Chapter 27
CHAPTER
TWENTY-SEVEN
Rain
As I come down the stairs, Ridge steps back inside.
“Have a good night,” he says before hanging up his phone.
Something about the face he’s making makes me curious. I don’t usually pry, but something is telling me I should tonight.
“Hey, everything okay?” I ask.
Right as I reach him, he pulls me into him and kisses me until I forget that I just asked him a question. It’s truly criminal how good of a kisser he is, so much so that I’m kind of annoyed women before me got to experience it.
Which is ridiculous because I have a past too.
All too soon, he pulls away and rests his forehead on mine.
“Everything’s great, Viper. I have you in my arms, and we’re about to go out on our first double date. What else could I want?”
I can see the truth in his eyes. Whatever he talked about on the phone is miles away from his mind now. I know if I pressed, he would tell me, but I choose to let it go. He will talk to me when he is ready.
I hum, pulling his hips against mine. “I don’t know. We could stay home and party naked.”
He chuckles and taps my nose with his pointer finger as he pulls away.
“You joke, but we both know you and Aspen have been looking forward to tonight.”
“True. I wish Panther and Maggie weren’t busy.” I pout.
“Next time,” he promises.
Next time. Two simple words that mean so much. We haven’t even gone on our first double date, and he’s already planning on us doing it again.
“You ready?” he asks, pulling me out of my thoughts.
“Yeah, I just need to grab my jacket.”
Before I can move, he does it for me. He walks around me and helps me put it on. He even takes the time to move my hair out of the way so it’s not trapped inside the jacket. He runs his hand down his name on my back like he always does, making me shiver.
“Did I tell you that you look amazing? These jeans are fucking criminal,” he says, touching my hips and the side of my ass.
“Just imagine how good they will look on the floor later when we get home,” I quip.
Ridge growls and slaps my ass.
“Let’s get out of here before you tempt me to stay home.”
He takes my hand in his to lead me into the garage. We put on our helmets, get on the bike, and take off. It’s a cold ride, but a short one, making it worth it.
When we arrive at the restaurant, I can’t help but shiver as I take off the helmet.
Ridge frowns. “We should have brought the truck. I didn’t even think about how cold it would be for you. I’m sorry.”
Before he can even finish his apology, I’m shaking my head.
“I’m good. I promise. I’ll be warm enough in a few minutes. You know I love riding as much as you do, and we don’t get to do it often this time of year.”
He accepts my answer as we head into the restaurant, spotting Aspen and Wolf right away.
Aspen looks up and smiles. “Hey, guys!”
“Hey, sorry we were late,” I say as I slide into the booth across from her.
She rolls her eyes. “You aren’t late. We were just early.”
“What’s up, man?” Wolf asks Ridge.
“Not much, you?”
“Same.”
Aspen looks at me and widens her eyes. “They are so talkative.”
“I know. It’s truly astounding. They use so many words, I don’t know how they keep up with each other,” I tease.
Ridge squeezes my thigh under the table. “Keep talking shit and see what happens.”
I feel my cheeks heat as Aspen leans forward.
“I don’t know what will happen. Tell me, and don’t leave anything out,” she says conspiratorially.
Wolf sighs. “Songbird, don’t encourage them.”
“Oh, come on. Why not? It’s so much fun,” she whines, making Ridge and me laugh.
Before anyone can say anything, the server comes up and takes our drink and appetizer orders.
“You know, I thought about taking a photo and sending it to Maggie, but I’m pretty sure she would kill me,” Aspen says when the server walks away.
“Is she having a bad time?” I ask.
Maggie and Panther went to have dinner with a president and his old lady from a different club to try to build a stronger relationship or some shit.
Aspen nods. “She hates shit like that, but then again, who could blame her? It’s not like she can speak freely with another club.”
Aspen and I keep chatting while the men have their own conversation. It’s not until there is a lull in ours that I clue into what they are talking about.
“Did you show Rain the paint samples?” Wolf asks, catching my attention.
“I didn’t. I got home later than I meant to and just set them on the counter,” Ridge says.
“Oh, you picked some up? Just cards or the little samples?” I ask.
Ridge smirks down at me. “I borrowed one of the color keys from work. You have all the swatches. Then, when you’ve narrowed it down, we can get some of the samples.”
I clap my hands. “I’m so excited.”
“Have you ever painted walls before?” Wolf asks.
I shake my head. “Never. Dad refused and said it was a pain in the ass. I’m pretty sure we are working with the original paint from when the house was built.”
“Well, fair warning, you think it will be fun, but painting is a nightmare,” Wolf warns me.
Aspen nods. “I got to help Maggie paint her bedroom when we were in middle school. That shit got everywhere. I’m pretty sure I had paint in my hair for a week.”
“It will be fine. If you hate painting, then I’ll finish it on my own. Or hell, I’ll grab a couple of cases of beer and make the prospects do it,” Ridge jokes.
It’s amazing how easily he can read me. He is willing to let me try anything, yet is also ready to step in if I decide it’s not for me.
He’s perfect.
“Are you excited about making the place your own?” Aspen asks.
I nod. “I am. It’s weird seeing some of the photos and stuff come down, but it’s nice. It’s starting to feel like ours.”
“Aww…you said ours. Who would have thought you two would make it this long without killing each other?” Aspen teases.
“I hate you,” I tell her with no heat, making her laugh.
“Please, anyone with eyes knew this would work out,” Wolf says.
I feel Ridge’s eyes on me and can’t help but look over at him and smile.
“Yeah, it’s working out all right. Better than I imagined,” I say quietly, meaning every word.
Ridge
The date is better than I could have hoped it would be. In the past, something like this would have sounded like a drag. With Rain, nothing feels that way. I actually find myself having fun.
That surprises me most of all because I have been anxious lately. Especially when Rain caught the tail end of my call earlier. I thought I had been caught. It’s been on my mind all night. Thankfully, I don’t think she has a clue.
When she told me about her aunt and her father, I could see how much it hurt her, thinking she was the reason he never had that love.
It broke my heart. I knew I needed to find her aunt, tell her about Mustang at the very least, and see if she would be interested in having a relationship with my girl.
Even if she says no, I will know I tried.
It only took Meek minutes to find her and to give me the complete rundown on her.
As soon as he gave me her number, I made the call right there in his office.
I expected her to say no instantly, but she didn’t.
All she said was that she needed to think about it, and she would be back in touch with her answer.
I was more than willing to give her all the time in the world if it means my girl might have some blood family in her life. If her aunt says no, though, no harm, no foul. My girl doesn’t have to know that someone else left her. If I have my way, she will never know that feeling ever again.
Rain and Aspen laugh, pulling me out of my thoughts. I can’t help but smile as Rain leans into me, her hand resting on my thigh.
Who would have thought my girl was touchy-feely? I sure as hell never expected it, but I fucking love it.
The server comes back with both checks, and Wolf and I instantly hand her our cards without checking the bill.
“I’ve told you that you need to check it before you hand them your card. What if it’s wrong and they charge you for something we didn’t get?” Aspen asks her man.
“Then I pay for it. It’s not that big of a deal,” Wolf says.
“You say that now, but I was once charged forty percent gratuity on two drinks because I was with a group of girls from work. The system fucked up and some of us got charged forty while the others got nothing,” Rain says.
Aspen pushes his shoulder. “See!”
“Did they correct their mistake?” Wolf asks, not taking his eyes off Rain.
Rain nods. “Yeah, but it took over an hour. They also tried to charge a pregnant woman for a beer that she very clearly didn’t order or drink.”
“Jesus Christ, what kind of hole in the wall did you go to?” I ask, shaking my head.
“One that was supposedly ‘haunted.’” Rain air quotes, making us laugh.
“All right, let’s get out of here. Are you two done hanging out and want to go home, or are we heading back to the clubhouse?” Wolf asks as he stands.
I follow his lead and hold my hand out to Rain, helping her out of the booth.
“Thank you,” she murmurs quietly.
“You’re welcome.”
“Let’s go to the clubhouse. Maggie should be back soon, and then we can all hang out. She will need someone to vent to,” Aspen says.
Rain looks at me, and I nod. “Sounds good.”
We exit the restaurant, and I look over at Wolf. “You lead. We will follow.”
He nods. “Sounds good.”
All of us put our helmets on and get on the bikes, starting them up. When Wolf passes by us, I pull out behind him, and we take off. The ride is smooth despite the traffic, but about halfway to the clubhouse, I notice it.
A black SUV cuts in behind me and rides my ass a little too close for comfort.
“What the fuck?” Rain mutters through the comms built into her helmet that’s synced to mine.
“It’s who you think it is. Pay attention. It’s going to be okay,” I tell her.
Wolf, never missing a thing, slows down just slightly so we can ride next to each other.
“Tell me what he says,” I say to Rain, my eyes switching between the road and the mirrors.
“I think he’s saying we should just pull over.”
I nod. “Got it.”
In unison, we throw on our blinkers and slow down. Pulling over on the closest side street and putting our bikes in park.
“Camera on?” I ask quietly when our bikes cut off.
“Always,” Wolf says under his breath.
When car doors shut behind us, I feel Rain’s body go tense. Instinctively, I rest my hand on her thigh.
“Easy, Viper,” I tell her under my breath. “You know who it is. We have a plan. Don’t react.”
“I fucking hate cops,” she mutters, making me smile.
You and me both.
“Well, well, well, look what I found here. Two Mountain River MC members,” Hampton says, walking up to us.
I glance down at his chest and notice the missing body cam.
“Congratulations, you can read,” Aspen says sarcastically.
“What’s the reason for pulling us over, officer?” Wolf asks.
“It’s detective, you little twerp,” he hisses. “You have a taillight out, and you both were swerving. We have reason to believe that you four are under the influence.”
The young cop next to him looks uncomfortable, like he knows this stop is bullshit. It makes me wonder if this is one of the men he had to get under his thumb. It doesn’t look like he is all the way there yet.
“I’m going to have to insist that you all do a sobriety test while my partner here checks your bikes,” Hampton continues.
“His overcompensation is astounding,” Rain mutters as she gets off my bike.
I follow her lead as Wolf and Aspen do the same. We move over to the sidewalk and watch as the young cop searches our saddlebags and under our seats.
It’s an illegal search. He had no reason to believe we were drinking. It was all bullshit, but it doesn’t matter. We aren’t hiding anything, so let them search.
“Nothing.” The young cop says quietly as he comes back to where we are standing in front of the SUV.
“Of course you found nothing because we were doing nothing wrong,” Rain tells him.
Even in the dark, I can see his cheeks turn pink.
Hampton grits his teeth. “Sobriety test. We all know you are drunks, so you’re going to fail.”
Much to his dismay, we pass the test with flying colors. We didn’t even have a beer with dinner, which we would have if this shit wasn’t hanging over our heads.
“This can’t be,” Hampton mutters. “We are searching them. Turn around and face the truck.”
“Sir, don’t we need to call for a female officer for that?” the young cop asks.
“Do what I say,” Hampton hisses.
“Officers, I would like to inform you that my brother and I are both wearing body cams and have dash cams mounted to our bikes. This entire interaction has been taped and will be reported to the proper authorities for the illegal search and unjustified stop,” Wolf tells them calmly.
“I didn’t sign up for this,” the young cop mutters before stomping back to the SUV.
“This isn’t over,” Hampton says, looking right at me.
“It is, and you know it,” I tell him.
“Mark my words, I’ll take you down,” Hampton says.
“And again, that’s caught on camera. I would walk away before you say anything you can’t take back,” Rain warns him.
We watch as he angrily walks away. It’s only when he turns out of sight do we all take a deep breath.
“You okay?” I ask everyone.
“That was nerve-racking. I mean, I knew we didn’t do anything wrong, but still.” Aspen sighs.
Rain leans into me, and I rub my hand along her back. “I just want to go home.”
Goddamn Hampton and his vendetta against me. He ruined tonight, and if I have my way, he will pay for it. One way or another.
“Let’s go home, baby,” I tell her, but I look over at Wolf.
He nods, silently telling me he will pass along what just happened.
This is far from over. In fact, I have a feeling things are really just starting, and everything up until now has been child’s play.