Chapter 1
Driving through Bristol on the Virginia side, I took in the feel of the town. I was back again, and it still hit me the same. Why this town felt like home to me, I had no clue. It didn’t seem to matter if I was gone for months. Whenever I returned, it felt like a homecoming.
I was tired of the constant moving. I’d been doing it for over a year.
It was time to settle and get serious about discovering what I wanted to do for the remainder of my life.
Being at loose ends, drifting, wasn’t for me.
I’d done it and used the time to figure out where I wanted to be at least. From there, I’d decide what I’d do.
While I received a military retirement in addition to VA disability payments, which would allow me to live, though not lavishly, I wasn’t meant to sit and do nothing.
After my medical retirement last year, I’ve taken on numerous odd jobs and volunteered my time.
All had satisfied me to a point, but none had struck me as something I wanted to do for the rest of my life.
Seeing my destination, I smiled. One of the reasons I kept returning to Bristol was Haven Whitt, I mean, Halliwell.
She and I had formed a friendship of sorts after I stepped in to help her when she was in need, first, from a woman named Rhea at a strip club, and then from her rape-attempting ex, Rick.
The former got a clue, and the last I heard, she left Haven’s man, Tinker, and her alone.
As for Rick, well, the club had taken care of his ass that day.
Right after they did, he left town. He cleared out his apartment and disappeared.
I wondered if that was indeed true. No one saw him after his encounter with the Punishers.
I speculated whether they had something to do with his disappearance.
And if they did, I couldn’t care less. Men like him, who would stoop to raping someone, deserved whatever they got as punishment in my book.
I was in luck. There was an open parking space almost directly in front of the shop’s door.
Haven’s shop, Haven’s Haute House, was attractive and captured your eyes.
It drew you inside to see what else it had.
Anyone looking to decorate a business or a home would find that Haven did terrific work.
The last time I’d been here, she had shown me some of her designs. I found them to be incredible.
I hoped that she wouldn’t be too busy for me to say hello.
I hadn’t told her that I was returning to town, or that I was debating staying here long-term.
I wanted to surprise her. I knew Haven would love the idea.
And while the vibe of the place, along with her unexpected friendship, were major attractors to do so, there was another reason.
One I kept suppressing but knew was a part of my decision.
Mayhem, the enforcer of the Iron Punishers MC, fascinated me despite my attempts to remain unaffected and aloof.
He drew me like a moth to a flame. And it was more than his dangerous aura, or the fact that he was mentally stimulating.
I hated to feel superficial, but Mayhem’s exterior contributed to my attraction to him as well.
First was his height. As a tall woman at five feet ten inches, I found that I preferred men who were taller than I was, even though most of them seemed to prefer petite women.
I guessed Mayhem to be around six feet four.
Tall enough, I had to look up a bit to meet his eyes.
And what eyes they were. They were dark blue, which, when combined with his tan skin, chiseled face, dark blondish-brown hair, and faint goatee scruff, made my heart pound.
He kept his hair cut short, like a military crew cut, with the top being longer than his mostly shaved sides.
His face was combined with a body bulging with muscles.
Mayhem was a man who focused on his fitness, and it showed.
Add to that the tattoos he had on his arms, which showed below his short-sleeved shirt, and I was hooked.
I’d been up close and personal with his body at Haven and Tinker’s wedding.
I tried not to dance with him, but he cornered me and made a big deal out of the fact that I danced with his club brothers, so why not him?
I knew if I didn’t, he’d be asking questions I refused to answer, so I danced.
I had to hold myself rigid so I wouldn’t melt into him and soak up the feel of his body into mine.
As soon as our dance was complete, I’d gotten the hell out of there.
Four minutes in his arms destroyed my restraint.
I knew it was dangerous to live anywhere near him, but I was doing it anyway.
Parking my car, I wasted no time getting out and heading inside Haven’s Haute House.
As the door opened, a tinkling bell sounded.
The showroom had a few people milling about, looking at various displays.
At the end of the space where the counter was, I saw a young woman I didn’t recognize.
I knew from Haven that she had broken down and hired an assistant.
I was glad she had, since not only was she working in and outside the shop, but she was also pregnant.
She was four months along and due toward the end of November.
Both she and Tinker were super excited. They decided to wait to find out what they were having.
Neither of them cared as long as the baby was healthy.
Tinker had wanted to be a father for years.
The fact that he was, for the first time at forty-four, didn’t faze him.
Most of the settled-down members became fathers in their late thirties and early forties, Haven had explained.
I walked to the counter. The woman smiled and greeted me.
“Good afternoon, how may I help you? I’m Tansy.”
“Hello, Tansy. I was hoping that Haven might be in today. Or is she out on a job?” I hadn’t considered that before stopping.
“Uh, well, no, she’s not out, but she’s swamped. Unless you have an appointment, I’m afraid I can’t just slide someone into her schedule.”
“I’m not asking you to. All I’d like is for you to let Haven know that Astrid is here and ask if she has a couple of minutes to chat. I wanted to let her know I’m in town.” I gave her what I thought was my best smile. Tansy frowned.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t do that. If you would like to see Haven, I suggest making an appointment.
Like I said, she’s swamped, so her first available is…
” She consulted a schedule, I assumed, on the computer screen.
Was I irritated at her dismissal? Yes, but I reminded myself that I’d come here without a word of warning.
I shouldn’t expect Haven to drop everything just to see me, even if it was only for a few minutes.
“Her next available time is three weeks from tomorrow at one o’clock. Should I pencil you in?” Tansy asked.
No way would I wait three weeks to speak to Haven.
I shook my head. “No thanks. I’ll just text and let her know I’m here.
If she can get away, I’m sure she’ll let me know.
Thanks anyway.” As I thanked Tansy, I took my phone out of my jeans’ pocket and began tapping the keys.
I was pulling up Haven’s name and number when Tansy’s words stopped me.
“You can’t just text her after I said she’s busy.” She huffed.
“Why can’t I? If she says she can’t speak to me, then I’ll go and we’ll arrange a different time. Your gatekeeper status isn’t affected.”
“Yes, it is. Put that phone away. You’re not disturbing her,” Tansy ordered.
Instantly, my good mood fled, replaced by annoyance. “Honey, I’m not your subordinate. You don’t tell me what to do. I suggest you focus on the customers in here and let me worry about whether texting Haven will upset her or not. If she is, it’ll be at me.”
Was I snotty? Yeah, probably, but her attitude rubbed me the wrong way. I kept tapping away even as I replied to Tansy’s order. Finishing my short message, I hit send, then tucked my phone in the hip pocket of my jeans and moved away from the counter.
“I’ll wait here. Go ahead and work. I can entertain myself,” I told Tansy before walking over to examine a new display I hadn’t seen the last time I came here.
I loved the combination of paint colors, fabrics for furniture, and possibly curtains, as well as a picture of what a completed room might look like. I studied it for maybe a minute or so before I heard movement behind me.
“Haven, I told her not to text you, but she wouldn’t listen,” an exasperated Tansy whined.
Swinging around, I faced Haven. She was listening to Tansy, but I saw her lips twitch.
“She’s right. I didn’t. I told her I just wanted a minute to say hello and let you know I was back. You’re looking good, girl. Pregnancy suits you.”
“Tansy, remember the list of people who are allowed to have access to me, no matter what I’m involved in?” Haven asked the young woman kindly.
“Yes, I do. And she’s not on it,” Tansy answered.
“I know she’s not, but add her to it, please.”
Giving Tansy an encouraging smile, Haven turned back to me. Her smile stretched wide as she held out her arms. “Come give me a hug,” she said.
I walked into her arms, carefully squeezing her. I wasn’t a huge hugger, but there was something about Haven that brought that out in me. I always felt more at peace when I was near her or we spoke. It didn’t even have to be over the phone. Sometimes, just a message did it.
“It’s so good to see you,” I murmured in her ear.
“You too. Come on back to the office. I’m free,” Haven whispered.
We eased apart, and she held onto my arm. “Tansy, we’ll be in my office if you need me.”
“Alright, Haven,” her assistant said. I heard the undertones in her voice. She wasn’t happy, but that wasn’t my problem.