Cheyenne Chapter 2
My heart felt like it was going to pound out of my chest. I could hardly catch my breath. I sat in the breakroom, trying to calm down before someone came in and saw me freaking out. Get a hold of yourself, Chey! There’s no reason for you to be falling apart like this. It was just a couple of bikers! I told myself sternly. What had gotten into me?
I’d worked hard to not let the sight or sound of bikers scare me to death. It took years before I didn’t want to run and hide when I heard a motorcycle or saw a biker. Hell, it was almost impossible to live anywhere in this country and not see some occasionally. I thought I’d gotten over that. Guess I was wrong. Why it had hit me so hard today was a mystery.
In this town, there were bikers coming in and out of town on a regular basis. I heard there was a club that lived just outside of town. At first, I’d been worried about one so close, but I’d never run into any of them. I only saw them as they passed by on the street. If I saw them parked at a business, I didn’t stop until after they were gone. It had worked for the last two years. I guess I thought it would for the rest of my life.
Earlier, when I’d come out to call the next patient back and two huge bikers stood up, my heart had raced. But it was the sight of the one who’d followed the first one that had shaken me the most. He was physically imposing to begin with. He stood well over six feet tall, maybe three or four inches over. I tried to calculate based on my own five foot four. I had to look up to see his face.
I tried not to stare. I didn’t need either one of them to get any ideas that I might be interested in either of them. No way in hell that was going to happen. Though, I did want to stare and drink in their beauty, especially the one in the back. In addition to his height, he was an impressive man with really wide shoulders and a broad chest. I could see muscles straining his shirt sleeves. His face was deeply tanned with lines around his eyes and mouth. His eyes were a deep, dark brown and heavily lashed. His hair plus his beard and mustache were closely cropped and dark brown, though I could see some strands of gray in his beard and at his temples. I’d place him in his mid-to-late thirties, maybe forty at the most.
Running down both of his arms were numerous colored tats. He had on his colors and was dressed in your typical biker’s wardrobe of a t-shirt, colors, jeans, and boots. His eyes were intense and seemed to be trying to drill right into my mind, the one time I’d happened to look him in the eyes. I was quick to look away and kept from making eye contact with either of them after that. Nothing good would come of it. As soon as I could get away, I did. I went straight to my friend, Alisse. I dragged her into the breakroom.
“What’s wrong with you, Chey?”
she asked in surprise. She could see the panic written on my face.
“I need you to take over for me,”
I told her urgently.
She frowned at me. “Why? Are you sick?”
I could hear worry in her voice. I shook my head no. “Then what?”
“I don’t want to be seen by the patient in room three or his friend.”
“Why not? Did they do something?”
Her voice had gotten higher, and she was starting to look pissed. I sighed. I’d have to tell her. I didn’t want her to go off on someone. She was protective as hell. She’d know as soon as she saw them, anyway.
“They’re a couple of bikers, Alisse. I can’t do it. I’m sorry,”
I whispered. She gave me a sad smile. Her hand moved up to touch my arm in sympathy.
“I get it. No problem, I was about to take a break. Why don’t you go instead and then I’ll take your slot? I’ll handle them.”
“Thank you! I owe you,”
I told her as I gave her a hug.
She smiled and hugged me back. “That’s what besties do. I got your back. Sit down and breathe. I’ll find you as soon as they’re gone.”
She patted my back and left the room. I sank down on a chair and worked to get my body to stop freaking the hell out. It had been a close call, but I was fine. No reason to worry anything would happen because of it.
It was exactly twenty-seven minutes later when she came back. I know because I watched the clock. “They’re gone. Damn, Cheyenne, I hate to see you get like this. I thought you were doing better.”
“I was. It was something about them that set me off. I don’t know why.”
“Well, I have to say, they were two handsome devils. I could have climbed them like a tree. Only because I love you did I not. Though I have to say, you made an impression on one of them,”
she told me with a smirk on her lips.
“What do you mean?”
“He told me to give you this.”
She handed me a slip of paper. I took it and opened it. It had the word Reaper and a phone number written on it. I looked at her with my eyebrows raised.
“He asked where you were and said he wanted to speak to you. I told him you were on break. Then I told him you’re not into bikers and wouldn’t be someone looking for a hookup. I said you’d never give him the time of day.”
She fought not to laugh.
“What did he say?”
I asked her, aghast that she’d said all that to a patient, well, a patient’s friend, even if he was a biker.
“He said he wasn’t looking for a hookup. Then he told me to give you his number and that he expects you to call soon. He told me not to throw it away and that his name was Reaper and he didn’t mean any harm. He just wants to talk to you. I told him again that you don’t do bikers, and that I hoped he could live with disappointment,”
she said, then laughed.
I plopped down on the chair and ran my hands down my face. “What am I going to do? Why would he want to talk to me?”
“Oh, I don’t know, maybe like almost every guy you meet, he thinks you’re beautiful and wants to get in your pants. Come on, Cheyenne, men look at you all the time. You get asked out constantly. It’s a good thing my ego is a good one, or it would be hell being your friend,”
she teased me. I shoved her away and rolled my eyes. Like she was unattractive and lacked for male companionship. Guys were asking her out all the time, too.
“Get out of here. You’re full of it. All they’re looking for is a piece of ass. Men don’t care who they get it from. Or whether they have a girlfriend or wife already. It’s sickening. And I can tell you, bikers are the worst. No thank you, not going to go there.”
I took the piece of paper she had given me and threw it in the trash. Not happening. I left her to take her break while I got back to work. It was time to forget about a tall, dark, and handsome biker. That would only lead to pain and hell.
By the end of the workday, I’d mostly forgotten about the two bikers. It had been a crazy, hectic day. Lots of people were coming down with colds and sinus infections with the change in weather. When I walked out the door of the office at four o’clock, I was ready for a quiet night alone in front of the television and a nice long soak in a hot bath full of bubbles. I slid into my car and started the heater. One quick stop at the store to grab a few things, then I would be done for the night.
At least I’d have the next two days off. The doctor’s office was closed on the weekends and closed an hour early on Fridays. I needed to grab some groceries so I could stay in all weekend. I had several books waiting for me. I planned to indulge in my reading addiction this weekend. A few of my favorite authors, Cee Bowerman, Mirrah McGee, K.L. Savage, Manda Mellett, and Christine Feehan, had new books out. I was overdue for a reading fiesta!
A quick trip around the store, and then it was to the checkout and then home. I lugged in my groceries while keeping my eyes open. It was dark already, and I hated to be outside when it was dark. It made it harder to see what might be coming at you. Once I had the groceries all inside, I locked up and relaxed. A quick dinner and then I sank into the bathtub with my reader and a glass of wine. Time to relax and get lost in another world. One where there was such a thing as happily ever after and men who would love and protect their women and children. Wouldn’t that be a lovely place to live?
***
Monday ended up coming way too soon, and after I walked in the door at work, I was ready to leave an hour later. We were slammed with people coming in sick with colds and sinus problems, mainly infections. It was worse than last week. The waiting room was full of sniffling, sneezing, and coughing machines. It made me think of the biker from Friday, who I’d fought all weekend to forget. I cut off that train of thought for the umpteenth time and made sure to take an extra dose of vitamin C and echinacea. Dr. Simpson had told me once that these didn’t really work, but I did it anyway. My aunt had always done it and she’d rarely ever gotten sick.
By the end of the day, Alisse and the rest of the staff, along with me, were ready to cry. I felt like I’d crammed two days of work into one. Alisse and I went out to our cars together. We were the last ones to leave since we had stocked the exam rooms for tomorrow. We were already booked to the max. I hated to come in and find that hadn’t been done. She was going to come over tonight and chill for a bit with me. We only lived a couple of miles apart.
I’d barely gotten out the door and locked it when I heard her gasp. I swung around, shoving her behind me, and I pulled out the gun I had in my purse. I pointed it straight in front of us as I scanned the parking lot. It was done without conscious thought. My eyes fell on the huge guy who was coming toward us. He’d been leaning against a motorcycle. I started panting in fright. When he stepped into the light, I almost cried. Was it from relief or fear, I wasn’t sure?
Standing there was the guy from last week. The one who told Alisse his name was Reaper. He stopped and held up his hands. “Easy there, sweetness. I don’t mean you ladies any harm. I’m sorry I scared you. I just want to talk.”
I kept my gun pointed at him and pushed Alisse toward my car. I made sure not to turn my back on him. I looked to see if his friend or any other guys were with him, but he seemed to be alone.
“Why in the hell are you sitting out here in the dark? Do you have a death wish or something?”
I half yelled as I walked backward. Alisse held on to my jacket and led me.
“Cheyenne, my name is Reaper. We met last week. I’m truly sorry I scared you. I thought you could see me better out here. You can put your gun away.”
“I don’t care who you are. I’m not putting my gun away. Now, get the hell out of here before I have Alisse call the cops or I have to put a hole in you,”
I threatened him. I wouldn’t shoot him unless he gave me cause, but he didn’t know that. He didn’t say a word. He kept watching me, but he’d stopped coming toward us. We’d made it to my car.
“Alisse, my keys are in my left jacket pocket. Get them out and unlock the driver’s side. You get in and slide over to the passenger seat,”
I told her. She did as I asked. As soon as I heard the lock click and she opened the door and slid inside, I backed into the seat and slid in after her. I slammed the lock on the door and fumbled with the keys she handed me to start the engine. I kept watching him.
I didn’t see a gun, but that didn’t mean anything. He came a couple of steps closer. I didn’t bother to wait. I threw the car into drive and took off. My tires squealed a little as I tore out of the parking lot. I was shaking so hard, I had to pull over a couple of miles down the road, once I saw he wasn’t following us. I laid my head down on the steering wheel. I looked up when Alisse tugged my gun out of my hand. I’d totally forgotten I was still holding the damn thing.
“Jesus, Cheyenne, I almost crapped myself. I didn’t mean to scare you. He just startled me when I saw him. Then you went all commando and whipped me around and had that gun out. I didn’t know what to do.”
“You did perfect. You listened and got us to the car. God, what in the hell was he doing out there? I didn’t see anyone else with him.”
“Honestly, I think he was just there to talk to you. I know you don’t trust bikers and you’ve told me enough that I understand why. But he doesn’t strike me as someone you have to be afraid of. He doesn’t set off my warning bells, which you know, I have pretty good ones.”
“Why in the hell would he waste his time talking to me? Believe me, a guy like that has plenty of women who’ll talk to him without having to wait for one outside of her work. Fuck, they probably take one look at him and offer to bear his children, while tearing off their clothes, begging him to fuck them right there.”
She laughed. “So, tell me how you really feel. I think his sheer fuckable self made an impression on you, my friend. Were you resisting the urge to get naked and rape him in the parking lot? Not sure I could survive seeing that, even from my best friend. Though, I have seen you naked,”
she mused as if she was contemplating it. I elbowed her and shook my head. I couldn’t help but smile as she laughed. She laughed so hard, she had tears streaming down her face.
“Kiss my ass. Just because I have no plans to get some of that, doesn’t mean I’m blind. He’s a fucking god and he knows it. No need to puff up his ego. However, it worries me that he was waiting for me.”
“He looked like it bothered him to see you so scared, Chey. He was frowning. He made sure to keep his hands where you could see them and he didn’t get too close. If he was there as a threat, why didn’t he have a gun? Or have some guys with him?”
I put the car back in drive as she talked. I’d settled enough to get us to my place in one piece, though the whole way there, I kept wondering why he hadn’t brought backup or a gun. Maybe he hadn’t expected me to defend myself.
I spent the evening trying to forget Reaper and pay attention to the shows we were watching. She decided to stay the night with me. Her car was still at work and I didn’t want to go back there in the dark. The next morning, we got up in time for me to take her by her place to get ready. She used my things to shower and fix her hair and makeup. All she needed was clean clothes. I was extra vigilant as we went to my car and again at her house. When we pulled into the parking lot at work, I kept my head on a swivel. I didn’t see a bike or anyone. I only breathed easily once we were inside.
The morning got off to a crazy start again. I was too busy to dwell on thoughts of Reaper. It was almost noon and time for my lunch break when I got called to the front desk. I sometimes helped up there, so I figured someone needed a break. When I got there, the receptionist was grinning at me. “What do you need, Hayley?”
She pointed to a large vase of flowers sitting on her desk. “Those came for you.”
I walked closer to the desk. It was a gorgeous bouquet of roses, lilies, and other flowers with greenery and lacy ferns in a gorgeous blue glass vase. “Are you sure those are for me? I don’t know anyone who’d send me flowers,”
I told her.
She smiled harder. “I’m sure. The delivery guy said these were for Cheyenne and they have your name on the envelope.”
She pointed to the card stuck in the flowers. By this time, Alisse and a few others had joined us. The waiting room was almost empty since it was lunchtime. I hesitantly took the envelope out of the flowers and opened it. I had no idea who would have sent me flowers.
I looked at the card inside. In a strong, dark script was written…
Beautiful Cheyenne, sorry I scared you. I’d never hurt you, sweetness. Please, let me make it up to you. Call me, 555-1111. Reaper.
I stepped back and stared at the flowers and then down at the card. He’d sent me flowers! For scaring me.
“Who sent them?”
Alisse asked me excitedly. I wordlessly handed her the card. She read it and then gasped. Everyone else was eagerly asking me who. I didn’t answer them. I turned around to leave.
“It’s no one. I need to get back to work.”
I hurried to the bathroom. I stood there looking in the mirror. Why was he doing this? He had to have an ulterior motive. One that I didn’t want to find out. It would be something terrible. A knock at the door got my attention. “Just a minute.”
I straightened my hair then opened the door. There stood Alisse.
“Cheyenne, honey, are you alright?”
She gave me a worried look.
I nodded. “I’m fine. Just caught off guard. I have no idea what he wants, Alisse.”
“I think that’s simple. He wants you. The man looked at you last night like he couldn’t get enough of you. Why can’t it just be because he’s interested in you?”
“Because bikers aren’t just into women for something simple like attraction. They always have a reason and it’s always something worse.”
“Shit, you’ve really had the worst experience when it comes to bikers and men in general. Honey, I think you’re wrong, but you know best. Promise me you’ll take those home. Those are the most beautiful flowers I’ve ever seen. Don’t let Hayley or one of the others walk off with those,”
she warned me. I nodded.
We took our break and then got back to work. As the end of the day got closer, my stomach knotted up. Would he be waiting out there again? A small part of me, one I didn’t want to acknowledge, hoped he would be. I stomped down hard on that. Like yesterday, I stayed to stock the rooms for the following day. Alisse insisted on staying with me.
When we left, I made sure to let her lock up. I had my gun out as soon as we opened the door; however, the parking lot was deserted. I walked us to our cars. Both of us pulled out together. I breathed a sigh of relief. Maybe if I didn’t call him, he’d get a clue and that would be the end of it. Yeah, that’s what I’d do. I prayed the whole way home that this would be the end of it.