Hawk (Reckless Kings MC #2) - Harley Wylde Page 0,18

it’s how I felt about Hayley. We’d only had the one night together, but it was enough. I’d kissed her and known I wanted more, wanted tomorrow and the next day. If she’d given me a chance, come back that next day, I’d have given her the world.

I’d started falling for her that night, and I was a little worried it was too late to back up. Apparently, once you started down that road, you couldn’t turn around. I hadn’t let the club girls touch me. Not lately. I’d tried a few times, but couldn’t get hard for them. If anything, the thought of them touching me made me feel disgusted.

My phone rang and I saw it was an Alabama area code. I started to answer, only to hesitate. It had to be the Dixie Reapers, right? It wasn’t like Hayley had my number. The thought of her tracking me down, calling now, gave me a small burst of hope. I answered the call, only to bite back a growl when I heard Preacher’s voice.

“Hawk?” he asked, when I didn’t say anything.

“Why are you calling? And what the fuck number is this?”

“I left mine at home. This is Tex’s number. And I’m calling because you came running when Hayley was in trouble before.”

I stopped breathing for a moment. “Hayley’s in trouble? Did the asshole go free?”

“Nothing like that,” Preacher said. “Listen, I don’t know if you care one way or another. Maybe you just like rescuing damsels in distress. Do you care anything about her?”

I ground my teeth together. Did these fuckers find it funny I wanted a woman who clearly wanted nothing to do with me? I didn’t say a damn word and Preacher eventually got the hint.

“Right. Guess I was mistaken. Don’t worry about it. We’ll handle it.”

He hung up and I stared at the phone.

“Hayley?” Forge asked from behind me.

“Don’t go there,” I warned. The last thing I wanted to talk about was the woman who’d stomped on my heart. I’d gone this long without falling for anyone. Why did it have to be her?

“At least I know I was right. It’s a woman who has you so fucked up.” Forge slapped me on the back. “It sucks, brother. Maybe she’ll come to her senses. Any woman around here would give her left tit to be yours.”

“Seriously, Forge?”

“What? Just sayin’. You know the club whores have been pouting since you stopped giving them any attention.”

“Last I checked, you aren’t exactly diving into pussy every night,” I said.

“Yeah, well, there are more important things in life than getting your dick wet.”

I turned to face him. “You stopped fucking random women years ago. Why? Get tired of it?”

He leaned against another worktable and folded his arms. I wasn’t sure if he’d answer at first. “That’s part of it. Remember when Meg was here and Cinder came for her?”

I scratched at my beard. “You mean when he nearly took a bullet for her and we damn near lost half our brothers?”

He nodded. “That’s it. He was willing to die for her. I knew then I wanted what they had. Took him until he was in his sixties to find the right woman, but it seemed like it had been worth it. So I’m waiting. If a woman can put up with Cinder’s cranky ass, surely there’s someone out there for me.”

He wasn’t wrong about that. I’d been shocked to hear he had a woman. Of course, she’d thought he hadn’t wanted her, and she’d run. They’d both damn near died, but seemed happy now. Yeah, I could see why Forge wanted that. I did too. Except I’d already met the woman I wanted. Hayley.

“Love can be a pain in the ass,” Forge said. “I’d still rather experience it once than never at all. She might change her mind, Hawk. Besides, who the hell knows what a woman thinks? What if you’re sitting here, all mopey and shit because she doesn’t love you back, and really she’s at home thinking you don’t want her?”

I thought about it a moment, then dismissed it. No, Hayley wasn’t moping around her house like me. She didn’t miss me. Didn’t need me the way I needed her. Although, I was curious about the trouble Preacher had mentioned. I didn’t think it was anything dire or he’d have pressed the issue more.

“So your woman is in trouble again?” Forge asked. “Seemed that way, yet you’re still sitting here.”

“I can’t keep running off to save her,” I