CHAPTER THREE

Payton

UNDER DANI’S DIRECTION, I pulled into the hidden entrance of Big Ernie’s Body Shop at the back, up to the sky-high double gates, where she leaned out of the backseat window and entered a code into a keypad before the gates allowed us entry.

“This is only the third or fourth time I’ve come this way,” Dani admitted.

“Oh?” I asked. “How do you normally get in?”

“The front, like normal people.” She giggled. “But Austin won’t let me go that way without him anymore. Says it’s safer to come this way for whatever reason.”

“I can’t imagine many folks know this way even exists,” I said, and pulled into a parking lot filled with trucks and bikes.

“Probably not. It’s only for the super secret members,” Dani said, and laughed again. “I’m just waiting to see if they have a handshake I’m going to have to learn.”

“Maybe we should make our own up and make them learn it,” Macey retorted.

“Chest bump included?” I asked.

“And risk every man in the place getting a hard-on,” Dani said. “Probably want to skip the chest bump.”

We dissolved into giggles as I parked my car and we piled out. Dani led us toward the large brick building, but before we reached it, the back door opened and Booker strolled out, reaching us and pulling Dani in for an intimate and passionate kiss. I had to look away or I was sure I’d combust… or need a few minutes alone with my battery-operated boyfriend.

“Hey baby,” he said.

She chuckled. “Hey yourself. I take it you’ve been watching the monitors?”

He raised an eyebrow. “That would border on stalking, baby. I would never do that.”

“Hmm-mm, sure.” She grinned up at him. “Have you told everyone to be on their best behavior?”

Booker smiled at me and Macey. “You ladies are safe in our presence. The bathroom has even been scrubbed by a particularly eager club who—”

“Austin,” Dani warned.

“Sorry,” he said. “Young woman.”

I laughed. “Wow, the red-carpet treatment. I like it.”

“Come on in and get out of the cold.”

Booker hung back so we could walk in ahead of him and I followed Dani and Macey inside. We walked through a professional kitchen that was well-equipped with the biggest appliances I’d ever seen… the fridge alone could probably hold enough food to feed a hundred people for a month. We dropped off the wine with a few of the women inside and, after quick introductions, Dani started the tour.

We entered a large common room already packed with biker men and women. The space was filled with sofas, overstuffed chairs, a pool table, large flat-screen television, several smaller tables that children gathered around for board games, and three outdoor picnic tables, where people were already sitting down and eating.

“Dani, Dani, Dani!” a little girl squealed and ran to Dani who scooped her up and gave her a hug. The little girl wrapped her arms around her neck and squeezed.

I was momentarily stunned as I recognized the little girl, but it wasn’t until I saw the man walking towards us that my breath left my body. I blindly reached for Macey who was standing slightly behind me.

“You okay, Pay?” She grasped my hand, even as I continued to stare at the man from the supermarket.

The man’s slow smile as he reached us had me squeezing my legs together. “Hey.”

He wore jeans that were obviously made for him, a long-sleeved black thermal shirt and a leather vest with several patches on it. He was delicious.

I swallowed, nodded, and forced a smile. “Hi,” I squeaked.

“You know Hawk?” Dani asked as she set Lily back on her feet.

I shook my head. “Uh… no, not really.”

“Lily found her in the store,” he explained as he continued to study me. “And she kindly found me.”

Dani giggled. “You might want to consider a leash.”

“A fuckin’ short one,” Hawk retorted.

I held my hand out. “I’m Payton.”

He took my hand and gave it a squeeze. “Hawk.”

Lily patted my leg and I glanced down at her as I pulled my hand from Hawk’s.

“You were in the stowa,” she said.

I smiled and hunkered down in front of her. “I was at the store.”

“You’re so pwetty.”

I giggled. “Thank you, sweetie. So are you.”

“Daddy thinks you pwetty too.”

“Lily,” he said with a groan.

I smiled. “I’m sure he thinks your mom is too.”

She frowned. “I don’t have a mommy.”

“Okay, trouble, it’s time you go play with your friends,” Hawk said, and picked her up, heading toward the kitchen.

“For the record,” Dani said after he was out of earshot. “Hawk’s totally single. And his real name’s Alex James.”

Alex. Sexy. It suited him. For whatever reason, I had a hard time wrapping my mind around ‘Hawk.’ Alex seemed more fitting somehow.

“Babe,” Booker warned. “Don’t.”

“You are not the boss of me, Austin Carver,” she said, and patted his cheek with her hand.

“Fuck me,” he said.

“Later,” she promised, and focused back on me. “You let me know if you want me to set anything up.”

“Um, no,” I stressed. “No interference from anyone, thank you very much.”

“Got it, babe?” Booker asked.

“I got it, honey,” Dani said, and then smiled back at me. “But you let me know if you change your mind.”

“I won’t.”

She winked. “We’ll see.”

I rolled my eyes. “I could do with some wine. Anyone else?” Macey squeezed my hand and I released my hold on her. “Sorry.”

“I didn’t need that hand, hon. It’s all good.” She giggled and pulled me to a stop. “So that’s the guy?”

I nodded.

“He’s apparently single.”

I nodded again.

“And super, super hot.”

I bit my lip and nodded. Macey grinned. “I’m all about Payton… remember that.”

I let out the breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding. “Thank you.”