Dawn, a cigarette dangling from her mouth, unlatched the door. "I didn't expect to see you. We're still going to dinner next week, right?"
"Yeah. I was in the neighborhood. Is Olivia here?"
"No. She's at camp, remember? You paid for it."
"That's right. I talked to her last night on the phone. I hope she has a good time."
"She will. Ella and some of her other friends are there. It's good for her ‘cause it gets boring around here."
"I know. When she gets back, I'll take her to Arrow Lake for the day. And the carnival is coming in town next month. We'll all go to that. You got a beer?"
"Sure." She walked over to the refrigerator. "Mariah called me this morning," she said as she handed him a can.
He took a long pull. "So?"
She sat cross-legged on the other end of the couch. "So … she wants to get together with you and set things right. She feels awful about how things ended between the two of you."
He grunted. "Yeah, I bet she does."
"I think she's found religion or something." She giggled when Throttle gave her an incredulous look. "No, I'm serious. It's like she needs your forgiveness. Like she wants to make amends."
Throttle stared at the dark TV screen. Picking up the remote, he turned it on, flipping through the channels until he settled on a wrestling match.
"I think she's sincere. So, what do you say? It could be good for you. I think you've been hanging on to all that bitterness for a long time."
He took another gulp, his gaze fixed on the two men trying to pull each other down on the mats. "I'm not interested in seeing Mariah. I already told you that a few days ago, and I haven't changed my mind. Nothing needs to be set right. I've moved on. All that shit was a long time ago." He placed his foot on top of the coffee table. "If she wants forgiveness, she should see a priest. He'll absolve her. You got another beer?"
"Why are you so hard? I know she was a bitch to you at the end, but you were both young. She's changed. I always thought you two were good together."
"You getting me that beer?" His body tensed and he rubbed his thigh with his fist.
"Don't go getting pissed at me. I'm just trying to help," she said as she rose to bring him another can.
"I don't remember asking you for any fuckin' help. Leave this alone." His voice had a steely edge.
"Okay, but you need a permanent woman in your life. Damnit, Throttle, you're too old to still be living your lifestyle. Aren't you tired of mindless sex with women who spread on command? Don't you want a woman who loves only you and not all your club members? You're going to want someone when you get old."
"Stay the fuck out of my life. And since you're so great at giving advice, what about you? Why don't you find a nice man to take care of you? You only seem to fuck losers, and bringing in different men in front of Olivia pisses me off. It makes her think it's okay to be a slut." He finished his beer then crushed the can in his hand.
Dawn narrowed her eyes. "Don't you talk to me that way. I'm a damn good mother, and I don't bring a bunch of men over here. Pedro and I were together for over six months and I didn't let him move in. You can be a real sonofabitch. You asshole!" She sniffled.
He stood up and threw the crushed can in the bin. "I didn't come over for this shit. I'm outta here." He marched out the door and went to his Harley, then stopped and looked back at the house. Why the hell did he have to go and say all that shit to Dawn? She didn't deserve it; he thought she was an awesome mother and sister. I gotta fuck the pink-haired bitch outta my system.
He rubbed his chin, then trudged up the walk to the house. Looking through the screen door, he saw Dawn on the couch, blowing her nose. He opened the door slowly, his gaze catching hers when she looked up. "Forget the shit I said. I'm just having a real shitty day."
She smiled. "Thanks for coming back and telling me that. I shouldn't have prodded."
"Yeah, so … We good here?"
"Yes." She bobbed her head up and down as she wiped the corner of her eyes. "We're just great." She started to get up from the couch, but he stopped her with a wave of his hand. He didn't go in for the hugging and sobbing shit women loved to do. "You still have to go?"
"Yeah. I got stuff to do. Just wanted to come by and see how you and Olivia were doing. I'll call you about dinner next week. If you need something, let me know." Then he walked down the porch stairs and climbed on his Harley.
Instead of going straight, he made a U-turn and went back the way he came, hoping Kimber would be outside watering her flowers. When she'd done that before, it led to the best fucking he'd ever had with a woman. She wasn't outside when he passed her house; she was inside and he wished he were with her, snuggling her in his arms. He continued on his way to the club. He passed by Ruthie's Diner and spotted Big Tits through the window, thinking maybe he should stop in and ask her to Arrow Lake. He knew she'd jump at the chance, but he drove by knowing that he didn't want Big Tits or any other woman near his dick, except for Kimber.
Fuck. She's taken hold of my cock.
She's in my blood.
Aw, hell.
Chapter Twelve
He walked straight to the bar and slid on the barstool. Puck placed a shot of whiskey and a bottle of Coors in front of him. The club was busier than usual for a weeknight. Most of the brothers were there, and a large number of hoodrats cozied up to them. Against the back wall, he saw a long table set up with sandwiches, corn on the cob, potato salad, and ribs. Normally, food was set up when there was a big party on the weekend, a special occasion like one of the brother's birthday or a bachelor party, or a family gathering. Maybe something was up that he forgot about. The smoky smell of barbecue made his stomach growl, and he pushed off his seat and moseyed over to the food. As he scooped a large helping of potato salad on his plate, Rock clapped him on the shoulder. "How's it goin'?"
"Good. Why all the food and brothers?"
"It's Rags's birthday."
"It is? Did we talk about this at church or something?"
"Yeah. It was a few days ago, when all you wanted to do was beat the shit outta anyone who looked at you." He chuckled.
"I didn't hear shit about it. I worked with him today, and he never mentioned it."
"He's only here for the pussy like most of the guys. He chose Brandi to do his lap dance. I was happy ‘bout that one. She's fuckin' hot." Rock placed three sandwiches and a pile of ribs on his plate.
"She's got big tits, that's for sure."
"And they're fuckin' real. I'd love to bury my face between them. Damn."
"Are you ready to have an old lady?"
Rock looked at him in horror. "Watch your fuckin' mouth," he growled.
Throttle laughed. "Didn't think so."
"There're plenty of chicks with big racks around here. There's no way I'll ever take an old lady. Fuck all these brothers settling down with one pussy. Not for me. I know you're on the same page." He took a bite out of his roast beef and cheddar sandwich.
"You're damn right. There's no way in hell I'm aiming to have any woman wear my patch."
As was customary, whenever a brother had a birthday, the club threw a party and the recipient could pick any of the strippers from Dream House to give him a lap dance. The dancers at the Insurgents' strip club were not treated the same way as the club girls or the hoodrats; they danced and nothing else. The Insurgents were strict about it, didn't want the women to be public wells for the raunchy and wild parties at the clubhouse. Mixing business with pleasure never worked out. When big weekend parties were thrown, sometimes the dancers would be asked to entertain the local and out-of-state brothers. They'd perform and then be escorted out of the club right after. Every once in a while, a brother fell for a dancer, like Jax did for Cherri, and she'd become his old lady, but it wasn't common.
"Did you ever fuck the big-titted waitress at Ruthie's? Rags said you had a date with her a while back."
"Nah. I was planning to, but something came up." Like Kimber.
"You gonna try again?"
He shrugged. "Not too sure. You want some of her? She's hot for biker cock. I can give you her number."
"Rags said he'd been sniffing around her for some time, but she didn't pay any attention to him. I don't like working for a woman. If she's not easy, I move to the next."