“Don't bother,” he said, running a hand through his short, but thick hair. “This'll all be our territory someday, babe. We'd be fools not to lay down the law. We already own the fuck outta Tennessee. Gonna have Georgia, too, and the least my brother and I can do is start keeping order in our own damned town.”
“You really grew up here?” I asked, walking over to the grill to push the badly burned burgers off it. “I mean, I already know you did. It's just hard to believe. This town makes too many boring men.”
He chuckled, a rich, throaty sound that tempted me to get up close and personal. “Born and raised. Still come back every week or two to see our grandpa. Owe that man my left nut, and maybe the right one, too.”
Crude. I smiled anyway, eyeing him over my shoulder while he realized how rough he was talking, muttering an apology.
“Shit, let's pretend you didn't hear that. How long 'til the end of your shift?” he asked.
“Maybe another hour. I just need to cover for Tina a little longer in case anybody wants food. Sounds like the crowd is clearing out after the rumble back here...”
“Yeah, my brother's out there, playing peacemaker. Don't worry. We'll make sure those fuckers gave your boss every cent she was owed. We'll leave some extra for the mess from our own pockets on top of it.” His lips twitched, and he looked down at the blood drying near his boot.
“You don't owe us anything else,” I said nervously. “You and Freddy have already been a big help. Really.”
“Babe, his name's Piece. Mine's Joker. Get it straight.” He looked at me sharply, and I nodded. Then he cocked his head. “Say, what the fuck was yours again?”
“Summer,” I said, feeling my cheeks turn beet red. “Summer Olivers.”
“Ah, yeah, grandpa used to see your ma to hash out his VA shit at the bank. Christine, right?”
I nodded. Talking about mama reminded me I really needed to check in with her soon, just in case she needed anything on my way home.
She was stocked up on prescriptions. The days when she'd ask me for snacks or water were becoming less and less, the nausea catching up with her a little more by the day.
I tried not to think about it.
“You don't have to hang around if you have somewhere else to be,” I said. “Really, Joker. I can clean up and find my way home.”
“Fuck that. You're going for a ride, whether you want to or not. Trust me, babe, it'll do you some good to get the wind in your hair for a few minutes after the shit that went down back here.”
“Okay, well...fine.” I looked at him and smiled, instantly dropping my eyes when he returned the glance. “I'll wrap up as soon as I can.”
“Whatever. You let me know when you're ready to go. I've got a beer to finish out in the bar. Say the word and I'll help you mop this shit up before we go.” His boot tapped the bloody smear where they'd wiped frat boy's face on the floor, after they'd finished kicking the hell out of him.
I watched Joker turn smartly and disappear through the swinging doors.
Then I doubled over, propping myself up on the counter next to the grill. Waves of confusion washed over me.
Christ. What the hell was wrong with me?
A hundred knots twisted my stomach. It wasn't just all the recent shock. The tension tugged a little lower, tingling, kicking up a heatwave that made me sweat and flush.
It wasn't just because the man standing in front of me was a crazy, unpredictable thug.
Honestly, my eyes couldn't see it every time I looked at him.
They saw the rugged, muscular beast who'd narrowly saved me from a nightmare.
They only saw power, forced me to imagine how easily the same big, strong arms that sheltered me against his chest could throw me around, undress me, roam every inch of me...
This man punched, kicked, and swore without any apologies. Would he kiss the same way?
Closing my eyes, I stumbled through the rest of my shift, trying to ignore crazy emotions slashing through me like comets.
I called mama to check in with her just before I wrapped up. She asked me if everything was fine, and I lied through my teeth.
She couldn't know about what went down today. If she heard about the frat boy, it would kill her. So would finding out that I was about to ride home with one of the two biggest, meanest bastards in Seddon.
Whatever happened next was private. Between me, Jackson Taylor, and God.
Oh, crap.
*
“You've never ridden before? Bullshit. Looks like you were made for it,” Joker said, cupping my chin and pulling on the straps, making sure my helmet was secured tight. I watched him climb onto the bike in front of me.
My pulse quickened when I realized how little space there was between us on his motorcycle.
“Ain't no mystery when it comes to riding. Put your little hands around me and hold the fuck on, woman. That's all there is to it. I'll have you home in five or ten.”
He didn't ask me twice. My hands softly curled around his stomach.
No surprise, his abs were as rock hard as the rest of him. Joker put his hands over mine, adding pressure to my fingers, urging me to hold him tighter.