1. Triton
There wasnothing I loved more than being on the back of my bike with a couple of hours to kill and a wide-open road ahead of me. I gave it a little more gas and flew down a stretch of back country road. The sun shone brightly in a cloudless sky and colorful wildflowers dotted the fields. I needed to blow off some steam and this sure as hell beat picking a fight with one of my MC brothers just so I could throw a few punches.
I always felt this way after a big job, though this last assignment had been extra difficult. As a one-man operation providing security for rich folks who dabbled in some dirty circles, I was used to being selective when it came to which jobs I wanted to take. I wasn’t used to having to save some asshole who ignored my instructions, which was exactly what had happened.
My MC brother Chance said I needed to get drunk and laid, preferably in that order. The first problem with that logic was there wasn’t enough alcohol in the state of Texas to wipe my memory clean. The second problem was there were pretty slim pickings when it came to single women in Maplewood.
I was better off pushing my bike to the limit in the middle of nowhere. My foster mom once told me that I wouldn’t be able to outrun my dark thoughts forever. Sooner or later, they’d catch up to me, and unless I faced them head on, they’d probably drag me down. I’d take my chances. I was thirty-two years old, and they hadn’t caught me yet.
My front tire bounced through a mud puddle leftover from yesterday afternoon’s thunderstorm. Now I’d have an excuse to spend more time outside this afternoon. No self-respecting member of the Rebel Hearts MC would put his bike in the garage covered in mud.
I squinted against the glare of the sun. There was something on the road up ahead. Probably one of the Keller kids. They were known as troublemakers, but they were just boys trying to entertain themselves. Both of their parents worked full-time jobs to try to pay rent on the single-wide they called home. Reminded me of my own childhood, though my parents had been too high all the time to hold down a job. Then they left one afternoon and never came back.
I shook my head, dislodging the memories. My mood was already bad enough without hauling up the past.
As I got closer to whatever was on the side of the road, I made out a bicycle. Definitely not the Keller kids unless they’d dug through their mama’s closet and pulled on a long, blonde wig. I slowed down, realizing the woman on that bike was surrounded by the trio of huge, mangy mutts the Kellers kept as watchdogs.
“Everything okay?” I cut the engine as I pulled up next to her.
“No, everything is definitely not okay.” She continued to pedal with one foot while trying to keep the dogs away with the other. “I’m being attacked by a pack of wild dogs, and I’ve got a flat tire.”
Attacked was a strong word. Looked to me like the dogs were racing around the bike and blocking her way, though the loud barks and snarls probably seemed threatening.
I waved my hands in the air. “Go on home. Y’all get out of here.”
The biggest dog looked up at me then turned toward the trailer.
Making myself look bigger, I waved my hands in wide circles. “I said get.”
With a final half-hearted bark, the smaller of the remaining two ran off, followed by the other.
“Are you hurt?” I climbed off my bike and grabbed hold of her handlebars.
The moment she turned toward me everything else faded away. Her hair tumbled around her shoulders, shimmering like spun gold in the morning sun. She glanced up at me with eyes the gentle green of the soft moss that blanketed the rocks down by the creek. Her hot pink t-shirt clung to her curves and made my blood boil with the need to pull her up against me and claim her pouty lips with mine.
I felt like that time I got the wind knocked out me when I was a kid. My lungs struggled to take in a breath. I’d never believed in magic, but it was like my entire body had fallen under some sort of spell.
“I think the only thing hurt is my pride.” She wobbled as she got off the bike, and I reached for her arm to hold her steady.
My nervous system buzzed at the touch. I cleared my throat and finally found my voice. “Where did you come from?”
She turned back the way we’d both come. “Just up the road.”
Satisfied she wasn’t going to fall over, I reluctantly removed my hand. “You must be new in town. I haven’t seen you before.”
“I’m Bess.” She held her hand out.
I gladly took it, eager to touch her again. “Hey, I’m Triton.”
We stood there, looking at each other, our hands clasped, for what felt like a long time and also not nearly long enough.
“So, I guess I need to get my tire fixed.” Bess pulled her hand back and turned her attention toward her bike.
“Where are you headed?” I couldn’t quite wrap my mind around her being out in the middle of nowhere on a ten-speed.
“Oh, I figured I’d ride into town. We don’t have very good Wi-Fi out here, and I need to get a few things done.” She gestured to the floral backpack hanging on her shoulders. “I brought my laptop, and I think the coffee shop has free internet.”
“Let me give you a ride.” I’d never shy away from the chance to get a beautiful babe on the back of my bike. Some guys in MCs refused to carry a woman unless she was their old lady or current piece of ass. Since I never planned on settling down, it didn’t bother me one bit.
Bess bit down on her lower lip. “I don’t know.”
Damn, she was young. Being new in town, she probably hadn’t heard of our local MC, the Rebel Hearts. Made up of a bunch of ex-military guys like me, we were the good guys.
“If you’d rather stay here, I can take your tire into town, have it fixed and bring it back to you.” I wouldn’t mind. Plus, that would give me the chance to see her again.
“Do you think those dogs would come back while you’re gone?” She shaded her eyes and looked off in the direction of the Keller’s place.
“No telling.” I wasn’t trying to scare her but didn’t want to lie to her either. “Why don’t you jump on back and we’ll take your tire with us? I’m sure Tater can fix it up while you get your work done.”
“Who’s Tater?”
“He runs the garage. We all try to look out for each other around here.”
“Um, I guess that would work if you’re sure you don’t mind.”
“I don’t mind at all. I’ve even got a helmet for you.” I grabbed the helmet I usually wore and handed it to her.
She put it on and struggled with tightening it under her chin.
“Let me help.” Our fingers brushed as I pulled the strap tight. Standing this close, I could see darker flecks of green in her eyes. We were from different worlds. It was obvious from the way her cheeks pinked when my fingers touched her skin. Somehow her innocence just stoked the fire burning deep down in my core.
With her helmet secure, I popped the front wheel of her bicycle off and secured it to the back of my Harley. Then I flung my leg over the seat and gestured for her to climb on behind me. Something told me I was going to enjoy my morning ride much more than I expected with Bess behind me.