Chapter 4
“Well, look who’s here. Aren’t you usually gone before now?” Amber jabbed at Lola as he walked into the kitchen one morning. “What happened, some girl keep you out too late?”
Lola cut a glare to his left toward Amber sitting at the breakfast nook. “Yeah, I’m usually gone. I don’t sleep half the day. Try getting a job and being productive.” He only glanced her direction for an instant, but it was long enough to see her eye roll before reaching the coffee pot.
“I’m trying,” she whispered.
“Speak up if you want to talk to me. I’m not falling for that sweet innocent bull crap.”
He heard her sharp intake of breath before she spoke. “I made breakfast. Will you join me, and we can talk?”
“You want to talk to me?” He whirled back with his filled mug in hand, ducking his head and cutting his eyes up toward her. Talk? She doesn’t talk. She sasses, argues, and snaps.
“Yes.”
“Oh, this should be interesting.” He was at the table in three strides, pulling back the chair in front of the empty plate she had placed there for him. Wasting no time, he began scooping food onto it. “So, talk.”
“You’re really good with math.”
“It’s just numbers.” His tone was flat, and he didn’t look her way as he dug into his food.
“I’m not,” she said.
He laughed. “Not news.”
“I was thinking that maybe you could help me with my math class.”
“Now, why would I do that?” He popped the last bit of bacon in his mouth.
“I could do something in return for you,” she offered.
Whoa. What? He locked eyes with her, his fork midair. Raising his brows, his words came out slowly. “I’m not interested in a fuck buddy.”
“No!” She sucked in a breath, obviously regrouping her thoughts. “No, not that.”
“Then what could you possibly help me with?”
“I lived in a clubhouse for several years. I watched and listened to things before they thought I was old enough to fully understand. You’re prospecting.”
“I can earn my patch myself,” he told Amber.
“How long have you been associated with a club? Any club?” she asked him.
With a sigh, he lifted the mug of coffee to his lips, downing half the contents. This was not worth his time.
“I’m just saying, I’ve met these men. Bikers are hard on prospects. It’s not cheating to get a little insight on something you know very little about,” Amber explained.
“I don’t need your help. I’ve made this on my own, and I’ll patch on my own. Next subject.”
“I’m looking for a part-time job,” she announced.
“Good.” He leaned back in his seat, throwing his hands behind his head and locking his fingers. “Thank you for breakfast.”
“No problem,” she replied softly.
Lola studied her as she began pushing the food around on her plate, taking an occasional bite. Aside from her blatant attitude toward him, she was attractive. Her large brown waves framed her face perfectly, and she always dressed to accentuate her already attention-demanding figure. Fuck buddy may not be such a bad trade. With his schedule it’d be nothing more than a tryst here and there anyway.
Mia appeared, quietly cutting into his thoughts. Her arms crossed and hands tucked underneath. Was she cold? The house didn’t seem cold to him, but the air conditioning was running since it was the beginning of July. That’s one thing he had learned since moving to Louisiana—the weather was mostly warm throughout the year, but the summer months could be extreme.
“I have breakfast here, if you’d like some,” Amber told her.
Mia twisted toward them and slowly approached. She signed something that Lola thought was most likely a thank you to Amber and slid into the chair next to him.
“You never told us how you got that name,” Amber commented.
He looked toward Amber, then to Mia. Both women’s attention intently fixed on him. “Short answer is I was caught wearing a dress.” He reached for his plate and moved to stand. The touch of Mia’s delicate hand to his arm took his breath. His head snapped up, locking eyes with her. Her smile was mesmerizing, and her eyes sparkled with interest. His body moved on its own and relaxed back into his seat.
“It was a spur of the moment thing to help out a brother. His old lady was being harassed by her jerk of a boss who had followed them to a hotel. I happened to be there with them when he showed up with a security guard to force her back to work. Anyway, I pulled her into the bathroom with me and grabbed her things. When I stepped back into the room in her skirt and swinging those tall, spikey shoes of hers, the security guard thought the boss had lost his mind. It worked by discrediting the asshole, and he left. The next week, I walked into the clubhouse and sitting on the bar was the gaudiest pair of stripper shoes I’ve ever seen.”
Amber broke out in laughter. “Oh crap! I would love to have seen that.”
He glanced toward Mia. Amusement flashed in her eyes but something else also. “You think that’s funny too?”
She nodded slightly, then smiled and patted her hand to her chest.
He chuckled. “You approve,” he stated, rather than ask her opinion, surprised by her reaction.
Amber laughed even more. “You do have some pretty blond hair. And long. But those roots are showing.”
“Now, the hair may have been a bad decision,” he admitted, “but not really concerned about it anymore. Or the reason behind that decision.” He lifted a hip when his phone buzzed and tugged it from his pocket.
“Lola here . . . Yeah . . . Fireworks for the club. Something for the kids . . . Got it . . .Got that too . . . Yes, sir.” He ended the call and shoved the phone back into his pocket. “Again, thanks for breakfast.”
He ran upstairs and burst into his room, grabbing his keys from his nightstand. Fireworks for the club, he could do, but what did kids like? He’d never been around many kids. Could kids do fireworks? And these were young. He knew nothing about young kids. He paused, squeezing his eyes for a moment. Women knew about kids. Grabbing his cut, he turned, pulling his door closed.
He jogged down the stairs and strode to the kitchen, pausing at the entrance as he threw his hands on his hips. “Fine. Let’s go.”
Amber’s head popped up, her eyes wide on him. “What?”
“I said, okay, I’ll do it. Let’s go pick out some fireworks.”
She flew from her chair and launched herself onto him, her hug so tight he thought she’d choke him. “You won’t be sorry. I promise.”
“We’ll see.” He set her back and stepped aside.
Amber glanced toward Mia, who only shooed her away with a flick of her hands. She bolted past Lola with a little squeal and up the stairs.
“Anything I can pick up for you?” he asked Mia.
She shook her head and began clearing the table.
“You want to go?” he asked her.
Again, she shook her head.
“Alright then. We’ll be back later,” he told her and turned away.
***
An hour later, Lola and Amber were climbing back into his Jeep with an assortment of fireworks.
“You mind going to the clubhouse to deliver?” Lola cocked his head toward Amber in the passenger seat.
“Of course not. I told you, I know most of the guys already and have met a couple of the old ladies. And they’ve been nice to me. Not like the ones where I came from. Ace’s old lady could be really mean. She didn’t like me being there.”
“Then why stay?” he wanted to know.
“I had no choice,” she said as her only reason minutes later, as they turned from the road. “The place is already alive.”
The grounds were filled with kids running and laughing. A large, inflated house bounced and swayed near the clubhouse. Picnic tables were filled with dishes and toys and anything the holiday deemed fit to have on hand.
“Yeah, it’s the fourth. Family day. All day,” Lola explained. “Didn’t they have family days at your club?”
Amber laughed. “Not a chance.” Then she snapped. “And not my club.”
“Come on in,” he told her, pushing open the double doors.
“What ya got?” a tiny voice asked from behind Lola as they placed the purchases onto the bar.
“Well,” he said as he turned, scooping up Kingsley, giving her a better view, “we have fireworks for tonight.”
“For me too?” Her tiny eyes grew large in hopeful excitement.
“Sure do,” he told her.
“Woo hoo!” She squeezed his neck, then ran back outside the instant her feet touched the floor again.
“That’s sweet,” Amber commented.
“Don’t let that one fool you.” King’s old lady laughed. “She has too much of her daddy in her. Hi, I’m Avery.”
“Hey. I’m Amber.”
“Amber, you can come out and join us if you like.”
Amber glanced toward Lola.
He gave a nod before she accepted the invitation following Avery outside.
“Well, well. You did snatch up one of London’s ladies,” King joked, walking through the doors clearly relieved by the coolness of the building.
“Oh, no.” Lola laughed, shaking his head. “We can barely stand to be in the same room.”
“Yet here you are together,” King snickered. “Look at Mac and Lorelei. Someone would think they were out to kill each other. Better watch out.”
Lola pushed out a breath. “Truth is, I drug her along because I know nothing about what kids like. Or what they can do. Not enough to shop for them.”
“Good thinking.” King slapped Lola’s back as he moved past him and toward the bedroom he shared with his family when they stayed the night. “We need to remedy that. Time for you to babysit.”
Lola froze, staring at the now closed door. Could this get any worse? Thinking about it, he could say he had technically babysat for Ghost and Maeve to go to lunch. But in truth, Mia did everything, and he was only there as support. He didn’t know how long he stood there. Surely, it felt longer than it actually had been when Brew passed in front of him, snapping his fingers.
“Must be a doozy for you to space out,” Brew commented, as he continued around the long bar. Pulling a case of water from underneath the counter, he turned back toward Lola.
“No way babysitting is a prospect job,” Lola stated.
“Anything is a prospect job. I did it. I got lucky though. Mine was at night during a necessary evil. They slept right through.” He handed the water to Lola and pulled out another. “Let’s get those ice chests filled.”
With that deed done, they joined the group. The day went on, the children played, and the old ladies chatted, relaxing together as they kept an eye on things. The men played with the kids, entertained themselves, and kept the day interesting. Eventually, Lola found himself sitting on a picnic table next to Amber, watching the kids and dads’ race.
“The old ladies here are pretty cool,” Amber told him. “No one has been rude or told me to leave. No snide comments.”
“Why couldn’t you leave before now?” he asked, still watching the races.
Amber hesitated so long that he decided she didn’t want to discuss it. So instead, he asked, “What are you going to school for?”
“My HiSET.”
“What’s that?”
“Louisiana’s version of the GED.”
Saying nothing, he only nodded.
“My mom left us when I was a teenager. My dad started drinking, then gambling. Honestly, I don’t know what all he did other than waste money and forget to pay the bills. Just before my sixteenth birthday, he had accumulated so much debt that the club came after him. So, he paid them off with the only thing he had left that he could part with.” She glanced toward him. “I was underage, so Ace put me up in the clubhouse. I became the live-in maid, until I became of age.”
“Hey,” he stopped her, “I get it. You were thrown into a situation that you didn’t choose. Looks like fate threw us both a hard ball.”
“Yeah.” She smiled.
“We’re both on the right path now. That’s all that matters,” he told her.
“Prospect!”
Lola jumped from the table and jogged across the grounds toward Rash where he stood next to his old lady who was stretched out on a lawn chair with her feet still bandaged.
“Yeah?”
“What happened to ‘she may not want to be around people’?” London asked smugly, crossing her arms.
“You want to see how she is, she’ll come here. You are going nowhere.” Rash emphasized the last statement, resting his hands on his hips and cocking his head toward her.
“What’s up?” Ghost questioned the small group, propping his elbow on Lola’s shoulder.
“Lola’s going to get Mia,” Rash told him.
“What if she says no?” London blurted out.
“She has no choice,” Rash explained.
Lola stood quiet, following the conversation and waiting for the word to go.
Ghost laughed. “She’s small enough. Hogtie her and toss her in the Jeep. Problem solved.”
“You wouldn’t.” London squinted her eyes toward Ghost.
“Oh, but I would, and I have.” Turning away, Ghost called over his shoulder, “Come on, Lola, we’ll get you some rope.”
***
Thirty minutes later, Lola was walking into Angel Haven. The house was quiet, which was no surprise. It was also dark. He took the steps two at a time, slowing when he reached Mia’s door.
After knocking a couple of times, he eased the door open to find the room empty. He pulled the door closed. She must be working on her swing. He jogged up the last flight of stairs. No Mia. She seemed to love the outdoors, maybe she was outside enjoying the bright day. He moved through the only stream of light giving life to the room. Standing at one of the few windows on this floor, he scanned the acres beyond the patio and pool. Then to the side past the sand volleyball court. Nothing. Just as he stepped to turn, movement near the pool caught his attention.
There she was. He grinned and raised his hand to the window, leaning into it, watching. Alone. With her guard down. Pushing from the window, he turned and ran down the stairs and through the kitchen toward the back door. He paused and as quietly as he could manage, he opened the door and stepped onto the patio, leaving the door ajar. Carefully, he eased toward the edge of the pool where she sat with her back to him, her feet dangling in the water. Reaching behind her, she easily unclipped the green bikini top, dropping it next to the towel piled on the concrete beside her. She stretched, inhaling deeply before allowing her head to fall backward. With her face toward the sun and her eyes closed she leaned back with her hands splayed on the hard surface behind her.
Lola froze, letting the clock in his mind tick slowly as he considered his options. One. Be a gentleman and let her know he was there. Who was he kidding? He was no gentleman. Two. Just walk up and enjoy the view. That sounded doable. Three. Strip down and join her. His personal favorite, but that’s not what he was sent here to do. Plus, she would never go for that. At least, not yet.
He grinned and quietly closed the gap. “Is this a private party or can anyone join?”
***
The warmth of the sun faded, and Mia’s eyes popped open. Lola. A flutter rippled through her belly. How had she not heard him arrive? She bolted upright, jerking the towel from the pavement next to her. Her heart pounded and without thought, her hand flew to her chest as if to keep it from jumping from her body. He had seen her. Seen her chest, her neck. She clinched the towel to her neck like a lifeline and began wiggling backwards. She jerked her feet to the concrete and tried to balance with only one hand to scoot away.
“Whoa.” He dropped to his heels next to her. “Calm down.”
Her heart still raced even though her body had thrown in the towel and refused to budge any further.
“I didn’t intend for you to come unglued.” His voice was gentle, and soothing. He reached out.
No! He can’t see me this way. She jerked away.
“Just helping,” he said and slowly tugged the edge of the towel lower to fully cover her breast.
Mia sucked in a breath. She had covered her throat, not her front. The marathon in her chest slowed. Maybe that’s it. Men like boobs, right? Maybe that’s all he noticed.
“You’re covered now. Take a deep breath and relax.”
Her eyes darted toward him, then away, occasionally closing only to pop open again and dart around. What to do? Had he actually seen her? He wasn’t running or making fun of her deformity.
His hand cupped her cheek before she knew he had reached for her. It was warm and gentle and filled with a magic that rendered her helpless to move.
“Listen to me,” he told her as he lifted her head. The instant his warm hickory eyes locked with hers, he smiled. “You know you can trust me.”
She could, she felt it deep inside. She nodded slowly.
“No one is here but the two of us.” He paused. His palm still on her cheek, he held her gaze toward him as he slid his free fingers underneath the top of the towel. “Let’s see.”
No, no no, she screamed inside, her fingers white from the force of her grip twisted in the terry cloth material. But her strength was no match for his when he tugged the towel lower, exposing her neck but leaving her breasts hidden. She squeezed her eyes tight against his repulsion. She didn’t need to see his disapproval. She held her breath. Once he got his fill of the true her, she’d have more time to focus on healing instead of thinking of him and discovering ways to spend time with him.
“Is this what frightens you?”
No disdain? No ridicule? Her eyelids popped open. His touch sent a surge of hope through her when his fingertip traced along the edge of the uneven patch of skin covering part of her throat.
“This is what you’ve been hiding? Scars? We all have scars, darling. They’re a part of life. Whether they’re here.” He slid his fingertip down the raised line from her collar bone until it disappeared under her arm. “Or here.” Tapping her head. “Or here.” He touched his hand above her heart. “Everyone has scars. These scars don’t change who you are, or how beautiful you are.”
Finally, she forced herself to look up.
“See here?” He angled his head, running a finger from above the corner of his eye down his cheek. “Does this affect how you think of me?”
Slowly, she shook her head.
“Just like these doesn’t change how I look at you.”
She nodded. She knew these scars did change her. They had changed her entire life.
“Why? Because this took your voice?” he asked.
She nodded again.
“Will it come back?”
Both of her shoulders lifted in uncertainty.
“I see no reason for you to hide. You’re beautiful. These scars you’re afraid of don’t put a dent in that beauty.” He ran his fingers along the rough, pale skin again. And again, locking his gaze on hers.
Another pass of his touch over the mangled area and Mia relaxed and melted into his touch.
She watched Lola’s features shift from the caring sweetness to something else. Leaning close, he suggested, “I can cover them with kisses until you forget they’re even there.”
Mia sucked in a breath and shoved against him. Heat filled her face, burning as it traveled down her chest.
“Not letting you go,” he told her. “We can make fireworks of our own right here.” He bounced his brows.
She fell flat on her back, laughing inside, wishing it could be heard.
“Are you laughing at me?”
She bit her lips together, nodding.
“I’m offended.” He jumped to his feet, throwing a hand to his chest. “I’m crushed. I mean, you flash me then shoot me down. You’re great for a man’s ego.” He turned. “You’re just a tease. I’m going back to the clubhouse.” He whirled away.
She grabbed her bikini top and leapt to her feet keeping the towel as her safety shield. Before he reached the door, her small hand wrapped around his. He stopped but didn’t turn to face her. She bounced in front of him, grinning and thankfully managing to keep herself covered.
“You want to make it better?” he asked. “Let’s go to the clubhouse for the fireworks.”
She considered it a moment. She was happy right here. She felt awkward around people since she couldn’t communicate well. But he had come all the way here for her. On a sigh, she relented.
He tugged the forgotten bikini top from her fingers. “Here. Put it back on and let’s go.”
Absolutely not. She glared at him reaching for it with a shake of her head.
“I catch you. This is what you’re wearing. I’ll put it on you myself if I have to.”
She whirled and ran inside and up the stairs.