Making the Cut (17 page)

“I’m coming I’m coming” I chanted hoping it wouldn’t ring off. I grabbed it then put it to my ear. “Hello!” I shouted breathless.

“Ace!” I heard Ian yell. It was slightly fuzzy but man it was good to hear his voice.

“Ian! Thank god I was getting worried! Hold on one second.” I quickly put the phone down and grabbed Cade’s tee which was thankfully at the front door. I felt weird talking to my brother while I was standing here naked.

“I’m back. Ian I have missed you so much. Where are you? When are you coming home? Are you okay?” I shot at him, thinking I might have inherited my mother’s trait when it came to phone conversations.

Ian read my mind. “Jesus Ace, you’re as bad as Mum.” I heard the laugh in my brother’s voice and smiled.

“Can’t tell you the answer to the first two, but yes I am fine.” He reassured me sounding healthy enough.

I breathed into the phone, letting out the worry I didn’t even know I was carrying. “I’m so glad to hear that Ian, it’s so hard not hearing from you for months at a time, I get so worried!” My voice raised a bit at the end. “I think you should retire, get an office job, something where you don’t have the possibility of getting riddled with bullets.” I ordered voice shaking, I guess I was a bit raw from the days events.

“Bloody hell Gwen, cool it, I’m as tough as an ox, you know that.”

I sniffled, letting out a little laugh.

“Anyway, how are you is the more important question?” He asked with concern. “You settling into your new town alright? Managing everything okay?”

“Yeah Ian, everything’s fine. Great actually.” I told him with a smile in my voice. “This town is perfect, I wish you could see it. Kind of reminds me of home. I just know you’d love it.”

“Well baby sis, was going to surprise you but fuck it. I’ve got leave coming up, just for a few days, and we are currently closer to the U S of A than NZ so I’ll be coming to stay with you for a couple of nights.”

I squealed, yes a full on girl squeal. Loud. I jumped to my feet and bounced up and down like a little kid.

“Ohmigod!” I shouted, smiling wide at Cade who appeared in the doorway, arms crossed.

“Jesus babe, lucky I don’t have neighbors.” He grumbled, scowling at my phone, no doubt pissed off I didn’t obey his orders. I scowled back, shushing him with my finger.

Ian who was laughing at my reaction, stopped abruptly,

“Who’s that Ace?” He asked, voice hard.

He’s very protective of me, with good reason, and I blanched a bit thinking of how the hell I was going to handle his reaction to Cade. And there was definitely going to be a reaction. After seeing his sister almost die at the hands of one biker, I didn’t think he’ll be too impressed I was with another one.

“Who?” I asked innocently.

“The fuckin man in the background.” My brother’s voice had turned hard.

“There’s no one, just the TV, sorry” I lied, hating lying to my brother, hating the scorching look Cade was directing at me.

“You’re lying sis, but I got to go.” He said, sounding pissed. “I will be there in a couple of weeks, call you when I get to the States. Take care of yourself, Love you.”

“See you then Ian. Love you.” I rang off and was immediately confronted by one unhappy biker.

“What the fuck was that babe? Who is Ian? And why in fucks name did you lie?” He asked, voice menacing.

I stared at him, and couldn’t help but smile, rushing into his arms. He caught me, not expecting it though so he went back on one foot.

“Ian’s coming for a visit in two weeks!” I sang, ignoring the grumpy look on his face I kissed him.

“Want to tell me who Ian is babe?” He clipped, still unhappy.

I stared at him confused and realized I hadn’t told him about Ian. I forgot that we hardly knew each other because it felt so right between us. I hopped down, but Cade kept his hands firmly around my waist, face close to mine.

I smiled up at him, giddy with excitement, even in the face of his mood.

“Ian’s my big brother!” I watched as his face changed, but he still seemed pissed, so I elaborated.

“Ian’s in the army, not like run of the mill, but Navy Seal type shit. Or the NZ equivalent.” I waved my hand. “Anyway I don’t know exactly what he does, I know it’s dangerous, I know I never hear from him, hardly ever see him and I miss him like crazy! Worry about him every day.”

Cade’s face softened a bit.

“Can’t tell you how good it was to hear his voice, I haven’t seen him in a year, he managed to get to New York while I was in hospital.” Tears welled in my eyes, I shook my head, forcing myself to think happy thoughts.

“Anyway that doesn’t matter cause I get to see him next week!” I chanted, whipping out of Cade’s arms and darting into the kitchen.

I plonked myself on the counter where I saw Cade had set down two plates of food. I sat in front of the smaller one, obviously meant for me. I reached down for my toast when Cade’s arm snatched my wrist and he turned the stool around to get in my space.

“Real happy for you babe, don’t get me wrong, glad you get to see your brother, since you obviously love him and have been worried. But you haven’t answered my question.” His face was close to mine.

“What question?” I asked, genuinely confused.

“Why did you lie to him, he obviously heard my voice, why didn’t you tell him you had a man?” Cade sounded seriously ticked.

I bit my lip, unsure of how to approach this. Cade reached in and grabbed my lip.

“Don’t try and distract me baby.”

“I wasn’t!” I protested, but he kept glaring at me, I rolled my eyes feeling mildly irritated at this intense man.

“Well we are new and I don’t really know what
we
are. Plus I didn’t really want to tell my big brother, who saw me lying in a hospital bed half dead at the hands of my biker ex, that I was currently involved with another biker.” I explained, trying to be gentle. The look on Cade’s face says I haven’t been.

“I ain’t him babe, nothing like him. I would never fucking hurt you! I would take a bullet rather than hurt you.” He growled. “As to what we are you fucking know, you fucking know your mine, my Old Lady.” I sat back feeling winded. I didn’t know he thought of me as his Old Lady that was serious. He didn’t feel the love at this moment though.

“And I’m getting fuckin sick of you pigeonholing me into your biker stereotype.” He finished, snatching his plate then storming through the kitchen and out the French doors.

“Shit.” I mumbled under my breath. I played that wrong. I sat forward and started eating my bacon and egg sandwich, partly cause I sensed Cade needed some time alone, partly cause I was starving; I would think about the calories later, or never. I more than worked them off with Cade earlier.

I polished off the last bite of my delicious sandwich, slid off my stool and washed my plate. I decided to clean the kitchen, partly because it needs it, partly because I was putting off talking to Cade. I finished, then made my way out to the backyard. When I stepped outside, I couldn’t help but gasp, the view was amazing. The ocean yawned in front of us, a small pathway lead to the sand. There was tile beneath my feet, a huge barbeque to the left of me, big old picnic table and fire pit in front of me. Some really awesome outdoor chairs were to my left, where Cade was sitting with his feet up. He didn’t glance my way. I gingerly walked over to his chair, standing for a second, then hopped on top of him, straddling him. I was very aware I wasn’t wearing any underwear and my bare female parts were rubbing against his delicious, denim clad male parts, I tried not to let it distract me as I met his eyes.

“Bout fuckin time baby.” He grunted, pulling me down to him, claiming my mouth in a rough kiss. I was slightly surprised but not complaining.

“Sorry I um, didn’t really handle things the best before.” I began.

“No you fuckin didn’t.” Cade stated.

“Let me finish.” I snapped.

Cade smirked, only he could get me pissed off mid apology.

“I was just excited to hear from my brother, and he’s pretty protective of me, was even before everything with Jimmy. We are close, thick as thieves since we were kids. Since he’s older than me, he’s always tried to look out for me. Somehow blames himself for my attack.” I shook my head. “Ridiculous, but I know it affected him, deep, seeing me in that hospital bed. And I just know what his reaction is going to be to you when he meets you, and it just sucks cause I want the men in my life to get along.” I pouted.

“Men in your life?” Cade repeated, voice sounding funny.

“Well yeah.” I said, trailing off.

He smiled, like flat out beamed and it was beautiful, but I didn’t get to enjoy it before claimed my mouth for a passionate kiss. He pulled back, resting his head on mine.

“Get why your brothers going to react babe. Seeing you, lying broken in the hospital, at the hands of some sick fucker. That will mark a man. Mark his soul.” His voice was hard, but I saw strong emotion in my mans eyes.

“So I’ll cut him some slack, first time he meets me.” He conceded.

“Thanks.” I muttered, sarcastically.

Cade pulled me back into the recliner chair, and we watched the sun set. Who would’ve thought, watching the sunset with my rough biker.

Chapter 8

Word travelled fast in small towns, everyone seemed to know about Cade and I now we were official. I had constant visitors to the store asking me subtly about my new relationship and they all seemed happy for me. Amy was the happiest she had literally clapped her hands the first time she saw Cade and I together, needless to say my man had gotten the all important best friends approval.

It was Friday, and I was happy, deliriously happy. The past three days with Cade were amazing, a lot of sex, mind blowing sex. The store was great, I had just hired a young girl, Lily to come in part time, while she studied. She was 20 and stunning. Her blonde hair was parted straight down the middle, going to about her mid back. She had blue grey eyes, a slender figure and great style. I hired her on the spot. She was shy, but lovely.

It was just her and me as we were closing in an hour and Rosie and Amy wanted to get ready for the party at the clubhouse. Apparently there was always some kind of party on a Friday. I let them go early because Cade was picking me up and taking me straight there. I was nervous, but had dressed accordingly as I wouldn’t have time to change.

I was wearing tight, I mean made for me tight black skinny jeans, with red sky high spiked heeled sandals. I was also wearing a silk, red camisole, it wasn’t tight, but came into a v between my breasts, had super thin straps, that crossed over at my back where the top dipped, way low. My hair was up, curled with a few strands hanging down. I had just finished redoing my makeup, I decided to go for smoky, kohl rimmed eyes and minimal other makeup, because every classy girl knew, you either did up your eyes or your lips, never both. I kept my jewelry minimal, with some diamond studs and some silver bracelets. I was hoping my outfit was appropriate, I hadn’t been to a biker party before, Jimmy never let me, so I didn’t know what to expect.

I came out of the back room, with my freshly done makeup on.

“Whoa, Gwen you look hot!” Lily exclaimed.

“Thanks girl, but do I look ‘biker babe’ enough?” I asked, contemplating my reflection in the mirror across from the counter.

She looked me up and down. “You are your own version of a biker babe and you work it.”

I smiled at her as the door over the bell chimed. Ginger from Rosie’s barbeque strutted in looking like Queen Slut. Nasty, but I was discovering I had a jealous side, and she did indeed look quite the slut. She had an inch of black roots contrasting her bottle blonde hair, that girl needed a hairdresser stat. She was wearing heavy eyeliner, and lipstick, proving my makeup theory. Only trashy girls wore heavy makeup on eyes and mouth. She had on a tight leather vest, with nothing underneath, her more than ample cleavage threatening to bust out. Her was midriff showing and on her bottom half she was wearing low slung frayed denim skirt that barely covered her behind. On her feet were strappy black stilettos covered in little rhinestones. I repeat, rhinestones.

I formed a hopefully genuine smile and directed it at Ginger.

“Hi there how are you?” I chirped, trying to sound friendly. And not to throw one of my display candles at her poorly dyed head.

Ginger stopped just short of the counter, cocking her hip out and putting her hand on it. Uh oh, total bitch stance. I eyed the candle.

“Well, I’m not that fucking great. Cause some snooty, upper class bitch thinks she can just roll into my town and take my man.” She spat, narrowing her heavily made up eyes at me.

I kept a somewhat lessened smile on my face, turning to Lily, who was looking a little pale in the face of a possible smack down.