Bad Boys of Romance - a Biker Anthology (48 page)

Chapter 3

Chauna

As soon as his taillight is in the distance, I scream. 
What the hell is this?  Why now?  But, ohmygosh, those lips!  Stop, Chauna!  Get it together!
  After a few deep breaths and a shot of Fireball, I take a shower and go to bed.  At least that’s what I attempt to do, but when I close my eyes, all I see are Walker’s— dark, deep, and calling for my heart.  Deep down, I know he’s still the boy I knew growing up, but he’s on the other side.  I just don’t think I can go there.  I swore off motorcycles when my daddy went to Heaven.

As the morning light begins to peak through my curtains, I pull the covers over my head.
I’ve got to get a set of blackout curtains.
  After another hour of sleep, I roll out of bed and turn on the coffee pot.  Around lunch, I finally get motivated and make my way outside to do a little yard work before getting ready for work tonight.  It’s Saturday, and Schaeffer’s Story, a local band that’s starting to make a name for themselves, is playing tonight.  It’s a guaranteed packed house when those girls show up to play.  They remind me of Pistol Annies.  They are everything little girls growing up in a small town want to be—beautiful bombshells that aren’t afraid to raise a little hell every now and then.  As I grab a bite to eat out of the refrigerator before getting ready, my phone begins to ring. 
Paige.

“Hey, girl, what’s up?”  I ask.

“Nothin’, just wanted to check on ya after last night,” she says.

“Oh, I’m fine…other than Walker paying me a visit at my house.”

“You’re joking, right?”

“Nope.
  Serious as a heart attack,” I respond.

“Anything you want to tell me?” she asks, trying her best to find out what happened.

“Not really. He backed me against the side of my house and kissed the hell outta me right before I pushed him off and told him to get over himself.”  She laughs on the other end.  “What’s so funny?”

“You totally want him.  Just admit it.” 
Silence.  I don’t say a word.  “Exactly what I thought.  I’ll see ya afterwhile.  After checking their Facebook page, it looks like tonight’s gonna be crazy.”

“I like crazy, especially if they tip well.”  We both laugh and hang up.

I hurry to get ready.  As I shower, I can’t help but think about Walker.  Even with the roughness that has grown on him, I can still see
my
Walker.  The question is, would he ditch his MC crew for me?  Highly unlikely, and that’s the only way we will ever be together.

I continue to think about him and his lips on mine as I pull a pair of cut-off jean shorts and a Boondocks
racerback tank that’s been cut to show off my perfectly toned stomach.  I curl my hair and apply my makeup, and then I take a deep breath and think about why I’m taking the extra time to look good tonight.  Is it just for tips, or is it for Walker?

When I arrive at Boondocks, Paige is already here, as well was Schaffer’s Story. Pam, the lead singer, and her sister, Kristina, who is their manager and a former classmate of mine, meet me at the door.  “Damn,
Chauna. I know we bring in the crowd, but damn, you don’t have to put the rest of us to shame,” Pam says.

“Huh?”  I say, confused.

“It’s Walker!” I hear Paige yell their way, and the expression on their faces looks like they’re in complete shock.

“I thought he rode away into the sunset a long time ago.  When did he get back?”  Kristina asks.

“Yesterday, and he’s trying to find a way to make Chauna not hate him.”

I look at Paige like I could kill her and just shake my head before I make my way downstairs to grab a few cases of beer.  As I start toward the stairs, Paige is standing before me.

“What?” I ask with a little attitude.

“Seriously, you can’t tell me that you aren’t dying to give it a shot.  Look at you!  I mean, don’t get me wrong. You always look good when we’re working, but damn, you’d think you just signed up for
America’s Next Top Model
.  He’s gonna lose his shit when he sees you.”

“Good,” is all I
say.

“Oh my God.
  I can’t wait for tonight.  It’s gonna be free entertainment at its best,” she says, clapping with excitement before she grabs a case, and we go upstairs.

As nightfall approaches, people begin to pour inside. Everyone from locals to folks that live a few counties over has come for the entertainment. After the house band gets the crowd going, Schaffer’s Story takes the stage.
“How y’all doin’ tonight?” Pam asks the crowd.  They hoot and holler as the band begins to play.  The sound of country music with a little edge begins to fill Boondocks.  Paige and I let loose and enjoy our night, bring the people toward the bar, and the tips begin to flood in.

I’ve kept my mind off Walker all night, but I do glance around the room to find him. 
He’s not here.
I feel let down, but when Pam calls for me to join them onstage, I forget about him and make my way once Chelly takes my place behind the bar.

“What are we
singin’ tonight, ladies?” I ask.

Pam smiles.
“Little Red Wagon.”

“Damn right,” I reply, and she hands me the microphone as the drums kick in, followed by the rest of the band.  I smile as I begin to sing the lyrics, “You can’t ride in this little red wagon, front seats broke and the axle’s
draggin’.” I work the stage and meet the eyes of a cute little blonde that isn’t from here.  I give him a wink, and he smiles. 
Yup, it’s about to get interesting.
  I continue to sing, dance, and work the stage like I was born to do it, just like my daddy. When the song ends, I take a bow and make my way back to the bar.

Walker

Damn.
That was a performance, and she had no idea I saw it.  The way her long, tanned legs moved across the stage like she owned the place, and her voice, damn, it was like liquid honey.  I could listen to it all day, but when she winked at that fucker, I wanted to go all Tarzan on his ass, but I didn’t. I sat back, watched, and plotted how I’m going to make her ass mine.

“Nice show up there,” I say as she lifts the counter to get behind the bar.  She spins around quickly.

“Thanks. Glad you liked it. You want another shot of Coke?”
She’s such a smartass.

“Nah, I think I’ve had too much already,” I shoot back at her. “No need to drink when I can just watch your sexy ass all night.”

“Walker, that’s creepy,” she says and then goes to relieve Chelly.

It doesn’t take long for pretty boy to make his way to the bar, and you’d think
Chauna just hit the damn lottery.  I’ll let her play this game, but she’s going home with me tonight. That’s for damn sure.

Chapter 4

Chauna

“What can I get
ya?” I ask the cute little hottie I saw earlier while I was onstage.

“How ’bout your number?”
Damn. Fast, aren’t we?

“Um, I don’t think so, but I can get
ya a beer,” I say sweetly.

“Sounds good, but if I can’t have your number, what about a dance?” he asks as he leans into the bar a little more.

“Ask me again when the bar calms down.” I wink, hand him his beer, and tell him it’s on the house.  When he leaves, I look over at Paige, and she giggles.  I start to do the same, but then my eyes meet Walker’s, and I suddenly wish I were invisible.  Glancing down at the cooler, I notice we need another case of High Life.  “Hey, Paige, I’ll be right back,” I call out as I make my way downstairs.

After grabbing the box, I turn around and meet Walker in a pair of dark jeans, a fitted tee, and his sleeve tattoo racing down his arm.  I try not to stare, but it’s no use.

“Let me help you with that, Pumpkin,” he says as he walks to me.

“I got it,” I say as I head toward the stairs.

“No, I said ‘let me help you,’” he commands firmly as he approaches me and takes the box.  He then sets it down and pulls me into his rock hard chest.  “Just so you know, I’m not letting you go this time.”

“I can’t, Walker. I just can’t.” I try to pry myself out of his arms.  “Please, just let it go.  We can
never
be together,” I say as I remember.

As a hard knock attacks my front door, I hurry downstairs.  I open it to see two police officers.   “Is
Chauna Jackson here?”

“That’s me,” I say while pulling the spoon out of my mouth from the last bite and suddenly feeling sick to my stomach.

“Your father was in an accident tonight.  I’m sorry, but you need to get to the hospital as fast as possible.”  In that moment, my world stops. “Would you like us to take you?”

“Please,” I say as tears begin to pour down my face.  I take my cell phone from my pocket and call Walker, but he doesn’t answer.  Where is he?  He just left here an hour ago. As my world crumbles, Walker is nowhere to be found.

He loosens his grip, and as I look into his eyes, I see pain. “Why, Pumpkin? What did I do other than leave with my parents?” he asks softly.  Right now, I see
my
Walker.  The one I grew up loving.

“Because you’re one of
them
,” I say. When the light bulb goes off in Walker’s head, he realizes what I mean, and he lets me go. “I knew it’d be an easy choice for you.  I’m sure it’s bikes before babes anyway.” I grab the box and hurry upstairs, leaving him standing there.

“
Chauna, are you a’ight?” Paige asks.

“Yup.
Hey, since things are slow, I’m gonna go dance a minute if you don’t care.”

“Nah.
Have fun,” she says.

After I place the beer into the cooler, I make my way to the dance floor and find the blonde from earlier.  He’s easy to spot as I move across the floor.  He’s sitting at a table with his friends.  I walk over to him and stand in front of him.

“So, you still wanna dance?” I ask.

“Most definitely,” he replies as he places his beer onto the table and escorts me to the dance floor.  Schaffer’s Story is on a break, and there is just great dance music blaring through the speakers.  As the beat increases, I sway my hips a little harder and press my ass against his body.  It’s evident he’s enjoying our time on the dance floor. I drop my ass to the floor and make it back up when I feel someone’s eyes staring at me. Gazing up, I see Walker standing in the corner with his arms crossed and giving a pissed-off look. This does one thing for me; it makes me want to shake my ass harder.  If he doesn’t want to give it up, then he doesn’t deserve me.

After a few songs, I excuse myself from blondie, whom I now know as Hunter, and make my way back to the bar.

“Thanks, Paige,” I say as I walk to the other side of the bar and start to work.

“Damn, girl. You about made Walker lose his shit out there,” she says, totally clueless to the conversation Walker and I had downstairs.

“Oh, well,” I say, taking the next customer’s order.

For the remainder of the night, I try not to focus on Walker staring at me like a crazy person, but somewhere around midnight, he disappears. I finally relax and let my guard back down. Hunter approaches me before they leave and asks for my number. I give it to him, and he tells me he will call me.

As I watch Hunter leave, I hear a girl squeal, and I just roll my eyes. Some girls are so stupid. I mean, we’re in a bar, and you’re
gonna squeal like a five-year-old? That’s when I realize what’s going on. I see a group of girls dancing around Walker. I try my best not to watch, but I can’t help it, and when one of the girls trails her hand up his shirt, I lose my mind. I look at Paige as she stifles a giggle.

“This shit
ain’t funny, Paige. He’s doing it on purpose,” I say as I throw down my bar towel.

“
Ummm, didn’t you just do the same thing?”

“Damn,” I mumble under my breath. Grabbing my bar towel, I go back to work when all I really want to do is claim Walker as my own.

Walker

When the Fab Five, I’m going to call them, pull me onto the dance floor, I can’t resist.  If
Chauna wants to play dirty, I can, too.  I know what she wants, and I know what she’s asking.  Right now, I just can’t give up what she’s asking. It’s all I have, and until I know she will put our past behind us, I’m not willing to give up my family.

As one of the girls pushes her hand up my stomach, my body is very aware of all the hot females around me. I look at the bar, and they all disappear when I see the look on
Chauna’s face.  When the song ends, I sweet talk the girls off the dance floor and make my way outside, alone.

Chapter 5

Chauna

Damn, Paige is right. As Schaffer’s Story takes the stage for their final song, I notice the bimbos and Walker have left. 
Great, so he’s a man whore now.  Fan-freakin-tastic!
  I take out my aggression on cleaning the bar and trying not to be a bitch to the customers.

“Hey,
Chauna! You keep cleaning that spot, and there’s gonna be a tunnel to China when you finish!” Paige says with a laugh.

When last call is announced, I’m relieved. I can’t wait for tonight to end. Paige and I clean up and talk to Pam and Kristina after they load up. When
Chelly finishes, we lock up and head outside. We are laughing, and it’s great to end the night with such good friends without a thought of Walker.

“So, we all have to go out, and I mean not at Boondocks,” Kristina says.
“’Cause we know too many people here. We just want to cut loose and not be that kick ass girl band.”

“I never thought about that, but I guess
it’s good y’all are gettin’ noticed,” I say.

“True,” Pam chimes in as we all separate and make our way to our cars.

“Paige, call me tomorrow if you decide to come in, and I’ll help ya,” I say as I turn toward my car. While they all disappear down the two-lane road, I’m not prepared for who is propped against my driver’s side door. 
Walker.

“So, where are the bimbos?” I ask as I stop a few feet from him.

“Hell, I don’t know. They left a long time ago,” he answers as if he couldn’t care less.

“Oh, so, you’re like that now?” I cross my arms and wait for his reply.

He throws back his head and laughs. “Damn, you really don’t think I’m like that, do you?”

“I have no clue what you’re like anymore. Now, can you move so I can go home?”

“No, I’m not fuckin’ moving,” he says as he stands confidently in place, and it is beyond hot seeing him standing his ground with me.

“Come on, Walker. You made your choice. Get out of my way,” I stress, trying to get to my door handle. He takes me in his arms and spins me around so I can’t move. 
Damn, here I am again. 
“What’s your deal?  I mean, shit, I tell you what you need to do, and you don’t choose it. Then, you act like an ass out there, and then—” he cuts me off with his lips. 
Oh. My. God.

As my body is sandwiched between Walker and my car, I refuse to give in, but when his lips meet mine, I know it is hopeless. I want nothing more than for this man to take me right here in this parking lot, and I don’t care
who’s watching.

Walker

When she won’t shut up, I have to do something. I can’t wait to devour her lips with mine. I know she wants us as much as I do. Hell, if I gotta give up my bike, I will, but I don’t want to look like a complete puss.

When I capture her lips, things change. She doesn’t fight me; she falls into me, and I have no idea the effect it will leave on my heart, body, and soul. Not wanting to give her the chance to change her mind, I lift her off the ground. She wraps her arms around my neck and her legs around my waist as I guide my hands underneath her shirt and up her back. When she gasps, I know she wants what I do, but deep down, I know this isn’t right. She deserves more. I pull back from her.
What the hell am I doing? 
Looking into her eyes, I can see the questions forming, and I know if I want to be a part of her world, she has to trust me.

“Pumpkin, I’ll give up my bike for you. If it means that much, I’ll sell it tomorrow,” I say, and as tears well in her eyes, I can’t take it anymore. I capture her mouth with mine and begin to take things to the next level. She shakes her head. 
Shit!

“Not here,” she says. “Take me home.”

I take the keys from her hand and drive her home.