For Your Sake (21 page)

            Ben twirled his coffee cup and raised a brow.  “And you heard this from…..?”

            “Janice Morrell.  Owns the bakery where I ran into Elle.”

            “Oh, I know who Janice is.”

            “Really?” Eva gave him a sly look then another sip of coffee.  “Did you also know she’s Taz’s mother?”

            He just didn’t smile – he laughed.  This wasn’t your typical ‘morning after sex’ scenario.  It usually consisted of ‘
where’s my underwear?’, ‘can I use your bathroom before I go
?’ or the dreaded ‘
call me.
’  He felt comfortable, at ease, as if they didn’t ride each other to orgasmic bliss the night before.  The thought of that combined with what she probably didn’t have on under that robe made his cock jump. “Really?”  He mocked her a bit.  “Exactly what
did
Janice tell you?”  The apple didn’t fall too far from the tree in the Morrell chattiness department.  But at least Taz kept it zipped when it came to club business, and hoped that extended to his former-groupie mother.

            “That the Skulls are pretty much well-known throughout Tippitt and Elle’s very involved with town officials and committees. And……”

            She dangled that on purpose, as if knowing he was on edge that Janice said too much.  “And…..?”

            “That Elle’s husband is your president.  And that all of you rode out to Westover yesterday.”

            
Shit, Taz.  What the fuck you telling your mother?
 Ben thought.  “Did she say what for?”

            Eva shook her head.  “No.  When I told Janice the cherry cheesecake was for dinner with my friend in Morgantown, she realized how close it was to where her son rode out.”

            That’s why she tasted like cherries last night.

            “Are you sure that’s it, Eva?”

            Now she looked suspicious, but hoped the tone of his question didn’t cause her to ask why.  “Positive.”

            Satisfied, he nodded.  “Now, about Elle.  Few pointers, darlin’ before you go in.  Forewarned is forearmed.”

            She leaned forward, hands around her coffee cup.  “Okay.”  

She was interested, clearly wanting to make a good impression on his president’s wife.  He usually wasn’t quick to offer up information, but he had this urge to help her.  Not to mention Elle’s influence was pretty much common knowledge around town.  “Janice is right - Elle’s pretty tight with every suit in town hall.  Does a lot of community stuff like forming committees, attending meetings and hearings, running election campaigns – things like that.  The town was a bit leery about the MC still milling about and wanted to put a face to us, to keep us close through with the residents and businesses.”

            He paused, allowing Eva to absorb what he said so far.  “Which allows the MC to know what’s going on with everything.”

            He simply nodded.  “ We just want to lay low, do our thing and not have any complaints.  If there are any, Elle’ll hear of them first.”

            Eva grinned.  “Forewarned is forearmed.”

            Damn, he loved her tossing that back at him.  She didn’t look too convinced about the MC just wanting to ‘do their thing’, but didn’t ask any questions.  “So what you’re saying is that Elle is a ‘make or break’ person in town hall?”

              Ben fidgeted with how to answer.  “She’s…..influential..  Be polite and respectful, but don’t back down either.  That’s all I’m gonna say.”

              Her eyes held his for a bit before she looked into her coffee cup.  “Why’re you helping me?  Why do you always seem to show up at the right time?”

              “Because you showed up at the right time.”  It just came out, but at this point, Ben really didn’t care.  He already said more than he should last night about his death-wish shenanigans the night they literally ran into each other.

              “You mean……”

              He shook his head to cut her off.  “Had some bad shit going through my head and was blowing steam thinking I could beat a mountain.”  He took her hand and pulled her up to stand between his parted knees.  “Deep down, I wouldn’t have done it.  I know what I said last night, but I wasn’t thinking.  Having that kind of mindset could mean my patch, darlin’.  I would’ve stopped last minute, but my bike may not have cooperated.  Like I said, you showed up at the right time.”  He pulled her closer, the bottom of her robe parting to reveal her bare legs.  “Also, doing it for your sake.”

              Ben had no idea what he said, but she immediately froze up and backed away.  “What does that mean?” 

              “What did I say?”

              She held her left wrist, encircling that silver bracelet she always wore, then shook off her reaction.  “Nothing.  Just……thanks.  So,” she switched gears, “can I make you breakfast?”

              Okay, so she didn’t want him out right away if she offered to cook, but that weird reaction bugged him.  “Nah, that’s okay.”  He finished his coffee and stood up.  “Better get outta your way so you can get ready.”

              “You’re not in my way.”

              Again, he was having trouble reading her.  This wasn’t the bold female who straddled and rode his cock like a champion last night.  Maybe she wasn’t fast to get rid of him, which usually was the opposite for him.  But it was Sunday, which was a strict ‘no club business day’ but a day to spend with family.  Vic and Elle usually hosted one or both kids visiting from out of town, Tanner spent the day with his old lady and kid, Aero, Doug and his brother would be holed up at some bar watching football, Wes networked with some techno-geeks, Taz would no doubt hang at his mother’s getting spoon fed and waited on.  Sundays weren’t the best days for Ben because he had nothing to do, nowhere to go and no one to do it with.  He always felt best to keep to himself, even though the idleness unnerved him at times to where he volunteered for the occasional Sunday labor crew – which the double-time didn’t hurt.

              But the fact he was at complete ease with Eva and not in a rush to disappear confused him.  Something about her, something about being in this old house, the tranquility of the back yard (minus Mrs. Bachman!) hell, even the damn cluttered mess about the place was beginning to bother him less.  Not like he had any say.  It wasn’t, after all, his house.  And as he said, he didn’t want to overstay his welcome – no matter how bad he wanted to untie that robe, hoist her on the cluttered counter and say ‘good morning’ – his way.

              “Was going to stop by the clubhouse and see the damage from last night, maybe work out in the weight room.”

              “Damage?”

              “Saturday night party.  Got a change of clothes on my bike so I’ll just shower there and head home afterwards.”  He had packed essentials in the side compartment of his bike, planning to clean up after the long ride back from the Dewey situation last night, but instead wound up creeping into her house and falling asleep at her kitchen table.

              “You can shower here before you leave.  I mean, if you want.  Unless you want to work out, then….”

              “Eva?”

              “Yes?”

              “Do you want me to go?”

              She paused, then shook her head.  “You don’t have to.”

              “Didn’t ask that, darlin’.  What do
you
want?”

              She looked thoroughly confused as if not sure how to answer.  “I’m not sure.  Everything…..you….me……last night.  If it was just a one-time thing, then let’s agree on it so there’s no……expectations.”

              “Actually, it was a ‘two-time’ thing,” he leered.  “And, I don’t expect anything you don’t want.”  He stopped pussy-footing and just took charge, walking over, taking her chin with one hand while his other clasped the back of her neck.  “I like you, Eva.  You’re an interesting chick.  You’re smart, sharp, fucking beautiful and……” his hand slid from behind her neck to inside her robe, slowly parting it open, “fuck, darlin’…..didn’t expect all this last night.”

              She moved against his hand which slid around, grazing down the outside of her robe, feeling nothing underneath but warm, naked skin.  “Eva?”  His voice was low, coarse as he was growing achingly hard.  “Tell me what you want.  You’re not a ‘one-time’ girl, darlin’.  Don’t expect to treat you as such.  Just tell me what you want.”

              Her head tipped back, the passion in those fucking blue eyes almost undid the control he strove to maintain.  The clock told him he’d have no time to do what he really wanted before her meeting.  There’d be time again – hopefully.  It all depended upon…….

              “I want you to stay.  Shower, change, hang out until I get back.  I’ll get stuff to make us dinner.  Maybe…….”

              That hanging pause made him bend down and kiss the corner of her mouth.  “Maybe……?”

              “Maybe you can make good on your word and show me how to start the fireplace.”

              Oh, man he was really digging her.  “Deal.  But I don’t wanna stay while you’re gone.  I’ll head out and come back.”

              “I’m not sure when I’ll be done and I don’t have a spare key.  I’ll just leave the slider unlocked so you can……”

              He kissed her quiet.  “That’s what got me here in the first place.  Keep your doors and windows locked when you’re out, Eva.”  He gave her a mischievous grin.  “Don’t you know a big, bad motorcycle club creeps around town checking for unlocked doors?”

              “Hmm,” she hummed.  “You don’t say.”

              He turned her around, giving her a playful smack on the bottom in the process.  “Go get ready.”

              A half hour later she emerged down the stairs while Ben was lying on his back on the living room floor, his head halfway up the flue of the fireplace looking for the release.  He pulled out and sat up, a smile catching his lips at the sight of her.  Dark brown suede skirt, matching boots and a cream-colored peasant top which billowed open at the neck and fell to pretty, bell sleeves past her fingertips.  So pretty and feminine.  She carried a tan, leather tote bag as she went for the closet.  “Not sure how long it’ll take with Elle,” she said, reaching for her coat, “then going to hit the market later.  What do you like?”

              “Pretty much anything that moos, clucks or swims.  Ain’t picky when it comes to food.  When you get back I’ll head out and get some beer.  Ticker’s open on Sunday till four I think.”

              “I can get it.”

              “Eva, you ain’t paying for……”

              “I’m sure you’ll find a way to pay me back.”  She gave him a grin and a wink then opened the front door.  “See you later.”

              The door closed, leaving him alone with the enveloping quiet.  Not the unnerving kind of his tiny, sparse rental, but the serenity of an old house with lots character and in need of a lots of care which wasn’t even his.  But the woman it belonged to entrusted him in it.  It just illuminated the differences between the two of them -  her uneventful, unassuming, nine-to-five civilian life as opposed to his outlaw existence where that kind of trust given to someone you barely knew didn’t exist and where betrayal of that trust was repaid in the worst kind of way.  He only hoped he could allow her to earn from him what she so freely gave a few moments ago.

              But right now, he had a plan to pay her back – at least one way.  He figured she’d be gone for at least four hours and everything was pretty much set up.  He held off retrieving his clothes and taking a shower and walked into the dining room.  He saw Eva had already sanded the wall and did a pretty good job of it.  All it needed was a coat of primer first, which she had.  Picking the blue tape up off the floor, he placed it along where the molding met the wall recently vacated of this ugly mural.  He’d been on enough site crews to see how just about every facet of construction and renovation was done.  Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out his keys then used one to pry open one of the paint cans.  The color was a rich, warm green – something a female would definitely pick as his simplistic tastes would steer towards linen white. 

              Setting it aside, he opened the primer, poured it into the pan then grabbed a thin brush to do the edging first.

              He’d need every bit of the four hours.

Chapter Thirteen

              The ride to her store wasn’t long, but Eva used every moment to process what happened from the moment she walked into her house last night until she walked out five minutes ago.  And leaving a biker who fucked her to high heaven not even twelve hours ago alone in it.

              Had she lost her mind?

              What was she agreeing to?  What made her want him to stay?  Okay, besides the obvious best orgasm she had in her life?  Eva never considered herself a sexual dynamo, nor someone who had a lot of past partners.  She had a few feelers away at business college, but didn’t want to be known for one-night-stands around the dorms.  She and MaryLynn sowed their female oats afterwards during their roommate days with the tired ‘ladies night’ and heading over to Steubenville, Ohio for infamous ‘bar crawls’ on the weekends.  But then MaryLynn got married, Eva bought the card shop and moved back in with her dad, her life consumed by running a business.