“Sarah called and said she won’t be able to make it to work at all today because her son’s doctor appointment is taking longer than she expected. Figuring you wouldn’t want the full shift, I offered to come in until seven.”
He walks up behind Aspen, wraps his arms around her and squeezes. “Hey, gorgeous. What are you doing here?”
She places her hands on his arms and smiles. “Hey, pretty boy,” she says teasingly. “I couldn’t reach you earlier so I had Kayla drop me off here.”
Looking up from behind Aspen, Cale gives me a concerned look. “Yeah, so your dad stopped by this morning, but judging from the look of this place he’s already been here too,” he says looking down at the ground.
“I don’t even want to hear it. Thanks for the fucking warning.”
Cale releases Aspen and steps behind the bar. “I didn’t say shit. He must’ve figured it out on his own. It’s pretty simple to find your ass.”
A few guys walk in and take a seat next to Aspen at the bar. I notice the preppy, clean cut one staring at her with a creepy ass smile and I have the urge to shove my fist down his throat.
He better not try to pick her up. She doesn’t need a guy like that. She needs one that is going to fuck her good and please her so good that it hurts. He looks like too much of a pussy to handle her.
“Hey,” he says to Aspen. “Alex.”
Cale starts talking to me, but my attention stays focused on Alex to be sure he doesn’t sign his fucking death wish.
“Aspen.” She shakes his hand and then looks away uncomfortable.
Cale nudges me as he goes to approach the guys. “Get your ass out of here. I got it from here. Hemy will be coming in around four so it’s all good.”
“Huh,” I mumble. I pull my eyes away from Aspen and look up at Cale.
“I got it, man. Aspen can hang out here while I work so she doesn’t have to be at the house by herself. I’m sure you have shit to do.”
Looking back toward Aspen, I notice the creepy guy has somehow gotten closer. Cale is taking their drink order and he doesn’t even notice. Seriously?
“No, man. Aspen is coming with me. I don’t have shit to do.”
Aspen looks up and watches as I clock out.
“Come on. We’re leaving.”
She looks at me for a second as if she didn’t hear me right.
Grabbing my helmet, I walk around to the other side of the bar and reach for her hand, pulling her up to her feet. “Let’s go.”
Cale and the creepy dude give me a weird look, but I could care less. I’m not leaving her here with that fucking preppy douche.
Aspen looks like she’s about to say something until I look her in the eyes and clench my jaw. Instead, she turns beside her to look at Cale. “I’ll see you when you get home.”
He gives me a warning look before turning to Aspen. “Don’t let this dick get to you. If he does, let me know.” He turns back to me and scowls. “And don’t worry, asshole. I’ll clean up your mess.”
Waving him off, I walk her out of the bar. When we get to my bike, I toss her my helmet while straddling my bike. “Get on.”
SITTING ON THE BACK OF Slade’s motorcycle with my arms wrapped around his waist is the last thing I thought I’d be doing right now. Just earlier I wanted to rip his hair out and choke him, but I have a feeling he might like that type of thing. I might even like doing it to him. That’s the sad part.
Since leaving the club, we’ve been riding for the last hour in dead silence. I have a feeling he needs this at the moment and hell, I do too. It’s relaxing having the cool breeze hit against your skin as you ride with no worries; not knowing where you’re going or where you’ll end up at. The only problem is - it feels like it’s about to rain. I can smell it and almost taste it.
Yup, here it comes. Perfect timing.
Holding on tighter, I bring my body closer to his as the rain suddenly hits, pouring off the helmet and soaking my shirt. It’s cool. Cooler than I expected, giving me instant chills. My nipples harden as the fabric of my now wet shirt rubs against them. Maybe it wasn’t the best idea to go with lace today.
Slade tilts his head up, takes a deep breath and slowly releases it. I can feel his body tensing beneath my arms and I feel myself unintentionally squeeze tighter as he makes a quick right. He rides down a path hidden beneath the trees until finally making a stop in the middle of nowhere.
Grabbing for my hand, he helps me off the bike before he quickly hops off and yanks his gray T-shirt over his head and holds it above me. He slowly backs me up until we’re standing below a huge tree, hidden from the rain.