Seems like there would be a little more internal politics than that.”
“Some things I can’t really talk about, babe.”
I hesitate, a forkful of food halfway to my mouth. “Okay. So, how does it feel to be in that position? Can you tell me that?”
He shrugs. “It’s new. Still breakin’ it in. Coming to terms with the fact I’ve got to understand that my choices and actions will not always be painless or popular. I’ve always been a big-picture kind of guy, always lookin’ to the end-game.”
“That’s a good quality for a leader to have, I imagine. Right?”
“Guess so. Club’s goin’ through an adjustment period. Change, whether it’s for the good or not is never easy. Some people go their whole lives avoiding it.”
“True. Change can be scary.” I raise my hand. “I can testify to that.”
He chuckles. “Bet you can.” He nods to my plate. “How’s your food?”
“Delicious. Thank you.”
“So, work… You settlin’ in? Guys givin’ you any problems?”
“No, they’ve been fine. Why?”
He shrugs. “There’s a beautiful woman in the shop. That’s a major distraction for them, I get that; don’t mean I’m gonna stand for ‘em to be goofin’ off, hangin’ out in your office all day.”
My fork slows, and I search his eyes. “I don’t want to be a problem for you.”
“No problem, Hot Rod. Just need you to tell me they start hangin’ in your office. I’ll set ‘em straight. Okay?”
“Okay. I can do that.” I study him for a moment. “Can I ask you something?”
“Sure. What do you want to know?”
“You ever been in a serious relationship?”
He huffs out a laugh. “Define serious.”
“You know what I mean. Someone special, someone who meant something to you.”
“The one that got away, you mean?”
I shrug. “Maybe. Did one get away?”
He hesitates, draining his cup and munching on the ice. He looks off toward the traffic out on the highway, and I think he’s not going to answer. But then he starts to talk. “Few years back… there was someone. Thought we had something. But things went to shit real fast. Club blamed her for something that wasn’t her fault. She fled. She thought I’d been killed.” He shakes his head. “It’s a long story, but bottom line, she’s with another guy in another state now. They’ve got a kid. She’s happy. I’m happy for her.”
“Did you love her?”
He’s quiet again, and I think I’ve overstepped.
“Thought I did.” He shrugs. “Maybe… maybe if things hadn’t gone down the way they did, who knows, maybe we’d still be together. And maybe her baby would be mine, not some other man’s child. But that’s all water under the bridge. Past is the past. Can’t go back, can’t change it. Best to just let it go and move on. I’ve had to learn that.”
“That’s a big thing to learn. Most men I’ve found don’t let things go.”
“You sayin’ we men aren’t an evolved species?” He grins when he asks and digs a piece of ice out of his cup and throws it at me.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Ashlynn—
The week flies by, and before I know it, it’s Saturday. I’m sitting on the front porch, sipping on a lemonade and enjoying the day when the rumble of a couple of motorcycles carries to me. I look up and spot two bikes coming down the highway. They slow to make the turn into my driveway. I stand and take the steps to meet them in the yard.
Rusty’s on one bike, and Reno’s on the other with a girl on the back.
They climb off and remove their helmets. The girl is pretty with dark hair like mine in a braid down her back. She’s got on a pair of high black boots that I’d kill for over her jeans. They’ve got buckles going all the way up on the side.
Reno throws his arm around her shoulders, and they follow Rusty, who cups my cheek and kisses me.
“How’s my girl?” he asks.
“Good. What’s going on?”
“You up for a ride?”
My face lights at his suggestion and the thrill moves over me, filling me with excitement. “Seriously?”
“Yeah. Get your shoes on, woman. Let’s go.”
“Okay.”
“Oh, by the way, this is Reno’s ol’ lady, Kara.”
“Kara. Nice to meet you. I’m Ashlynn.” We shake hands. “Come on inside, everyone. Would you like something to drink?”
They follow me inside and wait while I throw on a pair of shoes and braid my hair like Kara’s. I walk into the living room, wrapping an elastic band around the end, my sunglasses hanging from my mouth.
“You ready, babe?”