Chapter Seven
“Nat, can you be a dear and lock up the café after you’re done cleaning those tables?” asked Mrs. Lowe, the owner of the Sugar and Spice Café. Mrs. Lowe was Grizzly’s aunt, and he’d helped her get this job.
In the beginning, Mrs. Lowe didn’t have much of an opinion of her, but after three days, Nat had proven herself to be a diligent worker. Before Vulture had ruined her life, Nat had plenty of experience waiting tables. Nat and Mrs. Lowe worked well together.
Then again, apart from the cook and a part-timer who came in during the weekends, it was often just Mrs. Lowe and Nat managing the café. Razor told her she could leave when she found a better job, but she liked working at the café.
“No problem,” she told Mrs. Lowe.
Half an hour later, she finished all her chores. Nat took off her white apron and snatched her purse. A misshapen shadow stretched across the café door. She suppressed a scream and snatched the nearest item she could find, a mug.
Nat held the mug up, and the intruder showed himself. “Relax, Nat. It’s just me,” Razor said, stepping into the light.
She lowered the mug. “You scared me to death,” she complained.
“Not my intention. I didn’t mean to startle you,” Razor said.
He neared her, reached for her hand, and rubbed at it. She’d been thinking about him all day. Since she moved into Razor’s quarters at the clubhouse, they’d stolen a few kisses here and there. One time, things even got a little hot and heavy while they were watching a movie at night. In the end, Razor behaved himself.
Nat sensed he was being careful around her, considerate of her feelings. She stood on tiptoe and kissed him. He clasped the back of her neck, tugging her close until her breasts were pressed against his solid chest. Nat parted her lips wider, and he slipped his tongue down her throat.
God, this man knew how to kiss. She bet he would also know what to do with his hands, his dick. That thought made her cheeks heat up. Razor released her, grinning. “Ready for dinner and a movie?” he asked her.
“Actually, I just want to hang out with you,” she admitted.
“Hmm. I’ll think of something else,” he said, leading her out of the café. Nat locked up and noticed Razor was looking around the quiet street.
“Is something wrong?” she asked him.
“Doesn’t hurt to be extra careful,” he said.
Razor had reassured her plenty of times she was safe here. The Ruthless Reapers MC operated out of Grace and even had the local police in their pocket. Vulture and the Black Dogs wouldn’t be able to touch her here. Nat had never felt safe her entire life.
“Come on, I have an idea,” Razor said.
He took her hand and led her to where he parked his Harley. She put on the helmet he handed her and got behind him on his bike. Riding with Razor always felt exhilarating. He took off, zipping past streets that had become a little more familiar to her.
Castle Falls, the town she grew up in, the town claimed by the Black Dogs MC, had never felt like home. Not really. Even growing up, her mother always warned her not to stay out too late, to keep her distance from the bikers in town. In the end, she broke those rules because she didn’t have a choice.
Reminiscing about the past wouldn’t do her any good. Nat still had nightmares of that night Vulture failed to kill her. She often woke up screaming, but Razor would always be there to comfort her.
He was her talisman against her demons. She didn’t know what she did to deserve him.
They stopped by a pizza place to grab pizzas and drinks. Then Razor exited the town area. She thought they’d head back to the clubhouse, but Razor sped past the compound. She let out a whoop and thought she heard Razor chuckle.
Nat didn’t care where they were going. She wasn’t too cold either. The night wind felt nice on her face, and Razor’s body felt impossibly warm. She felt free, like she was flying.
He deviated from the main road, and they started on a dirt path that led to the woods.
She clung to him closer. Not an easy feat to do, considering she was the one holding the food. Razor seemed to know where he was going. They zipped past trees. The darkness frightened her, but she didn’t want Razor to know she was terrified. Where the hell was he going?
He’d never hurt me, she reminded herself. Nat had told him she preferred to spend time with him instead of going to the movies.
“Look up,” he told her, pitching his voice a little louder so she could hear him.
She craned her neck, and the sight of the night sky stole her breath for a few seconds. The stars dotted the night sky like tiny diamonds. Hundreds of them. Her initial terror vanished. The bike slowed, and Razor stopped in front of a small cabin.
Curiosity made Nat dismount. The exterior of the cabin looked well-worn by time and the elements. She couldn’t quite put her finger on it, but it also seemed like someone had put some love into it.