Chapter 3 #2
After lacing up my shoes, I walk by the mirror to make sure nothing is hanging out and that all my lady parts are covered.
I’m in long, black, tight fitting running pants that hug my body, a black sports bra with a loose teal soft razorback shirt and matching teal shoes.
One thing I did learn in college was how to dress.
My roommate was a fashion expert and gifted me her clothes every few months that she designed and made.
She taught me how to dress for every occasion.
Her thoughts on being stuck with a computer geek was that I was her blank canvas during our four years of college.
I was resistant at first but quickly found that she didn’t take no for an answer easily.
Quietly as possible I walk out to my car and see the kitchen lights on in the main house.
My mom is the trophy wife of the mayor of Sweetwater which has her out late attending a lot of social gatherings and such, so I know that she’s not the one prowling around this early in the morning.
Dennis was elected four years ago and is said to be making some changes around the town that everyone loves.
As I unlock my car I hear a throat being cleared.
“Morning, Raegan.” I turn toward the voice calling out.
“Morning, Dennis,” I say in return and continue to the car.
“You know if you want to work out, we have a gym in the house you can use.”
“Yeah, I know, but I prefer the fresh air,” I say with a tight smile.
“Okay, have a good day. Oh, I know your mother is planning some early dinner thing tonight at The Slanted Porch around six.”
Wonderful, just what I needed. An evening socializing with the elite of the town is not my cup of tea.
“Thanks Dennis, I’ll talk to her when I get back,” I mutter. I really want to roll my eyes but refrain.
“Sure, honey. See you tonight,” he quips then hops into his truck and pulls out of the driveway.
After getting into the car, I drive to Fraley Park this morning to change up my routine.
I try to alternate different parks in Sweetwater so I don’t get bored running the same path.
After parking in a spot I reach in my console grabbing my earbuds.
Once I have those in place, I secure my keys and phone in the back pocket of my pants and start my run.
I found that after moving to Seattle with my dad in high school, running really helped clear my thoughts and pushing myself was a way to release stress and frustration.
After a while, my body starts getting into a rhythm with the beat of the music playing in my ears.
My body feels good and alive. I zone out the world, clearing my mind.
It isn’t until the halfway mark where I turn around that I notice a motorcycle following me.
What in the hell? Slowing my pace to an almost stop forces the motorcycle to stop as well.
“What the hell? Are you stalking me now?” I question, a little mad that my stride was interrupted by this man.
“Wildcat, I was just out for my morning ride when I spotted you. No need to call the police,” Kane jokes with a smirk on his handsome face and a new ballcap turned around on his head.
“Riiight,” I sarcastically say.
“Are you running back to Newman Park?”
“No, I’m at Fraley Park this morning. Why?”
“Just wondering where I need to avoid.” He shrugs with a devious smile. “What are your plans later today?”
“Thought you said we should steer clear of each other,” I say, throwing his words back at him.
“Maybe so, but we both know that you’ll have a hard time staying away from a stud like me.”
His statement makes me roll my eyes and hold in a laugh. Seems to me that he is the one having the hard time.
“Is that so?” I sass with a raised eyebrow.
“Well, I’m just trying to find a compromise since I don’t want to have to involve the police about you stalking me around town.”
I love that this intimidating tattooed man who sits at six foot three with light brown hair, and two-day old stubble with muscles who could crush bones with the flick of his wrist, is joking with me on the side of a road at six-thirty in the morning.
He is like the escape that I’ve needed in my life.
“Want to get some coffee down at the diner?”
“Sorry, but I need to get back and hit the bed since I haven’t slept yet,” I tell him. “Maybe another morning when you stalk me.” I wink.
“You haven’t slept yet?”
I shake my head, “No, I was working all night. I’m a bit of a night owl.”
“What do you do for work that would keep you up all night?”
“Oh, you know, a little of this and that.”
“That’s a very vague answer, Wildcat.”
“Well, a girl can’t reveal everything about herself in one meeting now can she, Stud,” I toss back which makes him chuckle.
“You’re one interesting woman, Raegan.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment, Kane.” I smile back.
“I need to get going if I plan on getting any significant amount of sleep or else the monster comes out of me,” I rib, but am half serious.
If I don’t get at least six hours I become a completely different person.
Grumpy Cat has nothing on me. “My mom has this thing that I have to attend tonight, and if I don’t come presentable then she’ll disown me.
See ya around.” I lean in and get woodsy and leather smell from him and it’s intoxicating.
I can’t help myself, so I place a small peck on his stubble and make sure not to linger too long.
Not wanting to give him too much attention, I tap my earbuds and take off towards Fraley Park.
The entire time I can’t help but think about Kane and the way we banter back and forth.
I think we could really be great friends if he would allow it.
I know Beckett being an ex is a bit of a complication, but I don’t see how that has to affect the two of us.
Beckett and I have been over for years and are never going down that path again.
When I get back to the house, I’m exhausted and can’t even bring myself to shower so I make sure the blackout curtains are in place then throw myself on top of the covers falling into a peaceful sleep dreaming of blue eyes, backward hats, and Harleys.
* * *
I park my bike up at the clubhouse, after my encounter with Raegan this morning I’m in a much better mood.
I wasn’t looking for her when I ventured out on my ride this morning, but I sure as shit spotted her running down the street when I was heading back in.
Not being able to help myself, I slowed my pace and tried to keep my distance, but when she turned she caught me red-handed.
Fuck, this girl is messing with my perfectly scripted life.
I can’t even get any stress relief without her ruining it.
Last night after dropping her off, I went searching for Havoc to have a chat about the situation with him and Raegan.
I found him sloppy drunk trying to fuck one of the club girls by the pool table.
Riot was at the bar chasing back a beer, so I strolled over to him for some answers not wanting to interrupt a man and his mission for pussy.
“Is he going to be alright?” I point over at Havoc and Candy.
“Yeah, I think seeing her in the flesh tonight brought up some old wounds, but I think he’ll be fine. He just took out a lot of aggression on our Viper guest and the prospects, so I think he’ll be alright.”
“What the fuck did he do?” I question.
“We spoke for a bit and then Twitch started asking what we wanted to do with the Viper in the shed, so Havoc went all cowboy in there.”
“Jesus.”
“At least he was able to get a few things out of him before cutting his throat.” Riot shrugs continuing to drink his beer.
Typical Havoc. He has always been good at extracting information out of rival club members.
It’s one of the good qualities that makes him a great VP.
If anyone is going to get them to talk, it’s him.
Some may think he’s a sick bastard for some of the things he does to a person’s body, but it works in our favor.
Even I’ve cringed a few times when watching him.
Yeah, he might be the most needy and insecure man when women are involved, but he’s one hell of a club member.
Once business starts, he’s laser focused and all business.
“And the prospects?” God, I hope we still have some after this.
“Oh, he just made them watch then threatened them. They all looked a little green when leaving, so I think we’re good on that front.” He chuckles and I can only imagine what must be going through some of their heads.
“What happened with him and Raegan?” I pry.
“It’s not really my story to tell.” He finishes off the rest of his beer then waves for the prospect behind the bar to get him another one.
He downs that one just as quickly. “But fuck it.” He turns and looks across the room.
“They were together for a year when they had a fight. I left to give them some space to work it out. Hours later, I came back and there were empty liquor bottles everywhere. I heard noises coming from his room so I figured they made up, but the next morning I got woken up to screaming. I got dressed and stomped out to the living room and saw Debbie there with no clothes on looking like she was suffering from the worst hangover ever. Havoc came out in only his boxers looking just as nasty as she was. He was yelling and screaming for her to leave and that last night was a mistake. She tried to argue that he was begging her for it and saying how much he wanted her. None of us even noticed the front door was open and Raegan was standing there with a bag of breakfast in her hand. I still remember look on her face.” He shakes his head as if to rid the memory.
“I don’t think I’ll ever forget it. I knew right then that there was no way for them to work it out.
She’d been a virgin, and he was letting her set the pace.
She was always worried that he’d get tired of waiting around for her. ”
“Well, shit,” I say.