Iceman
Throughout the tour, I knew something was bothering Meadow. She wasn’t her usual self. She tried to act interested and to engage, but it wasn’t the same. I decided to save showing my house site until it was just us and she was in a better frame of mind.
Her sisters, however, were in awe of the compound and were more than enthusiastic in their remarks and admiration. I roped Loki and Renegade into watching over them while we were doing my PT session. I knew no one would hurt them in the clubhouse, but that didn’t mean someone might not come on to them. Those two knew how Meadow felt about it. When they offered to come along for the tour to help, I said sure. I was glad I did. They helped me answer the hundred questions the girls had.
By the time we went inside, more people were home, and some were gathered in the common area. The few who had met them hollered out hello. We left them to be introduced to the others. The fact that Meadow didn’t tell my friends to behave or to watch them told me she was definitely distracted. I didn’t say anything until we were in the gym. There was no one in there at the moment. The other members tended to stay out while it was my time. I swung her around to face me.
“Talk to me,” I demanded.
“Talk to you about what?”
“Why you’re barely here? You’re upset. I want to know why. Did that fucker Scott give you problems at work?” I swear if he did, I was putting my fist in his mouth.
She sighed. “I’m sorry, Jake. I’ve been awful. I wanted to come here and see everything and relax with you. Yes, I’m upset. And Scott was the least of my irritations today. I’m pretty sure I won’t have a job tomorrow. And you know what? I don’t care. It’s not worth putting up with that hell.”
I took her hand and drew her over to sit on a bench press with me. “Tell me what happened. Start from the beginning.”
She started out reluctantly, but when she got started, it began to flow out of her. I listened in astonishment, then anger, as she told me what Joni had said to her and almost did. Then she filled me in about how everyone stared and whispered all day, a few asked questions, and how the director wasn’t in for her to talk to. Then, Scott came in and tried not only to get her to date him to shut up Joni but to warn her about me once again. My ice shield developed some cracks due to my anger and wanting to vent.
By the time she was finished, she had her head lying against my shoulder, and she’d sagged into me. “Jake, all I want to do is make people better, to do my job. I don’t want this drama with Scott or Joni. At least he’s kept it between us. She’s obvious with her dislike of me.”
“Babe, I don’t blame you, but it’s out of your control. Either they’re made to control themselves by their boss, or they learn hard lessons that teach them that or face the consequences. Scott is no better in my books. His keeping it between you is his way of trying to force you to have a better opinion of him. His true nature will show once we’re done with my treatments and we’re publically together. He won’t be like he has been. You have to be prepared for that. I don’t trust him, Meadow.”
“You could be right, and I’ll be alert, I promise. Speaking of your sessions, I wanted to ask you something. We said we’d do the last one tomorrow night. Honestly, if you’re okay with it, I’d like to make this the last one. It’s not like I won’t be around to help you or show you things if you need it. I hate to ask it, but it’s less hassle if we can.”
“Honey, I’d love it. I’m good. I worked today, and it went well. I watched what I did, but other than general soreness from disuse, everything feels alright.”
“Why don’t you tell me what you did at work while I do my final evaluation? I’ll be doing various hands-on manipulations and things instead of you performing your regular exercises. But if you did physical work today, you probably had enough.”
As she moved my arm, bent it, pressed in various spots, and asked me questions, I recounted what I did at the job site. When she was done doing those, she had me demonstrate some range of motion and strength exercises. She kept dividing her time between watching and typing on her tablet.
I was stoked to have this be the final treatment. It would remove any restraints on us holding back from each other and allow us to be seen publicly together in a more-than-friendly way. I dared people to run their mouths. Despite her telling me she could handle Scott Harrison, I planned to have a talk with the bastard myself. I’d ask Outlaw to get me his home address. I wouldn’t do it at her work. We needed privacy. Depending upon what he said or did would determine if it remained a chat or if things got physical. Personally, I wouldn’t mind punching him.
My desire to hit him wasn’t because he dared ever to feel attracted to her. I bet there were tons of men who were or had been. I couldn’t blame them. It was the fact he was continuing to push when she made it clear there was no attraction on her side and would never be.
Time sped by, and it seemed we’d only been at it for a short time when she called it to an end. I wasn’t nearly as sweaty as usual but dirty from work. Knowing I’d need one after this, I hadn’t bothered to shower.
“That’s it, Jake. You’ve done an outstanding job. I can tell you put in the work even on the days I wasn’t with you. You’ve made it through this in about half the time I expected. Great job.” Her smile and look of pride in me was apparent. It made me feel proud.
I walked over to her. “I need a shower, coach. Would you be willing to keep me company while I do? I promise you can sit and talk while I wash. I know now isn’t the time for fooling around. We need to join your sisters, but I’d love to have you with me. I swear I’ll be quick.”
“Since you put it that way, then yes. I’d love to do more, but my sisters can’t be left alone. Who knows what trouble they could cause.”
As we went to my room, I had to chuckle and tease her about thinking her sisters would be the trouble rather than one or more of my brothers. She told me I didn’t know their devilish sides, which made me wonder what hers was like.
Less than twenty minutes later, we entered the common room. I was freshly showered, and Meadow was freshly and thoroughly kissed. The noise level was loud. I heard shouting and groans. Curious about the cause, we walked further into it and saw a bunch of people gathered around a table in the middle of the room. I figured her sisters were in the crowd watching whatever was happening, so I led Meadow that way. It wasn’t until we pushed to the front that I discovered I was half wrong. Sage and Aspen were there, but they were part of the attraction.
They were seated at the table with Loki and Renegade, along with Vex, Predator, and Stalker. There were cards and money on the table. I was about to chew my brothers out for playing what was clearly poker with them when it clicked that the girls had stacks of money in front of them, and the guys were almost out. I heard Meadow sigh.
“Why’re you sighing?” I asked.
“I should’ve thought of this and warned you and your club. Under no circumstances should you play cards with my sisters. If you do, be prepared to lose your money every time. I’ll make them give it back.”
She opened her mouth, but I put my hand over it. Her gaze jumped back to me, and she scrunched her eyebrows in confusion.
“My brothers are adults. If they play, they take the consequences. Don’t make them give it back. The guys won’t take it anyway.” I lifted my hand away.
“But I feel awful that I didn’t warn anyone,” she muttered.
“Goddamn, you two are dangerous with the cards. Where did you learn to play like that?” Stalker demanded to know as he threw his hand of cards on the table. He was out of the game.
“I’m out, too. Tell us how,” Vex added as he folded.
There was silence as those still in the game studied the twins, trying to see if they had tells. They appeared sweet and clueless. Finally, the remaining ones placed their final bets, and the cards were turned over. There were loud groans and gentle swearing since some kids were in the room. The girls raked in the pot. They won again. I wondered if they did as well when playing individually.
The clambering from those at the table with them and those gathered around to know their secret had Meadow pressing forward and around until she was standing behind them, almost protectively. Like she thought if the club didn’t like their answer, she’d have to defend them from a physical attack. I slid over to stand next to her. I knew she had nothing to worry about, but hoped to put her at ease.
She leaned down to hiss in her sisters’ ears. “That’s enough. You need to stop.”
“It’s fine. They won it fair and square,” I reminded them.
“We told them that we were really great at cards and that they shouldn’t play against us, but they insisted,” Sage told her big sister.
“That’s right, we did, Meadow,” Aspen added.
“Meadow, it’s true. They warned us, and we told them to play anyway. We went into this of our own free will. No one forced us. We want to know how they learned to play like that and if they can teach us how. As far as we can see, they have no tells,” Loki added to assure my woman that no one was upset.
“They seem to know what the other has, so they never bet against each other. It’s incredible,” Stalker said.
“Go on. Tell them why you win, and hopefully, they’ll steer clear of you two if we’re allowed back, that is,” Meadow grumbled.
“We’re sorry. We didn’t mean to take all that money. As for how we learned, Meadow actually taught us. We learned to pay attention to what others throw away and ask for,” Sage told them.
“Meadow taught you how to count cards?” Renegade asked.
“It’s not exactly card counting, just being observant and knowing what’s been discarded,” my woman protested.
“In real casinos, they call it card counting. So if you ever go to one, don’t do it. It’ll get you banned or worse. What about not betting against each other? Do you have a signal we didn’t see?” Predator asked.
I saw the twins turn their heads and stare at each other for several moments. Then, they barely squirmed before they turned back to the table. I wondered what that meant.
“We don’t have a signal. It’s not like that. We’re identical twins. For us, there are things we just sense or know sometimes. We can feel what the other is feeling. It’s like our minds and bodies are connected,” Sage told them.
Aspen added onto it as if they were speaking as one. “We can tell by our feelings if the other has a good or bad hand. It’s not something we intentionally do. It just happens.”
“Wait, wait. You can feel emotions and sense what the other is thinking. That shit is real? I thought it was made-up crap,” Stalker muttered.
“We don’t know if others can since we’ve never talked to other twins, but we do. We’ve always been able to do it, haven’t we, Meadow,” Aspen added.
Meadow nodded. “Yes, they’ve done it since birth. If we separated them from the same crib, they’d cry until they were together. When one got hurt, the other would come to tell us, even if they weren’t together when it happened. They can’t keep lies from each other. There are dozens of examples I could give.”
“Whoa, that’s freaky, but it could be cool. You have to tell us more. And since we’re broke, it looks like now is a good time,” Renegade teased.
And like I knew it would go, the guys were joking and asking them questions right and left. No one was angry over the money.
“Babe, let them have fun. You come with me so I can introduce you to some others, and we can have a drink.”
When Meadow saw no one was angry at her sisters, she let me lead her away, and we relaxed. I wanted her and her sisters to feel safe with all of my club because, now that she was with me, even if she wasn’t officially my old lady yet, they were family.
???
The time with the club last night had gone great. I’d escorted the ladies home, even if they protested. Loki and Renegade came with me. They told the women it was to make sure my delicate ass made it back in one piece. As they laughed, I told them to go fuck themselves. This made the Lefevre sisters giggle and tease us that we were all delicate. I left Meadow with a kiss and a promise. I’d be spending the night tonight with her at her place. The twins would be staying with a friend for the night, so we’d have the whole apartment to ourselves. I couldn’t wait.
I hadn’t bothered to ask it last night, but today, while I had a few minutes at work, I called Outlaw. He answered thankfully.
“Hey, Iceman, what’s up? I heard we missed some fun at the clubhouse last night. Tell Meadow and her sisters we’ll catch them next time. Melody wasn’t feeling well. We think she’s getting a cold. Now, tell me why you’re calling me. Who do I need to find?”
“I’ll tell them, and we understand. I hope Melly feels better soon. As for what I need, it’s easy. Just an address for a guy who works with Meadow. His name is Scott Harrison. He’s a nurse supervisor there.”
“Damn, I thought it would be something hard,” he grumbled.
“You have enough hard work on your hands trying to find that bastard Bosch for Player. If this requires you to do a lot of work to find Harrison’s address, then forget it. I don’t want to take you away from the important shit.” I hadn’t even thought of him working on that case.
“It won’t take me long. Besides, it’ll serve as a palate cleanser to get my mind off Bosch. The fucker is frustrating me. Give me a half hour, but I should have it faster than that. If I don’t, then I owe you a beer.”
“You got it. And thanks.”
“Can I ask what Harrison is doing that makes you want his address?”
“He wants Meadow, and despite being told more than once that she’s not interested in dating him, he still pushes. Now he’s warning her to stay away from me and my dangerous club.”
Outlaw snorted. “Yeah, we’re dangerous to people who go around hurting and killing innocents, our friends, and our family. Meadow and her sisters aren’t one of those, so they’re safe. Try not to put him in the hospital if you can. If you can’t, make sure it doesn’t blow back on you,” he cautioned.
“I don’t intend to beat him. Just talk.”
“Talks can turn into more. Just be careful.”
“I will, and thanks a million, Outlaw. I owe you.”
“Yes, you do, and I’ll think of payment,” he joked before hanging up.
With that in the works, I went back to my work. I was installing drywall today. Not my favorite thing to do. I’d rather construct walls and other things, but it had to be done, and I was fast and good at it. Luckily, I wasn’t the only one doing it, so the job was moving along quickly. It was an office building we were renovating in town. We got a decent mixture of commercial and residential work.
Later, my cell phone rang. When I answered, I noted that it had been twenty-two minutes since I hung up with Outlaw, and his name was on the caller ID. I grinned as I answered.
“Let me guess, you’re stumped and calling to beg for more time,” I teased.
“Hell no, ass, I’m calling with the information you want, but if you’re gonna insult me, I’ll keep it,” was his comeback.
I chuckled. “Outlaw, you know I’m only kidding. Man, I gotta tell Tarin to sex you up extra nice tonight. You’re getting crabby.”
“My Jewel sexes me up more than adequately, bastard. I’ve got the address. It took me longer than I planned to make sure there wasn’t a roommate or anyone else living with him. As far as I can tell, he lives alone. You’re welcome. Your payment will be doubled now for that sex crack. I’ll text it to you,” he mockingly grumbled. I knew he wasn’t truly upset with me.
“Thank you, and I’ll pay double,” I promised.
He and I said goodbye before hanging up. It was less than a minute when my phone made a dinging sound. It was the address. If I hadn’t planned to stay with Meadow tonight, I would’ve gone to see Scott. However, there was no way I’d postpone seeing her to see that asshole. I had plans, which included taking her out to dinner and then back to her place for dessert, whatever that consisted of.
I kept my ears open for texts or calls all day. I’d told Meadow last night to contact me if anything went down at work. She was expecting to be fired. I hoped they wouldn’t be that stupid. If it didn’t happen, then she was hoping to be able to talk to the director, who was out of the office yesterday. I warned her not to let Scott talk his trash, either.
When it hit five o’clock, I was the first one to leave. Some of the guys yelled after me, asking where the fire was, but I ignored them. I drove my truck again. I was taking her out and wanted to be sure she could dress however she pleased. It was a higher-end place to eat. In order not to waste time, I brought nicer clothes, a change of regular clothes for tomorrow, and my personal care kit. I was showering and getting ready at her apartment.
Meadow said if she wasn’t there when I got there, although she planned to be, her sisters would let me in, and I could go ahead and use her bathroom. When I pulled into her parking lot, I scanned but didn’t see her car. I prayed she wouldn’t get held up for long.
Getting out, I started to walk toward her building. I stopped when I heard someone shout and then say my name. Turning toward the voice, I saw Scott Harrison storming toward me. He wore a thunderous expression. Joy filled me. He’d saved me a trip to his house. I patiently waited for him to reach me. We were right outside her building.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing here again? Stay away from Meadow! She discharged you. I saw it in the system. There’s no reason for you to have contact anymore. If you don’t, I’ll have to call the police and let them know you’re stalking her,” he shouted.
I lazily scanned him up and down before I answered him. I had a slight smile on my face. I could tell by his expression that he hated that I wasn't arguing or scared of his pathetic threat. Man, was that the best he could do?
“Why’re you smirking, bastard? Can’t you understand English?” he smarted off.
“Oh, I understand English and a few other languages, too. I’m smiling because I find it pitiful that a supposedly well-educated man can’t get it through his head that he has no right to tell me who I can or can’t be near or spend time with. You aren’t in charge of Meadow, either. She’s her own boss. If she doesn’t want me around, she’ll tell me. But that’s not the case. As for staying away now that I’m no longer her patient, that’s not happening.”
“Why not?”
“Because she and I are going to be together. I’m just here to get ready for our date. Afterward, we’ll spend time together. And if you want to call the law and make a false report, go right ahead. I’m sure Chief Scarelli will appreciate it.”
He moved closer to me but was smart enough not to touch me. “You think you’re so tough and that no one can touch you just because you’re a biker. But you have to have weaknesses, and even if she does go out with you, she’ll eventually see your dark side. Meadow won’t stay with someone she can’t respect. Your club is dirty, and I’ll prove it.”
“My club isn’t into anything illegal, no matter how many times you say it. The only ones who have to worry about my dark side are people who hurt or worry Meadow. Walk away, Scott. She’ll never be yours. Don’t make me have to make you. Now, I suggest you leave before she gets home. I don’t want her to be upset before our date.”
To show him how unconcerned I was about him, I turned my back partially to him and walked away. As I looked toward the apartment building, I saw the twins were outside. One was holding up her phone. I sighed and thought so much for Meadow not knowing about this. As I got to them, I saw that it was Aspen.
“Could I convince you to delete that? I don’t want him to stress your sister. She puts up with him at work. She shouldn’t have him coming here to harangue me or her,” I said.
“This is evidence in case Jackoff tries anything. We don’t trust him. He makes our spidey senses jumpy,” Sage explained. She was staring behind me at, I assumed, Scott.
“Besides, it’s too late for Meadow not to know. She’s here, and the way she’s coming out of her car, she’s not happy with him,” Aspen muttered.
I whipped around and caught sight of my woman bounding out of her car and rushing across the distance to Scott. He was talking, but I was too far away to hear what he was saying. I took off running. I didn’t beat her to him. When I got to them, she was tearing into Harrison, which made me happy.
“What are you doing at my apartment complex, Scott? And don’t lie and tell me you’re visiting someone. As far as I’ve ever known, you don’t know anyone here except me. Are you here to have that talk I refused to have with you today? Because my answer is the same. I don’t care what you want or have to say. I don’t want to hear it. This is inappropriate for you to be doing this,” she half-shouted.
“Oh, but it’s appropriate for him to be here and for the two of you to be going out on a date?” he shouted as he pointed to me. I came to stand next to her.
Meadow glanced at me and then back at him. “Yes, it’s more than appropriate for Iceman to be here. He was invited. We’re going out tonight,” she said calmly.
This made Harrison even madder. “How can you do this? He’s a fucking criminal. He’s dangerous. His whole club is. You’re putting yourself and your sisters in so much danger by associating with them. I can’t believe you honestly see yourself with a man like him, especially when you can have someone like me. I’m educated and successful, and I have a good job. I can take care of you.”
“Before you answer him, babe, I just need to say that I’m not uneducated. I have a good job and can take care of you, and I consider myself successful. It just might not be how some others calculate it. Okay, continue.”
I saw her tighten her mouth. I think it was to stop herself from laughing at me. It took her a few moments to answer him. “Scott, Iceman is who I want. I’m sorry that hurts your ego, but it’s true. I don’t judge worth based on how much money they have or how many college degrees they do or don’t have. That’s your way. I’m not telling you again. Stay away and leave me alone. If you don’t, I’ll have to call the cops and have them do something about you.”
“Oh, by the way, Chief Scarelli, he’s sort of a friend, so don’t be surprised if you end up arrested, not me as you threatened,” I added.
Her head snapped to stare at me. “He threatened to have you arrested?”
I nodded.
“For what?”
“For coming here to see you.”
Meadow looked back at an irate-looking Harrison. I swear he was trying hard not to lose it. “If you’re not gone within two minutes, I’m calling the cops, and I’ll tell them you’re harassing me. If they let me, I’ll file an order of protection against you. Don’t make me fuck up your world because if you push me, I will,” she growled.
He threw his hands in the air. “Fine! Fuck up your life. When he hurts you, don’t come crying to me.”
“I wouldn’t. Go home and call Joni. You two deserve each other. I never saw that until now. I felt sorry for how she obsessed over you, but you seem the perfect couple now,” she said, calm and cool.
His face grew redder, which I thought wasn’t possible. Abruptly, he swung around on his heels and stomped to his car. When he got in, he slammed the car door so hard I thought it would fall off. The engine roared to life, and then he whipped out of his parking spot, almost sideswiping the cars on either side of him. He squealed out of the lot. We watched until he was out of sight.
Tension began to ease in her body. I put my arm around here. “Come inside. We’re gonna be late for dinner if we don’t get a move on. We’ll have to shower together to get ready in time. Forget him. Enjoy tonight with me,” I said.
“I intend to. I have plans tonight, and nothing or no one is ruining them, Jake. Let’s go.”
We put Scott and his attitude behind us and went to enjoy what was, at least in the public's eyes, the official start of our relationship.