BoyScout (The Rebels MC) Page 7

  “Yeah, you ever dance?”

  “No. I mean, I took ballet for five years, cheered for seven. I don’t think they’re looking to see me pirouette, or flip in the air, so then no, no experience.”

  “Tell you what, you come in on Wednesday and Jody will show you the ropes.” He pulled out a card and handed it to me.

  Briefly, I looked down. “Leather ‘n Lace Gentleman’s Club?” I mumbled. It looked extremely professional and not like a strip club type of business card, but then again, I’d never seen one.

  I peered around. “What are you doing out here so early?” I asked him.

  “Club closes at four. Usually too wound to go home, so I come and watch the sun rise, grab a cup of Joe before I head home to bed.”

  I studied him. He was wearing what appeared to be an expensive suit, a tie that wasn’t tight but dangled low, with a few buttons popped open on his shirt. His jacket was tossed on the bench he’d been sitting on. He had a full face, maybe in his fifties or late forties with longish salt and pepper hair, but something in his eyes screamed slightly off to me.

  I nibbled on my thumbnail, watching him, trying to figure out what to do. My mother would definitely not want me to do this for money and Tommy would have my head.

  Rule # 10: Earn your way in this world, but do it with grace and you will be rewarded.

  I huffed. “Listen, thanks for the offer, I could really use the money, but I’m not the kind of girl who take her clothes off for it.”

  His gaze raked down my slightly exposed figure once more. “A thousand bucks. One night and one night only. If you like it and want to stay, the job pays well, Sweetheart, as in, really well. I’m talking house-on-the-beach good.”

  That number caught my attention. My bank account had dwindled down to practically nothing. “A thousand dollars for fifteen minutes? You can’t be serious?”

  “Make it four songs and the money is yours.” He grinned, knowingly.

  “Do I have to take my clothes off?”

  He shot me a what-do-you-think look.

  I gnawed on my bottom lip, unable to believe I was seriously giving some thought to doing this. “What about touching?”

  “Some. Mostly what you’d allow. These boys like to be teased, played with and then they go fuck some of the more willing girls, but Babe, most are willing when it comes to them. If you’re not willing, I’ll make it known beforehand.”

  “Can I think about it?”

  “Yeah. You want in, come Wednesday and ask for Jody. Two PM and she can give you some pointers. I’ll watch for a bit and see what you got.” And then he was gone with a quick wave over his head, what Mom called tootle doodling.

  I got to work by ten, all showered and clean and doing shitty in tips by the time they strolled in and took up a booth. Luckily, I was on counter duty, which meant I didn’t have to serve them, but counter duty usually meant shitty tips, hence why I only had twelve dollars and fifty cents in my pocket after three hours of work. And, frankly I’d been doing my best to avoid them all, even Scout.

  I took a risk, leaning on the counter and letting my gaze travel over him. Even though his legs were clad in a pair of black jeans and a black short sleeved shirt with a leather vest on Scout looked straight out of one of those Hollister billboards. He was almost too pretty to be in a motorcycle gang. But he had several tattoos to pull off his bad boy look. He had light brown hair, shaved close on the sides, but long on top, and sported a tight knitted beard, with a hint of a mustache which was newly grown since I last saw him. I found it made him even sexier.

  Whatever, it worked.

  And as much as I had hoped for him to make a move, I couldn’t go there now. It was too risky. I wasn’t ready to meet Mitch Stone yet, and I was afraid I’d break down and tell Scout my secret if he kept pressing me for my private information.

  “Hey, Shaw?” Hearing Fiona call me I looked away from all their biker broodiness.“Yeah, Fi?”

  She strolled over with a look of pity on her face. She lifted her chin toward the table of them. “Boys want you.”

  “But, I’m counter service today.” I protested, my stomach instantly knotting into a ball of nerves.

  “Correction, counter service and table five today.”“Why?” I asked breathless.

  She tipped my chin with her knuckle. “Why do you think, Sweetheart?”

  “I’m nothing special, Fi. Besides its Carla’s table and she already hates me.”

  “Three things you should know; Carla is jealous of you, plain and simple. They used to always ask for her and now they want you. Two, they keep this place safe and also own fifty percent of it, so I give them what they ask; and three, if you believe that you’re nothing special, then someone has been putting the wrong message in that pretty head of yours.”

  I didn’t respond. How could I? Besides, Garrett made sure I knew I was nothing too awesome to look at by telling me daily unless he had hit me, then he would tell me I was beautiful. I knew I was pretty, but I didn’t think anymore that that. And I can’t even explain why it took me so long to leave him, other than fear. I could’ve run to Tommy, my mom, the cops, but I didn’t do any of those, because I feared he’d kill me one day if I had.

  “Look, I know they look intimidating, but they’re harmless…mostly. And, honey, they like to look at you. So, go, Shaw.”

  I sighed, pulled out my pen and tablet, and then made my way over to their table. A new guy who I hadn’t met yet was with them. Damn, all four of them were good-looking. Although, Scout was brutally handsome compared to the others. All eyes were on me as I walked over and reached their table, and the new guy let out a small appreciative whistle, making me blush.

  “Damn,” he mumbled under his breath, but I heard him. “You weren’t shitting me at all, Kick.”

  I rolled my eyes. “You guys ready to order?”

  They all do, but the new guy stopped me from putting in the order with a quick hand on my arm. “Do me a solid, Lips, and let all that hair down so I can really appreciate you.”

  “Hound, leave her be.” Scout reprimanded him. Quickly, I glanced at him. His eyes seemingly refused to look my way. So be it. I got it. He was pissed off at me for leaving him high and dry in La Jolla after a perfect date. Unfortunately for him my mojo was to scram when the going got rough or in his case my heart got too scared of breaking.

  This Hound guy looked to Scout for a beat, snorted then turned his focus back on me. “Maybe another time, doll.”

  “Yeah, I’d like that.” I flirted back in a lame attempt to get underneath Scout’s skin, looking for any kind of reaction, but he showed no signs of annoyance. He didn’t even pay me any attention. They stayed for just over an hour. Once in a blue moon I felt eyes on me, but I’d ignored them since I placed their check down after their second round of beers. It garnished a knowing chuckle from Scout and the others.

  Something about Scout scared me, not in a dangerous way, but in a way that made me feel like he’d perhaps put my secret together already. And I wasn’t quite ready for that Band-Aid to be ripped off.

  They stood to leave, and for a second I swore Satan just stood up and cast the customers to hell, the way they reacted as they started to file out. I noticed Scout pulling some bills from his back pocket and dropped money onto the table. One of them thanked me, one blew me a kiss, new guy winked, but Scout, Scout just looked over his shoulder at me with sad eyes, breaking a piece of my heart as he left.

  Closing my eyes and telling myself it was for the best, I grabbed the small tub to go clean the mess and stopped short when I saw two one-hundred dollar bills sitting there on a sixty-dollar tab. “Holy shit!” I muttered.

  Carla came over and peered over my shoulder. “That’s supposed to be mine, bitch.”

  She didn’t like me and I had no idea why. She’d started in on me the very first day, when I introduced myself hoping to make a friend, but she took one look at me and made an annoyed noise and stomped off.

  But it was
her table and I felt badly about taking it over. “Here,” I said, and grabbed the money, handing all of it over to her. “Take it. I don’t want it.” I did. I really needed the extra money that came my way, but I hated pushing her buttons. I hated confrontation and for some reason she seemed to thrive on it.

  “I don’t want your damn charity.”

  “And I don’t know what I did to make you hate me, so here. Take it as my little peace offering. I don’t want it.”

  She took it with a snarky grin, but walked away, leaving me to clean the table. I huffed watching her cash the check out, stuffing my ridiculously large tip in her apron.After a few more customers it was coming on four o’clock and my shift was almost over.

  “Hey, Fi, can I talk to you for a sec?”

  “Sure, Honey, what’s up?” She was always sweet and for some reason took me in like a kid sister.

  “Can I switch shifts? Maybe do dinner or both? I can use the money.”

  She patted my hand. “Don’t mind Carla. Like I said, she’s just jealous that you’re the new flavor of the month for them.”

  “It’s not just that. Those men, The Rebels, I’d sort of like to avoid seeing them anymore.”

  Her eyes narrowed in suspicion and grabbed my arms. “None of those boys hurt you, did they?”

  I waved her off. “No,” I said. “They just rattle me a little.” A lot, but I couldn’t tell a soul why I needed to avoid them, but I couldn’t quit either.

  “All right. Monday start at five until close and we can see how that goes. But honey, they come in at different times, so don’t go thinking you’re going to escape them for good.” I knew this, but I figured maybe I could just play along and pretend like we were still friends and nothing more. Big deal?

  He knew my real name, but that was it, so I decided to be nice, if and when I saw him again. I hugged her. “Thanks, Fiona. You’re the best. I mean it.”

  When I got back to my motel room, I opened the drawer and pulled out the sacred letter, the one I hadn’t read, needing to get answers now that I knew Scout was involved with them.

  Clumsily, my shaking fingers ripped the envelope open and I pulled out the letter, smiling seeing her familiar writing.

  Dearest Mitch,

  If you’re reading this it means something happened to me. And, I couldn’t leave this world without letting you know how much I loved you. My God, you were a life force that lifted me up at my time of need. I’ll never forget the way you held me the first night we met and for the years following like I was a piece of precious china.

  Shaw, who I named Harley after one of our drunken conversations about if and when we ever had kids. You had begged me to name a girl, Harley and boy, Triumph. Let’s just say, I’m glad it was a girl. I’m sorry for keeping her from you. She was and is so precious. I hope you get the chance to meet her one day. She’s beautiful, like an angel. She has your eyes and my smile. A powerful duo.

  I know you probably hate me for leaving, but after losing Carol, I grew scared. It was the clubs fault. The retaliation for killing one of the Lost Souls. I know she got caught in the crossfire, but what if it were me, Mitch?

  I couldn’t take the life anymore. I found out I was three months pregnant right before her funeral, I vowed to keep Harley safe from your life. A life I understood for us, but not for her. Please forgive me, Mitch. I loved you and always will—to the moon and back, Baby.

  Forever your girl,

  Dee

  I wept.

  All night long imaging their love.

  Chapter 8

  BOYSCOUT

  “So this is where you hide?”I had gone to the restaurant hoping to see her, talk to her about our little night last week, but she had switched shifts with Kate again, and worked her morning shift.

  She peered over her shades and then laughed. “What’s so funny?”

  “You! You look completely out of place when you come down here. It’s the beach, which mean bathing suits and maybe some cargo shorts or something.”

  I looked down. Again, I was in my usual jeans, t-shirt and my leather boots. “Lips, I always look out of place.”

  Her cute little eyebrows lifted. “Lips?”

  “Yeah, best fucking pair we’ve ever seen. Boys already named you so just run with it.”

  I planted my ass down in the sand next to her, leaning back on my hands.

  “I guess I should take that as a compliment.”

  “Although, those dazzling greens sure give those lips a run for their money.” I tipped my head back, acting like I was basking in the sun, but really I was watching her.

  “I owe you an apology. I’m sorry about La Jolla. I haven’t apologized to you for taking off. It’s sort of my thing to run away when I grow uncomfortable. And you took the time to take me there, and it was so beautiful. So, I’m sorry.”

  “You’re very welcome, but if you keep running, you know eventually you’ll trip, right?”

  She remained quiet, thoughtful of my comment.

  I turned back, staring out to the sea. “It’s beautiful here, isn’t it?”

  “It sure is. I love it down here.” I let it slide about her running, knowing I’d tackle her trust issues another time.

  She sat up, crossed her legs and faced me. “So, what are you really doing here?”

  My eyes flicked toward her, taking in the way she looked with the sun hitting her. She fucking blew me away, and it physically pained me not to reach out and tug her to me, so I stared at the pelican flying above the ocean.

  “Looking for you. Fiona told me where I could probably find you.”

  She perked up. “Why? And don’t say because my lips.”

  I turned to her. She was grinning, and leaned closer, causing a twitch in my chest when I realized she was staring at my mouth like she wanted a taste. So, I turned back to the ocean, knowing if she kept looking at me like I was her next meal, I’d act on it and one day I would, but first I needed answers.

  “Why did you switch shifts?”

  “No reason, except maybe better money.”

  ”Maybe?” I sighed and resumed to watch her for any reaction. “I gave you a hundred and sixty buck tip the other day, so don’t sit there and lie and tell me you make more than that at lunchtime.”

  She huffed, relenting. “Okay, fine. I’m trying to help Carla out. She has a kid. She sort of hates me and makes my life miserable, so it’s just easier to not work side by side with her.”

  “You always hide from your problems? I know you run.”

  She pulled back, annoyed. Another item lodged in my mental catalog: she hated talking about herself and her past. “I don’t have one.”

  I sat up and faced her. “Sunshine, you just told me Carla’s a problem. You want me to get rid of her?” And, I would, Smokey be damned. If she was causing Shaw pain enough to switch shifts, I’d kick her to the curb.

  “Like…?” She lifted her hand and acted like she was slicing her throat.

  I fell back, laughing and rolled onto my side, her naiveté for some reason only added to the allure of her. “No, babe, not killing the poor girl, firing her.”

  She gasped. “You don’t have that power.”

  “You want to make a bet?”

  “No.” She sank back and fiddled with the sand. “That would be catty of me. She has a child to take care of, so no, but thanks for the offer.”

  “Just so you know, we don’t tip her as well as we do you. So, it’s no shirt off our backs, just say the word and she’s out.”

  She shook her head. “Where’s your family? Are you from San Diego?”

  I rolled onto my back, hands tucked under my head.“If you’re talking family by blood, don’t have one anymore. I have all the family I need with my boys.”

  “Your motorcycle club?” she whispered.

  “Yeah.”

  “Were you an orphan?”

  I shook my head. “No, Shaw. I had a mom and a dad and a big brother, who I loved to death. I followed
him around everywhere.”

  “But, I thought you just said you had none.”

  “Jacob died overseas back in 2008. I was sixteen. My mother split when I was seven, greener pastures, I guess. Pop lost it when she left, but started getting better, until my brother was killed. Jacob always wanted to be in the Army. I was proud of him and told him as much as I could. He died loving what he wanted to do and honestly, I can’t think of a better way for him to go. He lived for his brothers and their mission. My dad never understood it and went fucking insane. I’m talking he needed the psych ward when he found out.”

  “Why did you leave him then?”

  I couldn’t believe I was telling her my story. No one knew but my boys and I had planned to keep it that way. But Shaw was broken; I could see it every time I looked in her eyes, and I thought maybe if she knew I’d been broken once upon a time and came out of it, she would too.

  “Too damn painful to be around him, plus he sorta made me feel like it should have been me and not Jacob. Drank himself silly. I know deep down he didn’t mean it, but still, it hurt like hell, so I tore out of there. Jake’s the one who introduced me to Smoke when I was just a boy. He loved to fix cars and would bring me along. Smoke tried to talk him out of joining, knowing he’d be sent over to Afghanistan or Iraq, but he had his heart set on it. Anyway, the day I got my high school diploma, I went to Smoke, who gave me a job doing what I love.”

  Her nose scrunched up. “Being in a biker gang is something you love?” she asked as if the thought made her repulsed.

  I snorted. “Not a biker gang, babe. We’re a club. We do re-builds, work on cars and bikes and try our best to keep the town safe.”

  “Sorry, I didn’t realize,” She mumbled, looking like a scared child.

  I reached over and grabbed her hand. She let me hold it. “Nothing to be sorry about.”

  “I guess you miss Jacob something fierce?” She asked, her eyes sincere and full of understanding.

  I turned to look at the beauty of her face. “Fuck yeah, every day.”

  “What’s your full name?”