“See ya later.” He waves. I do the same, finally getting a fresh breath of air once I make it outside. I love my job, every aspect of it. Well, maybe not every single thing. The helplessness sucks hair balls. Thankfully, that’s only happened a few times. I’m not ashamed to say those times you could find me in the shower, sitting on the floor, bawling my eyes out. Sometimes being empathetic and compassionate really sucks. I’m almost to my car when there’s a text message alert on my watch. I glance at it, seeing Hunter’s name appear on the face. My stomach is riddled with butterflies even if it is just a standard greeting.
Hunter: Hey, trouble, call me when you’re off work.
He texted me when I know it’s damn early for him, when we got to see each other yesterday, which was after he worked the night before and then rode all morning to be back for the club. What he was doing I’ll never know. Being born and raised around the club, you learn not to ask questions. So, I didn’t. Instead, I cherished the couple of hours we got together then snuck out, went home, changed for work, and now here I am, tired but wired to hear his voice.
I get myself situated in the car, grab my phone from my purse, and start the engine. I hate the Bluetooth speaker in my car, so I dial Hunter while I’m still sitting in the parking lot. The phone rings twice on the other end of the line, and I’m thinking he’s busy when I hear his husky voice say, “Hey, trouble.”
“Hey, babe, how’s your day going?” I ask him.
“A lot better now. You on your way home?” I place my phone on speaker, putting it in the cupholder before responding.
“Backing out now. Why are you awake? I thought you wouldn’t be going in to work for a few more hours.” There’s no set schedule. As long as the work gets done, that’s all the brothers care about.
“I wanted to be off when you wake up from your nap. Feel up to meeting at my property? Wanna talk to you about somethin’.” I’ve known about Cannon’s property for years. It’s in Diamondback territory but not inside the gates. Every guy who becomes a member has the option to buy one to five acres for themselves, and Cannon bought his three years ago.
“That sounds ominous,” I say, pulling out of the hospital parking lot, “but yes, I know where your property is. Do you have a specific time? I’m off work for the next three days, so I won’t be taking a long nap. I want to stay on some kind of normal schedule if possible.”
“Nothin’ bad, Monroe. How about you take a nap and call me when you wake up? I should be done in the next few hours or so, then we’ll meet there. I have a few things to show you.” I almost don’t want to nap now, but after working twelve hours, I know it’s necessary. And judging by the smell, a shower is needed too.
“Sounds good. You working on anything big at the moment?” Sometimes, the club will get new builds from some kind of celebrity; other times, it’ll be from your average Joe who’s looking for a weekend rider.
“Nah, just tying this bike up before the owner comes to pick it up. Kinda sucks it wasn’t somethin’ harder to work on.” I find myself yawning as I make the ten-minute commute to my dad’s house. Yep, at the age of twenty-one I live at home. It’s perfect for the time being, but after I looked at a few job openings, things might be changing.
“That stinks. I’m almost home. I’ll call you when I wake up.” I need to roll down the windows and crank up the music for more than one reason.
“Drive safe. Later, trouble.” I may have been giving him hell yesterday for not using my real name, but there’s something innately sexy when that word rolls off his tongue.
“Bye, Hunter.” We disconnect, and I jam out, decompressing from my shift while driving.
Five
Cannon
“About time you made it.” I’m sitting on the seat of my Harley when Monroe steps out of her car wearing another one of her short skirts that billow out when she walks, tank top baring her midriff, cupping her breasts. I know without a doubt she doesn’t have a bra on, since her nipples pebbled from the slight breeze on a warm Texas day only amplifies that.
“It takes time to get my beauty rest, you know.” She walks towards me in combat boot-clad feet.
“Monroe, don’t you know already? You’re beautiful no matter what.” Her face softens, and once she’s in reaching distance, I spread my legs, my hands wrapping around her hips, pulling her in closer.