"They're pretty good guys. We have an issue on how they treat women, but we can count on them if need be," Goldie added.
"That's what's important," Banger said, and the group nodded in agreement.
Several women passed by, checking them out as they headed to the races. Most of them were scantily dressed or had elaborate body paint on their exposed breasts. Paco laughed and pointed at a curvy woman who kept looking over her shoulder at him. "Besides the bikes, that's the next best thing about rallies. I'd love to ride that sweet bitch."
"Go for it, dude," Throttle said.
"You guys down for some fun?" Paco asked.
The Insurgents shook their heads. "We got old ladies," Banger said.
"Kimber would crush my balls, and I'm not even fuckin' kidding." Throttle looked at Banger and Hawk. "You know she would."
Hawk laughed. "And with one of her favorite wrenches. Cara would borrow it for me." The guys laughed.
"I'm not hitched, so I'm gonna have a helluva good time. I'm gonna see if that hottie likes biker cock as much as I think she might. You coming, Goldie?" Paco started to walk away.
"I'll go with you to watch the races, but I'm waiting for Hailey. She's coming with a few of her friends." Goldie tossed his beer can in a recycle bin.
"I might want to meet her friends," Paco said.
"You would." Goldie chuckled as he walked toward the racing area with Paco. Banger, Steel, Hawk, and Throttle followed behind.
As they watched the races, arms wrapped around Goldie's waist and the scent of the ocean swirled around him. Hailey. The familiar aroma was all he smelled amid the oil and exhaust fumes from the bikes. He craned his neck and saw her smiling face.
"I'm here," she said.
He turned around and pressed her close. "I can see that, babe." Dipping his head down, he kissed her passionately, loving the small noises she made. "I'm glad you were able to come today since it's Saturday."
"I put Ellie in charge of the shop. I wanted to support your event. The charity you're raising money for is a great one. I also wanted to see you in a tight muscle shirt, showing off your tats and biceps. You know I'm crazy for your biceps, right?" She trailed her tongue around one of them.
"I wanted to share the rally with you. And what you're doing right now is gonna get you dragged to my tent."
"That sounds like it could be fun. I missed you these past two days … and nights."
"Me too. I had to stay here, but maybe we can go to your place tonight."
"The tent isn't big enough for two?"
"You don't want to stay here. It gets real raunchy at night. Anyway, I don't want anyone looking and coming on to you. There'd be a fight for sure."
"Okay, but at some point before dark, I want to check out your tent." Hailey's lips curled into a wicked smile as she patted his behind.
"You should enter the tattoo contest. I bet you'd win," he whispered in her ear.
"I love your confidence in your work."
"I wasn't thinking of the tat, only your sweet ass. You'd win hands down."
She giggled. "A couple of my friends and I were thinking about entering the wet T-shirt contest. The prize money is big. Do you think I have a chance at winning?" She rubbed her breasts against his chest.
Goldie stiffened. "There's no way in hell I'm going to let you parade your tits in front of a bunch of men." Anger pricked his skin as he glared at her. He jerked his head back when she tried to kiss him.
"Don't be pissed. I was only joking. You should know that I wouldn't be comfortable doing something like that. My friends and I were joking about it when we saw the signs."
"I should've known better. Fuck, woman, you get me all mixed up."
"In a good way?" She looked up at him through her lashes and he thought he was going to lose it.
He kissed her forehead. "Yeah, in a good way. Having you in my life makes me happy, makes me feel shit I never felt before."
"That goes for me too," she whispered against his throat.
A series of cheers and boos swirled around them and Goldie laughed. "I missed the fuckin' race." Gazing into her eyes, he saw tenderness, desire, and love. Brushing his lips against hers, he crushed her tighter to him.
"I'm sorry I distracted you."
"It doesn't matter. I'd rather look at you."
"Wasn't that a damn good race?" Diablo said as he and Rock approached.
"Didn't see it. I was looking at my woman," Goldie said.
Rock and Diablo nodded. "I get that," Diablo remarked.
"Who won, anyway?" Goldie asked.
"Some dude who had a wicked Sportster. It looked like the Indian Scout was gonna take it, but right at the end, the Sportster blasted through. It fuckin' ruled," Rock said.
Hawk, Banger, Steel, Paco, Axe, Chas, and Throttle joined Rock, Goldie, and Diablo as they chatted about the race. Goldie saw several of the Insurgents dart their eyes back and forth at Hailey. Putting his arm around her, he broke into one of the conversations. "This is Hailey. She's my woman," he said.
The Insurgents nodded at her, but Wheelie, who'd just joined the group, said, "You got yourself a woman? Damn, what's happening to all of you? It seems like most of my brothers are hitched and now the Night Rebels?"
Paco laughed. "I'm still on the market. And since you are too, I gotta tell you. I hooked up with this chick, and she and her friend really like to party."
"Count me in," Wheelie replied as he went over to Paco.
"I don't know 'bout anyone else, but I'm craving a rack of ribs," Banger said.
For the rest of the afternoon, Goldie hung out with Hailey, showing her all the bikes, introducing her to his friends, and buying her tons of biker purses, scarves, sunglasses, and T-shirts. He even bought her a pair of short Daisy dukes for her to wear just for him. The rally was the best one he'd ever attended; it even beat out Sturgis. And he knew why-Hailey. She just made everything in his life seem better. It was like they were meant for each other, but they had to grow up and become the people they were before they could come together. In the past few months, she'd become his everything, and he was fine with it.
Love had never entered the equation of his life, but after spending time with and getting to know Hailey, he guessed the strong feelings were love. They had a shared past, and when they reminisced, it made him feel like he was Garth again. They laughed at silly stuff, and he loved that they didn't have to fill the gaps with words all the time. What blew him away was the way she sensed his moods. Like when he was pissed at everything, she'd sit and listen to his rants without offering advice or any opinion. Or when sadness about his grandma overwhelmed him, she'd place his head in her lap and run her fingers through his hair over and over. Hailey knew him; she was the only woman who did. And he loved getting to know the adult Hailey.
Long after the sun had dipped behind the San Juan Mountains and the heat of the day had melted into the cool night air, Goldie wrapped his arms around Hailey. The glow from the flames sparking in the fire pit danced across her face, and he never thought she looked more beautiful.
Snuggled in the crook of his arm, she rested her head against his shoulder. "This was a perfect day," she said softly. Lacing her fingers with his, she stared into the fire. "I loved getting to see you among your friends, your brothers, and in such a relaxed situation. It was a nice glimpse into your world."
"Not like the club party?" he teased.
She giggled. "That was an eye-opener, but today provided the balance to that craziness. And I loved meeting Breanna, Raven, and Fallon. I was beginning to wonder if there were any normal women associated with this club. I'm surprised I didn't meet them before."
"I meant to have you meet them, but you're so busy at the shop and with your aunt, and with me-" He tilted her chin up and kissed her quickly. "-that there never seemed to be any time."
"I know. I've been so greedy and wanted to spend any spare moment I had with you, especially since I've been working so much at the flower shop."
"That's okay. I like it when you're greedy, especially with my cock."
"Is your mind always on sex and your dick?" She chortled.
"Only with you. I'm like a goddamn addict and you're my sweet, sexy fix." His mouth swallowed her next words. When he released her lips, he ran his finger over her face. "Do you want to head back?"
"I want to be with you. Are you sure you don't want to stay in the tent? I think it could be romantic."
Goldie guffawed. "With a bunch of guys belching and farting all night? If you want romance in a tent, we'll go camping at the national park in September. Come on." He stood and held out his hand to help her up.
Under the full moon, Goldie rode back to Alina, loving the way Hailey circled her arms around him and rested her head against his back. If he had it his way, he'd keep riding into the darkness under the carpet of sparkling stars until they were too tired. He'd love nothing better than to head to California with Hailey tucked behind him. Riding up the coastline with the Pacific Ocean as a perpetual backdrop was something he'd always wanted to do, and having Hailey with him would be the dream vacation.