I get myself situated in the car, grab my phone from my purse, and start the engine. I hate the Bluetooth speaker in my car, so I dial Hunter while I’m still sitting in the parking lot. The phone rings twice on the other end of the line, and I’m thinking he’s busy when I hear his husky voice say, “Hey, trouble.”
“Hey, babe, how’s your day going?” I ask him.
“A lot better now. You on your way home?” I place my phone on speaker, putting it in the cupholder before responding.
“Backing out now. Why are you awake? I thought you wouldn’t be going in to work for a few more hours.” There’s no set schedule. As long as the work gets done, that’s all the brothers care about.
“I wanted to be off when you wake up from your nap. Feel up to meeting at my property? Wanna talk to you about somethin’.” I’ve known about Cannon’s property for years. It’s in Diamondback territory but not inside the gates. Every guy who becomes a member has the option to buy one to five acres for themselves, and Cannon bought his three years ago.
“That sounds ominous,” I say, pulling out of the hospital parking lot, “but yes, I know where your property is. Do you have a specific time? I’m off work for the next three days, so I won’t be taking a long nap. I want to stay on some kind of normal schedule if possible.”
“Nothin’ bad, Monroe. How about you take a nap and call me when you wake up? I should be done in the next few hours or so, then we’ll meet there. I have a few things to show you.” I almost don’t want to nap now, but after working twelve hours, I know it’s necessary. And judging by the smell, a shower is needed too.
“Sounds good. You working on anything big at the moment?” Sometimes, the club will get new builds from some kind of celebrity; other times, it’ll be from your average Joe who’s looking for a weekend rider.
“Nah, just tying this bike up before the owner comes to pick it up. Kinda sucks it wasn’t somethin’ harder to work on.” I find myself yawning as I make the ten-minute commute to my dad’s house. Yep, at the age of twenty-one I live at home. It’s perfect for the time being, but after I looked at a few job openings, things might be changing.
“That stinks. I’m almost home. I’ll call you when I wake up.” I need to roll down the windows and crank up the music for more than one reason.
“Drive safe. Later, trouble.” I may have been giving him hell yesterday for not using my real name, but there’s something innately sexy when that word rolls off his tongue.
“Bye, Hunter.” We disconnect, and I jam out, decompressing from my shift while driving.
Five
Cannon
“About time you made it.” I’m sitting on the seat of my Harley when Monroe steps out of her car wearing another one of her short skirts that billow out when she walks, tank top baring her midriff, cupping her breasts. I know without a doubt she doesn’t have a bra on, since her nipples pebbled from the slight breeze on a warm Texas day only amplifies that.
“It takes time to get my beauty rest, you know.” She walks towards me in combat boot-clad feet.
“Monroe, don’t you know already? You’re beautiful no matter what.” Her face softens, and once she’s in reaching distance, I spread my legs, my hands wrapping around her hips, pulling her in closer.
“Hunter.” The softness in her tone, the way her eyes are hooded in desire. Fuck, it’s gonna be hard to keep my hands off her today. My lips graze hers, wanting to take this much further but knowing we shouldn’t until we talk.
“I want you, trouble, so fuckin’ bad my balls are achin’, but we gotta hammer a few things out, make sure we’re on the same page. Then, if shit is good, I’ll give you what we’re both after.” The light dims in her soft brown eyes, those flecks of honey surrounding them.
“Oh, okay.” She attempts to step away from me, but I don’t let her. Instead, my grip tightens.
“Nothin’ wrong. I’m going to let the club know there’s an us. I was dumb to think we could hide this. There’s no way. I don’t want to be able to wrap my arms around you, kiss you, or just fuckin’ talk to you. Not to mention, Shovel ain’t no idiot. He’ll figure it out, and by then, the consequences will be even worse.” I’m not telling Monroe about the look he gave me at getting to work early. He knows for damn sure that ain’t my normal routine, and now that we’re out here, all it would take is one drive-by for the whole club would to rain down on me, rightfully so.
“I’m kind of relieved. I hate sneaking around, and honestly, I know the club is going to be pissed either way, but I think if we both talk to them together, it’ll be much better.” Christ, I love the sweetness that’s inside of Monroe even if she doesn’t show it all the time, but there’s no fuckin’ way we’re doing this together.
“Know that, Monroe. Got another thing to talk to you about,” I end that conversation hoping she won’t keep at it.
“You’re full of news today. That’s good because when you’re done, I have news of my own.” Monroe nods her head, smiling at what she has to say.
“You can go first. Not gonna be ticked to hear about what has you smiling like the Cheshire cat.” I bite my lower lip, my thumbs sliding under the hem of her tank top, teasing her flesh, knowing by the way her body shivers that it’s getting to her.
“Okay, I’m transferring hospitals.” She throws it out there.
“Well, fuck, that might interfere with what I had to say next, but tell me why?”
“I love my dad, truly, I do, but the amount of pussy thrown his way while I’m in front of him is disgusting. He doesn’t ask for it and he doesn’t feed into it, but it’s there just the same. No daughter should have to see that.” I chuckle. Doc has always been a stand-up guy, but the way her face scrunches up in disgust is cute as hell.
“Get that, trouble. Maybe you can transfer to another area. You knew when you started he’s in the ER more often than not. Do you really want to transfer to the next town over and commute forty-five minutes both ways after a twelve-hour shift?”
“Ugh, why do you have to be so reasonable?” Monroe questions, but little does she know it’s for my own selfish reasons too.
“Just trying to let you see it all. Is there an opening in another department?” I don’t stop my ministrations on her skin, and if I dipped my head down just a little, my mouth would be on her sweet, smooth body.
“Maybe. I haven’t looked, but I will,” she compromises.
“Good, because I just put a lock on a builder to start on the house. Going to pick up a camper and stay here more than the club while it happens. Want you here with me, not driving a million miles a year when it could be spent here with me, you get me?” I declare.
“Yeah, I get you, Hunter.” I take her lips, sealing the fuckin’ deal, all while knowin’ I got some shit to take care of and Monroe might hate me when it’s done.
Six
Monroe