Hearts on Fire: A Biker Erotic Romance (4 page)

CHAPTER SIX

"You did what?" Annie cried in disbelief.

"I know!" Rosie wailed back, horrified by what she had done at the bar to Manny. "I know you said he didn't hurt you, but the way you looked. I just knew you were lying. I thought you didn't want to tell me, so I ..."

"You went to the bar and slapped him? Jesus-fucking-Christ, Rosie!"

"I know!" she wailed again. "I knew I was wrong as soon as he thought someone hurt you. I've never seen anyone so pissed off before! He said he would kill 'em and I believed him. He's ready to take someone’s head and dance on the grave."

"Ah, shit Rosie. He didn't deserve that. Fuck."

"I was going to apologize, but this guy shows up, probably thinking Manny was bothering me. He grabs Manny, you know, by the shoulder. But then, Manny grabbed him by the throat! Lifted him right off the ground! His feet were jerking around in the air and everything! Fucking scared the crap out of me." she said, as she shivered. "So, I ran. I just ran."

"Oh no," Annie whimpered, her face turning white. "Did he hurt the guy? Shit, if Manny hurt him he could be in trouble. God damn it, Rosie. This could be bad. Did he hurt him?"

"I don't know! I ran! I'm sorry."

"Shit, you’ve got to stay here and watch my dad. Chad's out, again. I have to check on Manny. He doesn't deserve to be in jail over this," Annie said, as she grabbed her purse and keys.

"Alright, I'll stay here," Rosie nodded. "I'm really sorry."

"Yeah, I know you are. I love you for it, too. I have to check on him, just stay here, alright?" Annie said and gave her a hug.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Annie pulled up to Manny's house. His bike was in the driveway. Her hands started to tremble. "Alright, he's not in jail. So
, he's fine. I don't have to go up there," she told herself. Her trembling hands turned off the engine anyway and she got out of the car.

"Fine, I'm just going to check on him. I’ll apologize for Rosie. That's all."

And this time she hoped she was listening to herself.

She knocked on the door and waited. Then, she could hear him getting closer. Her whole body quavered with anxiety. She had no idea what she wanted, but she knew she couldn't take another trip into fantasyland. She couldn't believe the lie again. It would break her. The pain was already unbearable. Then, the door was open and there he was, looking down at her. "Manny?"

"Annie, are you alright?" he breathed. Then, he was looking at her, all over, examining her. "Did someone hurt you?" His hands were on her shoulders, turning her. Then, they moved to her face, as he looked into her eyes.

"No, no, I'm fine. Rosie..."

"That was Rosie? Come in, please," he said. She followed him inside. His hand was still on her shoulder. Her body was exhilarated by his gentle grip.

"Yes, that was Rosie, she's..."

"She's got a mean slap," he smiled.

Annie looked at his face and there was just the hint of redness on his cheek. Without thinking, she reached out to soothe him. Her hand caressed the injury. "Ah, damn. I'm so sorry..."

"I could kiss her for it right now," he said, as he brought her into the kitchen.

"You, what?" she asked, confused, her voice soft.

He took two beers out of the fridge, opened them, and handed one to her. She took it. Then, she took a long drink.

"I fucked up, Annie. I'm sorry. It won't happen again. I don't know what is going on, but I swear it won't happen again," he said.

"You fucked up? When? What are you talking about?"

He looked deep into her eyes. She knew exactly what he was talking about. She almost caved in right there. She could see that the Friday night with her was much more than a night of pussy for him. It was so blatant in his eyes that she wanted to jump into his arms, but she pulled herself together. She couldn't afford another ride. "No, no, you were fine. You didn't hurt me. It was me, alright? It was...I don't know. It was a long time, alright? I told you it had been a long time...I just..."

He shook his head. He didn’t buy it at all. She felt him look straight through her. He saw everything. Now, it even sounded like bullshit to her. "Manny," she pleaded. At that moment, she looked at her life and all of the problems in it. She decided to set him straight. "Manny, I got a lot of issues. You know? Serious stuff. Real serious."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah," she nodded. She was on firmer ground. "My dad has Alzheimer's, alright? He lives with me. It's not pretty. In fact, it's fucking horrible."

"I'm sorry," he said. He was genuine.

"Yeah," she nodded, as she pressed on. She tried not to let his sincerity slow her down. "My kid brother, he's a mess and a jerk. He’s really immature, but he's still my kid brother. He lives with me. He sleeps on the couch and keeps an eye on our dad while I'm at the shop. He's been on the couch for almost two years now. His life is getting worse, not better."

"Sounds tough," Manny agreed.

"It is. It's real tough. And my business is crumbling. Seriously. I probably won't make it past the first of the year, if I can't find a way to turn it within a few months. When it goes, I'm fucked. I don't know how I'm going to make it with Dad and Chad."

"That's a lot of stuff," he nodded.

"Yeah, it is. So, like, I'm damaged goods, Manny. You aren't looking to get hooked up with me. I really liked what happened between us. I really did, but it's not real."

"Yes, it is," he told her. The level of certainty in his voice astounded her.

"Are you listening to me at all?" she said, her voice getting sharp.

"I have no interest in anything else," he assured her.

"Well, then your head has gone as thick as your arms, big guy," she said. Her tongue cut through the words like a serrated knife. "What? You think that because I'm a good lay, you're going to fix all of this for me? Save the day? Ride in on your Harley and make it all right?"

His eyes bore into her, pausing her tirade. "Annie, yes. You're a good lay," he started. "No, I can't cure Alzheimer's. I'm not even sure I fully understand what you are going through with that, but I can see that it hurts. It hurts a lot."

He set his beer down and turned back to her. "Although I run a machine shop and know something about business, I don't know shit about printing. I wouldn't know where to start."

He took a step toward her and she visibly shook. If he embraced her now, she wasn't going to survive.

Please don't Manny, please. I can't take it.

"As for your kid brother, I could slap him around a bit for you, but that's not going to change him. I think we can agree on that," he reasoned.

Annie tried to back up, but she couldn't move. She was caught between longing and terror. She froze, as he came even closer to her.

"So," she started, her throat weak. She pulled all of her energy into her voice, "So, what do I need you for then? Why would I want you?"

"You don't have to escape from it any more. I can't fix that other stuff, but I can be there for you."

"You can't fix me, Manny."

"I didn't say
fix
, Annie. I said
be there
, support you. Take some of the weight."

"The weight?" she asked. That was too close, much too close. She had to get out of here. She couldn't take another trip into fantasyland. The delusion was too great. She would break this time.

"You don't need fixing Annie. You're stronger than I imagined," he said. Again, he was earnest.

"I'm...no," she shook her head.

"You can let go, Annie. I got you. I promise."

"Jesus, will you stop!" she cried. His words pounded on her. “You can't give me what I need! No one can! It's...it's a..."

He was going to hug her. She saw him moving forward to embrace her. Her panic came out in a whispered scream, "God, no! Don't touch me! Not unless you mean it! Please!"

Something happened in his eyes, something clicked. She saw it happen. Suddenly, a new clarity was there. All of his doubt and questions were gone. "I mean it, Annie. Every bit of it."

"You can't," she whimpered, as tears ran down her face. "It's just a lie."

"No, Annie," he slowly shook his head. He claimed her. "It never was. It's all real. You're really mine."

With his arms around her, she shuddered. Then, she began to sob. The beer she was holding fell to the floor and she didn't notice. He continued to hold her. The hole inside her filled up with his warmth. "I'm yours?" she whimpered.

"Yes," he nodded.

"Don't fuck with me, Manny, please."

"You belong to me," he assured her. His deep voice resonated in her gut, purging all doubt.

She pressed into him and melted. She let go of everything she was holding back. She discovered that she wasn't holding back much. She had already lost most of it.

God that was close.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Three months later, Annie skipped down the walk of her house, and out to the drive where Manny waited on his bike. The big Harley was chugging in idle. She put her helmet on and sat behind him. She wrapped her arms around his waist and gave him a squeeze.

Mine.

The Fire Devils were going on a poker run today. They joined up with several other clubs. The run was in support of a homeless children's fund. She wasn't quite sure what a poker run meant. It sounded like a good time with friends; so, it really didn't matter to her what else it was.

She and Manny had been together now for three months. Her business was still in dire straits, but holding on. Chad was in jail, again. Drug dealing to an undercover. Manny helped her find a lawyer for him. Apparently, the lawyer was one of the Fire Devils’ brothers. It wasn't good though. Chad was going to do some time. With his priors, it could be serious time.

Her father was in hospice. His condition reached the point that he needed full-time supervision. Without supervision, he hurt himself on a regular basis. Annie and Manny spent a couple of hours every Sunday with him. She went by herself on Wednesday nights after work.

So, no, Manny didn't solve any of her problems. Some of them were even worse; but, he was there with her. He showed up when she called him. He held her at night. She was never alone. Even when he was away, she wasn't alone. Hanging out with the Fire Devils, she found some other friends in the wives of the members. She was beginning to feel like she belonged there, too.

Bob, who was another patch holder, talked them into introducing him to Rosie. Her performance in the bar, boldly walking up and slapping the biggest biker in the group before storming out, really impressed Bob.

Rosie finally accepted a date with him. She rode on the back of his bike when the club ran down to Mexico for a Saturday of fun. By the end of the day, Bob was kissing her. They were dating now, too.

As Manny put the bike in gear and roared it onto the road, Annie felt the surge of belonging to him. It was as certain today as it was that first night. Only now, it was sweeter and very real.