STACEY
It was hard, but I was trying my best not to look at the clock every five minutes. I knew he’d be here soon, just like he’d been every day over the last year, ever since I’d started working back at the diner.
“He’s running late,” Jenny nudged my shoulder as she came to a stop by the table I was pretending to clean as I looked out the window. Throwing a look over my shoulder at the clock, I saw it was just gone three; he was usually here by now.
“Maybe something came up,” I shrugged casually. I mean, it was possible; he was the President of the local Motorcycle Club. He definitely had more important things to do than come and see me at the diner on the shifts I worked. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed, though. Not that I expected anything from Maestro, but I’d got used to the friendship we’d built over the last year and a bit, ever since he’d beaten the shit out of my ex. He also thought that I didn’t know it, but I knew he’d arranged for the club lawyer to represent me in our divorce, ensuring that I’d got what was deserved, although I’m sure the fact that Grudge was caught up in a bar fight and ended up killing a man helped the divorce push through quickly.
It had taken a few months for me to pull myself together after the divorce was finalised. Once I’d got the all-clear from the doctors on my test after the last STD Grudge had given me, only then did I really start living again. I realised how much I’d missed the woman I’d been before life and a waste-of-space husband had worn me down.
With the scholarship for Kyle that I’m sure came from Maura and Cash, although both denied it, I hadn’t pushed for information. But if they both happened to get extra hard hugs and baked goods every time I saw them, that was neither here nor there.
Rosie was more settled now that our house wasn’t a war zone where we were constantly treading on eggshells around Grudge. Thankfully, he hadn’t been around much the last year of our marriage.
Just yesterday, I’d treated myself to a trip to the salon and had a couple of inches cut off; it was still long, touching my backside, but it felt so much lighter. I’d also had them add a few highlights. It had been a long time since I’d felt attractive, but I was slowly coming back to myself. I’d been sad that I’d had to put it into a braid, but I didn’t like it loose when I worked. I’d also bought myself a new red top, a colour that I loved but hadn’t worn in years, and paired that with my jeans and boots that I wore to work as we didn’t have a uniform. I felt good for the first time in years. Even Rosie had noticed the difference when I’d taken her to school this morning. She’d told me I looked hot. Too hot to be working at the diner.
I’d laughed and thanked her; the good feeling had followed me around all day.
My musing was broken by the sound of pipes coming down the road. Ignoring the flutter that settled low in my belly, I tried my hardest to keep the smile from my face, but it was impossible. He was here.
Jenny laughed low as she bumped me gently with her hip on her way past me to the kitchen. “There’s your man.”
“Sheesh,” I swatted at her with my dishtowel, “he’s not my man.”
“Maybe not, but he wants to be,” she sang as she pushed through the doors that led into the kitchen.
“He does not,” I informed her, my cheeks on fire from both her words and my stupid heart wishing that was true. With as late as it was in the afternoon, the diner was quiet, with only Old Man Baker sitting at the counter, drinking his coffee and having a slice of pie. He was used to me and Jenny messing around, so I knew he wouldn’t have been paying attention to our conversation.
Fanning my burning cheeks, I watched as Maestro removed his helmet and turned to say something to Cash. Other than their height and similar physique, the two friends were like night and day. Maestro, with his olive skin and dark beard, which he kept neat and tidy, was at odds with his bald head. He had full sleeves of colourful tattoos on his muscular arms. Cash, while also tatted up, was blonde and clean-shaven. He’d been with Maestro’s sister, Lizzie, since they were in their early twenties. It was because of their relationship and the one I witnessed between Maura and Thor that I realised how badly I was treated in my marriage, and I was done putting up with it.
Biting my lip, I held back a groan as Maestro stood up and got off his bike. If I nearly whimpered as the muscles played in his thighs at the movement, there was no one to witness it.
Quickly, before he could notice me watching him, I turned away from the table I’d been standing at and hurried to the counter where we kept the spare cutlery and napkins that needed rolling and adding to tables. The bell on the door rang as they pushed through, laughing at something together. Whirling away from my task, I smiled wide at them, “Hi, I wondered if you were going to make it today.”
A guttural ‘Holy fuck’ was uttered by one of them; I’m not sure which. Although I had a feeling it was Maestro as Cash didn’t see other women.
Cash shoved at Maestro to get him out of the doorway, and it seemed to shake him out of whatever had him standing stuck.
“Looking good, doll,” Cash grinned, bussing me on the cheek as he walked past towards their table at the back. The one that was kept permanently reserved for them as this was their diner.
“Thanks,” I replied before turning back to Maestro, who still hadn’t said anything.
“Fuck, babe,” he wiped a hand down his face, “took me back twenty years walking in here and seeing you like that. Dressed nearly the same as the first day I saw you. Didn’t have a chance with you then. But, baby, I’m warning you, I’m coming for you. I’ve waited over twenty years to call you mine and I’m coming for you whether you’re ready or not.”
He'd walked closer and closer until I was up against the serving counter with nowhere to go, my heart beating like a drum in my chest, my mouth dry as I stared at him, wondering if I’d heard him right.
Encasing me in his arms, I leant back, eyes wide as I met his dark gaze that was seething with heat. Bending his head, his mouth close to my ear, he whispered, “Do you understand, baby?”
Gulping, I nodded, “I think so.”
“Need you to know, baby, I’ve wanted you for a long time, so you’ve got to be sure. I’ve waited for you to be ready, but seeing you like this today, I can’t hold back any longer. I’ll pick you up tonight at eight. We’re going out with Cash and Lizzie, nowhere fancy, just to the bar. You’ll be comfortable there.”
Licking my suddenly dry lips, I nodded. He groaned and pressed up against me; my eyes shot wide open as I realised that he was rock hard against my belly.
“Feel what you do to me, baby?”
Nodding again, slightly stunned that this gorgeous man seemed to have been carrying a torch for me, and I’d never realised it.
“We’ll take this slow because I doubt this part of your marriage was good for you, but I promise you now that I’ll make sure from here on out you only ever feel good.”
Still stunned at this turn of events, I could only nod even as heat flooded my belly and my clit pulsed with each word he whispered in my ear. I’d never felt like this with anyone, definitely not with Grudge. Like I was on the brink of an orgasm and all he’d done was talk to me.
Pushing himself off the counter and away from me, I slowly straightened, and my wide-eyed gaze met his eyes. Then fluttered closed as he pressed a kiss to my forehead.
“Eight o’clock tonight, baby, you’re on the back of my bike. Okay?”
“Okay,” I whispered back in agreement, still wondering if this was a dream.
One last kiss, this time to the corner of my mouth, he turned to leave, calling out to Cash, “Let’s go.”
Standing up from the table where he must have been watching us, he smirked at me as he walked past.
“Glad to see he finally made his move, pretty lady. He’s been in love with you for a long time. Don’t break his heart.”
The two of them left, leaving me standing in stunned silence until Jenny came out from the kitchen, squealing in delight, shouting, “Finally, he made his move. We were wondering if he ever would.”
“Who’s we?” I asked in surprise.
“All the MC, we’ve got bets going on. Girl, we’ve known for years you were with the wrong man. Soon you’ll be back to wearing one of these again,” she tapped her property cut. Before whirling around, shouting, “I have to let Buck know that we’re going to the bar tonight.”
“Oh, Jesus,” I muttered, pressing my head to the counter.
“‘Bout time that man made his move. I was getting tired of watching him come in here mooning over you every day,” Old Man Baker suddenly said, getting up from his chair and throwing some cash on the counter. “Glad to see you found yourself a good one this time.”