CHAPTER 2
JOSIE – The day I met the man who became my everything.
As soon as I saw the name on my list, I knew exactly who he was. Ever since I’d moved to Feannag Village, all you heard about was the Crows. If it wasn’t the Crows, it was the O’Sheas in the next village over.
So far, I’d not met any of them. I guess today was the day to pop my cherry because it looked like one of them was here with a dog. Although I wasn’t sure of the name that was on the form, it definitely was not a real name unless his parents had a weird sense of humour.
“Skinny,” I muttered as I read through the notes. “Owner of Cinder. Mmh, nothing to worry about by the looks of this paperwork, just a regular check-up.”
Pushing away from the desk, I stood and walked to the door, peeking around the corner before calling out their name. Standing at Shona’s desk was who I assumed was Skinny, going by the cut he had on over his shirt.
“Holy moly, he’s one delicious hunk of man,” I muttered quietly to myself as I allowed my gaze to roam over him from the top of his messy blonde hair to the tips of his scuffed boots.
He was a big guy, not so much tall as wide.
He looked about six foot or so, not too much taller than my average height of five foot six.
But whereas I was soft and cuddly, he looked like he lifted weights on the regular, with the muscles that were showcased nicely in his short-sleeve shirt.
His jeans were cupping his firm backside nicely.
I tilted my head to get a better look; biting my lip, I wondered if it was as firm as it looked.
My eyes drifted back up his body. ‘Oh, boy. I’d certainly not be averse to finding out,’ I hummed to myself as he walked away from Shona’s desk, giving all of us a good look.
And it was all of us because when I looked around the waiting room, it seemed like most of the women in there were looking.
I bit back a giggle as one lady caught my eye, and she fanned her face.
Shona was looking at me with amusement and shaking her head.
Knowing that I had to get my professional face on, I cleared my throat, thrust back my shoulders, and called out Cinder’s name.
For the next few minutes, I balanced amusement at Skinny’s confusion because he seemed as flummoxed as I was with the urge to say, ‘Fuck it,’ drag the man to my flat, and have sex with him to see if our chemistry was real or imagined.
I had a feeling it wasn’t, though, and there was absolutely no way I was letting the man get away if I could help it. My mum didn’t raise an idiot, and I knew a good man when I saw one. Plus, how he loved on his dog made him even more attractive to me.
I’d never been so forward in my life. Not that he seemed to mind that I’d basically told him he was picking me up tonight.
The rest of the afternoon dragged by until it was knocking-off time.
Rushing upstairs, I hurriedly showered and got ready.
Seven o’clock found me waiting impatiently in the car park for him.
Some would say that I should make him work for me, but I wasn’t the type to play hard to get. At least with him, I wasn’t.
I heard his bike before I saw him. There was no way I could stop the smile that lit my face at the sight of him as he pulled to a stop in front of me.
Taking off his helmet, he grinned and held out his hand to me.
I took it, not expecting him to tug me sharply towards him.
A humph sound left me as I hit his chest, my head tilted up towards him in surprise.
Surprise that left me as his mouth descended and took mine in a hard kiss that had me whimpering low in my throat.
He’d come across as quiet and shy earlier, but there was no way that a man who kissed like he did was without experience.
Gulping in a breath of air, my legs wobbly, I sank weakly against him when he lifted his lips from mine. “Wow,” I mumbled, “when you go all out, you certainly go all out.”
Pushing away from him, I stood on my own two feet. I’m a strong, independent female after all. “Not that I’m complaining. You’re more than welcome to kiss the hell out of me anytime you want,” I assured him with a firm nod.
Skinny laughed, hooking an arm around my waist and pulling me back towards him. “Is that right, Tiger?” he murmured against my lips.
“Absolutely,” I replied with certainty. “But maybe you should kiss me again just to make sure it wasn’t a fluke.”
“Oh, Tiger, it wasn’t a fluke. I’m a Crow, and we know when we’ve found the woman meant for us.”
Looking at him from under my lashes, I asked, “And I’m that woman?”
“You are,” he assured me, taking my lips once again.
I was seriously thinking of saying fuck it to the bike ride, even though I really wanted to go for one, but at that moment I’d take riding him instead, especially as my bed was just a few feet away.
I was about to tell him that maybe we should take this somewhere more comfortable when he once again ripped his lips from mine, resting his forehead against mine.
“Fuck me, but you’re like my kryptonite,” he muttered before straightening up.
“Come on, Tiger,” he said, reaching into his saddlebag and taking out another helmet. It was black with gold writing on it. Taking it from him, I turned it so that I could read what was written on it. My eyes opened wide in surprise when I saw my name.
“Already?” I was shocked.
“Like I said,” he told me, taking the helmet from me and putting it on my head, tilting my chin so that he could ensure it was secure. “I’m a Crow, Josie. We don’t mess around when we find the woman we want to call ours.”
“Holy shit,” I whispered, “I found a unicorn.”
His large body shook as he laughed so hard he had to wipe tears from his eyes. When he was finished but still shaking slightly in amusement, I couldn’t help but smile along with him. I was glad I could make him smile like that.
“So, hotshot. Show me how I’m supposed to get on this monster,” I demanded.
Skinny smirked at me but went ahead and gave me all the do’s and don’ts of riding with him. Only when he was happy that I understood everything did he take my hand and help me on his bike.
That was the first of many rides with my man. Some were more different from others, especially when we moved countries.
…………………………………………………………………………………………
Never in a million years did I ever think that I’d be living in Africa working as a vet. It had been a steep learning curve for me, but I loved it. I got to work with animals I never ever thought I’d get a chance to treat.
When it had all fallen apart for Bull, Skinny and I had been there to hold everything together as much as we could for him. Then, when Bull decided he was moving to be with Noni, I knew there was no way that Skinny would stay in the UK, especially with Bond going with Bull.
The three of them were close. I had nothing holding me in the UK.
My family had scattered, and we barely kept in touch.
Not like the Crows. It had been a straightforward decision for me.
I’d happily packed up and moved. It had been a little complicated getting Cinder shipped, but we’d managed, and eventually, we were all in Zambia and settled.
Or as settled as we could be while building a new chapter of the Crow MC in a foreign country.
Noni falling pregnant had thrown everyone into a tizzy as Bull lost it.
After what had happened with Gwen, nobody blamed him.
We’d all collectively drawn a breath of relief when she’d safely delivered Samantha.
Then Bond had met Rochelle and Daisy, and that relationship had brought along its own excitement. We’d nearly lost Blaze, but luckily, he’d pulled through.
Everything slowly returned to normal, well, as much as it could when you were part of an MC and getting a town back up and running, plus having guests flying in and out.
It was hectic, and I’d not change a single thing.
I loved my life!