word. “...unconventional.”
Now I’m curious. “You have to tell me more.” Unconventional could mean a lot of things, and I really want to hear this story.
“Let’s just say it started with a kidnapping but ended with me getting a happily ever after,” she explains, wincing.
My eyes feel like they are going to bulge out of my head.
“I know it sounds crazy, and if I’m being honest, it is crazy. But I fell in love with the man, and he’s so good to me. It all worked out in the end.”
I don’t know what to say, so I stay silent.
“And now I’ve scared you. I told you, it’s not a story for the fainthearted. But about Fast & Fury—it’s a completely legitimate business, so you have nothing to worry about,” she assures me, reaching out and touching my arm. “You can trust the men here. Temper is my fiancé, so you can most definitely trust him. He knows you are my family, and that means something here.”
“Right. Crow mentioned that you were with a man named Temper,” I say, trying to put the word kidnapping out of my head. “Uncle Neville mentioned your partner owned this place, but I didn’t know he was your fiancé. Congratulations. Also, what’s with the names around here?”
“Thank you.” She beams, and then laughs. “Bikers and their road names, or nicknames. You’ll get used to them. Temper and I, we’re quite an unlikely couple, but he is definitely the man I’m meant to be with. He used to come into the bar I worked at, one my family owns, every single year. He used to ask me out each time, and each time I’d say no.”
“Why?” I ask, smiling at her love story.
“Because I knew my life was going to change if I said yes,” she admits, ducking her head. “And I was never ready. And when I was, I said yes.”
“That’s a beautiful story,” I say. “Do I want to know why they call him Temper?”
“Probably not.” She grins.
I shake my head at her. “You’re crazy, but I like you.”
And I mean that. This whole thing is madness, yet somehow I’m enjoying meeting new people, and seeing and hearing about the lives they lead.
She laughs. “All the couples in the MC have their own story. Skylar and Saint have known each other since Sky was a kid and had a crush on him. Renny and Izzy got drunk and married in Vegas before they even knew they liked each other. Skylar said that she knows you.”
I nod. “Yeah, I love Skylar, but we haven’t spoken in a bit. I had no idea she was tied to the MC, either.”
What a small world.
“And that sounds like stories that I need to hear in detail,” I add.
Abbie’s and Skylar’s stories seem to have worked out, but I can’t imagine how dangerous being with bikers is. I mean, kidnapping?
The office phone rings, and Abbie quickly answers it, but I soon realize she has about as much idea as me on what’s going on.
“Sure, we can custom a bike for you. Could you come into the shop?” She pauses. “Not today, maybe tomorrow? Great, thanks.” She turns to me. “Hopefully Cam is in tomorrow. This is my first time even answering a phone in here, so I have no idea what’s going on.”
“I really hope so,” I reply. “Don’t worry, I have no idea what’s going on either, and I actually work here.”
We both laugh, just as Crow walks back in. I can imagine how we look. Abbie is sitting on the desk while I’m on the seat, both of us surrounded by food and drinks, laughing like we’re having a good old time. This isn’t the impression I wanted to give him, considering our interaction this morning, and even though Abbie is here, I know he’s going to be judging the hell out of me. I don’t know why it seems like he’s looking for a reason to dislike me, but it sure does feel that way.
“Working hard, I see,” he murmurs.
And there we have it.
“She’s on her lunch break,” Abbie speaks up, grinning, unaware of the tension between us. “I brought you some food, too. Oh, and someone is coming in tomorrow to design their bike.”
“Cameron will be back in tomorrow,” he says, sitting down on the desk next to her. “She’s finally back from vacation and can handle that. Does Temper know you’re here?”
“Nope,” she replies nonchalantly, leaning back on her palms. “He’s out on club business,