Road to Redemption (2 page)

“Totally sucks.”

“Well, maybe you’ll meet someone better tonight.”

“I’m not sure skuzzy biker guy’s my thing, Mase. But maybe I can find someone to get a little freaky with.”

“Ohmigod, Payton. Don’t say that out loud tonight!”

I grinned. “Why can’t I just have fun once? One time, Mase.”

She raised her hands in surrender. “Honey, if you want to make a quick change on who you are and have a one night stand, go for it. I will even hold you while you cry because you’re not a whore and your attempt to be one, just once, didn’t work out.”

I let out a dramatic sigh. “I wish I had absolutely no morals whatsoever.”

“Says the woman who made Brendon wait six months just to cop a feel.”

She had me there. “Well, one day maybe I’ll find a guy that believes the same things I do, but I highly doubt it’ll be at a motorcycle club get-together.”

Macey smiled. “Yeah, you’re probably right.”

The doorbell rang and Macey checked the peephole before pulling open the door to Dani who looked adorable in her classy biker look. She wore dark jeans, knee-high motorcycle boots and a tight T-shirt with a Harley and their logo across the bust.

“Hey,” Macey said. “I thought we were meeting you.”

Dani nodded and hugged her. “Austin got stuck at the club and I’m hoping I can grab a ride with you so he doesn’t have to drive all the way back to get me.”

I grinned as Macey closed the door. “The more the merrier,” I said. “I’ll drive.”

“Awesome. Thanks,” Dani said, and pulled out her phone. She sent a quick text and then slipped her phone back in her pocket.

“We’re ready,” Macey said. “Should we go now or wait and be fashionably late?”

Dani chuckled. “Now works. People arrive at all hours, but I’m pretty sure most of the crew is already there.”

I grabbed my keys and purse and we headed down to the garage and, with the stereo blasting, made our way to the compound.

U
NDER DANI’S DIRECTION, I pulled into the hidden entrance of Big Ernie’s Body Shop at the back, up to the sky high double gates, where she leaned out of the backseat window and entered a code into a keypad before the gates allowed us entry.

“This is only the third or fourth time I’ve come this way,” Dani admitted.

“Oh?” I asked. “How do you normally get in?”

“The front, like normal people.” She giggled. “But Austin won’t let me go that way without him anymore. Says it’s safer to come this way for whatever reason.”

“I can’t imagine many folks know this way even exists,” I said, and pulled into a parking lot filled with trucks and bikes.

“Probably not. It’s only for the super secret members,” Dani said, and laughed again. “I’m just waiting to see if they have a handshake I’m going to have to learn.”

“Maybe we should make our own up and make them learn it,” Macey retorted.

“Chest bump included?” I asked.

“And risk every man in the place getting a hard-on,” Dani said. “Probably want to skip the chest bump.”

We dissolved into giggles as I parked my car and we piled out. Dani led us toward the large brick building, but before we reached it, the back door opened and Booker strolled out, reaching us and pulling Dani in for an intimate and passionate kiss. I had to look away or I was sure I’d combust… or need a few minutes alone with my battery operated boyfriend.

“Hey baby,” he said.

She chuckled. “Hey yourself. I take it you’ve been watching the monitors?”

He raised an eyebrow. “That would border on stalking, baby. I would never do that.”

“Hmm-mm, sure.” She grinned up at him. “Have you told everyone to be on their best behavior?”

Booker smiled at me and Macey. “You ladies are safe in our presence. The bathroom has even been scrubbed by a particularly eager club who—”

“
Austin
,” Dani warned.

“Sorry,” he said. “Young woman.”

I laughed. “Wow, the red carpet treatment. I like it.”

“Come on in and get out of the cold.”

Booker hung back so we could walk in ahead of him and I followed Dani and Macey inside. We walked through a professional kitchen that was well-equipped with the biggest appliances I’d ever seen… the fridge alone could probably hold enough food to feed a hundred people for a month. We dropped off the wine with a few of the women inside and, after quick introductions, Dani started the tour.

We entered a large common room already packed with biker men and women. The space was filled with sofas, overstuffed chairs, a pool table, large flat-screen television, several smaller tables that children gathered around for board games, and three outdoor picnic tables, where people were already sitting down and eating.

“Dani, Dani, Dani!” a little girl squealed and ran to Dani who scooped her up and gave her a hug. The little girl wrapped her arms around her neck and squeezed.

I was momentarily stunned as I recognized the little girl, but it wasn’t until I saw the man walking towards us that my breath left my body. I blindly reached for Macey who was standing slightly behind me.

“You okay, Pay?” She grasped my hand, even as I continued to stare at the man from the supermarket.

The man’s slow smile as he reached us had me squeezing my legs together. “Hey.”

He wore jeans that were obviously made for him, a long-sleeved black thermal shirt and a leather vest with several patches on it. He was delicious.

I swallowed, nodded, and forced a smile. “Hi,” I squeaked.

“You know Hawk?” Dani asked as she set Lily back on her feet.

I shook my head. “Uh… no, not really.”

“Lily found her in the store,” he explained as he continued to study me. “And she kindly found me.”

Dani giggled. “You might want to consider a leash.”

“A fuckin’ short one,” Hawk retorted.

I held my hand out. “I’m Payton.”

He took my hand and gave it a squeeze. “Hawk.”

Lily patted my leg and I glanced down at her as I pulled my hand from Hawk’s.

“You were in the stowa,” she said.

I smiled and hunkered down in front of her. “I
was
at the store.”

“You’re so pwetty.”

I giggled. “Thank you, sweetie. So are you.”

“Daddy thinks you pwetty too.”

“Lily,” he said with a groan.

I smiled. “I’m sure he thinks your mom is too.”

She frowned. “I don’t have a mommy.”

“Okay, trouble, it’s time you go play with your friends,” Hawk said, and picked her up, heading toward the kitchen.

“For the record,” Dani said after he was out of earshot. “Hawk’s totally single. And his real name’s Alex James.”

Alex. Sexy. It suited him. For whatever reason, I had a hard time wrapping my mind around ‘Hawk.’ Alex seemed more fitting somehow.

“Babe,” Booker warned. “Don’t.”

“You are not the boss of me, Austin Carver,” she said, and patted his cheek with her hand.

“Fuck me,” he said.

“Later,” she promised, and focused back on me. “You let me know if you want me to set anything up.”

“Um, no,” I stressed. “No interference from anyone, thank you very much.”

“Got it, babe?” Booker asked.

“I got it, honey,” Dani said, and then smiled back at me. “But you let me know if you change your mind.”

“I won’t.”

She winked. “We’ll see.”

I rolled my eyes. “I could do with some wine. Anyone else?” Macey squeezed my hand and I released my hold on her. “Sorry.”

“I didn’t need that hand, hon. It’s all good.” She giggled and pulled me to a stop. “So that’s the guy?”

I nodded.

“He’s apparently single.”

I nodded again.

“And super, super hot.”

I bit my lip
and
nodded. Macey grinned. “I’m all about Payton… remember that.”

I let out the breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding. “Thank you.”

* * *

Hawk

Hawk settled Lily in the playroom and nodded to Ellie who was watching the kids along with another young club whore… he didn’t know her name. Didn’t really care to. All he knew was she was good with kids. He stepped out and almost ran into Booker. “What?”

“She’s not a whore.”

Hawk scowled. “I know she’s not a whore.”

Booker crossed his arms. “Probably isn’t into your warped kind of sex either.”

“Fuck off, Booker.”

“Her brother’s FBI, her best friend’s husband is FBI.” He raised an eyebrow. “She’s protected.”

“Fuck.
Off
.”

Booker smirked. “Just so we’re clear.”

Hawk scowled again. “Fuck you.”

Booker nodded. “We’re clear.”

He walked away and Hawk stood in the hallway for a few minutes in an effort to stamp down his irritation. The truth was Booker had picked up on something Hawk wasn’t ready to admit just yet. This woman… Payton… fuck, gorgeous name to go right along with the gorgeous woman… she was under his skin. Two encounters and the woman was already under his skin.

Fuck!

He dragged his hands through his hair and walked back toward the common room. As he passed through the kitchen, one of the newer hangers on, Laurel he believed, gave him an open smile. “Hey, Hawk.”

“Hey, babe,” he said.

“You wanna have a little fun?” she purred, laying her hand on his arm.

Hawk forced his irritation down again. For the first time in years, he wasn’t interested in a little fun. At least, in a little fun with anyone but Payton. Fuck!

He smiled and pulled his arm away. “Not tonight, babe, yeah?”

Laurel appeared crestfallen. “You let me know if you change your mind.”

He nodded and joined the rest of the group.

* * *

I stood with Macey, Dani, and a couple of other women, and surreptitiously watched Alex out of the corner of my eye. Good lord, the man was pretty… and popular. A particularly skanky woman was draped all over him and it was all I could do not to punch her in the throat. I bit my lip. What the hell was wrong with me? I didn’t know this man. Didn’t have any rights to him.

“Pay?” Macey squeezed my arm. “You okay?”

“Hmm?”

“You okay?”

“Oh… ah, yep.” I nodded. “I’m good.”

She studied me before giving me her ‘we’ll talk later’ look. I formed what I hoped was a sincere smile and focused back on the conversation at hand. I couldn’t focus for long, as Alex walked toward us, his face impassive, but his eyes alit with something I couldn’t pinpoint. But it was sexy as hell, possessive beyond comprehension, and I felt it all the way through me.

I licked my lips and Alex gave me a slow smile.

Damn it! I must look away. I must look away.

I didn’t look away.

As he walked past us, he gently took my arm and, like a rat to the Pied Piper, I followed him. Macey watched us leave, but thankfully, she didn’t object.

Alex led me outside, his hand still grasping my arm, before pushing me up against the brick of the building and covering my mouth with his. I was so unprepared for the gentleness of the assault, I dropped my wine in an effort to grab his waist to stay upright.

As his tongue slipped inside my mouth, I sighed, leaning against his hand on my cheek. God the man could kiss!

His other hand was at my waist and holding me against him, but when it slid up to my breast, it brought me to my senses and I pushed against his chest and broke the kiss. “Alex. Don’t.”

“Fuck me,” he whispered, and dropped his forehead to mine. “I thought this would work.”