Leather for Two: Wings of Steel MC (3 page)

The last light turned yellow and Hoover stopped.
Who stops on yellow?

That odd feeling of someone staring washed over me. I looked at the sidewalk to find Edith Raftor’s glare on me. The woman didn’t like me. I had a feeling she could look straight through me and into my past. I smiled and waved, trying for positivity. She continued to glower. I was glad when the light turned green and we were on our way again.

My life now seemed so far away from when I was Diesel’s ‘chick’. And a time when it wasn’t Diesel I wanted. Blaze still visited my sleep almost every night, but anger lived in my heart—but I welcomed anger instead of the pain of being hurt. I had been for a while, but I shifted my way of thinking, growing from the things I’d learned. I had known all along some dreams were not meant to be.

“Do you agree, Rena?” Hoover asked.

“Sure.” I had no clue what he referred to.

“Great,” he said.

I tugged at the hem of my skirt and wrinkled my nose. The stitching had unraveled. I couldn’t fix it now. That’s the price I paid for not laying my clothes out the night before. At least the kids in my class didn’t care what I wore to teach, but Mr. Hougland, the principal, might.

The unraveling reminded me of myself when I first moved to the small town. I had been a mess, always looking over my shoulder, watching for bikers—one in particular.

Blaze never came.

Three years had passed now since I left Wings, without a word to anyone. I made a clean getaway to start a new life on my own.

After Blaze’s confession of his love, I waited for him to sweep me away from Wings. Each second turned into a minute. Each minute into an hour, and then days. I had been foolish expecting him to leave the club for me. He lived for Wings.

Leaving hadn’t been easy, even for me. I had gotten comfortable in the rut, and it was hard to get out of the safety net. But seeing him every day, knowing the feelings between us that would never amount to anything more than a dream and a wish, would be too unbearable. And if Diesel would have tried to touch me again, I would have vomited.

Hoover pulled up in front of the elementary and I grabbed my purse from the seat between us. “Thanks, Hoover.”

“How about that key?”

I stared. He’d lost me. “Key?”

“You said I could take a look at your car.”

“Oh…” That’s what I agreed to?

“I can take a gander when I get back from running to the bank,” he offered.

“I know you’re busy. I can take it to a shop.” I stepped out.

“It’s no problem. Since I’ve been laid off from the Mill, I have time on my ha—”

“Sure then.” I slipped the car key from the ring and laid it on the seat. “Thank you.” I was on the sidewalk now. My internal clock ticked. Alarms were going off in my head. I had to rush.

“Would you like me to pick you up after school?” He leaned awkwardly across the seat.

“No, Hoover. I’ll have a friend drop me off. Gotta run. Thank you, again.” I closed the door.

Offering him a hasty wave, I took off up the sidewalk as fast as my feet would carry me. Inside the building, I mazed my way through children who were making their way back from a bathroom break. I had barely made it into my classroom when a thin pair of arms attacked my legs. I looked down and found one of my students had attached herself to me, giving me a big hug. Yes, this was the reward of teaching.

I heard a loud clearing of throat and I glanced up to find the intrusion. Mr. Houghland watched me down the line of his reedy nose. He wasn’t happy. I couldn’t blame him. “You’re late, Miss Rose.” He tapped his watch.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Houghland. My car wouldn’t start. Thank you for staying with the class.” I took a step toward my desk, child still clinging to my legs making it difficult for me to walk. “Cassie, go have a seat,” I whispered. She let go, looked at me with a bright smile, and then skipped to her seat.

“I’m glad you’ve finally decided to join us. I have a busy day,” Mr. Houghland said as he moved past me toward the door. He picked at a piece of lint on his otherwise pristine black suit.

I once feared the man. He had perfected the skill of intimidation. I’d since learned that he came across firmer than his true nature. “Again, thank you.” I hurried to my desk and pulled out my lesson plans as he slipped into the hallway.

By the time the lunch bell rang, I was ravenous. The chocolate in my purse had called my name for the last two hours, but any teacher knew eating candy in the vicinity of twenty little kids, without enough for sharing, would be considered dangerous. So instead, I found a breath mint at the very bottom of my purse and made do.

After my class started lunch in the cafeteria, I grabbed a tuna sandwich and chips from the vending machine and met my co-worker, and friend, at the picnic table. The shade from the oak tree felt amazing compared to the stifling temperature of my classroom. “Hi, Daisy,” I said as I joined her. Here we divulged funny stories, supported each other, and talked about the rites of passages of being a teacher. I was careful not to reveal anything about my secret past life. I trusted Daisy and I’d gotten to know her quite well in the last six months since she began teaching at the school, but I believed what she didn’t know wouldn’t hurt her. I wasn’t ashamed of my past, but moving on as I did meant leaving behind that life completely. “I think the AC in my room is on the fritz again.”

“Figures.” Daisy sighed. “So where were you this morning? Did you have a hot date last night that turned into breakfast?” She wagged her brows mischievously. She had a head full of dark hair and a voluptuous figure that she dressed in expensive, designer labels. I had no clue how she could afford such luxurious clothing, and I never asked. No one would guess Daisy taught first grade, but she seemed great with the kids.

I shook my head. A tendril of hair had fallen from the mass I had haphazardly arranged into a bun that morning. I undid the clip and attempted to fix it. “I wish.” Hair clip back in, I got comfortable on the bench. “I overslept. Then my car wouldn’t start and I had to catch a ride with Hoover.”

“Oh, now that’s a wakeup call. I hope you didn’t flash any cleavage as enticement. Poor guy. He might implode if you’re not careful.”

I wrinkled my nose. “First, I don’t have cleavage. Furthermore, if I did I wouldn’t waste it on Hoover. He gives me the creeps.” I tore the plastic covering from the container and bit into my tuna sandwich. It wasn’t the best, but I couldn’t expect something to go right today. “Poor Shona peed herself this morning. Luckily, I had an extra pair of panties from the emergency stash and was able to keep the accident secret from the rest of the class. She’s already so timid around the other boys and girls. I had a conference with her parents. They’re very kind, and they’re in the process of divorce, which explains why Shona is having a difficult time adjusting.”

Daisy rolled her eyes. “Aww, the life and times of first grade teachers. I can’t see why we don’t have sexy dates every night of the week. The last real date I went on, I started cutting his steak and he looked at me like I was crazy.” She laughed. Daisy had more dates than she let on. In fact, I knew that she met Jonathon Pecks, the gym teacher, after class on occasion for more than fitness tips. I guess we all had our secrets.

“I’m too busy for dates.” I popped a chip into my mouth.

“Yeah, I can see that. Reruns of the 90’s sitcoms can keep a woman busy.” Daisy threw a crumble of bread out into the grass for the birds. “Let’s face it. We’re the most boring thirty year olds ever.”

I chewed contemplatively. If only Daisy knew the life I had once led. On the back of a Harley with my Daisy Dukes up to my nice, firm ass. Although the lifestyle in Wings had been a lot milder than in many MCs, they still lived on the wilder side. Members of Wings abided by the law, but a few instances I knew they walked a fine line between right and wrong. They also had sacred rules in the club. They didn’t like drugs, and if any member was caught using or dealing, they were automatically shunned.

“Are you going to Pilates class tonight?” Daisy asked.

I shrugged. “Probably. That or I’ll catch up on a couple of reruns.” I chuckled.

“I have to stretch and tone my muscles. I’m having company tonight.” Her eyes sparkled.

“Oh, a certain gym coach is in training?” I clicked my tongue.

She looked around for listeners and leaned in close. “Tonight’s role play night. I got my maid uniform in the mail yesterday.”

“You’re going to give that man a heart attack.” I popped the last chip into my mouth.

“But what a way to go, huh?”

“I’m sure there are worse ways.” I glanced at my watch, threw the last bit of sandwich to the birds and gathered my trash. “I better get back inside. Being late has put my day into a disaster. By the way, can you give me a lift home after class?”

“Sure thing. I’ll see you later.” Daisy waved.

I hurried back into the classroom and found Daryl, one of my students, standing by his desk. His head was lowered. He’d gotten into a fight, or something worse… “What’s wrong, Daryl?”

“My belly hurts,” he said as he pressed his hands against his stomach.

As a teacher, I had internal instincts when something horrible was about to occur. “You’re going to vomit, aren’t you?”

He nodded and a gagging sound erupted from his throat. I rushed for the trash can, grabbed it and ran across the room just in time to catch Daryl’s lunch.

CHAPTER TWO

I was glad to be home. My feet ached and my head hurt. I wasn’t in the mood for Pilates class so I texted Daisy. I had no use for stretched muscles or tight ass.

Making big plans for an evening with Chinese takeout and a sappy movie, I grabbed pajamas from the bedroom when I heard a low rumble—a familiar one that made the soft hairs on my neck stand. The pipes of a Harley. It didn’t matter how much time had passed, I went dead still when I heard the rumbling exhaust of a bike. . I held my breath.

The bike passed. Or did it stop?

A knock came on the door and I jumped, dropping the pajamas on the floor.

I made my way into the living room, pulled back the curtain an inch at the window and peeked out. I glanced up and down the street and didn’t see a Harley. I let the curtain fall back into place and started breathing again. It was probably Hoover bringing back the car key.

I threw open the door and my heart did a dive into my stomach. Standing on my doorstep was the shock of a lifetime.

Blaze.

His whiskey colored hair had a few strands of silver at the temples, and he still wore it on the longer side. He wore his uniform of tight black T-shirt, leather cut adorned with a few new stripes and patches, worn jeans and riding boots. No big belly. No love handles to speak of. He was still in impeccable shape.
Figures.

Damn! Why couldn’t he have turned bald or gotten fat? Or, lost a few front teeth? If anything, he’d gotten better looking.

Additional tattoos covered his biceps. I always liked his tats.

“Hi, Bambi.” 

His husky voice dragged my gaze from his body back to his pale blue eyes. I swallowed against the lump stuck in my throat. “I-I am surprised to see you.”

“I wasn’t sure I should come,” he said.

“Then why did you?”

“Is that a proper way of greeting an old friend?” His throaty drawl did wonderful things to my inner thighs. I hated that he could still turn me inside out. One look from those beautiful smoky eyes and I was a fish out of water panting for air. I had to be strong, remain geared ahead on my path. I had a new life. Wings, and its members, lived in the past. Just too bad my libido didn’t get the message.

“Were you just in the neighborhood?” My voice shook, matching the seesawing emotion in my chest.

“No, can’t say I was. I made a special trip.” He smoothed his fingers down his goatee and the action sent a current spreading through me. “It’s been a long time, Bambi. You’ve changed and yet you haven’t, if that’s possible.” He slipped his gaze downward, leaving a heated trail from my neck to my toes.

I resisted the urge to squirm as my panties turned moist. There were just some things a woman couldn’t eradicate from her system, and Blaze happened to be one. He’d left a scorching path years ago and my body never recovered. “I’m no longer Bambi.” I clutched the door until my knuckles ached. I leaned into the wood for support, reminding myself to breathe.

“Aren’t you going to invite me in?”

I stared. Was he crazy?

“Come on, sweetheart. We’re drawing attention from the neighbors.”

“Why are you here?” I whispered as if the neighbors could hear. I didn’t need to look to know Hoover was watching us. He observed everything that happened on the quiet street. Having a Harley drive on Dolphin could be listed as the most excitement this town had seen since Denver Conway divorced his wife for the nanny.

“We need to talk.”

“I’m sure you have nothing to say that I want to hear.” I wanted to be angry with him. He’d made a promise to me once upon a time and he’d broken it.

“Diesel is dead.”

I dropped my hand from the knob. My mind twisted and turned as I wrapped my brain around Blaze’s words. “What…?”