BoyScout (The Rebels MC) Page 6

  “Alright, Shaw. Come on,” he held out his hand, which I took and held onto tightly as he led me down the rickety wooden stairs to the sand and seals. The whole time he held onto my hand, I wondered if he knew how perfect this date was going if it were a real date, although I wasn’t going to tell him that just yet.

  “Not too close,” he warned me after I slipped away from him.

  “I won’t. Take your cell out and take a picture.”

  He pulled it from his jeans and snapped one quickly. Just as I turned to study them again, one had broken away from the pack and was wriggling toward me, like he was angry I was invading his territory. I ran, jumping in Scout’s arms while he laughed out loud. I looked behind me and saw him plopping down. “It’s not funny.”

  “It kind of was.” We stayed like that. Him holding me securely in his arms, me wondering if he was going to make a move or if I should. It had been the best day since I’d gotten to California besides getting the job, and I couldn’t help but want to show him my gratitude.

  He pressed his forehead to mine. “Can I kiss you?” he asked and it surprised me. He seemed more like the take charge kind of man, but I found it sweet.

  I bit my lip, nodding, excited and nervous as butterflies found their way into my stomach. His lips pressed against mine gently, his tongue gliding across my mouth, like he was savoring me, but he stopped, leaving me aching for more.

  He growled, pulling away.

  I looked at him, disappointed he broke away. “What?”

  He scrutinized our surroundings. “Lot of people, and when I kiss you again, and I will, Sunshine, I want privacy, so I can finish what I started.”

  Happily, I smiled, liking the sound of his promise. “Okay.”

  We were sitting on a grassy knoll overlooking the vast ocean in front of us. It had gotten quiet, too quiet for me, and I had all these questions running around in my head. “Why do people call you Boyscout?”

  Scout glanced at me quickly before lying back, tucking his arms behind his head. “Nickname. I used to be a Boy Scout when I was younger and the boys at the shop still think of me as one.”

  “Are you?”

  “A Boy Scout? Far from it, Sweetheart.”

  “What’s your real name?”

  “Doesn’t matter. I don’t go by it anymore.”

  “Why?”Scout suddenly sat up. “What about you, Shaw? Pretty unique name for a pretty girl.”

  “Don’t turn this around on me.” I said crossly.

  “Why not?” His curious eyes bored into mine, until I looked away, shamefully. “Nothing to tell. Like I said, I’m all alone now.” I swiped the tear that escaped, refraining from looking his way so he didn’t see how weak I could be. He always seemed so strong and brave and part of me wondered if my weakness would turn him off, or if he was the kind of guy who wanted to swoop in and save the damsel in distress.

  His hand tugged at my chin, forcing me to look his way. His face stopped an inch from mine. “Why did you change your name?”

  “What?” He caught me off guard, because no one knew except Tommy and my employer.

  “Answer me, Shaw, or should I call you Harley?” His thumb grazed the wetness on my cheek. “Tell me, please. What’s going on with you?” His voice was soft and filled with concern and nothing else.

  I bit my lip. “How did you find out?”

  “Fiona. And don’t get mad at her. I asked to see your file once you gave up your info. She works for us and followed an order.”

  I smacked his hand away, got to my feet and stood over him. “You asked to see my file? Why? Why would you do that?” I was a tad furious he looked into my life because I needed to keep it locked up for now; not to mention, I felt like a panic attack was brewing at his invasion of my privacy.

  He leaned back on his hands, his eyes searching mine, then shrugged. “Curiosity killed the cat and all.”

  I stared down at him, trying to figure out if I should hoof it back to San Diego on foot or find a new ride home when he cut off my train of thought. “Sunshine?”

  “Why, me, Scout?”

  He cocked his head. “Why you what?”

  “Why do you keep coming around?”

  He grunted and looked down at me and seemed deep in thought, trying to figure out the best answer and then shook his head. “If I knew the answer to that I’d tell you.”

  My eyes narrowed. “So you want to get to know me better as a friend, or get to know me better biblically?”

  “Yes to both,” he answered flatly. “Back to the name change, was it because of that guy?”

  “No.” I scoffed, annoyed that he was obviously just after sex like the rest of them. “I just never thought it suited me.”

  “That’s it? That’s your reason? Never suited you?” He met my stance, but towered over me. “You hiding anything else from me, Sunshine?” He asked calmly, but I could see he was growing impatient.

  “No,” I mumbled, looking away, afraid he’d be able to read my mind if he tried hard enough. I felt lost and insecure, still unsure I even wanted to meet my dad now. I’d come down to do just that, but uncertainty had taken over. “I got to go.”

  “What? Where?” he frowned, as he reached out for me, but I was gone.

  I started to race down the path, dodging people on rollerblades and needing to catch my breath. He called out my name several times, yelling for me to come back, but I kept going as fast as my feet would carry me, not wanting to break down and beg him to hold me. It had been too long since I felt someone care, and if I were being honest with myself, I needed someone to love me, but knew he never would. I was just another girl of the many he probably bedded. Being alone all the time was hitting me harder than I ever imagined it would, but I refused to be someone’s booty call.

  “Johnny,” he shouted.

  His admission stopped me.

  “My name’s Johnny.” I turned briefly, smiling, my heart hammering inside my chest, and then continued as far as I could to get away from him, because that’s what I did best. Run. I had the best teacher. We ran from everything for years until finally Mom decided settling down in one place would be best for me. Now, here I was doing the one thing I hated.

  I’d never liked moving around, meeting new people, going to new schools, but she’d find a way to make it work and keep me happy. Everyone always saw her as this fierce, strong, independent woman, and she was, but there were many times when she couldn’t keep up the charade. Sometimes, I saw her as broken and wounded, like a frail bird who had fallen from its nest. Mom tried to hide those parts of herself, but I witnessed them when she didn’t think I was looking. I was always looking, because she was my everything.

  I didn’t turn to see to see if he was following me. I didn’t turn to his voice shouting my name. I didn’t turn because I knew if I did, I wouldn’t be able to run.

  Not from him. And since it was bred into me like an automatic reflex, I couldn’t stop. I’d have to find another way home.

  Chapter 6

  BOYSCOUT

  It was Thursday, a week since I’d seen Shaw and I knew she was working the morning shift, so when Kick suggested we head down to the grill for some burgers around dinnertime, I didn’t think anything of it. She was long gone and probably doing some headstand in the sand, like I’d caught her doing several times.

  I hadn’t heard or seen her since she up and split from me in La Jolla. I started to run after her, but stopped when I realized what the hell was happening. I wasn’t going down that fucking rabbit hole again. If she wanted to run and be done with me, then so be it. Two years of being led around by my dick by one girl in high school was enough for me. I swore off romance and relationships when I was just shy of sixteen.

  “Holy fuck! I think I just fell in love with a pair of lips. Who the hell is that?” Slider asked, slapping Kick to pay attention instead of texting on his cell.

  We turned our heads in the direction of Slider’s gesture. Instinctively, I knew before I could
catch a glimpse of her. We had a few nice very nice looking girls working here, but Shaw, Shaw was on a whole different playing field. She belonged on the runway of a Victoria’s Secret show, spreading her angel wings, not in some damned restaurant waiting tables, and no fucking way dancing around a pole like Smoke had wanted her for.

  “I admit, brother, those lips deserved to be bronzed, but I’ll take those perky tits and that tight, sweet little ass any day.” Kick added with a low whistle.

  “You do know she’s a person, right?” I asked them both. I’d been intentionally avoiding her for the last few days, knowing she had some super human power over me that was going to either put me six feet under or be the best decision of my life. I told myself over those days she was nothing special, but every morning when I woke up she was the one I thought of, wondering what she was doing, if she was okay, debating if I should make sure she got back safely. But my pride and ego stepped up to the plate and kept me from going to her.

  These two knuckleheads would eat her alive if I didn’t shield her from their obnoxious behavior toward women. I was no different, but I didn’t want this girl getting hurt, not by me, not by anyone. She’d already been hurt by some asshole and the loss of her mom. There was no way in hell I’d be the next one to cause her any pain. That was the only thing I was sure of when it came to her; the rest was still a crap shoot. Smoke already had my ass when I told him I’d set her up here instead of the strip club. I’d choked when I was about to ask her if she ever had done some dancing and instead offered her option two, which was not even supposed to be on the table.

  Smoke chewed my ass out for that one, too, since we weren’t technically hiring.

  Both heads swung my way, but it was Kick who spoke. “Scout, admit it just this once. C’mon, that girl is fucking delectable as anything you or I’ve ever seen.”

  “Kick, she’s beautiful, but she also doesn’t look legal, so leave her be.” I knew she was “legal” but barely. Besides, I didn’t want them to even look at her, let alone touch her. It was impossible for me to forget how her hands felt around my waist when we rode on my bike, how her body meshed with mine so perfectly. Hell, that fucking scent she wore still invaded my dreams. The moment I laid eyes on her I knew I wanted her, but something kept me from reaching out and grabbing for it like I normally did. She became this permanent tattoo on my brain, and I was damned sure she was going to cause enough damage to last a lifetime.

  Kick straightened up. “Here she comes,” he murmured, nudging Slider.

  “Like she’d go for you.” Slider threw a sugar packet at Kick.

  “Hey, what can I get you all?” Her gaze skirted around and then landed on me in surprise.“Oh, hey, Scout, I thought maybe…never mind what I thought.” She bit down on her lip. A nervous tick. I noticed she did when she was uncomfortable. I couldn’t make out if she was annoyed with me or afraid to answer why she up and split from our date the week prior.

  I looked up from my brothers, turned to her and stared, but she paid me no attention. I didn’t mean to, but there was something so achingly beautiful and familiar about her that drew me in more so than before, but just as quickly it was gone with a flutter of her lashes. “Shaw, how’s it going? Good to see you’re in one piece.”

  Her pencil stopped beating on the tablet like it was me she was wishing of hitting. Her gaze swung to mine. “Fine. You ready to order?” She ignored my dig.

  “Why are you working the dinner shift?”

  “Kate called out. So, I offered to fill in.” She said indifferently.

  “Hold up. You know her, Scout?” Slider asked, waving a spoon.

  I looked down at the menu, hoping my answer would suffice. “Yeah, got her the job here.”

  “Really?” He grinned, his eyebrows shooting up like a little ding went off in his head. “You from around here?” Slider asked, prying.

  “Nope, Arizona. I could come back if you guys need some more time?”Another piece of information I added to my mental notebook. “Burger, rare, with a fried egg on top, fries, and a Budweiser, Sunshine.” I answered her, still trying to gauge her end game. I felt it deep in my bones that she was up to something; I just couldn’t pinpoint what. But now I was determined to figure it out.

  Kick and Slider both ordered with their tongues hanging out their mouths, and when she left Kick turned to me. “I think I do recognize this Shaw girl. I think she is this month’s Playboy centerfold I have pinned up on my locker. Look at her! She looks exactly like her. Maybe even better. Shit! I’m getting hard thinking about this.”

  Slider laughed. “Yeah, Kick, because a Playboy model is now serving your ratty ass beer and burgers every day. It’s not her; although, she could certainly pull off any centerfold.” He turned to me with a shit-eating grin. “You hit that yet?”

  “No, I haven’t touched her.”

  His eyes widened. “Why the fuck not?”

  I shrugged instead of answering, because even I couldn’t figure it out why I hadn’t even tried yet. I was off my game, all over a one-hundred-and-fifteen-pound chick.

  I tipped my chin, silently calling over Fiona, who had worked here for ages. She and Smokey had a thing going for years, but it ended. He’d still watched over her and kept her on the payroll. She sauntered over, casually taking her time.

  “How she’s making out?” “Shaw is an angel and is doing great. The guys all love her, as you can all imagine,” she confirmed, looking down and shaking her head at Kick and Slider. “She’s nineteen and too sweet for any of you boys. Get it out of your heads.”

  “Thanks, Fi.”

  She left. I turned to face them. “Hands off. Nineteen is still fucking young.” I gave the warning shot, because I wanted her for myself.

  “All I heard is legal, bro,” Kick stated, sitting back with a cool smile, curling his lips. She served us up, my eyes finding hers again, and for a blink I saw someone familiar, but just as I was trying to link the pieces, she turned and sashayed her fine ass to another customer who whistled for her to come over apparently not caring how young she looked.

  Slider stood immediately and headed over to the counter. I knew he still couldn’t forgive himself for what happened to his sister—raped repeatedly by three men. Three men he knew. Three men who were no longer were breathing. I was the only one who knew his secret and would take it to my grave.

  I could see and hear everything. I almost told him to leave it be, but decided to let him play the hero. Some guy was running his hand up and down Shaw’s arm. Slider drew her back, crossed his arms and stood in front of her. “Hey, man, let the lady pass.”

  The customer’s eyes landed on his kutte and then rose slowly to meet Slider’s. “No harm, no foul. She yours?” he asked, his voice shaky.

  “Yeah,” he answered, and I knew it was just to make sure he didn’t try anything with her, since she was one of our employees.

  She came around Slider like she was ready to take him on, but then her smug look turned into something else that I couldn’t understand. Her eyes grew wider as she took in his leather, her mouth dropped like she had just seen a ghost. “The Rebels,” she mumbled, biting her nail.

  She looked confused and scared, ready to bolt with one look at Slider’s kutte. He grabbed her shoulder, causing her to flinch and pull back, which had me on my feet.

  “Babe, not gonna hurt you. Just looking out. We like to eat here, and we like it a fuckuvalot being served by hot babes.”

  She turned in my direction, tears building in her eyes.

  “Shaw? You okay?” I asked her as her startled, glistening eyes fell to my kutte, one I’d never worn around her. Tears streamed down her cheeks. Her hand flew to her mouth in surprise, or maybe she was ready to vomit, I couldn’t tell which. She sprinted into the back, making me wonder what the hell she had been hiding from me. I almost went to find her, but decided if she hated us that badly, she could cry on Fiona’s shoulder, not mine.

  Chapter 7

  SHAW

 
; I was crushed, scared, and shaken when I learned I had made friends with one guy in all of San Diego and he was tied to my father. I didn’t know what to do or how to hide from him, so I called out sick for two days straight and hid inside the motel room.

  Needing fresh air, I had gotten up early and went to relax the best way I knew how— at the beach. After doing some yoga I was trudging through the sand, mat rolled under my arm when up onto the boardwalk a man appeared out of nowhere blocking me. Nervously, I peered around. It was early, just before six AM, but a few early birds were out jogging or walking their dogs.

  “What were you doing down there?”

  “Excuse me.” My attempt to pass him went in vain as his hand gripped my wrist, locking me in place.

  “What the hell was that?” he inquired. His small beady eyes studied my face and then trailed greedily down my body.

  “Yoga,” I hissed. “Now let me go before I scream bloody murder.” And I would. I refused to go without a fight down by some creepy guy who looked remarkably like the dude who played Willy Wonka.

  “Yoga?” he mumbled, then harrumphed. “Some pretty impressive upper body strength you got going on.”

  “And?”

  “And, I’m looking for someone with your body, those fucking lips—which by the way, are way better up close—all that hair, and a chick who can hold a pole.”

  I pushed his hand off, disgusted. “You think I look like a stripper?”

  “Nope, too school girl, but guys eat that shit up.”

  “No thanks.” I started to walk past him.

  He allowed it but hollered after me. “I’ll start you off as a cocktail waitress. Work your way up if you want. ’Cept, I got this birthday party coming up in in two weeks, a special person, real special. Five hundred bucks for three songs, because, Baby Girl, those boys will fucking love you.”

  “Five hundred dollars for three songs? As in, like, twelve to fifteen minutes? I asked, doubting his sincerity, but also intrigued by the cash.