Chapter 1
My boy Jared had been going on for weeks about his childhood friend, some chick named Kat that was moving here from Arizona, why the hell anyone would want to move here was beyond me, but her dad was here supposedly and she was coming to live with him.The way Jared talked I imagined some timid little thing afraid of her own shadow, the way he made it seem like he'd spent their summers together protecting her from everything.I didn't really have time for that type, they usually just got on my f*cking nerves with their simpering asses. Always afraid to try new things.
Jared was dying to bring her to meet the crew when she landed, I wasn't too jazzed about it, but it was his deal so, whatever.
"So Colton I was thinking."
"What were you thinking Jared?" I tightened the front wheel of the beauty I was working on. A chopper for some Hollywood hot shot who would probably total the shit in less than a week. Shit, it was his seventy five thousand down the drain why should I care?
I looked back at Jared when he didn't answer right away.
I had a cool relationship with my guys, not only were they part of my riding crew, but most of them worked for me building top of the line bikes.
I knew enough to keep one separate from the other, I took a lot of pride in the product that left my showroom, if someone wasn't pulling their weight they were gone, luckily that wasn't a frequent occurrence but it has been known to happen.
"Why don't you give Kat the job as receptionist, you haven't found anyone to fill the position so far and I think she would be perfect."
"I don't know man, the way you talk, I'm not sure she would fit in here."
"You won't know until you try, come on, what'll it hurt?"
"Let me think about it okay, I'm not making any promises." I wiped the oil off my hands as I looked over my handy work.
"Good enough, thanks man, I just know she would be perfect."
"You got the hots for this chick?"
"Who Kat, nah, she's like my sister man, I just feel I have to look out for her ya know."
"Okay, I hear you, when's she coming again?"
"She'll be here in a couple days, I'll bring her around either way for you guys to meet her."
"Sure Jared, I'll get back to you before then, if anything I can always give her a trial run."
He trotted off with a grin, I'm pretty sure he thought it was a done deal, we'll see, like I said, I don't have time for timid little girls.
My crew was a rough and rowdy bunch, I'm the only refined motherf*cker in the bunch and I'm no prince.
That f*cker rode my ass for the next day and a half until I wanted to bitch slap him just to get some peace and quiet.
Yes we needed a receptionist, the last one was trying way too hard to get f*cked and I never shit where I eat, so bitch had to go.
If I'd been remotely interested in hitting the skins I might've broken her off a piece before sending her on her way, but nah.
I wasn't too into the ridden hard and put up wet type, unless I was the one doing the riding.
I'm not as f*cked up as I sound, at least I tell myself not, I come from a refined family, money, prestige, the whole nine yards, for some reason around year sixteen I decided to break the f*ck out.
I said f*ck you to the preppy schools and Harvard medical that was glaring me in the face and decided to pursue my own joy.
Thankfully I have a father who backs his kids above all else or my mom would've guilted me into doing some shit that would've made me miserable for the rest of my days.
It didn't help that two years later my older sister Stacy decided to use her art major education to become a tattoo artist, I swear to this day my mom still blames me.
Stacy is responsible for my tatts, her and her hubby Emory opened their open parlor where they did tattoos and piercings for high end clientele, so we've pretty much got the badass criteria cornered.
I own my own bike shop, run a bike crew of hell raisers, while Stacy and Em paint and pierce the gang.
We're not a real gang, we don't go around starting fights and stupid shit, I'm not exactly barbaric, we're more into raising money for a good cause, helping little old ladies fix their leaky roofs on the weekend, shit like that, but the reality is that shit does happen and sometimes that shit can end with someone in the hospital.
We have rivals who don't like the way we rock, we could give a f*ck, we're more guardian angel than hell's angels and the community loves and respects us.
That doesn't mean we wouldn't f*ck a motherf*cker up or that we haven't, just that that's not what we're all about.
We're not glory hounds,we just love to f*cking ride.
Now it's Monday and Jared is supposed to be bringing this chick by any minute for a meet, I still wasn't sure about this but Jared's a friend, what can you do?
I heard his hog pull up outside and got up to go out there, no one entered the inner sanctum unless they were part of the crew.
Jared was walking ahead of...something.
His face broke out in a sappy grin when he saw me.
"Colton this is Katarina."
I watched her disinterestedly as he made the introductions before extending my hand for her to shake.
Her hand was soft and small in mine with a slight tremble, I wondered what happened to make the little swan so nervous already.
Granted my look put fear in grown men but she was here with one of my men, she shouldn't be afraid.
Whatever, I didn't have time to placate some scared little virgin afraid of her own shadow.
"Katarina."
"Nice to meet you Mr. Lyon."
I looked at Jared with a raised brow, I hope he knew what he was doing bringing this lamb into the Lyon's den.
I couldn't make out much of her body, her tiny frame was shrouded in a hoodie that looked three times too big, her legs were encased in I guess...skinny jeans, and her feet shoved into what has to be the oldest pair of chucks I've ever seen.
"Nice to meet you Katarina how are you enjoying your move so far?"
She blushed, what the f*ck, this chick was way too timid.
I hope she isn't one of those retiring types who cries at the drop of a hat or at raised voices and shit, my guys will eat her alive, f*ck, what the f*ck was Storm thinking?
"So Jared tells me you're interested in the job."
"Yes sir."
"I'm up here Katarina, look, if you want to work around here you're going to have to do better than this, these guys are rough customers, some of the people we build for are even worse, not to mention the people you have to deal with on the phone, you're gonna need to up your game."
I saw Jared give her a nudge before she picked her head up and looked at me.
"Can you handle that?"
"Yes...uh, ahem, yes sir, yes I think I can."
She threw her shoulders back and lifted her head, behind her eyes there was some kind of war going on.
I guess I was asking her to go against her nature, okay Jared was my boy she was his friend for him I'll give her one week, two at the most to get her bearings, if I noticed that she wasn't working out I would let her go, friend or no friend.
"You can start tomorrow, come around eight so I can show you the ropes. It shouldn't be too hard, we have a spread sheet set up in the system already, our ordering system is organized, all you need to do is keep track of what's going out and how much we need to replace every week.
All special orders go through me, no exceptions, if you have any questions about anything come to me, anyone bothers you, same deal. We clear?"
"Yes sir."
"And knock off that sir shit, I only like women I take to my bed to call me that."
Her face almost exploded with her blush.
Oh joy, I run a hard-core crew of badasses and I get stuck with Polly f*cking Anna as a gal Friday. The f*ck!
Jared was grinning like a jackass as he led her out of the office to show her around. I heard the murmur of the guys' voices as they greeted her, I guess Jared had warned them of her titmouse attitude because there were no lewd remarks floating back to my ears.
She might be timid as f*ck but those eyes,...yeah, those eyes, f*ck if she didn't have the most amazing eyes.
* * *
I wasn't quite sure what to make of Jared's boss.
He's... I don't know, very intimidating, with his six foot three frame, bulky biceps covered in tattoos, chest well defined in his tight black T-shirt, he left me feeling confused and I guess... hot?
I've never felt these things for anyone, not a real-life person anyway.
I blushed just thinking about my guilty pleasure, my dark secret, the thing that made me burn.
The part of me that has to remain hidden lest people think of me as a freak, or more of one anyway.
Jared was all excited about me working here but I don't know, I'm not sure what working with Colton Lyon day after day would do to my equilibrium.
* * *
Jared showed her around, introducing her to the boys who seemed on their best behavior for a change.
I hope he knew what the f*ck he was doing for real, he'd pushed so hard for me to give her a chance but she seems... not one to fit in here.
I heard a commotion outside my office and some rather colorful comments coming from the guys, shielded as humor of course, but I knew who had just shown up even before my door was opened.
"Who is she?"
"What the f*ck do you want Jennifer, I told you to stop coming by here like this, unannounced."
"Oh come on Colton, we're old friends, why can't I just drop in?"
"Because I don't want you here, that ship has sailed, please move the hell on."
"You know, you really should be much nicer to me, I might have some new customers lined up for you."
She tried putting on her sultry act, yeah okay, that shit just left a bad taste in my mouth.
"Not interested."
That got her attention, since she was a mercenary little money grubbing whore it was hard for her to believe that everyone wasn't ruled by lust for money as she was.
"What, what do you mean, you didn't even hear me out..."
"If these people are friends of yours I'm not interested in them or their business, now get out I have to work to do."
I turned back to the papers on my desk as she flounced out of the office in high dudgeon.
Outside the door I heard her repeat her question as to who Katarina was, crazy psychotic bitch, she would be jealous of anything female, even a teenage girl who hid her body in men's clothes.
"Step off Rossetti."
That was Jared in protective mode, he'd better be, Jennifer would eat his little rabbit for breakfast.
I was about to get up and go intervene but changed my mind, if she was going to fit in here she'd have to learn how to protect herself.
* * *