Hearts of Iron (2 page)

Charlie cleared his throat. “Ahem.”

“Yeah?”

“They said she’s performing an emergency C-Section. Won’t be the first life she’s bought to Miller, and it won’t be the last.”

“That’s real interesting and all,” Josh piped up. Lance had all but forgotten he was there. “But how long is she gonna take?”

“Probably done by lunch time. One o’clock is my best guess. You could come back around then, or wait right here.” Charlie pointed to an isle of chairs right next to them. “Just please don’t make any trouble, even if you don’t start it. I know you guys are all right, but most folks think you’re devil walking on earth.”

“Yeah, we know,” sighed Lance. “We'll behave.”

“Don’t get me wrong, fellas. I mean, I know you guys ain’t like any of the other gangs that pass through here.”

“That’s because we ain’t no gang,” Josh replied with a frown. “We’re Riders, and we ain’t passing through. We live here.”

“Sorry, of course you do. And hey, my daughter’s car is all fixed up like new thanks to your shop and my wife said your burgers were the best she’d ever tasted when the bridge club visited your place a few weeks back. You’re doing good things as far as I can see. All I mean is, some folks don’t get it. They might start trouble for no good reason and we got no law ‘round here to stop it.”

“Thanks, Charlie. We’ve lived this way a long time and know the deal. You should come down, bring your wife and daughter.” Lance clapped Charlie on the back. “I’m sure they’d love it.”

“Well, it sounds real nice.”

“It is." Lance sat down. "We’ll wait for the Doc.”

“Shit Lance,” whined Josh again. “That means we gotta wait for hours.” He made a show of checking his watch.

"Where else do you need to be?” He knew Josh liked the ladies, and as a young, good-looking guy, he always had a few on reserve. Seemed like he never stopped screwing, and it helped that he wasn’t picky.

Charlie butted in. “Before I leave: You want coffee? Machine’s down that hall. Need a smoke? You gotta step outside, I’m afraid. Closest exit is the way you came in, back up that way.”

Josh pulled a face and huffed audibly.

“Oh, go then, Josh. I got this.”

Josh grinned, having gotten his own way again. But then his frown returned. “Wait? You’re just gonna stay here and wait?”

“Yeah,” said Lance, determined to meet the little Doc though he realized she’d be more formidable an opponent than he’d imagined.  “I’m cool with waiting."

“See you, gentlemen. Pleasure meeting you,” said Charlie before strolling off on his rounds.

Josh shrugged. “See you Charlie.”

“Call us later,” Josh said, facing Lance. “Especially if you get any news we might wanna hear.” He winked and thumped Lance’s upper arm before he left.

Lance sat down and stared at the door that Katie had walked through. He wanted to go in and see her in action. He imagined her performing with a slick professionalism and unlimited compassion. Something told Lance she'd be worth the wait.

CHAPTER THREE

When Katie successfully finished the emergency C-Section, and after the nurses cleaned the baby girl and laid her in her proud father’s arms, she left them to get to know each other while the mother slept. With a full heart, Katie sighed. Her job gave her such incredible moments, and for that she was grateful every day. But these moments were often bittersweet, because they made her wonder if she'd ever be the
mother
in the delivery unit, and not just the doctor bought in during emergencies. Would she give birth to a child while her husband held her hand and allowed the overflow of love at seeing his child take his first breath pour out, flowing freely with tears?

Then she pushed the thought away.

She didn’t much care for subjects which made her sad, and being single and childless in her early thirties was one such subject. Of course, she had a career she’d spent years studying for, but that wouldn’t stop her having a family with the right man. Nothing would. She had a lot of love in her heart and yearned to share it.

Plus, she wasn’t a sad person; she was a sunny person. Everyone said so. She could “turn a cloudy day into a day on the beach,” they said of her in college. “Everyone’s best friend,” they said of her at medical school. Her father had called her “his little diamond” because she was precious to hi and also because she sparkled like no one else. She was too lucky to feel sad; she had no right. Katie had good friends and she had the very best career there was. And even though she got lonely, she reminded herself she also had years ahead of her to find the love of her life.

She just hoped he would show up before she went through menopause.

Her motto was: “It all works out in the end.” She stole it from her father and that motto got her though many a dark mood.

As she inhaled deeply, depositing her scrubs into the appropriate bin, she looked up to find a very tall, sturdy-looking guy with long sandy hair and a full, pale beard sitting in the waiting area. He stood, and she noticed him staring right back at her. Even from where she was, she saw the most exquisite light-colored eyes she’d ever seen—they appeared ethereal from a distance.

The urge to flee gripped her stomach when she suddenly imagined his reason for being there. From his tattoos and leather vest, he must be one of the biker club members and he was in her hospital, looking for her. He must be here to demand answers about her meeting, about whether she’d secured the employment of a sheriff for Miller. And if so, when such a sheriff might turn up.

What could she tell them? “Yes I did, so you had better turn around and get outta town?”

Trying to recall what people said about the club’s leader, she thought that perhaps the man looking directly at her might even be
the
Lance Brewer. The same Lance Brewer who came to town over a year ago and straightaway opened up a restaurant and an auto-repair shop. Katie suspected he’d only opened it as a front for something illegal. And how had he made the money to pay for those businesses in the first place?

She heard how friendly he was, to the point that half the town was somehow conned into believing his club comprised of law-abiding, innocent, decent folks. She was no fool. Katie scoffed at such ideas.

Law-abiding men didn’t beat up other men for having the same business as them just so they could dispose of the competition. Before they came along Miller had a perfectly good auto-repair shop owned by Peter Fibs, who inherited it from his dear old father. Peter ended up in her hospital with a broken arm and left town soon after he was discharged. Lance’s auto-repair shop had flourished ever since. Pete was raised in Miller. Not them. Why should he have to leave town so a stranger’s business could flourish?

It’s just wrong!

If this was Lance Brewer staring right at her, what would she tell him? Not the truth; not before the sheriff arrived to deal with his predictably destructive reaction to the news. No, if it was him—and who else would it be?—she would hold him off. Find some way to avoid answering his questions. Find some way of stalling him.

The best way to do that is to avoid speaking to him altogether.

Great plan
, she thought, but while turning to make a casual dash in the opposite direction, she heard someone call out, "Hey Doc!”

She froze, unable to ignore a potential patient. But when she turned around to find the too-handsome biker jogging toward her, she wished she’d carried on walking. Katie couldn’t quite take in his huge size. Robust from head to toe, hands to feet; he was a big boy. “Been waiting on you for over an hour. My partner left already. Don’t go disappearing on me too.”

She pulled her gaze from his sheer bulk to focus her attention on him properly, a fake surprise in place. “Oh really? You have? Sorry, although…” she scoffed. “I can’t imagine what we’d have to talk about, you and I. Are you… ill?” She could see all too well that he was the image of virility and health; he had no need of a doctor. “You should see one of the nurses. They can down your details before...”

He stepped closer. So close, his heat radiated out and touched her. “I think you know who I am, Doc. Let’s not waste each other’s time.” He half smiled, casually resting his weight on one leg, thumbs hooked in his jeans pockets.

“No.” She almost coughed out the word. “I don’t think I do know who you are. Should I?”

“Okay, let’s do this.” He took Katie’s hand, which got lost in his, and shook it firmly while placing the other hand on her elbow in a territorial manner. The way men shook another man’s hand. “I’m Lance Brewer, and I know that rings a bell.” He winked. “And you are…?”

Swoon!
“Err, hello, Lance. Yes, it ‘rings a bell’.” She smiled awkwardly, trying hard not to be overwhelmed by his sheer size and radiating sexuality. “I’m Doctor Katie Brighton,” she asserted, standing square and tapping him on the upper arm, which required a reach for her, as she shook his hand right back. “But you knew that.”

“Of course.”

It was difficult enough to assert oneself physically as a woman, but as a petite woman it was almost impossible. Still, she always tried. Katie had worked hard for her status and, as Janice said, she had earned a level of respect from people. Besides, being assertive saved time and prevented people from talking down to her. “So Lance, what can I do for you?”

He looked behind her at the clock on the wall. “Guess it’s lunchtime. Fancy a burger? I know a great—”

“Err.” She raised her hand. “I don’t eat burgers. I’m going to just grab a coffee in the canteen.”

“Lead the way, Doc. I got no clue where the canteen is but I wouldn’t mind a coffee, either.”

Katie’s mouth dried. “Of course.”
Damn, go to your burger bar and leave me alone
. “Follow me.”

Leading the way to the staff canteen, she told herself to remain composed. She told herself that a handsome face, sultry eyes, and soft fair hair
do not
make a good man—neither does a big, hard body. And besides, this cute guy would most likely turn furious and scary as hell once he found out what she’d done. She would not to let her guard down for even a second.

What she refused to tell herself, however, was that the smile forming at the corners of her mouth and the sway of her hips had everything to do with Lance Brewer—a big, bad boy who was sexy as hell.

***

Lance followed the cute Doc all the way to the canteen and was careful to walk tall, shoulders back, spine straight. He knew his ink and biker status suggested he was trouble, but so long as folks stayed out of his way, they would be just fine. His brothers had proven themselves to be reliable businessmen who provided great service for a fair price. Yet one half of the town would still cross the road to avoid them. So what if those businesses were built on ill-gotten gains? They were legit now and that’s all that should matter to folks in Miller. Including this strangely sexy, stuck-up Doc.

Still, whenever he’d heard about the busy-body plotting against him to bring in people who would run him and his kind out of town, he’d imagined some dowdy, old, cat-loving spinster. Not a honey like her. But he could see straight off that the doctor looked down on him in spite of being almost two feet shorter. No matter how much his club had accomplished over their first year in Miller, some folks just refused to crawl out from beneath their own ignorance.

Screw her, if she feels that way. Although, looking at that sweet little ass, I’d screw her either way.

He watched as she navigated the hallways of the hospital, swaying her round hips with each stride. Occasionally she looked at him over her shoulder and gave him an uncertain yet authoritative glance, checking he was still following. He imagined her thinking he might attack her any minute, because that’s what his kind did. It saddened him, but he was used to that shit.

In contrast, everyone smiled and greeted Katie with genuine admiration and thanks. He watched as she literally shone with goodness and frowned when his jeans tightened at the crotch.

Behave… I don’t do stuck up girls.

Just then she stopped, pushed her way through swing doors, and fired instructions at him. “Here we are. Go and take a seat somewhere. I’ll get the coffees. Any preference? Want anything else? A burger, perhaps?”

He wasn’t letting no lady buy his lunch. “I get my own coffee. How ‘bout
you
go and take a seat?”

She held his gaze, unblinking, as if challenging him. “This is the
staff
canteen, Lance. You don’t own this yet.”

Oh, your sharp tongue’s gonna get you into trouble.
“So?”

“They won’t serve you here…”

“Where have I heard that before?”

“No, they only serve the
staff.
”

Catty bitch.
“Okay. Fine.” He took some bills from his pocket and held them out to her. “I’ll pay, and I take it long and black.” 

She smiled, “Me too.”

He lost time in her smile and didn’t notice her refuse his cash.

“Give me two minutes, then we can talk.” Katie walked off.

Everyone stared at him standing there with his hand held out. When he realized he was frozen in place he shoved the cash back in his pocket and mumbled, “Well, I’ll get the next ones.”

Katie one. Lance zero.

He took a seat and watched Katie chatting to folks in line and to the servers. For Katie, work was her club. Brothers are more than friends; they’re family. They matter just as much to you.  Watching her smiling, joking around with her staff so openly, she was like sunlight to them. He wanted to be bathed in her kind of light, too.

In that moment, the last thing he wanted to do was argue with her. But not only was she opposed to his sort, but she was also one of those good girls who’d expect him to chase her for a month before giving it up. Maybe she had a boyfriend, or a fiancé. Although, no, he’d heard she lived alone in daddy’s mansion. Nice for some.

Watching her walk toward him, he enjoyed how her hips moved in her pencil skirt, how her tiny waist sat perfectly between it and her cute little tits. The silk blouse she wore appeared dignified on the surface, but he could just make out a black lace bra strap. He fidgeted, opening his legs wider, when his girth began to feel uncomfortably restricted.

She’d look great bobbing on this,
he thought, rubbing his crotch under the table. He winked at an old nurse with grey hair and too much makeup on, who had clearly noticed what he was doing. If she blushed, he couldn’t tell. But he felt his own cheeks burning when Katie sat opposite him.

Katie sat two steaming cups of black coffee on the table. “There you go.”

“Thanks.” Lance took a sip and enjoyed how the burn on his tongue hurt enough to reduce the swelling in his crotch. He didn’t want her to see the effect she was having on him. He was supposed to be confronting her about her plans. Plans that could push him and his club back on the road again.