Faith (The Fast Love Collection Book 1) (3 page)

Chapter
Four

The love birds disappeared after breakfast, retreating to Eddie's apartment. As sweet as new love was, I was kind of grateful. Watching them was depressing. Sitting at home was worse. I could not get out of the rut in this frame of mind. So I went shopping instead.

Being that it was a bright and warm morning, I decided to walk to the shops. My grocery list wasn't large and I had a fabric trolley that allowed for an easy return. Eddie said it made me look like an old lady so I covered it with a material that was covered with skulls. Now I was a weird old lady.

Setting off on my little path to the shops I had an ulterior motive. The path that I take to the shops is an easy one, it consisted of crossing the road and taking a narrow footpath that sits between two houses and then crossing another road to the corner store.

But the ulterior motive? Why that would be the path between the two houses, one of them being my new neighbor. I was not spying, I was just conveniently walking past and if he or his possible partner happened to see me then I might just say hello.

I crossed the road with my skull trolley trailing behind, salivating at the low wood fence that gave a great view of the entire yard. There was no hiding.

The car had been returned to the garage, no longer was it being worked on which was rather annoying. In my absence from the front deck, the man had moved it and I had missed out on seeing what he looked like.

It was all going rather boringly as I passed the front yard and the majority of the house without a soul to be seen. I was about to give up all hope until I heard the sound of laughter, a few men laughing.

My heart thumped hard as I slowly approached the edge of the back of the house, looking at the patio area that sat behind it. Beyond it was a motorcycle, as I moved further along I saw another one.

Laughter erupted again, then the crunching of a can. I saw the can as it flew in the air across the patio, landing in a large black bin. Cheers rung out and I realized that there was more than just one or two of them.

Worse than that I couldn't stop or turn back, I'd been seen.

Steely blue eyes watched me as I walked closer and my heart sunk deep into my body as I recognized that not only was the man that was watching me was my neighbor but he was also creepy guy from the club.

My grand plan for checking out the neighbor was burning in flames. I tried to be as invisible as possible but that was never going to happen.

Wolf whistles and catcalls echoed through the morning air. As I tried to walk at a quickened but not obviously fast pace, I could feel his eyes on me.

I'd made it to the neighbor’s fence line, moving further past the yard of the next house. Out of their sight. I was going to call Eddie to come and pick me up, I didn't want to walk past the house again.

But then I felt stupid for feeling intimidated like that. I had the right to use the path, it was a public path. I also had the right to feel safe wherever I was. But I could not walk past it again.

“Hey.”

I gasped and turned around, getting caught up in the stupid trolley. He was behind me and grabbed me before I went ass over.

“Whoa, careful.” he said as he set me back to my feet. “Sorry, didn't mean to scare you like that.”

“Uh yeah, it's okay.” I offered rather quietly.

He nodded, his hands settling into the pockets of his jeans.

“I wanted to say hey and sorry for that lot. It's not really a good impression on the neighbors when they do shit like that.”

What like freaking a person out?

Rocking on his feet he seemed rather anxious, looking over his shoulder to his house. Then he looked back at me with a smile that was not so creepy and rather intense. In a good way.

“So uh, hey.”

“Yeah, hey.” I returned, unsure of what he really wanted.

He hesitated and then looked a little shocked.

“I'm Archer.”

“Faith.”

His eyebrows raised slightly as he nodded.

“You were at Honey's last night with the queen across the road.”

“Yeah. You're not going to beat him up are you?”

“No, seriously? You didn't ask that because I uh...” Archer cleared his throat.

“Because you're in a motorcycle club? No, I asked because it's happened before. I'm the one that gets the bag of peas to put on his black eye. I'm the one that drives him to the doctor to get the casts removed.”

I turned to leave, sick of this conversation. I'd end up crying if I stayed. I hated how society could be so cruel to someone so sweet.

“Faith, wait.”

Looking back I watched as he caught up with me, walking on the narrow path beside me.

“This is a crap way to start off being good neighbors, right?”

“Sure.”

“Can I make it up to you?”

“Yep, promise me that you'll never hurt Eddie or anyone he loves and we're cool. That includes anyone that you happen to associate with as well.”

Archer smiled broadly at me.

“Can do, I promise that Eddie the queen and his friends are safe from me and my awesome fists and of course the other guys as well.”

I looked at him rather dubiously. Sure he could promise for himself but he could never really promise for the other guys.

Stopping I looked back down the path, seeing that we had an audience.

“You'd better get back to your friends.”

Archer looked down the path and they were instantly gone.

“Nah, they're big and ugly enough to look after themselves.”

“So are you like some junior member or something?”

He scoffed with a slight laugh.

“Nope.”

Then he took my trolley and started to walk toward the next street. I was rather stunned for a second until I realized that the freak had my uber cool trolley.

“Nice skulls. You don't seem the type to be a death hag.”

“A what?” I asked rather shocked.

“Person that's into or obsessed by death. You know, skulls on your bag.”

“It's just material.” I said rather mortified. “Eddie said I looked like an old lady when I used the trolley.”

Archer laughed, nodding his head.

“I think I like this Eddie guy. You should bring him over, we could do some kind of neighborly dinner thing.”

“He might be rather busy, got himself a boyfriend last night.”

He said nothing as we crossed the road and walked into the corner store. Curiously Archer got a trolley for himself.

“I've got no food at home. I hate moving.”

“Yeah.”

Archer leaned on the bar as he slowly pushed the trolley around. Stupidly I looked back, the fringe flopping into his eyes as he looked at a tin can. It was odd that his tattoos only went as far as sleeve length, maybe he had a job that required clean skin.

“What do you do for a living?”

He looked up at me with a plain face and stared at me for a brief second before blinking hard.

“Mechanic.”

Well that took far too long to come out. What did Archer the biker but not a mechanic really do for a living? For him to have to think of a lie it had to be illegal.

“What about you?”

“Writer.”

“Yeah?”

Archer smiled and I swear something inside of me erupted with delight. This was crazy, I could not get involved with him. He lived across the road from me, he was into something illegal or a lot of illegal things for sure and he had perverts for friends who drank far too early in the morning.

“What kind of things do you write about?”

“Romance.”

“Ah, like that mommy porn that's the in thing?”

I nodded and continued my shopping. Archer was never far behind, I could hear things being dumped into the trolley with little care.

“So do you think that your friend and his friend could venture out for a few hours? And your other neighbors, I saw the couple above you this morning. He seemed okay, not sure about the chick. And that little old lady beneath you, she waved at me yesterday. I haven't seen anyone in Eddie's block yet. How can you live so close to so many people?”

I stopped the trolley and looked at him rather shocked. There was a new person on the street that could give Eddie a run for his money when it came to talking too much.

“Okay.” I sighed. “Maybe, but don't hold your breath for Eddie and James. You know, new love and all that nonsense. Ken and Elise? Well good luck with that one. Elise is probably still pissed at you because she wanted to buy the house and you beat her to it. Oh and because you're in a motorcycle club she sees you as the riff raff. Ken's cool, you'll probably get along with him easy as. Myrtle waves at everyone and she won't remember that she's done it either. She's probably going to be moving out soon, I think her son is building an extension on his house so that she can live with him. As for Eddie's block, there is no one beneath him and above him is a guy that is a pilot so he's hardly ever home. But hey you can still try, right?”

Archer tilted his head as he looked at me, slowly a wry smile emerged.

“Sure.”

I pushed the trolley along the aisle, turning the corner I saw him walking behind me, his gaze still pinned to me.

“So you're a writer, have you published anything?”

“A few.”

His trolley slid alongside mine, Archer still leaned on the handle bar as he walked. His body was so tall and built it seemed to dwarf the trolley.

“Do you sell them?”

“Yeah they're out there to buy. Why, are you going to read my work?”

I laughed and looked at him, seeing that he was being rather serious.

“Maybe.”

“Save your money, I'll lend my copies to you.”

“I can afford it.”

Inwardly I rolled my eyes. Of course I knew that he could, he'd bought a house in a pricey suburb. How he paid for it was something that I did not want to know. Though I did wonder if the house was going to explode from a drug lab.

“Maybe I was trying to save you the embarrassment of buying it. I could imagine the looks you would get when you would try and buy one. Big handsome guy with muscles and a scantily clad woman swooning over him on the cover.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Archer grinned. “Thought you were talking about me then.”

I laughed. He was being funny and cheeky and I couldn't help it. Damn it. I was not going to have a thing with this guy. He was trouble with a capital t. I did not need the cops raiding my apartment because I was associating with a known criminal.

But was he a criminal? Was I judging him based on what he looked like and who he hung out with? I was and I was doing it without reason. There was no proof that he was a criminal or had anything to do with drugs. All that I had to go on was that he was part of a motorcycle club. My prejudging him was wrong.

But the problem was that it was so easy to prejudge.

“So... you're coming over for a neighborly dinner, right? Evict the love birds from their nest and bring the couple upstairs as well?”

“Sure.”

Not sure if I can convince Elise to come but if I wear a low cut top Ken will agree to anything I want. How I would get Eddie and James to venture out I do not know. Maybe I might have to bargain with them.

“Great, steaks okay?”

While I'd been over thinking the predicament, Archer had picked up several packets of steaks and was waiting for my answer.

“Yeah that's great. Except Elise is a vegetarian.”

“Oh. The barbecue doesn't have a veggie option. Can't cook a lettuce leaf.”

I laughed and removed several packets from his arms, leaving him with sufficient for the meat eaters.

“No but I suppose I could help you with options for her.”

He nodded, his lips pursing into a tight line. Clearly the man liked his steaks and had probably never come across a veggie before.

Chapter
Five

Elise sat on the little stool with the plate of food on her lap. She was stuck in between two rather large fellows that were Archer's friends or part of the club. No one dared ask to confirm which one.

She looked incredibly awkward, the couture in the leather sandwich.

Ken was at the barbecue talking to Archer, beer in hand and having a great time. I'd managed to convince Eddie and James to join us. Eddie was telling them the benefits of waxing, should they have a motorcycle accident. I don't think they were convinced.

And Myrtle was here. I don't know who brought her over but I had my suspicions. My first and only guess was the man at the barbecue with the long tongs in his hand.

She was sitting in between two large fellows just like Elise was only Myrtle was loving every single second of it. She wanted a drink, they were falling over themselves to get one for her. She forgot her cutlery, several were offered. Dropped cloth napkin? Not a problem when you've got several burly bikers ready to do your bidding.

Who said they were mean? They were like cute and fuzzy pussy cats.

I'd prepared a salad that was in keeping with Elise's dietary requirements. I can play nice. I was even eating it. Along with a nice, juicy steak.

Mindlessly picking through the salad on my plate, I looked at the man that sat on the seat beside me. He gave me a smile and a tip of the head.

His hair was shaved close to the head, little spikes of brown were barely showing. This guy was pure muscle, the shirt was tight to his body and showed off the huge and perfectly shaped arms. It was like he spent hours at the gym, doing his arms only.

Like the rest of the few bikers that were here, he was wearing denim and leather but no patches. I could have sworn I'd seen something this morning. Faced with the back of one of them when I approached the house, I'd seen the motif on the back of a leather jacket. Now there was nothing.

It was rather odd and I was of the belief that they were hiding it from us. Did they worry that they would frighten us if they wore their emblem? Or was it the hysteria that many people got when faced with a big and scary motorcycle club?

“I'm Wolf.”

“Faith. Is that your real name or some biker name?”

His eyes darted to Archer who was watching us rather carefully.

“Uh.. it's a biker name. Gus.”

I smiled at him, wishing I could laugh. Not at the name but his reluctance.

“Nice to meet you Gus. So what do you do in this little club?”

He looked at Archer again and I was beginning to suspect that someone had rallied the troops and given them a briefing before my arrival.

“Sergeant-at-arms.” Gus said quietly.

“Oh okay. So who is the president then?”

Right at that very moment his cutlery fell to the ground and he picked it up.

“Look at that, how clumsy am I? I should get some clean ones.”

Then he got up and never came back. Curiously, no one sat next to me. Maybe I smelled bad. Or maybe the briefing consisted of telling them all to be wary of the writer. Which didn't really make sense to me. If that was the case, why invite me?

I looked around at the gathering, Elise still looked uncomfortable, Eddie was the center of attention as always and James looked like he was enjoying the new company. Myrtle was as Myrtle always was, lovable. She was soaking in the attention from the men that were doting over her. Myrtle liked her new sons.

Ken had found a seat near Elise but not next to her due to the rather buff fellows beside her. She really was small in size compared to them.

“Hey.”

I turned and saw Archer as he sat down on the empty seat beside me.

“Good steak?”

“Yeah, it's great. Thanks.”

Clearing the last of the salad on my plate, I put the cutlery down and stretched back.

“So, how long have you been president for?”

Archer chuckled as he shook his head.

“You don't give up, do you?”

“Nah. What's the name of your club? Because I did happen to notice that none of you are wearing jackets. Seems a little too convenient if you ask me.”

He looked at me and I momentarily wondered if I'd crossed some line.

“Hey, you invited me here. Just trying to be neighborly and get to know my new neighbor, just like he wanted. You seem a bit young to be a president. So, are you or are you not?”

Archer leaned back in his seat, putting the plate of half eaten food onto the table beside him. As he turned onto his side to face me, I saw the deep frown.

Nice Archer was gone, replaced with something that was closer to what I feared earlier this morning.

“Maybe you shouldn't ask so many questions Faith. Some things are best left unsaid and unknown.”

“Of course, how stupid of me to ask legitimate questions. Well...” I sighed, dumping my plate on his lap. “Thanks for the meal but we're going.”

I stood from the seat and walked over to Myrtle.

“Are we going now love?”

Myrtle looked up at me, her watery blue eyes almost hidden behind the thick glasses.

“We sure are.”

“Oh thank Christ for that.” Elise muttered. “Ken!”

The two guys beside her jumped as she barked Ken's name. I looked at Eddie and James and gave them the silent look that we were going. Eddie smiled supremely and linked his arm into James's, moving towards us without a second thought.

Our little group was walking up the driveway, Eddie was helping me with Myrtle as we tried to get out of there as fast as possible.

“Faith!”

I tried to ignore Archer as he called out from the other end of the driveway. Eddie gave me a sympathetic smile when I looked at him.

“Please.”

Archer pulled my free arm back and made me stop.

“We'll take Myrtle home.” Ken offered.

Like rats fleeing a ship they all scurried across the road and left me with the dominating stance of an annoyed man. Good friends, I had them.

“You don't have anything worthwhile to say to me if you can't answer a few general questions about your life. If I was crossing some unknown line in the rules of a motorcycle club then you should have had the forethought to warn me.”

“I'm not in a club, I was but not any more. My father is the president, those guys are in his club. They came here to see me and hang out but it's got nothing to do with the club.”

He paused and looked at me, my arms folded and disbelief shining brightly. Archer huffed as he thumped his hands against his sides.

“I left after a disagreement with my father. We're still cool but I just couldn't be near him all the time.”

“So are you really a mechanic?”

“I tinker with the bikes for the club and I get paid for it, so yeah I am one.”

I looked back at his place, the quaint wood house that just seemed rather mismatched to the owner.

“How come you bought this place?”

“I liked it. Saw it in the window at the real estate agent, checked it out and made an offer.”

He paused for a moment, his features clouding over with what looked like slight disgust.

“I know what you're thinking and no, I didn't buy it with anything earned from illegal activities. Inheritance and a small loan. My grandma died.”

It was like Myrtle's presence at the party made sense in a way. Maybe she looked like Archer's grandmother and reminded him of a better time.

“Sorry to hear that.”

And sorry for prejudging you. And sorry for assuming you've got a drug lab in the house.

He shrugged one shoulder and turned to the end of the driveway, the sound of music filling the summery night air.

“You're welcome to come back, you don't have to leave.”

“It's okay. I think I made Gus uncomfortable. They like being called by their other names, don't they?”

Archer nodded and turned back to the street.

“I'll walk you home.”

“It's just across the street.”

He looked at me in a way that wordlessly said to accept it because he wasn't going to let me walk home by myself. Even if it is just a few steps.

“So do you miss being a member?”

Archer nodded, his head lowering as he kicked a stone across the road. Then he shook his head, frowning. I guess it was one of those questions.

I pushed through the main door and stood there, expecting Archer to turn around and go home. Except he walked in and looked at me with expectation. Okay so I guess it was to my door then.

“You know, if you have things that you don't want to talk about then you should say something. I'm not a mind reader and I've never known anyone in a club before. Or not in a club, whatever, you know what I mean.”

He grinned slightly as we reached the top of the stairs. I pulled my keys out of my pocket and leaned on the door.

“Maybe you could ask me questions that you'd feel okay with answering as well. Like uh, how many siblings do you have? My answer, one sister who is older.”

“None.” he said simply.

There was something dark hidden within him, the one word answer that should have been simple looked like it was painful.

“I get what you're saying Faith, it's a good idea. I'll think of questions and bug you sometime.”

“Great, you can hound and harass me with them... sometime.”

Archer rolled back and forth on his feet, his hands in his pockets again. Waiting. Awkward.

I did not want to get involved with a neighbor. Even if I kind of had last night. Thankfully I could not remember it and technically, it was the neighbor’s boyfriend. Not my finest moment, drunkenness was not an excuse.

“Did you still want to read one of my books?”

“Yeah.”

The tone in his voice picked up slightly, a little odd but I didn't over think it. I opened the door, flicked on the lights and showed him the grand collection.

“Which one was your first?”

I pulled the first book on the shelf off and handed it to him.

“Black Flame by RF Harlow.”

Archer looked up at me rather perplexed.

“What's the R stand for?”

I rolled my eyes as I leaned on the bookcase.

“Roxy.”

He chuckled. “Cute. Thanks for the loaner,
Roxy.
”

“Shut up.”

There was silence again as the laughter died away. It was on the verge of becoming uncomfortable when the sound of broken glass interrupted it. Archer sighed and looked over my shoulder to the window.

“I guess that's my cue to go and break up whatever fight they're getting into.”

Archer walked to the front door and opened it, looking back at me as I followed a few steps behind.

“I'll return this in a couple of days,
Roxy.
”

Even though I didn't want to, I grinned, leaning on the door and watching as he took the first few steps down the stairs.

“You keep calling me that and there is going to be trouble mister.”

“Promises, promises,
Roxy.
What are you going to do? Beat me with your books?”

“Maybe. Some of them are rather thick.”

He chuckled as he continued down the stairs, disappearing from sight.

“Later
Roxy
.”

I shut the door and flicked the locks, finding that my misbehaving feet were wandering back to the study. Then my dastardly fingers turned off the light, in cahoots with my feet who slipped along the bookcase.

There was no way that I was watching him in the darkness, it was an absolute lie. Somehow he knew. Even though the lights were off, when he was half way across the street he turned back slightly and looked up at the window. Then he waved. I wanted to die from embarrassment. Caught watching him. How sad.