Page 16 of Colton (Raging Barons MC #17)

-:- NYX -:-

I step out of the apartment block and thankfully see no kids or older teenagers hanging around. I walk around the truck, checking to be sure nothing has happened to it overnight. Thank goodness it’s okay and I don’t have to tell Alf it’s wrecked after the first day.

My neighbor from just down the road, the single mother, shouts to me and I wait for her to catch up to me. She is pushing a stroller, so I give her a smile and peek inside when she gets to me. “Oh, how cute is she…” I gush as I see the bundle of pink inside the stroller.

“Thank you. But I am worried about her safety.”

“Why, what’s going on?” I turn to look at her, then the surrounding area. “I’m Nyx, by the way.”

“I’m Penny, and this is Arabella.” Tucking Arabella’s blanket around her a little tighter before she continues. “There have been a lot of kids hanging around here, and I was watching them yesterday frisking people. I stayed indoors because I was worried about them touching me or the stroller.”

“Hey, I had my biker friends come and speak with them. You’ll see a bike now and then riding past. They are monitoring the situation.

If you are worried I am only in Apartment 3, so you can come to me any time you need.

” Taking out my phone I look at Penny. “Give me your number and then I’ll call you.

That way, you’ll be able to reach out if needed.

Any time, Penny, you are worried about your safety, you call me and I’ll do what I can to help you. ”

“Thank you, Nyx.” Penny gives me her number, and I call her so she can save it. Then I give her a hug because she looks like she needs one.

“Where are you going?” I ask, turning to step towards the truck.

Penny smiles. “I’m just walking to the store to pick up a couple of things. Then I’m taking Arabella to the park where I’ll sit for thirty minutes, so she gets fresh air.”

“I’ll check in with you when I get home tonight. If we check with each other every morning and evening, we’ll be watching out for each other. If you need a babysitter I’m your girl.” I give her what must be a cheesy smile at my babysitting comment.

“Oh, that’s handy to know. Thank you, Nyx. Yes, it will be good to keep in contact.”

“I best get to work. I have four ladies I look after and I’m taking them to the garden center. I must be crazy to have suggested it.”

“Oh, well, good luck.” Penny sets off to the store and I jump into the truck. I’d best get myself to work before one of the ladies calls me and causes trouble at the same time.

As I’m driving to work, I think about Penny and how she’s alone with her daughter. I’m going to be nosy at some time and ask. If I’m going to be her friend and watch Arabella, then I need to know if the father is a problem.

Three hours later, I’m standing in the middle of the garden center wondering why on earth I suggested this trip.

The four of them have enough plants to start their own garden center.

I think the truck bed is going to be more than useful for all the stuff they have, and I’m going to have to drive steadily on the way home.

This is going to take hours I’m sure, when we get back between emptying the truck, and then planting it all.

“NYX!”

Turning when I hear my name called I sigh, because Tina is standing next to a six-foot high gnome. But it’s the look on her face that has me worried. “Well, that’s nice,” I say, thinking shit, please don’t say she purchased that thing.

“It’s so cute. I love it, and it was on sale so I had to buy it, and it’ll go into the back of the truck I’m sure.

I thought it could go in the corner of the yard, right where old man Griffith lives,” giggling while looking at me, for what I’m not sure.

But I stand looking at this gnome as though life is ending.

The apocalypse is coming. Or something like that.

“Nice,” that is all I manage to say before doing a U-turn and walking away because honestly, I’m not sure how we are going to get that thing in or out of the truck!

Sandy has a cart filled with potted plants of every description you can think of. I hide behind a display of watering cans while she passes by.

“It’s okay, Nyx. I only have three carts,” Sandy says as she is walking away from where I’m hiding.

Oh goddamn, this is bad, really bad. Only my second week with them and I’m hiding in a store. I’m going to kill Alf once I get to know him better. No wonder he thought a newbie would be best for this job.

“What are you doing, Nyx?”

“Ahh!” I screech with surprise. Turning, Carol and Joan are watching me, both with a cart overflowing with plants. Oh, they have hand trowels, garden gloves and other stuff in their carts too. “Um, I’m waiting for you all to finish shopping.”

“Is that right? It looked like you were hiding,” Carol says with a smile. Joan is struggling not to laugh, and it’s obvious they are finding this highly amusing.

“Okay, okay, I was hiding. Y’all are a menace, buying all this stuff. Do you really need it all? Oh, and have you seen the freaking gnome?” My tirade sounds more panicked as I speak, and Joan pats my arm, giving me soothing, shushing sounds.

“It’s okay, Nyx. We have it all under control.” Joan grabs my arm and pulls me along to her cart, where I’m instructed to push it to the checkout area.

At the checkout, Tina and Sandy are waiting with three young men. Before I can ask what is going on Tina shouts, “Nyx, I got us three men. Young, strong ones.”

I side-eye Joan who is mumbling about nice strong young men, tight butts and lickable abs.

That does it. I surge past the checkout, past my ladies and to the truck where I come to a grinding halt when I see a freaking gnome standing in the truck bed, surrounded by plants.

“Oh, kill me now,” I murmur. Taking out my phone, I call Alf.

“Hi, Nyx. Anything wrong?” Alf casually asks.

“Wrong? Wrong? I’ll give you wrong. You gave me this job knowing full well they are all damn lunatics.

What am I supposed to do to keep them all safe when every time I take them out they scatter like ants?

” Before I can say more Alf starts to laugh, and I look at my phone like it’s sprouted something nasty.

“Nyx. You are perfect for the ladies. They love you already. Just take their eccentricities onboard and you’ll love them right back. ”

Sighing, as I know this conversation is going nowhere. “Bye, Alf.”

I can hear the excited chatter approaching behind me, and I take a deep, calming breath before turning to face the ladies. When I do, they are all giving me a smile, and I mean a smile with warm, sparkling eyes. Alf’s right, they are loveable, but damn naughty.

“Come on, let’s get this stuff into the truck, then we can get home and sort it out. I have an appointment at four with my lawyer, so I have to leave a little earlier today.”

On the drive home, the ladies are talking among themselves excitedly.

I’m ignoring the stares we are getting from people on the sidewalk.

Damn that gnome, it’s attracting all kinds of attention.

The ladies are planning out the yard and how they are going to piss off Mr. Griffith with the gnome.

Now the gnome is about six-feet in height and the yard fence is that high so I’m not sure how it’s going to annoy the neighbor, but I’ve learned already not to ask questions.

Back at the house, I’m staggered when the three young men from the store appear and help unload the truck, including the gnome, which takes all three to carry.

They thankfully take it to where the ladies want it, and I’m right, it doesn’t show over the fence.

I’m happy about that as I don’t want issues with their neighbor.

I’m sure it would be me trying to soothe issues.

I have a stew in the crockpot for the ladies and biscuits on a tray.

They just need to pop them into the oven, and it’s all set for their supper.

I make sure they are set before shouting that I have to go and I’ll see them tomorrow.

I’m thankful that the garden center trip wasn’t too bad, but not sure I want to take them back anytime soon .

Parking the truck at the front of the lawyer's office, I climb out and lock up. Placing the keys in my purse I step toward the door when I hear my name called. Turning, I sigh as I see Zoey storming toward me.

“You are a bitch! Ruth won’t have anything to do with me because of you,” Zoey screeches, stomping her feet when she stops in front of me.

“You think that Ruth wants nothing to do with you because of me? How did you figure that out?” I ask.

“We’ve been friends forever. Then she makes friends with you and ditches me. She won’t answer my calls or open her door to me.”

“Well, maybe that’s because her reputation is getting tarnished because of her friendship with you. You know you are known as ‘Zipless Zoey,’ because you can’t keep your legs closed. Like a broken zip, you know, always open.”

Screeching again, Zoey raises her hand to slap me, but I grab her wrist and step forward, nearly nose-to-nose with her. “You want to go down this road? I’ll make sure you can’t walk for weeks. I’ve had to protect myself for years, so don’t think I can’t defend if necessary.”

The lawyer's office door opens and a middle-aged lady speaks. “You alright there? I am a witness that she tried to strike you.”

“We are okay, aren’t we, Zoey?” I ask.

“Yes.” Zoey rips her arm free while turning and storming up the sidewalk. I take a deep breath and look at the lady. “Thank you.”

“No problem. I know who she is, and if you know her you know she’s trouble.”

I shrug as I reply. “ I don’t know her well. She was friends with someone I thought I could be friends with, but turned out that wasn’t the case. I don’t want to be seen with Zoey and get a hint of her reputation on me.”

“No, you don’t. Now, are you coming in here?”

“Yes. I have an appointment. My name’s Nyx Broadhurst.” I step into the office reception area behind the lady.