Chapter 9
“Hello?” Lilith breathlessly answered her phone, since she had just gotten out of the shower and it had been ringing. She’d only grabbed a towel to cover herself before rushing into her bedroom.
“Is this Lilith?” asked the someone with the sexiest voice she had ever heard. She didn’t know if it was wishful thinking or not that the image of the man from the night before popped into her head. She grinned when she realized it really was him.
“It is, who is this?” She knew, but she wanted to know what he would say.
“Lucius King. I’m Starr’s brother.”
“Oh, hey, how are you?” she asked as she put the phone on speaker, so she could return to the bathroom to finish drying off, and wrap her hair in a towel.
Once that was complete, she returned to the bedroom to dress.
Since she was going to meet Sally later, she threw on a set of sweat pants, and tee shirt.
“Hello?” she asked into the silence. “Are you still there?”
“Yes.”
“Are you going to say anything?”
“Sorry, I hadn’t expected you to answer this early in the morning. I was going to leave a voicemail. Hearing your voice shocked me and honestly, it threw me for a loop. I didn’t know how to respond.”
“I’m sorry?”
“Don’t be. That’s on me. So, do you have plans for today?”
“I’m meeting my friend for brunch in a couple of hours, and other than housework, I have no plans for this afternoon.”
“I have a meeting with Starr and her professor this morning, but would you like to get together this afternoon?” He didn’t wait for her response. “Someplace neutral. No pressure on either of us going to the other’s place.”
“I know this is a stupid question, but do you drink coffee?”
“I do.” He chuckled. “It seems that if I’m not drinking ginger ale, I’m drinking coffee.”
“How about we meet around three at the small café across from the library I work at?”
“I can do that. Thank you,” he said, and after confirming the details, they hung up. Lilith did a happy dance and instead of lazing around on a Sunday morning, she rushed around to gather her laundry, and did up her dishes. By the time she had to go meet Sally, her weekly housework was done.
*****
Lilith met Sally outside the restaurant and Sally stopped in her tracks. “Why are you so happy?”
“I’ll tell you inside.” They entered, and because they were considered regulars, they were led to their favorite table, told the waitress what they wanted to drink, then got up to fill their plates from the buffet. Neither of them spoke until they began eating.
“Spill,” Sally said with a piece of fruit halfway to her mouth.
“As I said, Starr and I went out last night, I met her brother, and he asked for my number. He called me this morning. We’re meeting at the café across from work at three this afternoon?”
“Why?” Sally demanded, then hung her head as she held up her hand. “I’m so sorry, that was a stupid question. I’m not questioning as to why you’re meeting with him, but why at the café?”
“Because he didn’t want me to feel uncomfortable with him being in my home, or me going to his place without knowing each other more.”
“Ah, smart. What’s he’s like?”
“Extremely handsome. At least I think so. I believe he’s only three years older than I am. He owns his own business, and...” she paused until she had Sally’s full attention.
“And?”
“And, he’s the president of a motorcycle club.”
“Good, God, woman? Are you nuts?” The shock and disdain in her voice and expression through Lilith for a loop.
“What? I went to his bar last night. He owns Hell’s Coffin.
It’s not as bad as it sounds. The bar is clean, the food is fantastic, and the people are nice and friendly.
Did I hang out with bikers, yes. Was there any problems?
Only with some punk-ass college students that tried to fight one another.
All it took was one look from Luc and they were cleaning up their mess and tripping over themselves to please him. ”
Sally studied her intently for several minutes as they ate, then sighed heavily. “There’s no way I can talk you out of seeing him?”
“Why would you want to do that?” Lilith asked in confusion.
At the look on her friend’s face, she set her fork down and studied her friend and co-worker.
“Stop, I’m a grown-ass adult and am free to decide whomever I want to date.
Just because he owns a bar and rides a motorcycle, it doesn’t make him any different from you nor me.
It shocks me at how judgy you’re being right now, Sally.
I thought better of you.” She shook her head sadly.
“Just because you’ve been dating Trent for three months, that doesn’t give you the right to dictate who I can and cannot see. ”
“It’s just...”
“What? Just what, Sally? Are you trying to say that I’m not good enough even for a biker?
” Lilith sat there in stunned silence as she stared at the person she thought was her best friend.
She shook her head sadly. “Let me ask you this, Sally. What did I say or do to you when you dated that financial advisor that took all your money then ghosted you?” When Sally started to say something, Lilith held up her hand and shook her head to stop her.
“I’m not done,” she said harshly. She leaned in and whispered, “What did I say or do when that fake law clerk, the guy you moved into your apartment after only dating for two weeks, used your home as his brothel to bring several different women into the place to have sex with every single day while you were at work? Or how about the guy that moved himself into your place only a few weeks after you got rid of the sex maniac, who I might remind you, refused to have sex with you because he was saving himself for marriage, but the next guy who was caught dealing drugs out of your apartment, and when he was caught, you were arrested when he pointed the finger at you?”
“It’s not that.”
“Then, please, by all means, tell me what it is, because I will not tolerate you trying to tell me who I should or should not date. Especially not after seeing how your current boyfriend is changing you into someone you’re not, just for his desires.
Why do you wear frumpy dresses now? Why is your hair styled to look like a 1950’s housewife?
He’s grooming you to be his perfect person, then when he gets you where he wants you, he’ll dump your ass.
Take a long hard look at your own life before you judge mine.
Those four men I just mentioned you dated in the last nine months.
Who’s calling the kettle black here, Sally?
I haven’t been out on a date with a man in over four years.
I have standards and the pickings are pretty slim out there.
Again, unlike you, I don’t jump from man to man to satisfy some sick need to be controlled.
I go for quality, not quantity. For cripe’s sake, it’s only coffee.
” Lilith felt too agitated to continue, so she reached for her purse, threw some money on the table, and stood.
She paused beside Sally’s chair and looked at her.
“Until you can apologize to me for being so judgmental about my life, I will keep our relationship strictly professional. I will be your boss, not your co-worker, not your friend. Your. Boss. The ball is in your court now.” She shook her head sadly and walked out, leaving a stunned Sally sitting at the table.
*****
Across town, Luc walking in the back door of the bar, and nodded to his morning kitchen crew.
They didn’t open until eleven on Sundays, but they still had to prep for the coming day, and it was the quietest time for the cook and lead bartender to take inventory and get it to him so he could place his orders first thing Monday morning.
He nodded as he went out to the bar, and smiled when he saw the coffee pot was full.
As much as he liked to think he was saving money by bringing his own soda into the bar, he knew drinking coffee would cost only pennies, not high cents.
With a full mug, he turned, sipped and spotted the people waiting for him across the bar.
He walked over, shook Professor Tiggs’s hand, leaned down, kissed the top of Starr’s head, and took the empty seat between his sister and her teacher.
He looked at the others and scowled when he saw one woman looking at him like he was fresh meat.
He shuddered, repulsed by how she was looking at him.
“What’s up?” he asked in his gravelly voice.
“We’re here today,” Starr began, “To introduce the rest of the team to you. Beside Professor Tiggs is his brother.”
Luc nodded and held out his hand to shake.
“I’m Brad Tiggs. I’ve been over in New York city for the last ten years working on Broadway, and off Broadway as a set designer.
I came back home because the production I worked on for the last three years went belly up with no warning, leaving us all scrambling.
The bids I had on other jobs were outbid, so when Gary called to tell me about what you have planned, I jumped on the opportunity to help. ”
“How much will it cost me?”
“Nothing. I only ask that you give me a good review, if you like my work. I’m helping Gary right now with his students in how to do set designs.”
“Are you saying I’m a test subject?”
“Yes.”
“Honest, I like it. The construction site is a mess right now. We broke ground three weeks ago and it’s rained for the last three days. Along with that and the melting snow, it’s nothing but soup out there.”
“I’ll take your word for it,” Brad said with a nod. Luc nodded and turned back to Starr.
“These people will be helping me with the makeup transformations. As we all know, I’ll be doing you, Bandit, Gator, and Hawk.”
“Wait,” Brenda asked in a screech. “Why can’t I work with him.”
“Because I told everyone at class that I will be doing four people. No one touches this man but me.”
“Why?”
“Because I said so,” Luc said with finality. “Who are you?”
“Brenda Smith.”
“Well, Ms. Smith, if you can’t follow the rules and directions on the first day, then you might not be a good fit for this project. I’m here to help out Starr as much as I can. I only have one rule, well two. One, I only work with Starr, two you sign an NDA agreement.”
“And if I don’t agree to either one of those?” she asked defiantly with her nose in the air.
Luc looked over his shoulder and pointed. “There’s the door, don’t let it hit you in the ass on the way out.”
“That was rude.”
“No, that was the God’s honest truth. I do not lie, and since this is my bar, and my motorcycle club, my sister’s project, then I get to set all the rules.
” He tapped his upper left chest and everyone saw a patch that said, “President” above the name, ‘Lucifer.’ “Will we have any problems with you helping Starr?”
“No,” she said in a huff and slammed back in her chair. Luc looked at Starr, raised a brow, and shook his head.
“One problem and she’s out on her ass.”
“Agreed,” both Starr and Gary said.
“Who are you two?”
“Kelsey Warner, I’ll be doing the makeup for whomever Starr assigns to me.”
“Matt Rider, also a makeup artist to take direction from Starr.”
“Good answers. So, what can I do for you guys today?”
“I talked to the guys last night,” Starr said with a nod. “They agreed to be here by ten this morning to meet Kelsey, Matt, and Brenda. I don’t know about these three, but I’m actually chomping at the bit to get started.”
“Slow your roll,” Luc chuckled as he sipped his coffee. “We have plenty of time.”
“I know.” They all paused when the front door opened and eleven bikers walked in. No one said a word until they had each gotten a cup of coffee and joined them. Introductions were made and Hawk was the first one to speak.
“Kid,” he looked directly at Starr as he called her the name he has called her since she was twelve years old.
“What?”
“Will it throw you for a loop if I’m not able to be made up?”
“Technically,” Gary said into the stunned silence.
“Each student only has to make up one person. With them doing four, it will see if they have the stamina to do something in this business. If you don’t want to be made up, it won’t hurt her grade.
No one said anything, but by looking at you, you’re Hawk? ”
“Yes.”
“Why can’t you be made up?” Luc asked roughly.
“My time off wasn’t approved. I found out Friday. I’m too low on the totem pole to get that holiday off.”
“Shit,” everyone said as Luc and the other men shook their heads. Luc looked at the others with only one nod. “He’s a doctor at the local hospital.”
“Oh, wow, which department?”
“Emergency.”
“Wow,” everyone said, and sat there in silence. It took about five minutes before questions started to be asked, and everyone broke up into groups of who wanted to work with who. Two hours later, everyone jerked when Luc’s alarm on his watch sounded, then he rose with a grin on his face.
“If you guys will excuse me. I have someplace else to be.”
“Where are you going?” Brenda demanded and glared at him, like he had the audacity to leave her.
“Not that it’s any of your freaking business, Miss Smith, but I have plans.” He nodded to everyone, kissed the top of Starr’s head, and turned on his heel and walked away.
“That was so rude of him.”
“Brenda,” Starr said on a sigh. She didn’t continue until she had the other woman’s attention.
“I’m going to say this in front of all these witnesses.
If you continue to give Luc any hassle, like you did earlier, and just now, you will be kicked off this project and he will bar you from this establishment.
You’re already on thin ice, don’t break it out from under yourself with your attitude.
You won’t want to know what Lucifer could or would do if you do something to piss him off.
He always, I repeat, always gets his revenge. ”
“I concur,” Professor Tiggs said with a nod, and Starr felt better when all the men from the club agreed with her.