Chapter Five
Taylor
Leaving the clinic, my heart feels a little less heavy, despite the strange interaction earlier today. Shannon is letting me go back on rotation next week, not quite a full clinic, but it’s better than sitting behind a desk or seeing two patients a day.
I’m not going to lose it, or be unable to cope with seeing patients. Watching the person you love most in the world waste away to cancer is nothing like what we do here.
It’s not like diabetes doesn’t come with its own complications but the people who come to see us have their treatment well under control.
Tonight is going to be a big night for my next step in the grieving process, I guess. I’m going to take my time getting ready for the night out with Dana wherever she is about to take me. I will have fun no matter what.
The company who came to look at Jesse’s car didn’t take it away, they fixed it right in the lot. I called Jesse a half hour ago to let him know, he paid over the phone and said he’d be here as fast as he could to take the keys. I could have left them inside but chose to wait for him instead.
Except it’s not Jesse standing beside the car. My steps falter and I stop and stare at him across the lot. Why did Jesse not tell me it was him coming to get the car? And why is he staring at me as if his eyes are eating me alive?
He moves first and starts toward me. As he draws closer, all the blood in my body rushes south and a not so unfamiliar heat begins to pulse between my legs.
I fight it. I’m not getting turned on by watching this man walk.
My brain helpfully reminds me I’ve seen him without his shirt, and I’ve been starved of attention from the opposite sex for a long time.
Before dad got ill, I’d been going through a prolonged dry spell. This reaction is making me equal parts hot, and irritated as hell that I’m letting him get to me. Which is why the words that fall out of my mouth are less than polite.
“What the hell are you doing here?”
One perfectly curved eyebrow lifts, and another thump pulses, my pelvic muscles waking up.
“I thought that was obvious.” He answers, coming to a stop closer than I would like.
I resist the urge to step back. Man, he’s tall, and he smells good. Don’t forget he’s an ass. He spoke to you like you were a piece of shit on his shoe earlier. Treacherous hormones can go screw themselves.
“Where is Jesse?”
“The car needs collecting. I’m here to pick it up.”
“Manners cost nothing you know,” I say, lifting my chin. I’m not afraid of this guy.
“I could say the same thing to you,” he tilts his head.
“Meaning? I’m not the one being rude.”
“What the hell are you doing here?” He repeats my words back to me, sounding far too smug for my liking.
My cheeks flush because he’s right. I was rude. But he started it. Oh god, now I’m thinking like a petulant five-year-old. I can be the bigger person here. Said the medium-sized woman to the gigantic man.
“I was expecting Jesse.”
“Well, you got me.” He shoves a hand in his pocket.
“Do you always boss Jesse around?” I ask before my brain tells me it’s a bad idea.
He huffs out a laugh, there is no amusement to it whatsoever. It makes me mad again.
“What exactly is it that you think is going on between me and Jesse?”
My mouth opens and closes. I’d thought a lot about what Jesse said as I drove back to the clinic. I still think he was lying about Noah being his unrequited crush. Who can blame him?
“You clued in yet?” His eyes drop to my lips, then back to my eyes. “Men don’t do it for me, sweetheart.”
“I’m not your sweetheart,” I say automatically. “That is no excuse to talk to him the way you did.”
“Why do you care so much?”
“Because he is a nice guy and you… aren’t.”
“Again, you say I’m the one with no manners.”
Well, this is getting us nowhere. “Okay, fine. I’ll apologize for being rude, so long as you do.”
“You want me to say sorry? For what?”
My lips pinch together. He’s trying to antagonize me. I’m done with that. “Here.” I grab the keys from my purse and thrust them at him.
“I appreciate that.” He annunciates the word. Like an ass.
I drop them into his outstretched hand, making sure to avoid touching him. I’ve got a feeling that would be my undoing right now. Not quite sure if it would be in a good or a bad way.
He got close enough to feel the heat coming from his body, smell the clean-soap scent of his skin. I’m really glad I freshened up and changed before heading out. I’m usually in my scrubs after a long, hard day and probably not smelling my best.
Why do I care?
I expect him to thank me or say something. Instead, he looks me up and down again, then turns and goes to the car. What a damn jerk. Seriously. When he gets to the driver’s side he looks at me over the roof of the car.
“Have the day you deserve, sweetheart.”
It’s difficult, but I keep the anger off my face and clench my fist to prevent giving him my middle finger. He doesn’t deserve any kind of reaction. This morning, he could maybe be forgiven for his attitude, I did invite myself into his house without asking. Still rude, but okay I can let that go.
Taking it further when he shows up to collect a car I’ve done them a favor over… Hell no. I wish I was more than Jesse’s nurse right now, because I would tell him to run as far and as fast away from that man as he can.
Fuming both at him and myself for letting him get to me, I stomp to my car and do not watch him driving away.
After a meal, shower and quick change of outfit, I stand in front of the mirror in my childhood bedroom and stare at my reflection. I’ve gone with jeans and a sleeveless black shimmery top. It’s not over the top glamorous but enough to make me feel like I’ve made an effort.
Dana arrives after eight.
“If you ever show up on time, I think I’ll have a coronary.”
She rolls her eyes. “I don’t even know why you’re surprised,” she tugs on my braid. “You look very cute by the way. Are you ready for a fun night?” She links my arm and drags me to the mirror in the hallway, stopping so we’re both facing it, and smiles at me in the reflection.
“I’m ready,” I tell her, when she stares expectantly, waiting for my reply.
“Then let’s go have some fun.” Her smile is genuine, but she can’t hide the concern or sadness behind her eyes.
“We will,” I take her hand and give it a squeeze. “So long as you tell me where we’re going.”
“Oh, well, that is a surprise.”
She drags me to the front door, her eyes pausing on a photograph of me and dad when I was around fifteen. We don’t dwell and head outside where a cab is idling at the sidewalk.
Dana keeps fiddling with her earring, a telltale sign she is excited but nervous. And if she is displaying this side of her, then this is about the guy.
“Who is he?”
Her lips twist into a coy smile. “He came into the bar a few times. He was hot and closed off, you know, just my type.”
“Dana.”
“He could be my one true love, Tay.”
“I’ve heard that before,” I grin at her. There is no point in talking her out of this. I literally have heard this more times than I can count.
The drive takes a while, and I watch the surroundings change to the more affluent area of Locust Point. We never go this far for a night out. What on earth is she getting us into? That soon becomes apparent when we pull up at a bar that has a lot of motorcycles out front.
My head snaps to her as the cab stops.
“Before you get mad, it’s a nice place. The woman who runs it is cool and although there are bikers here, she keeps them in line. I promise, you’re safe here. Raven would kick anyone’s ass if they bother us. Beyond how we want to be bothered at least.”
Well, we’re here now. We get out of the cab and I glance around. It’s not exactly an industrial area but there are a couple of warehouse-style buildings next to the bar. It is well lit and there are houses further back, as well as a church.
It’s the bikers I’m not so sure about.
We head over, passing by rows of motorcycles and a few cars and step inside the bar. I won’t lie, I was expecting some dive with sawdust on the floor, sweat dripping down the walls and gangs of old men with long beards and leather jackets.
That isn’t what greets me. This place is nice, modern, with oak wood floors, dark but stylishly decorated with booths. It has tall tables and stools and a long bar with a mirrored wall behind it.
There are two women behind the bar serving people, wearing t-shirts with the name of the bar. The tables are occupied by a mixture of people. Yes, there are bikers, who are obvious by their leather vests but they’re all in one corner chatting and laughing.
The place is packed, but the music isn’t loud, there is an air of people having a good time about it and I instantly relax.
Dana was right. A gorgeous woman with tattoo sleeves, sleek black hair, wearing a deep red sleeveless dress with a dangerously low V-neck spots Dana and holds up a hand waving her over.
Her look is as stylish as the bar, not slutty.
Instantly I hate myself for thinking that. We make our way through the tables to the bar and the woman comes out and gives Dana a hug. We’re introduced, and she gives me a friendly smile and wave. There is a moment where she watches me though, gauging how I’m going to react.
I choose not comment on the bar at all and that seems to satisfy her.
“What are we drinking tonight ladies?”
“Cocktails,” Dana laughs. “Lots of cocktails.”
Raven smirks and hands us both menus. Menus. Jesus, I really am a judgmental ass. She takes us to a table close to the bar but near the back of the room so we won’t be bothered. It’s probably the best table in the whole place.
“You can relax,” Dana tells me.
“Let’s pretend I didn’t have preconceived ideas about this place and move on.”
She laughs and looks at her menu. We settle on what we want and Dana gives our order to one of the staff who says she will be right back. Raven is chatting with a few people at the bar, laughing and pouring drinks.
I can’t help but stare at her tattoos. They are beautiful, like she is. But they remind me of someone else. Someone I’ve been trying really damn hard not to think about. The server returns with our cocktails, setting down napkins first and tells us to give her a shout when we’re ready for more.
Dana sips through her straw and lets out a sigh of pleasure. “Try it,” she encourages. “They’re orgasmic.”
“Well, that’s an endorsement. And probably the only orgasm I’m getting any time soon.”
Dana laughs. We chat a bit about work, and I tell her that it wasn’t so bad. In fact, I’m happy to be back because it means I get back to some form of normalcy.
“Don’t put pressure on yourself,” she touches my arm. “Just let things happen, don’t shy away and don’t throw yourself at things either.”
“So go with the flow,” I sip my cocktail. “Got it.”
We both laugh. We’re not too far from the men in leather vests and I try to see what it says on the back but no one is sitting the right way. Dana catches me looking.
“They’re called the Blackhawk Disciples. And yes, they’re a biker gang but Raven grew up around them and said they’re pussycats.”
“If you believe that,” I give her a side-eyed look.
“Yeah well, a little danger never hurt anyone.”
“Speaking of, who is this guy you’re hot for. Is he one of them?”
She tries to look demure as she smiles. “Maybe.”
“Where is he?”
“Not here yet,” she pouts. “But he will be, he comes here but sometimes it’s late.”
“Mhm,” I drink some more of my cocktail. It’s really good, you can hardly taste the alcohol which is what makes it dangerous. I don’t have anywhere I need to be tomorrow so when we finish our first, we call for another which Raven drops off promptly. She winks at us before sashaying away.
“She’s my hero,” Dana watches after her. “I want to be her.”
“There is nothing wrong with who you are,” I poke her arm. “You’re beautiful, funny, talented and the best friend a girl could ask for.”
“Aw,” she leans into me for a second. Then eyes my drink. “Maybe you need something a little less… loaded,” she laughs.
“I am not drunk.” Not yet, but I do feel a little lighter.
This was definitely a good idea. I’m even coming around to the venue. Only thing that remains to be seen, is this guy Dana is drooling over. If he ever gets here.