Chapter Thirteen
Hammer finished eating, then waited for Camila to finish before he gathered up both plates and handed them to a passing prospect.
“Come on. I’ve got something I want to show you.
See what you think.” He stood and used her hand to tug her to her feet, then he glanced down to make sure she wore some kind of shoes, what kind didn’t matter.
They weren’t going to be outside long, but she needed something on her feet while she crossed the gravel in the driveway.
“It’s a bit cool out,” Camila said as they walked together across the lot. “I didn’t know it got this cold up here. All I ever heard about was how hot it is here.”
“It gets cold overnight this time of year. But I’ve never seen it freeze hard here. Higher up in the mountain it gets a lot colder but not so much here in town.”
“It’s nice. Nice not to have to worry about it getting too cold.”
“It is this time of year. I’m not so fond of the summers and the heat but it is what it is.
” They walked slowly, taking their time.
“I know you’re wanting to do something to help out.
I thought we could start out with this. It’s nothing huge.
Answering phones and helping people who come in to drop off or pick up their vehicles,” he said.
“If it isn’t a good fit, that’s okay. It’s a start.
We have our fingers in a lot of pies, so if this doesn’t work out, we can try something else.
I have no doubt we can find something you can do.
But I don’t want you to feel like your hands are tied, that you have to help out in order to stay.
” Hammer pulled open the back door to the garage and held it for her to precede him inside.
“Come on through. I’m pretty sure Wrench is in here.
” He led her through the small break room they’d come into, down the hall, and into the service area with several bays.
One truck was on the lift, while another was pulled in the only bay with the door open, the one over the pit.
He had no doubt keeping most of the doors closed was to keep as much of the warmth inside as they could.
“Where’s Wrench?” he asked Wolf, the first brother they encountered.
“Far end. He’s working on Bulldog’s bike.”
“Thanks,” he said, then dropped a hand on Camila’s back and guided her toward the corner where Wrench worked on the club’s bikes. “Something wrong with it?” he said when they reached the corner where Wrench sat on a short stool, scowling at the motorcycle on a bike lift in front of him.
“Just an oil change,” Wrench said, looking up. “Is this the girl you were talking about?”
“It is. This is Camila. She’s never worked, but she’s eager to try and she’s smart. It might take her a little practice, but I think she’ll catch on pretty quick.”
“I’ll take anything that means I don’t have to stop what I’m doing every time the phone rings or someone walks in the door.
” He pushed himself to his feet and headed for the front office, waddling a little at first, but after a few steps, his gait evened out as his older sore joints got moving a little easier.
Hammer motioned for Camila to follow the older man, then followed, making sure there was no one paying more attention to her than they should be.
He didn’t see anyone who wasn’t part of the Sons, and they’d all glanced up when he and Camila had come in but quickly gone back to work.
“All right. This is what I need.” Wrench turned around to watch them once they were all in the front office. “Answer phones, take notes, schedule appointments. Deal with customers who come in to drop off or pick up their vehicles.” Wrench turned to Camila. “How good are you with cash?”
“I—I’m not sure what you mean.” A small crease formed between her brows.
“Counting cash, making change, that kind of thing.”
“I’ve made a few purchases, but that is all.”
He frowned. “Can you use a calculator or cash register.”
“I’ve used a calculator, not a problem, but I’ve never had opportunity to learn to use a register. But I’m sure I can learn.”
Wrench shrugged. “I don’t have a register. I use invoices, an old-fashioned appointment book, and a cash box.”
“I keep telling you, I can set you up with a computer that will do it all for you, but you’re not interested,” Hammer said.
“I hate the damned electronic shit. How about we see how your girl here does. If she does well and she wants to go computerized, we’ll discuss it.”
Hammer nodded once. He had no doubt Camila would do well here—his main question was how she would like it. If it was a good fit, he had little doubt he could talk her into switching to a digital system. He would wait until she determined if she liked the job or not to start his campaign, though.
“Come around here and let me show you,” Wrench said.
Hammer listened as the old Son explained how they scheduled work and how to put appointments in the books.
As he told her the details of what she needed to know, Hammer tuned them out, his mind turning to the woman herself.
He wanted to pull her out of here, to take her back to his room and tell her she was his, she didn’t need a job or anything else.
All she needed to do was make him happy, but he knew few women these days would put up with something like that.
Hell, as nice as it might sound, even he didn’t want a woman like that.
Camila was sexy as hell, and oddly, he found it even hotter when she got her back up and got stubborn with him or when she forgot to be afraid of what was going to happen next and got smart with him.
That bit of fire in her did things to him that he worked hard not to think about.
Especially when they were lying side by side in bed.
Hammer shifted as the crotch of his jeans grew uncomfortably tight.
“I’m sorry. I missed that. Were you talking to me?” Hammer said.
“Is there any reason I can’t get started now?” Camila said, her eyes on him as she looked hopeful.
“Not at all.” He pulled a phone from his pocket that he’d stopped by his office and grabbed before his shower.
“Here. This has my number, Winter’s, Miranda’s and a few other brothers.
If you need anything, call. If you’re good here, I’ll head back to the clubhouse.
I’ve got several things I’m in the middle of and I want to see what Forge found last night. ”
Camila took the phone and put it in her pocket.
“Thank you,” she said, glancing up at him as if gauging his mood and what he was thinking before turning her attention back to what Wrench was showing her. “Is there an extra sheet of paper where I can take notes?” she asked the older man.
“Sure,” Wrench opened a desk drawer, pulled out a legal pad and handed it to her. Hammer stood and watched them for another minute then headed back to the clubhouse.