if I’m friend or threat.
A warm, tentative lick brushes my knuckles. Then she nudges her head into my palm, a clear invitation. I scratch gently behind her ears, feeling her melt into it.
Stevie rolls her eyes at her dog’s instant betrayal, tapping Glory’s side with the tip of her boot. “An easy smile and a good smelling man, you fall for it,” she mutters, though the corner of her mouth betrays a smile.
I wink up at her. “You think I smell good, huh?”
Shaking her head, she fights to lock down her smile but fails.
Glory whines, pushing into my hand, so I scratch her.
“Traitor.” Glory huffs, licking my hand for good measure.
“All the ladies love me.” I stand to full height, and Stevie watches me, her head tilting back to meet my eyes.
She only comes to my chest, being as short as she is, but I bet she would fit perfectly against me.
“You do have a thing about being with dogs,” she smarts off and I know she means Valarie.
A laugh bursts out of me. Her cheeks turn pink, her lips twitching. She looks into my eyes and I can’t look away. It is like she has trapped me— and hell, it is not like I want to run.
She is making me feel something that I never expected from her, or from anyone right now. When I came back, I was focused on getting Valarie back into my life but now knowing that is not an option, I am feeling a shift in how I see Stevie.
Not that I am saying that Stevie is a second choice, but at the start she was never an option, and now she is.
“Walk with me. I have to hand these flyers out for the club.” I show them to her.
“Making you do a prospect’s job, huh?” She giggles, reaching for one.
Her fingers brush against mine, and her gaze shoots to mine. Shock flickers in her eyes— I know we both felt that little zap of electricity between us. It makes the hairs on my arms stand up and my balls ache.
Her cheeks tint pink, her lips part and so many dirty thoughts enter my head when she does this, but now is not the time to bring that up. There is nothing more I want to do than take her between the buildings and see how good she tastes.
Shaking the thoughts from my head for now, I start walking.
“Glory, come.” I tap my leg, and to my fucking surprise she listens.
Stevie scoffs behind me, then catches up to me, flicking Glory’s ear softly.
“I own you, pooch; you listen to me, not him. I feed you, buy you treats.”
Glory whines, like she is talking, and Stevie replies. They have a conversation and it is fucking hilarious to watch.
People smile at them as I hand out the club’s flyers, giving a short speech about who we are. Men nod and love a discount, and women smile at me.
Talking to Stevie while we walk feels natural, like we have not seen each other in years.
“How did you join the club?” she asks me, before reaching for some flyers. Smiling at passing people, she hands them one.
A group of passing men take a flyer from her, smiling and I frown, not liking them looking at her like she is a piece of meat. I catch the eye of one, arching a brow, and he averts his eyes while scurrying off.
“Logan.” God, I love my name on her lips.
“Sorry. When I left here, I felt lost. Got into more illegal street racing, and almost got caught but Rookie found me. He is a member of the Fort Lauderdale chapter, and he offered me a job at the club’s garage, after I told him I know all about cars and bikes.
If you remember, I can fix pretty much any vehicle. ” She nods.
“You always had grease under your nails. It used to drive Val crazy.” At the mention of my ex’s name, I feel her shift.
I stop walking, touching her arm, and she brings her gaze to mine.
“Hey, I am done with that part of my life. Her, I mean. Not so much the fixing cars.” I wink, making her smile again.
Seeing that smile makes my guarded heart skip. We used to say shit to Target when he told us how Madelyn made him feel but fuck, I am feeling it.
“So you two are not back together? I thought after what went down…” She stops speaking.