Amy (Aces MC Series Book 3.5) (8 page)

As I entered the clubhouse, I could feel the difference to
the normal laid back vibe to the place. Connor was sitting at the bar and
looked up when he saw me enter the room. He opened his arms encouraging me to
come over, and I went willingly as I wanted to be held and comforted. It was at
this moment in time when I appreciated my family being so protective, and
having the club to look out for all of us. I walked over to Connor and allowed
him to scope me up into his arms.
"How you doing?" he asked concerned about my welfare.
"I'm fine, more importantly how's Harlow doing?"
"You've heard?"
"Yeah, Maggie messaged me."
"She has a broken arm and stab wounds to her thighs which James and Doc
have taken care of but it's the emotional scars that will take longer to
heal." Connor moved his thumb along my cheek scooping up some of the tears
that had fallen and I knew that his words were also directed at me and the
healing process I had to go through in order to get over the loss of my baby.

"Who's James?" I asked, confused that the club would
allow someone new to deal with Harlow.
"I'm James," a husky voice said from behind me.
I swivelled around on the stool to see a tall preppy looking man and although a
little dishevelled with his top buttons of his shirt undone and his sleeves
rolled to his elbows, he still looked distinguished but also familiar. Had I
met James before? Working at the cafe I must have seen hundreds of people over
the years but I'm sure we'd met.
"You'll catch flies Amy," Connor whispered in my ear as he stood from
his stool sniggering at his own comment. "I'll just go and tell Diesel
you're here." He stated and patted James on the shoulder as he passed him.
I was still none the wiser as to who he was and felt a little embarrassed that
I'd been staring at him.
"And I'm Amy, pleased to meet you." I said holding out my hand.
"I know who you are sweet, don't worry about that." I drew my brows
together as I tried to rack my brains at who he was. He obviously knew me but I
couldn't place where we'd met. James ignored my hand and placed both of his on
his chest over his heart, "I'm hurt that you don't remember me." He
said sarcastically mimicking that I'd injured his heart in some way. I watched
his display carefully still confused but he was starting to gently pull me from
my darkened mood. "We met in a strip club about five or so years ago.
You'd had a rubbish day at work and promised to tell me the long story one day."
The penny finally dropped and I knew exactly who he was. "What are you
doing here?" I asked intrigued, I wanted to ask him a million of other
questions but I was trying to play it cool and had just remembered that I
looked a complete mess.
"My father has worked for the club for years, you may know him as
Doc?" I nodded my head and remembered the conversation I'd had with James
in the club that time. James had been waiting for his dad to finish a business
meeting, and come to think of it now it was probably with the club. "So
how come you never called?"
I smirked knowing how my reply was going to sound, "Would you believe me
if I said I lost your number?"
"I have no reason to think otherwise so yes."
"Good because it's the truth."
"So if I were to give you my number again would you call?" James
asked looking at me intently.
I raised my hands, "Things are a little up in the air at the moment."
"Exactly! This only highlights the fact that life's too short."
His response took me by surprise, "You're not backwards in coming forwards
are you?"

I heard the door open behind me and glanced over my shoulder
to see a very tired looking Ethan walking towards me. I jumped from the stool
and ran into his arms. "Jimmy!" I whimpered and the feeling of being
in Ethan's arms opened the floodgates and I began to cry.
Jimmy and I had become close over recent weeks as we'd spent a lot of time
together looking after Harlow. He could be annoying at times, couldn't we all but
he was like a loyal puppy dog and just wanted a place to belong. I'm pleased
that he found it here with the club as he'd had a horrible upbringing, it was
just a shame that he hadn't been patched in time.
My eyes eventually began to sting, I pulled away from Ethan's embrace and took
a tissue from my pocket to wipe my eyes. I tried to compose myself and was
conscious that I'd made a spectacle of myself in the middle of the clubhouse
but I was only human. I walked back towards the bar and positioned myself on
the stool besides James all too aware of the way he was looking at me.

“How’s Harlow doing?” I asked hiccupping from my latest melt
down, with tears still trickling slowly down my face that I was trying to dab
with my tissue.
“It’s gonna take her six to eight weeks to heal physically but who knows how
long emotionally after what she’s been through.” Diesel said frustrated.
We sat at the bar for a while in silence, contemplating today's events as Ethan
wrapped his arm around my shoulders and pulled me tightly against his chest
allowing me to snuggle into his side. We both needed this, and I allowed him to
take whatever comfort he needed from me.

Connor entered the room and walked up to the bar to join us,
“That’s one brave girl you have there Diesel.” He nodded agreeing with Connor's
comment and seemed almost proud of the fact. It was great to see him finally
happy after the shit life he'd been dealt with Amber and then the loss of Shaun
four years ago. That fact alone was slowly helping me to come to terms with my
own turmoil. I was grieving a child that I hadn't met but poor Ethan had to
live every day knowing that he would never see Shaun again. Yes, it was in
completely different circumstances but he knew what it was to lose a child and
in turn, he was the best person to help me come to terms with my own grief.

“Is she up for visitors?” I asked sliding from my stool. I
really wanted to see her if only for a little while to let her know that I was
thinking of her and wishing her well.
“She’s just fallen asleep, probably best to leave her.” Connor said pouring
himself a drink from the bottle of jack left on the table.
I nodded my head understanding, “I’m gonna head home then and call back in the
morning as I’m not feeling very sociable. I got a taxi here because my car's
still playing up. Can someone give me a lift home?” I asked aloud looking at
the guys sitting at the bar.
“Where are you going?” James asked looking directly at me.
I could feel my cheeks flush under his scrutiny. “It’s okay I don’t want to put
you out James.”
“It’s fine, where do you need to go?” James stood from his stool and removed
his keys from his trouser pocket. He maintained eye contact and stepped closer
and I could feel the intensity of his stare. His tone surprised me but I felt
my stomach twist with excitement at the way he spoke to me.
“If it's not too much trouble then I’d appreciate a lift, I live in Epping.” I
managed to say with as much confidence as I could muster.
James looked at Mitchell who had just joined us, “Is that okay?” he asked
waiting casually for a response as he leaned on the bar.
“I know Diesel feels like he owes you something, for helping Harlow but I don’t
owe you shit. You do anything to Ames that she doesn’t want you to and you’ll
answer to me. Are we clear?” Mitchell asked standing with his hands in his
pocket looking menacing. I glared at Mitchell but he ignored me and continued
to maintain eye contact with James. What surprised me more was that James
didn't back down or become a shrinking violet under Mitchell's intensity.
“Crystal!” James finally answered with a simple nod of his head.

I rolled my eyes at the way Mitchell was behaving in front
of everyone and the fact that he was talking about me as if I wasn't even in
the room. I turned on my heels and walked through the clubhouse, James rested
his hand on my lower back, which sent a shiver up my spine. His close proximity
sent a rush of excitement through my body and I couldn't wait to get outside in
the cold night air as it would hopefully cool me down.

As I stepped from the clubhouse, my head spun and my eyes
rolled in the back of my head. I stepped back trying to hold on to something
when I felt a pair of large arms wrap themselves around my waist and hold me
firmly.
"Amy, look at me babe."
I slowly focussed on James and felt embarrassed as to what had just happened.
Once my composure was back, I tried to wriggle free from his embrace but he
held firm as I squirmed in his arms. "I'm okay James, honest. I just
haven't had anything to eat recently."
"What do you mean recently, dinner, lunch or breakfast?"
"All of the above."
"Amy, we're nearing midnight babe. No wonder you're feeling faint you're
on empty." James opened the door to his Range Rover and helped me up into
the front before shutting the door behind me. I glanced around the vehicle
noticing how clean and tidy everything was which made me smirk. I was a
generally tidy person and everything had its place, I was also a planner and
would write lists which also came with an abundance of piss taking from the
group.
"What's funny?" James asked as he sat beside me.
"I was just admiring how clean and tidy it is in here. You're a man after
my own heart."
"Ain't that the truth," James winked and started the ignition. His
gesture made me smile and I was seeing glimpses of another side to James.
"They say that a tidy desk is a tidy mind so I'm assuming that can also
mean an SUV."
"Who are they?" I asked sarcastically.
"People like us, the clean freaks." James pulled out from the yard
and headed in the direction of Crown Hill that would take us to Epping.
"So where in Epping do you live?"
"It's the new estate at the top of the high street, do you know it?"
"No but I'm sure you can direct me."
"I can indeed." His smile made me excited and I had a feeling we were
now talking about something completely different.
"Oh I love this song." James turned the music up slightly on the
radio station that was currently playing. "Do you have to, do you have to
let it linger." He glanced in my direction and smiled, "You've got to
love the Cranberries."
"You surprise me."
"Surprise you how?"
"I'm starting to think that there are many different sides to you
James."
"Ain't that the truth!" He didn't elaborate any further, he just
continued to tap away on the steering wheel as he swayed his head in time to
the music.
"You need to take the next left." I said giving James plenty of time
in order to turn into my street but he drove straight past. "James I live
up that turning there," I stated pointing over my shoulder.
"Okay but there's somewhere I need to take you first."
"Should I be worried?"
"Worried?" he drew his brows and glanced in my direction.
"It's midnight and you're practically a stranger. Don't you remember that Mitchell
told you to look after me?"
James smiled, "No Duke told me to not do anything that you didn't want me
to. They are two completely different things."
Okay, well James certainly had banter and I could do with some cheering up this
evening. "Well how can I agree to something when I don't know what it is
you're planning?"
"That's true." He indicated and pulled into a McDonalds drive
through. "I want you to have some food before I take you home."
"Do I get a say in this?"
"No!"
"Oh domineering James." I stated raising my brows.
"I can be in the right circumstances but I'll tell you what, I'll allow
you to select your own food this time." I giggled like a fucking school
girl at his comment and tried to stop myself but he had the ability to make me
laugh from the simplest of conversations.
"You're too kind."
He pulled up at the first window, a young boy of around seventeen stuck his
head out, "Welcome to McDonalds can I take your order please."
"You certainly can, could I have a large coffee and..." James turned
his head in my direction.
"Can I have a tea?" James raised his brows expectantly, "And a
hamburger?"
James turned towards the young boy, "Did you get that?" he asked and
I could hear the angst in his voice.
"Yes sir. That will be £3.47." James passed him a note from his
wallet and waited for his change. "Please drive around to the next window."
The young boy stated as he handed James his change.
James closed the window slightly and drove around the building to the next
window in silence.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah, why?"
"You've gone quiet."
"I'm fine babe." James placed his hand on mine and gave it a quick
squeeze before removing it just as quickly so that he could take our order from
a young woman at the window.
"Give it here." I took the bag and the drinks from James and rested
them on my lap as James drove carefully around the car park looking for a
suitable place to park. There were two spaces together under a low hanging tree
and James selected to park there as it was out of the way of a group of boy
racers in their souped up cars further in the car park.
"Thank you."
"For what?"
I held up my drink and burger, "My breakfast, lunch and dinner."
"I'm not going to give you a lecture but you must eat regularly. That's
all I'm saying on the matter, you're a big girl and will make your own
decisions."
"Ain't that the truth!" I said throwing his earlier words back at him
and he smirked understanding my gesture.
"So how come you were called to the clubhouse? I'm assuming it was to help
your dad out with Harlow." I asked unwrapping my burger.
James nodded as he removed the lid from his coffee and stirred it with the
wooden spoon. "He needed an x-ray machine to reset Harlow's arm before I
put it in a cast."
"Ethan said she'll need to wear it for 6-8 weeks, is that right?"
James nodded, "Yeah she was in a pretty bad way but what I hear from the
group is that she's a tough cookie."
"She is, I suppose any woman involved in the club needs to be."
"So how involved are you in the club?"
"Not so much these days. I mean I work for them as I'm the manager of the
cafe on the high street which they own but that's as far as it goes."
"And are you a tough cookie?"
There was a long silence while I contemplated my answer. "Yeah I suppose I
am, again I've had to be but that's another long story."
"I'm all ears!"
I raised my brows, "We'd be here until morning."
"I get it, well just remember that I'm a good listener should you wish to
tell me your long stories."
I sniggered, "I'll keep that in mind."