Chapter 15 - Abby
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Abby
Leah has been quiet the entire drive home.
I ended up picking up a double shift last night because a nurse called in sick with food poisoning. Mav was with Cole, so I was able to step in.
I was getting off shift around the same time Leah was being discharged, so I offered to give her a ride. We made a quick stop at the pharmacy to pick up her pain meds, and now we’re on our way to our houses.
I’m surprised to see a motorcycle parked in front of Leah’s house with a familiar man leaning against it. From a distance, it could be either Wyatt or Linc, but the longer hair pulled up into a messy bun is a dead giveaway for Linc.
The earring in his left ear or the tattoos creeping up the side of his neck would also give him away. The general “do not fuck with me” attitude he emits is in sharp contrast to his brother’s sunny disposition.
I pull my car into my driveway and get out. Leah’s movements are slow as she gingerly climbs from her seat. My heart aches a little more each time I see her cringe.
I don’t want to make her feel incapable or make anything worse, so I stay close to her side. When she rounds the car and comes into view, I can visibly see the muscles in Linc’s jaw tense.
He doesn’t even know this woman, and he’s having this kind of reaction. I suddenly like him a little more. It really doesn’t take very long to tell if someone is a good person.
“Hi, Linc,” I say when we step closer on the sidewalk connecting mine and Leah’s houses. Becks said some people from their motorcycle club would be stopping by to keep an eye on her, but I didn’t think it would start right away.
“Hello,” he says in his raspy voice.
“Leah, this is Linc.”
She eyes him warily, sticking close to my side.
Linc looks like someone you should be afraid of with his muscular build and body covered in tattoos, but I have a feeling there’s nothing to fear about this man.
When he looks at Leah, his entire demeanor softens. “I promise we will stay out of your hair. We just want to make sure you’re safe.”
She drags her eyes up to meet his. She seems to assess him for a minute before giving him a subtle nod. “Okay…” She takes a deep breath. “Thank you.”
“You don’t need to thank me. There’s nowhere else I—or any of the other guys from the club—would rather be.”
The sincerity is blatantly clear. I have a feeling he has his own personal reasons for being so invested in this. Maybe all the guys in the club do.
I follow Leah into her house and help her get settled in bed. She didn’t sleep well at the hospital and says she just wants to sleep in her own bed.
Thankfully, her sorry excuse of an ex-boyfriend didn’t live with her, so none of his stuff is here. Otherwise, I would be throwing all of it out onto the street right now.
With all her medicine set out on her kitchen counter, I quietly make my exit. Linc is still in the exact same spot when I walk out.
“It’s pretty amazing that you’re doing this,” I tell him, stepping closer.
“It’s not just me.”
“Regardless… I’m still thankful.”
“She doesn’t deserve to be treated like that.”
“Hell, no. She does not.” My voice rises in volume. “I never liked the guy. I always got a bad vibe whenever he was around.”
His head slowly shakes from side to side, the sunlight catching on his features. “There are too many pieces of shit in this world.”
“I agree. It’s good to know you aren’t one of those pieces of shit.”
The corner of his mouth quirks up. “And how do you know that?”
“Vibes.”
He chuckles. “You sound like Wyatt.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment because he seems fun.”
“Take it however you would like,” he says, still smirking.
I eye him for another minute. He seems like a tough nut to crack. I have a feeling there are a lot of layers to him. Some of which he doesn’t show to many people.
“I should go take a shower. I’ve been in these same scrubs for the last twenty-four hours, so I’m sure I look crazy right now.
He moves his aviators further down his nose. His eyes travel up and down my body, sending a jolt of electricity coursing through me.
His perusal alone has me feeling like a live wire ready to implode at any moment.
“Crazy isn’t exactly the word I would use.”
I bite my bottom lip, suddenly feeling very turned on despite how exhausted I am. “And what word would you use?”
He slides his sunglasses back into place. “I don’t think you’re ready to hear it yet.”
“And when will I be ready?”
“No idea. That’s up to you.”
“Up to me? Then I think I’m ready now.”
The shake of his head is almost indistinguishable. “Not what I meant.”
“You are kind of bossy. Aren’t you?” I ask, cocking my head to the side. I assess him a little more, like his appearance will give me an insight into his mind.
“You have no idea, love.” A heavy silence settles between us while we continue to stare at one another. “Go take that shower, Abby.”
I swallow thickly before mumbling an “okay” and walking away. I turn back to face him from my front porch. “Bye, Linc.”
He doesn’t say anything but nods in my direction.
Inside my house, I press my back to the closed door, trying to catch my breath after whatever the hell that just was. Linc is quiet, but his presence is all-consuming. It would be far too easy to get lost in him.
I shake my head, desperately needing something to distract me. I pull out my phone and dial Hadley’s number.
She’s a wonderful person, and she just so happens to be the mayor of Aspen Springs. She’s the youngest person to ever hold the title here, but she’s damn good at her job.
She picks up the phone after only a couple of rings. “Hey, girl.”
“Hey. I need your help with something.”
“Yeah, of course. What do you need?”
“I might need you to use your mayoral superpowers.”
“You know I’m always down to use my powers for good. It would be for good, right?”
“The best,” I say, pacing back and forth through the first floor of my house.
“Well… you got me. Shoot.”
“My neighbor wound up in the hospital last night because her boyfriend beat the crap out of her.” She gasps, but lets me keep going. “They haven’t caught him yet.”
“Fuck,” she curses.
“Yeah,” I say dryly. “The new motorcycle club in town is keeping her safe, but I was wondering if you could maybe put a little pressure on the PD to make all of this move a little quicker.”
“I don’t know how much good it will do, but I’ll do everything I can. I knew those guys were going to be a good thing for this town. They might be all tatted up and look tough as nails, but they all had kind eyes.”
My mind flashes to the three unique pairs of eyes she’s talking about, and I know exactly where she’s coming from.
“I’ll make some calls and see what I can do.”
“Thank you.”
With nothing to distract me, my mind wanders back to the very attractive man leaning against a motorcycle just a few feet away from my front door.
I have no idea how I’m going to get anything else done today when I’m peeking out the window every three seconds.