Chapter 25
Lark
Robotically, I clean the counter of the bar and as I turn to put the rag down, I see the door open in the mirrors behind the shelves and bottles of liquor.
At first, I don’t think anything of it but then Reaper walks in and I freeze.
However, unlike the usual group of them that comes in, tonight, it’s just him.
It’s been almost two months since Reaper started distancing himself from me.
And I’ve hated every minute of it.
However, I also remember doing something similar, though not as drastic, so I haven’t stormed out to the clubhouse or his house to demand to know why.
Because I know why he’s shut down.
Ever since those assholes tortured Reaper and a woman he told me he claimed as a sister, Levi, he’s been treated differently around town.
It’s like now there’s visible proof to the town members of how dangerous being a biker can be.
Some town members are downright scared of him now, and others I’ve heard whispering and worrying about if the people who did that to Reaper will come to town and possibly hurt innocent people to get back at Reaper and the club.
However, judging by his posture and the look on his face, something’s changed.
Reaching under the counter, I pull out a Spotted Cow, his favorite beer because I have a feeling tonight is most likely not a whiskey night.
Popping off the cap, I hand it to him as he settles on a bar stool.
It doesn’t escape my notice that he takes the seat at the far end of the bar either, so that he’s further away from the other customers.
Erica, one of my bartenders, cocks an eyebrow in question and I minutely shake my head.
At first, she’d been leery of the club coming here so much, but once she got to know them better, she started to relax around them.
She also knows how much I’ve hated what the town members have put Reaper through as well as the distance it’s caused between us.
However, I’m hoping that by him coming here, alone, that maybe that distance is about to be bridged.
Taking a deep breath, I refocus back on him and smile. “Hey, stranger.”
The corner of his lips lifts slightly and I silently give myself a high five as his posture relaxes a little.
Crap… Did he think that I was mad at him?
“Hey, Darlin’.”
Fuck, his gravelly, deep voice still sends a thrill through me and I’m glad I’m behind the counter so that he can’t see me clenching my thighs together. The fact that he’s still calling me his Darlin’ has hope rising that we’ll be able to work through whatever’s bothering him.
“I heard from some of the guys that there was some commotion at the dual wedding last month,” I whisper and cock an eyebrow in question. “Everyone safe?”
While Reaper didn’t tell me himself, I’d overheard that he and a few others headed back to Forest Creek to officiate at Levi, Thor, and Dragon’s wedding at the beginning of September.
Also, there was a surprise proposal and Mae and Timber ended up getting married the same day as well.
While I wish Reaper had been the one to tell me, I think the guys were also trying to keep me in the loop in their own way.
Something I’ve been grateful for because it’s happened more than once.
He nods, his face turning grim. “Yeah, thank fuck.”
I can tell he wants to say more, but I won’t pry. He’s had the ‘club business’ talk with me and while I don’t like it, I can respect it all the same.
Reaper picks at the label on his bottle and takes a deep breath. “Darlin’, I’m so—”
I cut him off by reaching over the bar and placing a finger against his lips. His eyebrows raise in shock and I give him a small smile.
“You don’t need to say you’re sorry because I could tell by the look on your face when you came in here that you’ve been beating yourself up over this.
If you recall, I had a rough spell as well and did something similar.
” I pause, my shoulders dropping. Clearing my throat, I purposefully say this next bit quietly in the hope that no one overhears us.
“It isn’t right what they’re doing to you, and I’m sure that’s fucking with your head big time.
I’m here for you, just… just don’t put distance between us again.
It killed me when you started going radio silent and then kept silent. ”
The muscles in his hands, arms, and shoulders tense for a moment before that tension visibly leeches out of his muscles as well as his posture.
He scrubs a hand over his face and fuck do I wish we were alone because then I’d pull him toward me and kiss him, showing him that I don’t mind his scars at all.
Even when he started going radio silent, I kept sending him texts each morning and night.
Every now and then, I’d text him about something that happened or an accomplishment.
I had hoped the distance was temporary and I wanted him to know that I was still thinking of him despite that distance.
“You don’t know how much I needed to hear that.” He takes a drink and nods. “You’re right, though. All of that sent me into a major tailspin but when my niece, Mae, and Timber were here before their wedding, she knocked some sense into me. Told me…”
He pauses and bites his lip as he stares at the bottle, picking at the label again. After a few moments, he clears his throat and his gaze rises to meet mine again.
“She told me my scars made her feel safe. That they made me the toughest and most dangerous person in the room. That they tell people I’ll go to any length to protect those I care about, even if it means I’m hurt in the process.”
I can’t help but smile at that because I feel the same way. “Damn, I need to meet this woman.”
He huffs and shakes his head.
Thankfully the guys had already filled me in on the whole situation of Mae coming to the Forest Creek club looking for her dad, Smoke, otherwise that comment would have shocked and confused me since I know he only has a nephew by blood relation.
“I’m serious.” Leaning on the bar, I cup my hands around his. “Even before all that happened, I felt that way about you. And afterward, that feeling only intensified.”
He stares at me in shock, his mouth opening and closing a few times, but nothing comes out.
The vulnerability I see etched on his face and in his eyes has me wanting to go around and knock some sense into everyone that’s said shit or did something to him to make him feel like this.
And I bet he probably hasn’t shown this vulnerability to many people before, which makes this even more heartbreaking while also making my chest warm that he feels comfortable enough to open up to me about this.
“That’s how you’ve always felt?” he finally manages to ask me, weakly albeit, and I nod.
“You’ve always had that ‘fuck with me and find out’ kind of aura around you, but the danger level went way up after everything happened.
I’ve always felt safe when I’m with or around you.
While I absolutely hate what happened to you,” I pause and lean in close as I whisper this next bit, “and I seriously hope you dealt with those assholes once and for all,” I pause again as I lean back and not say anymore on the matter despite his shocked and then heated stare, “I’ve felt even safer while around you after the fact because a part of my brain and heart recognized what Mae felt and told you.
I know you’d do anything to keep those you care about safe.
Especially the women and kids in your life.
After learning what I’m assuming is the condensed version of what happened, that just solidified what I’d always known about you.
That while you are a big, bad biker, you’re also a protector. ”
Reaper stares at me for a few moments, not saying anything, and I’m about to apologize for possibly overstepping when he gets up from his stool, steps around behind the bar and pulls me into his arms. He leans down, pressing his nose into my hair and I tighten my arms around his waist.
“How did I ever get so lucky as to have found you?” he whispers and a weight falls from my shoulders because I know we’re okay now.
He pulls back slightly and I look up at him, grinning.
“Easy. You stepped up and protected me when my ex and the bitch who won’t be named came into the supper club and tried to cause a scene.”
Reaper scowls and I chuckle.
“Fucking hate that cunt and cunt licker,” he growls and I can’t stop my laugh at that. He’s taken to calling them the nicknames Miracle and Khloe gave them, and I absolutely love that he does that.
He cuts my laughter off when he leans down, kissing me. While we’ve kissed quite a bit ever since that day at my house after the fire, they’ve all been chaste or somewhat short kisses. He hasn’t kissed me as possessively as he did that day.
Until now.
He swallows my moan but then we both groan in frustration when we hear a few cheers go up. Silently, I curse them because I didn’t want the kiss to end.
He rests his forehead against mine. “I’d like to stay and catch up with you between customers if that’s alright?”
Nodding, I smile widely at him. “I’d love that.”
Reaper gives me another quick kiss before he steps back around the counter and sits down on his barstool. His smirk deepens, most likely noticing how red my cheeks still are, but then he scowls when a customer nearby grumbles about poor service.
“Oh, shut it, Hank. Lark can do whatever the hell she wants. It’s her bar,” Erica sasses him as she winks at me and pours him a drink. He’s a regular here, so she already knew what he’d be asking for.
A few more customers come in and Reaper snags my hand before I can walk away, kissing my knuckles. My blush deepens and when he finally lets me go and as I pass behind Erica, she winks again at me.
“Bow-chica-wow-wow,” she says quietly under her breath and I can’t help but laugh along with her as I shake my head, but then my laughter fades as I realize who has stepped up to the bar.