Chapter Seventeen
Charley
Waking up alone in Callum’s spare bedroom shouldn’t feel as weird as it does. One night with him, in his bed and it’s like everything changed. In a way, I’m glad he has gone out of town because my thoughts and feelings about the last twenty-four hours are going to take a lot to unpack.
How did it go from elation about the dance, to being threatened by an asshole, who then got beat up and what went on between Callum and I when we got back here?
When I came to Baltimore, it was to get away from drama and craziness, not swap it for a different brand.
After watching Callum hit that guy and pin him to the wall, it totally threw me how gentle and sweet he was when we had sex. Insatiable yeah, experienced most definitely but not at all like I thought he would be, given he’s a big bad scary biker.
He is living proof of stereotyping. My head and body are at war with one another. No one has ever made me feel the way he did when we were together. I don’t exactly have much to compare it to but even in my limited experience, what he did to me, each time he did it, was nothing less than perfect.
Callum is the kind of man I wish I met a few years ago. He’s someone who will always protect the people he cares about. He wouldn’t stand back and watch me be belittled, mentally and occasionally physically abused by people he brought into my life.
He never would have allowed anyone to play pranks on me, or scare me, or drive me to the point of almost losing my mind, then making one of the biggest mistakes of my whole life.
Shaking out of that thought before memory takes hold and panic surges, I get up and go about the routine of washing, dressing, making breakfast, all things that I can deal with.
It’s just the silence that is unnerving.
I’ve gotten so used to the noise at the last apartment, and at Elegance, it’s never quiet there.
Here, it’s like the whole world has been shut outside, and nothing can get to me. Another thing Callum has done for me without realizing it. I can’t start to depend on him. It’s a bad idea. Good sex and a kind heart doesn’t make problems vanish.
Beast made me take a couple of nights off, and wouldn’t even let me plead my case. It’s only the fact that I got paid a lot of money for that dance, and the tips, that I didn’t end up in a real argument with my boss. Not that it would have got me anywhere.
If anything, the bikers were doing everything they could to make sure I was okay. Lily called me to tell me how everyone was pissed about what happened.
Which is dangerous... Why can’t I let myself to be open to it?
To prove to myself that I’m not falling into a trap of relying on someone else, I start searching for an apartment. I have enough for a security deposit now so it shouldn’t be that hard.
My stomach aches and a weird pull in my chest has me setting the phone down and looking around at this gorgeous house. Callum doesn’t want a girlfriend, he doesn’t want someone like me. He’s an amazing person, he could have anyone he wants. I’m just convenient…
Even as I think it, I know it isn’t true.
What is he doing right now? Having something to eat with his family, visiting old friends, or just hanging out with one of his brothers? What would it be like to be there with him now?
The doorbell chimes making me jump out of my daydreams. I’m not expecting anyone and Callum would have said if anyone was going to come over.
Oh God, what if it’s his president again? What if he is coming to talk to me now Callum is out of the way?
It chimes again. Shit, stop hiding and go open the door.
When I cautiously open it, a woman turns and smiles at me. “Charley?”
“Yes,” I say, looking behind her to see a small red car parked on the drive. She’s alone, or so it seems.
“I’m Taylor, did Nashville mention I was coming?”
She watches me as I try to come up with words, because this woman is beautiful and happy and I have no idea who she is or why she is here, yet Callum knew she was coming?
“God, I’m so sorry. I’ve shown up here out of the blue and you’re probably wondering who the hell I am.
God forbid these men communicate,” she brushes some hair over her shoulder and smiles at me.
“I’m Noah’s girlfriend. Sorry, you probably don’t know who I mean.
Do you want me to leave because I’m making an absolute mess of this? ”
“Um… Maybe let me know who Noah is?”
“Sorry, I call him Noah. I meant Nero, the president.”
“Oh,” I open the door a little wider.
“If it’s a bad time or you’re completely freaked out, then I can go.”
“No, it’s fine. Um, why are you here though?”
“Noah said you might need company. I hope you don’t mind, but he mentioned what happened the other night at the club.”
“Well, it’s his club and…” How much does she know?
“Could I come in, it’s getting chilly out here.”
“Oh, damn, sorry,” I open the door wide and step back and Taylor comes inside.
She looks around, taking it in as she takes off her coat. “I never would have put Nashville in a house like this,” she turns back and smiles. “Then again, these guys are all full of surprises.”
We stand in the hallway and I glance about. This isn’t my house and I also don’t ever have visitors, or guests, to anywhere I’ve lived. Remembering I’m an adult I offer her a coffee, which she gratefully accepts and follows me to the kitchen.
It’s been cleaned since Callum threw me down on the counter, but I can still picture it and my cheeks flush. Taylor makes herself comfortable on a stool and waits for me to finish the drinks.
“Noah said you’re new to the city?” she asks when I’m facing her across the island.
“He knows a lot.”
“Trust me, you don’t know the half of it.”
“What does that mean?” I ask sharply.
Taylor frowns. I don’t have to be polite to someone I don’t know or didn’t invite around here but she is nonplussed when she replies. “Noah likes to keep people safe.”
“Does he think he needs to protect Callum from me?” My brows lift.
“No. Oh God I’ve got off on the wrong foot totally here. I’m new to all of this as well if I’m being honest. I’ve only been with Noah for about three months. I was his best friends nurse when we met.”
“You’re a nurse?”
“I am,” she smiles, some of the hesitancy leaving her voice.
“I don’t mean to make you uncomfortable,” I tell her. “I’m just a very private person and having people asking questions about me or looking me up is a sore spot.”
“I totally understand, Charley. And if I gave you that impression I’m sorry.
Noah wouldn’t have asked me to come round here if he didn’t think you were important to Nashville.
And if that is true, then he will respect Nashville’s privacy.
He just thought you might need someone to talk to.
My friends say I’m a pretty good listener, but I’m also amazing at small talk or anything to do with the Baltimore Orioles. ”
“The who?”
“Not into sports,” she laughs. “Got it. They’re the local baseball team. My dad never missed a game. All I’m trying to say is, if you need someone to talk to, I can do that. Or not.”
My lip twitches. It’s been a long time since I’ve had friends. Lily has been getting closer to me. I’m good with that because Lily doesn’t ask questions. She works for Elegance, in turn, the MC but she isn’t a part of their world. Unlike Taylor.
I get the sense that she isn’t someone who would throw a person under the bus.
There is something about her that makes me want to trust her, not enough to tell her anything deep.
Her suggestion of small talk, or having a living breathing person in the space with me while Callum is gone might be nice.
“Do you work at the hospital?”
“No, a private clinic,” she ducks her head, like she’s sort of embarrassed by that. “I’m a diabetes nurse.”
“You still had to train like every other nurse,” I point out.
Taylor smiles at me, gratitude clear on her face.
“Does it bother you what people think?” I ask her.
“Not usually. It’s always a bit nerve-wracking telling new people though. Sometimes I am judged.”
“I don’t judge anyone by what they do. Look at what I do,” I roll my eyes.
“I wouldn’t worry about what other people think.
Until they’ve walked in your shoes, or even your patients shoes, they have no worthwhile opinion on the matter.
Anything they have to say about it is their problem, not yours. ”
“That’s true,” she smiles. “I’m going to use that line. People are far too quick to judge, I guess I’m sensitive.”
We make more small talk and then she asks if I want to talk about what happened at the club. I get the sense it’s not about getting intel for Nero, being comfortable with that is hard for me though, so I brush it off. I’m not sure Taylor believes me.
“Coming into this life,” she says, after we’ve finished our coffee and exhausted the conversation.
“It’s a transition for sure. I never thought I’d fall for the leader of a motorcycle gang,” she laughs.
“Sorry, that’s a joke Noah and I have. I kept calling the club a gang. Lucky for me he found it amusing.”
“He seems intense, from what I’ve seen. I haven’t talked to him.”
“He’s not so bad. He wants to protect his people, and it’s a lot on his shoulders so sometimes he can be a bit direct but his heart is in the right place.
It’s been nice talking to you, Charley. I know it must feel weird having a stranger show up out of the blue, but thank you for the coffee.
If you do need anything, I’m always around,” she takes a small pad out of her purse with a pen shoved into the wire rings then scribbles out a number. “If you need anything.”
I take it, grateful she didn’t ask for my number. Taylor is astute, she hasn’t pushed me and she can tell I’m not that comfortable with strangers. She made the effort and I am grateful for that.
She reiterates I can call anytime as I see her out and I close the door before she gets to her car.