Chapter Seven #2
We pulled into the parking lot at The Riptide Rest , and I parked my bike alongside those of the other Riptide brothers.
Looked like a full house tonight, which was good.
I wanted to show off Sophia, and at the same time I wanted her to be safe.
It was unlikely anyone would be insane enough to try to get to her on Riptide turf.
I held out my hand, and we walked to the entrance with our fingers entwined like a pair of giddy school kids. It felt good.
I held the door open for her like a Goddamn fucking gentleman, which drew the attention of Beast. Looked like he’d drawn bouncer duty tonight, although “duty” might be pushing it a bit. He had a bar bunny sitting on his lap, hand feeding him French fries dipped in a puddle of ketchup.
“Look who came out to play!” Beast shooed the woman off his lap and stood up. “And you brought this poor creature you’ve tricked into thinking she wants to spend time with you.”
“Nice to see you too, Beast. I believe you met Sophia back at the house when her dad tried to kill me.”
“Yes, I did.” Beast gave me a sideways smirk, bowing his head to Sophia. “If you get tired of this guy, let me know. I’m available.”
I gave him a good-natured cuff across the side of the head. “She adores me, so keep your hands to yourself.”
“You adore him?” Beast shook his head, pretending to be shocked. “No accounting for taste.” He turned his attention to me. “Get it? No accounting?”
I rolled my eyes. “Funny. Now go back to playing with your friend while we get some adult type beverages.” I led Sophia to an empty booth at the side of the dance floor. “What would you like to drink?”
“Beer, please.” She looked a little unnerved as she surveyed the patrons. “Are these guys all bikers?”
The place was hopping. A couple were up on the karaoke stage, crooning a duet, and over in the far corner, a crowd was cheering a guy on the mechanical bull. Just then the bull dumped him on the ground and the crowd groaned in unison.
“Nah. Some are bikers. The rest are just regular guys looking to blow off steam at the end of the work week.” I held up my hand and motioned the server to bring us over a couple of beers.
“That looks like fun.” Sophia nodded at the mechanical bull.
“It is when you’re twenty. Now it’s more fun to watch the youngsters get dumped off.”
She raised her brows, a smile curving her luscious lips. “Look at you being all mature and careful.”
The server maneuvered her way between the dancers and placed two bottles of beer on the table. “You want glasses for those?”
I looked at Sophia, who shook her head.
“Bottles are fine,” I said. “Run us a tab, would you, Sherry?”
“No problem, Deuce. Enjoy.” She was halfway back to the bar by the time she answered. I twisted the caps off the beer and handed one to Sophia.
“She seems nice.” Sophia took a long pull on her beer.
“You’re not jealous, are you?”
Sophia snorted. “Not a chance.”
That kind of stung. “Not even a little?
She shook her head. “Nope.”
“How come?”
She grinned. “She has a ring on her finger and someone else’s name tattooed on her arm.”
“Oh.” I knew Sherry and the mechanic next door were an item, but I didn’t realize it was that serious.
“So what was that quip about at the door?” She tilted her head.
I frowned, not sure what she meant.
“What Beast said. No accounting for taste.”
“Oh that. I’m a CPA, and the guys like to kid me about it.”
She looked surprised. “As in Certified Public Accountant?”
I nodded and took a swig of my beer.
She frowned. “How do you go from CPA to bad boy biker?”
“In my case, by way of the Navy SEALs. I got bored pushing papers in a cubicle and joined up. Thought I’d get to see the world and be a hero.
I did a few tours with Ace, Rattler, and some of the other guys.
Found out being a hero isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
It’s ninety percent boredom with about ten percent terrifying action.
Living like that for years does something to you.
When I mustered out, I found I couldn’t go back to the office routine.
Maybe PTSD, or maybe just life.” I shrugged.
“Didn’t go the therapy route, but something in me changed.
I can’t do the suit and tie, sit behind a desk, and punch numbers thing anymore.
Just can’t. I’m good with looking after Riptide’s investments and things.
They don’t expect to see me in a tie, and they’re fine with me sitting outside with my laptop and a beer while I work on it.
Officially, I’m the club treasurer. I keep my designation up to date, but that’s it.
Can’t see me ever going back to four walls and a clock. ”
I watched her face, wondering how she would take that. Most people thought I was crazy. CPAs made a shitload of money.
Sophia nodded slowly. “My dad’s kind of the same way.
He’s got a bachelor’s degree in business administration, but I don’t remember him ever using it.
He’s always just been Dad. He raised me himself as best he could.
Set up the homestead and kind of withdrew from the world.
” She narrowed her eyes, as if searching for words.
“He has trust issues, hence the prepper lifestyle. He doesn’t want to have to rely on anyone, ever. ”
“Except you.”
She nodded. “Except me. The fact he approves of you is huge. I can’t believe he agreed to stay at your clubhouse.”
“I’m not so sure he approves of me, but him and Jake seem to be getting along pretty good. They seem to be good for each other. Mom likes him too, which is telling. She has a second sense about people.”
“I haven’t met either of them, have I?”
I shook my head. “No. They live at the clubhouse and don’t go out much.”
Sophia grinned. “Do I get to see this clubhouse sometime, or is it off-limits to females?”
“Not necessarily off-limits, but some of the parties get rowdy. The young guys don’t have a lot of inhibitions. Not sure you’d be comfortable with it.”
“You mean there’s naked people running around having sex on the kitchen table?”
“Like I said, parties can get pretty wild.”
Sophia just looked at me. “And you have a mom who’s okay with that?”
“She’s not my mom. We just call her that. And she and Jake usually make themselves scarce when the parties get out of hand.”
“Oh.” She lifted the beer to her mouth and took a long swig.
I watched her lips as they formed a circle around the top of the bottle. Fuck, I envied that bottle.
She cocked her head. “You want to dance?”
“Sure.” I’d never pass up an opportunity to hold her in my arms. I put my beer down and stood, extending a hand to her.
She grasped it and bounced to her feet.
I led her onto the dance floor and turned to face her.
Wrapping her arms around my neck, she clasped her hands together and melted against me. Someone was crooning a slow song, and I couldn’t quite make the words out over the noise in the bar, but I didn’t care. My world was complete.
We swayed in time to the music, and I closed my eyes, resting my chin on her head. She fit me perfectly, and the subtle smell of our earlier activities teased my nostrils. If I had any persuasive skills at all, there would be a repeat performance when I took her home.
The song ended, and someone started a lively jazz tune. That was the risk of karaoke. No continuity. One song jazz, the next one pop, and then you find yourself trying to dance to a country ballad.
Sophia was up to the challenge, her face flushed as she sashayed her way around the floor.
I grinned as the other dancers cleared the way for Sophia and me to show off our moves.
Considering this was the first time we’d danced together, we put on a stellar show.
When the song ended, the spectators gave us a rousing round of applause.
I pulled Sophia into my arms and blazed a sensuous kiss across her lips. Raising herself on her toes, she kissed me right back, earning raucous hoots and cheers from my Riptide brothers. She was going to fit into our self-made family just fine.
I led her back to the booth, both of us out of breath from our exertions. Waving my hand in the air, I signaled Sherry for another round of beers.
We both slid into the same side, and I laid my hand on her thigh, needing to feel the physical connection. Yeah, I was that far gone. “Where did you learn to dance?”
A slight smile ghosted across her face. “Dad has some old movies we’d watch on a VHS player at night. Fred Astaire. Ginger Rogers. Elvis Presley. He loved musicals and I’d watch them and imitate the dancers.”
“You had a good childhood, didn’t you?”
She nodded. “I did. Even though my mother deserted us, I always felt loved and wanted. Dad made sure of that.” She paused. “I think that might be why I’ve never had much luck with dating. Subconsciously, I compare the guy to my dad, and they always come up short.”
“Do I come up short?” I wasn’t sure I wanted to hear the answer.
She shook her head. “A knight on a shining motorcycle who rides up to rescue me from kidnappers in the nick of time? I think you managed to wow my subconscious into silence.”
I puffed out my chest in a pretense of victory. “I applaud your subconscious. Very observant.”
Sophia laughed, her eyes sparkling. “So, when do I get to see you ride the mechanical bull?”
I snorted. “Not gonna happen.”