Chapter 2
After Jared returned from running her home I called him into the office. I had a few questions I needed answered.
He was still all smiles and excitement, which led me to believe there was more going on with them than he was saying.
"What's up Colt, you wanted to see me?"
"Yeah come in and sit down."
I studied him as he sat across from me, his relaxed posture as he slouched in the chair.
"You sure she can handle working around here Jared, this place is not your everyday run of the mill office."
"Don't worry man, she'll be fine, just let her get settled in and she'll be a great asset I promise."
"Why're you so into this girl, I thought you weren't interested like that?"
"Nah man, she's like my kid sister, it's just, she's had a hard time lately and I just want to look out for her ya know, we've always been tight, our fathers are like brothers man."
"Okay, if you say so, I heard you getting into it with Jennifer before, how'd that go?"
"Seriously, what did you ever see in that tarantula bro, she's like toxic."
"Don't I know it, you think if I knew she was schizo I would've gone there, you know these women, they show you one face when they wanna get their hooks into you and then when you least expect it they turn into blood sucking leeches."
"Did she scare your little friend?"
"Nah, Kat's not as much of a wimp as you seem to think, she can hold her own..."
"Coulda fooled me..."
"That's just for now until she finds her way, but trust me, Kat's an okay chick and she knows bikes."
"What do you mean knows bikes?"
"She used to work on my first ride with me in the summer when she'd come to visit, I even taught her to ride when she was like fourteen."
"So what's her family situation and why isn't she in school?"
"She finished high school, she's taking some time off before college."
There was something there, the way he shifted his body when I asked, changed his whole persona, what the f*ck could be the issue with school?
"Alright man, if you're sure we'll give it a shot, how's she getting here in the mornings?"
"I'll bring her until her truck is ready, her old man and mine are still working on it, should be another week at the most."
"As long as she has a ride."
I let him go since there was nothing more to discuss, plus I had shit to do, I had clients coming in later to pick up their shit and two new bikes to get started.
I put her out of my mind for the rest of the day as I went about my busy schedule, a bike shop was a noisy ass place with men doing six different things at once while calling out to each other for different parts and tools, nothing like the showroom where the finished product was showcased.
Jennifer might very well have had a line up of clients with deep pockets but like I'd told her, I didn't want any part of them if they were her buddies, her circle was just not my cup of tea.
Social climbing socialites who had nothing better to do than cause conflict and mayhem at every turn, mama's boys with their two hundred dollar haircuts and their whiny asses, no thank you, my bikes were for riding not showpieces.
At end of day we went our separate ways since it was a Tuesday, riding day was usually the weekends unless we had something special lined up, most of my guys had families that they needed to get home to.
That was one of my only stipulations, any man with a family had to put in the time, if you neglected your family I couldn't expect anything good from your ass, so you had to show me that you were man enough to man up.
Most of our activities were family oriented, unless we were going to kick some ass, then we left the ladies at home, a fight was no place for a female, and women's rights could go f*ck them self if they thought differently.
I had about ten God children because we're a clannish bunch, the women were close, they were always planning shit, everything revolved around food, I guess that's what happens when you have kids.
I paid my guys a better than decent wage because I could afford that shit and because they deserved it.
Any one of them knew they could come to me at any given time for help because that's how I roll, some of the wives even called me when their men weren't doing their shit, I have a mother and two sisters, f*ck that, no one in my crew was screwing over his old lady on my watch.
If a dude wasn't holding up his end of the bargain and couldn't be talked into seeing the error of his ways, he was out, if the wife stayed with him, that was on her, if she decided to cut the dick off, the rest of us looked out until such time as she got back on her feet.
Thank God we'd only had to do that twice, but a couple of lawyers in the crew were good at getting those women what they needed for them and their kids out of the scumbags so it was all good.
Women weren't cast out just because their men were out, once a part of Lyon's Crew, you were family, man, woman and child.
My phone rang just as I was about to climb on the back of my Dodge Tomahawk V10 bike.
"What's up mom?"
"Is that any way to answer the phone son?"
"Hello mother, how are you today?"
"Smart ass, are you coming to dinner or not?"
"Is today Tuesday, and did you not make my favorite roast and potatoes?"
"You know I did Colton, now what time shall I expect you?"
"How does seven thirty sound, that'll give me enough time to get cleaned up."
"Sounds lovely dear, are you bringing anyone?"
"Like I've told you every time you've asked that question since I was twenty one, no, now stop pushing, when I meet someone you'll be one of the first to know."
"That doesn't make sense, my friend Charlotte, you remember Char, you know she likes to dabble with the cards though she shouldn't, well anyway she swore to me that you were going to meet the girl of your dreams today."
"Sorry to disappoint you and Madame Laveau but no such luck."
"I don't know why I listen to Char in the first place, her predictions never hardly ever come true, though there was that time..."
"Mom, if you want me to be there sometime this millennium you're gonna have to let me go, you can regale me with stories of Char's sorcery over dinner okay beautiful?"
"Oh alright, you didn't defile your body any more since I last saw you did you?"
"Mom..."
"Okay okay, it's just I despair of what you'll do to yourself next, and please for the sake of my sanity be careful on that death trap you like to get around on, I don't know what's wrong with that perfectly nice Volvo I got for your last birthday."
"Im not a sixty year old virgin..."
"Colton Anthony Lyon, you watch your mouth."
I could hear the laughter in her scolding, good old mom, you gotta love her, she never gives up.
"See you soon beautiful."
I rang off and went home, it promised to be a long night at the Lyon's dinner table, mom took her crack pot friend Char's words as gospel and will nit pick me to death about every female I met today.
If she only knew that the only female I met today was a timid little thing that I wouldn't touch with a ten foot pole.
I was ready for her the next day at seven thirty, I'd spent way too much time last night dwelling on her and how she would fit in here, not to mention trying really hard not to picture her face every time mom mentioned Char's predictions.
I put all of that out if my head as I awaited her arrival, I needed my head examined for even going through with this.
This person will be working very closely with me and I'm a hard task master.
I like things done a certain way and if they weren't I wasn't always too kind in showing my displeasure if you know what I mean, I could be a mother f*cker when it comes to my business and if this chick turned out to be a thin skinned broad who cries and gets emotional at the drop of a hat she was f*cked.
* * *
I'm extremely nervous, it's my first day on the job and already I'm dreading it. The work shouldn't be a problem, I'm kinda smart so taking orders and putting them into a computer spread sheet should be easy enough, but Jared hadn't told me his boss was so...male.
Then again Jared doesn't know my little secret, no one does.
"Kat you sure you want to do this so soon, why don't you give yourself some time?"
"It's okay dad, I need to stay busy, don't worry about me, Jared will be there I'll be fine."
"If you're sure, I just don't want you to think you have to work, I can give you an allowance until you decide what you want to do."
"Thanks dad, that's sweet but I'm cool, now eat your breakfast and get to work."
"Yes ma'am, you know you don't have to do this everyday I can always grab a bite at the diner on the way."
"It's no trouble dad, stop worrying."
"So how's this new boss of yours, he seem like a nice guy?"
I took my time answering, I knew because of what had happened in Arizona everyone felt they had to shield me from everything but I didn't want them to, I was wounded yes, but not broken, I fought very hard not to be that person.
"He seems nice enough dad, it's just answering phones and keeping track of supplies and stuff like that, no biggie."
"I could probably get you on part time down at the station as a filing clerk or something, just for the summer, until..."
"Dad, I'm fine, stop worrying about me, I'm okay, I promise."
"Okay Kat, I'll back off but if things change you let me know right away."
"Okay dad." I kissed his cheek as I heard Jared outside.
"You tell that scamp to be careful with you on that death trap or I'll have his hide."
"Yes sir."
I left the house before he locked me in my room to keep me safe from the big bad world.
"Hey Jared."
"Morning Kat, you ready?"
"As I'll ever be."
I climbed on the back of his custom made bike the legs of my baggy trousers almost covering my ballet flats.
I loved the feel of the wind on my face as it rushed by, the freedom I felt on the back of a bike, it felt like I could just fly away from it all.
We got to the bike shop way too soon and Jared left me to go in by myself as he sauntered off to the shop in back.
My palms were sweating and I felt sick.
Get a grip Kat he's just a guy, just don't pay any attention to his arms or his tattoos or his face, shit, just don't look at him.
"You plan on hanging around out here all morning Sloane?"
I almost jumped out of my skin, where the hell had he come from?
"No sir...uh..I mean no Mr. Lyon."
"Colton, my name is Colton and I believe I told you about talking to the ground when addressing me."
Shit does that mean I have to look at him, not good.
I lifted my head and hoped for the best.
Well hell, didn't the man wear anything other than muscle shirts, how's a body supposed to breathe around all that hotness.
Down girl he's way out of your league.
I took a deep breath and tried again.
"Colton, I'm ready to get to work if you'll just show me where to start."
Good, my voice didn't crack or anything.
He turned to lead the way into the office, and I got a look at his buns, shit, was there anything about the man that wasn't perfect?
And how had I forgotten that I would be working this close to him, please God let him spend most of his time in the shop and not cooped up here in this office with me, I wouldn't last a week.
"Something on my ass?" Oh shit, kill me now, the worlds hottest man had just caught me staring at his ass, my mortification knew no bounds.
* * *