Chapter 29
Daisy
If there was anything to be said about Falcon, he was true to his word. Every morning, he woke me up with his face between my thighs and told me how perfect I was. It had been nearly a week since the party and we fell into a routine.
I was so wrapped up in the dreamy haze that I had put off asking him about checking out the strip club. I hadn’t wanted for anything. He made sure I had food, he took me shopping again with Lacy and Eagle, and he kept me by his side constantly, except when he was tattooing, doing club business, or in the secret little room.
“Hey, Falcon?” I asked as I leaned against the door frame to his station at the tattoo shop.
Without looking up from the tray he was prepping, he answered, “Yes, darlin’?”
“I love hanging out here with you, but I’d like to see about Mama Hen’s.”
He looked up, his face emotionless. He was like watching a deep river flow. He looked calm on the surface, but you knew that the current was roaring underneath. “Do you need something?”
I walked to him and he stopped what he was doing, so I stepped between his legs. He grabbed my hips and dug his fingers in. He always held me like he thought I’d slip away. In turn, I ran my fingers through his hair and tugged at the dark locks. His eyes closed and he hummed low. “I need my own money, Falcon. And I think you’ll get tired of me if I’m always around.”
“That’s not true.”
I scoffed. “Which part?”
“Both.” His sexy hazel eyes looked up and threatened to make me forget what I was trying to do.
“I know you take care of everything, but I’ve been working since I was eighteen. And everything that happened, with Tony, well…I need to feel like I have some kind of control of my life.”
“You do. You can do anything you want.”
I let go of his hair and tried to turn away. His grip tightened even more, and he stood up, staring down at me, so I asked, “What?”
“Don’t walk away mad.”
“Well, don’t say untrue things. It’s not like I can just grab my bag and go out.”
He wrapped me up in his arms and held me close. The light citrus notes I’d grown to love from his beard oil filled my nose. I wanted to be irritated at him, but he knew exactly how to diffuse me. And that actually irritated me more than what he said.
“Listen, if you want to work, fine. We need help around here.”
“You met me at a strip club. Don’t be that guy.”
“I’m not. If things were different, I’d drop you over there myself. But right now just isn’t a good time.”
“At least be man enough to say you just don’t want me to. I’d rather you be a possessive asshole than a liar.”
He grabbed my chin and forced my head up. His expression was still nearly calm, but I’d seen that fire in his eye before–when I accused him of holding me hostage. “I’m not a liar. You know that. It’s not safe.”
“You can’t protect me from the world, Falcon.”
He leaned down, his lips inches from mine. “I can and I will.”
I tried to push him away, but that was useless. He was like a brick wall. “From what? The same kinda guys that pop into strip clubs out of town with their friends on motorcycles?”
He grabbed my shoulders. “Daisy, listen to me. Shit’s up in the air right now and I can’t keep you safe if you’re not with me.”
“What shit? Shit that only the men in the little secret room get to know about? If someone is after you, or us, don’t you think it would be helpful if I knew? But I don’t believe you. I think you just don’t want me around other men and you won’t admit it.”
He pulled me close against him again and I struggled to get free. “Daisy, calm down.”
“Fine. Let me go.”
A knock came and Eagle popped his head around the corner. “Hey, man, sorry to break this up but your next appointment is here.”
“I’ll be right there,” he said. Once Eagle walked away, he still didn’t let me go. “We’ll talk later. I’m sorry I can’t make it better right now. I just need you to trust me.”
“Well, I’m still mad.” Barely. He made it impossible to stay mad. “And I want a phone. I have no money and no phone. I need a sliver of freedom. You say I can do what I want, but that’s not true.” I pushed against his chest again and he pressed his lips to the top of my head before he finally let me go. “I’ll be twiddling my thumbs in the break room if you need your concubine.”
I stomped down the hall and grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge before I plopped down on the sofa in the break room. There was a small TV, but I was tired of sitting around and I knew jack shit about working at a tattoo shop.
Maybe I could go to school? I didn’t have to dance. I just didn’t want to sit around and just be Falcon’s woman. Everything felt great, but even though I’d thrown caution to the wind, jumping in with both feet with him, he could change his mind. I’d seen my share of doomed relationships. He seemed into me now, but would he stay that way? There was no shortage of beautiful women around him all the time.
I was convinced that the mule of a man couldn’t admit he just didn’t want me to dance. It would be annoying, but at least it would have been honest. Fucking men and their egos. And all of these men had an abundance of it.
Looking around, I realized Eagle was here, but I hadn’t seen Lacy. I stood and stomped toward the front. I was totally digging the new biker girl look, but the boots were great for stomping around, too.
I shot a look into the room as I passed Falcon, but he was already working on placing the drawing on his client. Eagle looked up from the desk and smiled. “Hey, Daisy. You need something?”
“Where’s Lacy?”
He shrugged, then looked back at his tablet. “At the clubhouse. She said she gets bored here. She can do girly shit at the clubhouse all day.”
“You don’t drag her around everywhere?”
His brows rose as he looked up. “Uh, well…”
“Unbelievable. At least you’re not as crazy as he is.” Okay maybe not crazy but definitely possessive as fuck.
“Not many folks are, but what’s up?”
I smirked. “And honest, too. But leave it to me to fall for the crazy one.” I put my water down and leaned on the counter. “He makes me go everywhere with him and won’t let me work. ”
“We need help here. Want a job?”
I rolled my eyes. “No, thank you. That’s the problem. He’ll only let me be where he is.”
“That sounds like a conversation the two of you need to have.”
“I tried. Shot down.”
“He just wants to keep you safe. You’re precious to him.”
I let out a heavy sigh. “Damn it, Eagle. Why are all of you so slick talking?”
“It’s the cut,” he said with a wink as he grabbed at the leather.
I rolled my eyes again, but this time playfully. “I guess I’m stuck here for now. What do you need help with?”
He stood up and waved me around to sit in the chair he had just vacated. “This is our scheduler. We book ‘em, and we send two reminders. We got this fancy texting system now, so it’s easy work, but if someone doesn’t confirm, we call them. You’ve been around. Sometimes we have appointments for two hours, sometimes six. If someone doesn’t show up for a sitting, it fucks us.” He hit a few buttons then said, “And here’s our waitlist. If someone cancels or reschedules, we go down this list to see if we can get somebody in on the opening.”
“Like a dentist?” I asked.
“I guess.”
“I used to go every six months until…well, we couldn’t go anywhere.”
His eyes softened. “You and Lacy went through some fucked up shit.” He leaned down and gave me a tight smile. “He really is just trying to protect you. He can be overbearing, but that’s his charm.”
“I’m not sure you understand what charm means, Eagle.”
He spent a few more minutes going over the calendar and follow ups. Two of the other guys on staff came in and went down the hall. Only guys from the club worked there at Destiny’s Ink. These guys were serious about their club. I bet the strip club was called Destiny’s Poles. I hadn’t been to the bar yet, but I’d guess it was Destiny’s Drinks.
Who needs to strip? I could be a marketer or something. Laughing at myself, I didn’t notice Scar come to the counter. “You our new assistant?”
I turned in the seat. I didn’t understand why he was Scar; I didn’t see any scars. He was probably a little older than Falon, but he kept his brown hair short, and he had soft brown eyes and a warm smile. “I’m just helping for the day. What’s up?”
“Just like to look at my schedule. Can you print out the next few days for me?”
I looked at the screen for a minute then highlighted his schedule and found the print button. It popped out on the small printer next to me, so I passed it to him. “Here ya go.”
“Thanks, Daisy.”
Hmm. That was weird. He was nice, not gross. He asked for something and then thanked me. Man, my bar had really been set low. Maybe this wasn’t so bad, but Falcon still wasn’t off the hook. Even if it was one or two nights a week, I’d like to go to the strip club. I was almost certain I could make much more money in a night of dancing than what they’d pay me for a week working their scheduling and check-in.
Blaze walked to the front. “You working here now?” He also kept his hair shorter, but it was dirty blond and he had bright blue eyes. He was tall compared to the average man, but not as big as the rest of his brothers.
“I’m just helping out today. Need something?”
“I’m gonna be setting up. Just holler at me when my guy gets here.”
“Sure thing, Blaze.”
I sat at the desk for a few hours, helped check in clients, and sent out the automated messages for the next few days of appointments. I didn’t even realize how much time had passed until Falcon came up with his client.
“What’s up?” he asked with a bewildered look.
“Oh, I’m sorry. Is this a problem now?” Sarcasm dripped from the words as I waved my hands over the desk.
His jaw set and his client stifled a laugh. “Why don’t you go to my station while I check him out.”
“I can do it.” I turned to the computer. “Here we are. Your balance after deposit is $450. Is that cash or card today, sir?”
The man pulled his wallet out and handed me a stack of cash. I counted it out, clicked a few buttons, then the drawer opened. I pulled out his change. “Here you go, sir,” I said with the smile I used when I was asking if someone wanted a table dance.
“Keep it, doll. You got plans later?”
A vein in Falcon’s forehead popped and he was grinding his teeth. He leaned across me, his normal calm demeanor crumbling. I didn’t move, though, and stared at those beautiful eyes with a smirk on my face. He opened a drawer next to me and pulled out something small. He unwrapped a caramel and popped it in his mouth then stood back up. “Let me walk you outside.”
The guy wasn’t small by any means, but he wasn’t wearing a cut. I watched as they stopped outside on the sidewalk in front of the door. Falcon had his hand on the man’s shoulder. It would appear to any bystander that they were having a friendly conversation, but I could see Falcon’s fingers digging in. The man gave a serious nod. Then when Falcon let him go, he quickly made his way to his own bike.
Falcon walked back in and stopped at the desk. “Didn’t I ask you to go to my station?”
I crossed my arms and leaned in the chair. “No.”
He ran his hand over his beard. “I think I did, Daisy.”
Cocking my head, I said, “No. You told me to, and that was before you knew I could check him out.”
He tapped his knuckle on the counter, the only sign he was giving that he wasn’t his normal calm self. “Daisy, would you please join me in my station for a moment? ”
I stared at him for a few beats before I finally uncrossed my arms and stood, heading back towards his room. Once inside, he shut the door and walked toward me.
I put my chin out, but he still backed me against the wall. My stupid body was reacting all wrong. My nipples pebbled as his cut brushed against them through the thin material of my shirt, and his scent surrounded me.
“Why are you pouting, Daisy?” His question was low, and he was close enough for his breath to dance over my face. He still smelled like caramel.
“I’m not pouting. I’m mad. There’s a difference.”
This asshole kissed my forehead. Like that would work. Okay, maybe it did a little, but I wouldn’t tell him. “I know you’re bored. And I know you have questions. But I can’t tell you some things. I need you to trust me.”
“Club business, right?” This was what Jeannie and Mama Hen tried to explain.
“Yes.”
I turned my head. Now I was pouting a little. “Whatever. But why does Lacy get to stay at the clubhouse and I have to come here? You won’t let me get a job and drag me around like a toy.”
He grabbed my face and turned me to look at him. “You’re not a toy. You know that. I’m trying to protect you, Daisy.”
“From what? The clubhouse is probably safer than here.”
“But I’m not there all the time. ”
“You can’t be with me all the time.”
He let my face go and blew out a sigh. “You’re right. There’s gonna be times I can’t be with you. So, when I can, I want you with me.”
“Falcon, I love being around you. But I deserve space and to work if I want.” I’d always taken care of myself. And after everything with Tony, I needed to know I had some say in my life.
His hazel eyes danced over my face. “You do. But we’ll have to table this for now. I have another client coming and I need to clean up.”
He stood and stared so I shrugged. “What?”
“You gonna let me kiss you now?”
Damn this man. Of course I was. I stood on my toes and tilted my head up. He pressed his lips to mine in a chaste kiss. “I’m sorry we can’t resolve this now, but we will. I don’t want you to think I’m blowing this off, Daisy.”
I slipped my hands beneath his cut and pulled him close. “I know and I understand. I don’t expect your clients to wait for me.”
“If you really wanted them to, I’d make them.”
I believed he would. But I didn’t want to be that girl. Maybe later I could help him understand that he was being that girl.