Page 12 of Hard as Stone (Stoneheart MC #2)
“Uh-huh.” Felix crosses his arms. “That why you’re wearing a dress instead of your usual jeans and t-shirt?”
I glance down at my outfit, suddenly very aware of how I must look.
The dress clings to my curves in a way my work clothes never do, and my hair is tousled from the ride on Axel’s bike.
I can feel a flush creeping up my neck, but before I can come up with a suitably cutting response, the screen door creaks open behind my brothers.
My stomach drops as Dad’s shadow fills the doorway.
“Where have you been?” His voice is quiet, controlled. That’s how you know he’s really angry.
“Out.” I lift my chin, refusing to be cowed. “I’m an adult. I’m allowed to go out.”
“Not with members of that motorcycle club.” He steps onto the porch, and my brothers part like the Red Sea. “I thought I made myself clear about staying away from them.”
“You made yourself clear about a lot of things.” I move to step around him, but his hand shoots out, grabbing my arm.
“This isn’t just about you anymore, Poppy.” His fingers dig in slightly. “We have important contracts. Powerful people counting on us. I can’t have you jeopardizing everything I’ve worked for because you want to play bad girl with some biker.”
I yank my arm free. “I wasn’t playing anything. And what I do in my free time has nothing to do with your precious contracts.”
“Everything we do reflects on this company.” He follows me into the house. “I have meetings with city officials who?—”
“The MC are respected business owners,” I cut in, spinning to face my father. “They own legitimate businesses in town and contribute to the community. You can’t just write them off as criminals.”
“I don’t care if they donate to orphans and rescue puppies,” Dad growls. “They’re dangerous, Poppy. And getting involved with them could jeopardize everything we’ve worked for.”
“I’m not ‘involved’ with anyone,” I protest, even as Axel’s kisses burn on my lips. “I just went out for a drink. I played some pool. That’s it.”
Dad glares at me skeptically. “A drink. With a member of the motorcycle club we were explicitly warned to stay away from.”
“Warned by who?” I demand. “Those city officials and Summit suits you’re always so eager to impress?”
Dad’s jaw tightens. “They’re none of your concern. What matters is that you’re putting this family and our livelihood at risk by associating with those criminals.”
“You don’t know anything about him or the MC.” I throw my hands up in exasperation.
“You’re na?ve, Poppy. Always have been. Just like your mother.” He turns away, heading for his bedroom. “Stay away from the MC. That’s not a request.”
“Or what?” I call after him. “You’ll fire me? Good luck finding someone else willing to work shit hours directing traffic for barely minimum wage.”
He pauses in his doorway. “There are a lot of people who’d love your job, kid. Don’t forget that.”
The door closes with a decisive click, leaving me standing in the hallway with my brothers.
“He’s just worried about you,” Hugo offers weakly.
“No.” I kick off my shoes, suddenly exhausted. “He’s worried about his precious company. Same as always.”
“So?,” Felix says, following me down the narrow hallway toward my room, “Dad’s got a point about the MC. They’re not exactly model citizens.”
I whirl to face him. “And what exactly do you know about them? Other than what Dad’s told you?”
He shifts uncomfortably. “Everyone knows?—”
“Everyone knows what people tell them to know.” I think of Axel’s gentleness, the way he’d insisted on taking me home instead of taking advantage. “Maybe try thinking for yourself for once.”
“Pops.” Hugo steps between us, always the peacekeeper. “We’re just looking out for you. The way you look at that guy... it’s like you’re asking for trouble.”
“Maybe I am.” I slip past them into my room—if you can call the converted sunroom at the back of the trailer a room.
The walls are thin enough that I can hear everything that goes on in and outside this house, but at least it’s mine.
“Maybe trouble is exactly what I need to feel like life is worth something for once.”
“What you need is to be careful,” Felix says. “If Dad finds out you’re actually dating one of them?—”
“I’m not dating anyone.” Yet . The memory of Axel’s jacket and his heated kisses flashes through my mind, but I push it away. “And last I checked, neither of you is my keeper.”
“No, but?—”
“Good night, boys.” I shut the door in their faces, leaning against it until I hear their footsteps retreat.
With a heavy sigh, I collapse onto my bed, kicking off my shoes. The dress—which had felt sexy and daring at the bar—now feels confining. I change into an oversized t-shirt, scrub off my makeup, and try to make sense of this night.
Dad’s words echo in my head as I try to get comfortable against my pillow. You’re na?ve, Poppy. Always have been. Just like your mother.
The comparison to a woman who abandoned us all to chase empty dreams stings, but what hurts more is the difference in how the men in my life see me.
Dad treats me like a child who needs constant direction, who can’t be trusted to make her own choices.
But Axel... he challenges me, respects my decisions even when he disagrees.
When I told him I couldn’t keep his jacket, he didn’t argue or try to force the issue.
He accepted my choice while making it clear the offer still stood.
Maybe that’s what scares Dad so much—not that Axel’s dangerous, but that he’s worried Axel could see me as an equal. Someone capable of making her own decisions, even if those decisions don’t align with what my family wants.
My phone buzzes, and my heart jumps, thinking it’s Axel. But it’s just a message from Dad in the family group chat.
Dad
Team meeting tomorrow. 6AM sharp. No excuses.
Great. Another chance for him to remind us who’s boss.
A second message follows.
Dad
And Poppy—skip the sparkly boots. We have investors visiting the site. Wear something appropriate.
I type back a thumbs up emoji, resisting the urge to tell him exactly where he can shove his dress code. The last thing I need is another lecture about professionalism and family loyalty.
Rolling onto my back, I stare at the water stains on my ceiling.
From somewhere in the trailer park, the rumble of a motorcycle echoes—not Axel’s.
I’ve already memorized the sound of his bike.
Still, it makes me smile, remembering the solid warmth of him, the way his hands had felt on my skin, the promise in his voice when he’d said he’d call.
Trouble, he’d called me.
Maybe he’s right. Maybe I’m the trouble. But lying here, replaying every heated look and stolen touch, I can’t bring myself to care. Let Dad worry about his precious contracts. Let my brothers fret about my virtue.
For the first time in my life, I want something that’s just for me. Something that has nothing to do with family obligation or duty.
I want Axel.
And judging by everything that happened between us tonight, he wants me too.
My phone buzzes.
Unknown number
Home safe, trouble?
My heart does a little flip as I type back.
Poppy
Depends on your definition of safe.
His response is immediate.
Axel
What’s wrong? Need me to come back?
The instant protectiveness makes me smile.
Poppy
Just family drama. I’m fine. What are you up to?
Axel
Still thinking about that kiss.
Heat pools low in my belly.
Poppy
Which one?
The reply comes so fast, I barely have time to breathe before my phone vibrates again.
Axel
All of them.
I bite down on my bottom lip, trying to suppress the grin spreading across my face.
This is ridiculous. I’m lying on a creaky twin bed in a room that’s technically meant for plants, texting a man who could probably bench-press a motorcycle.
A man my father would disown me for even speaking to.
And yet here I am, cheeks flushed, heart racing like a teenager sneaking out after curfew.
I tap out a response, fingers hovering over the keyboard as I try to decide if I should play it cool or let him know just how much those kisses affected me too. In the end, I settle for something in between.
Poppy
Funny, I can’t stop thinking about your jacket.
His reply comes quickly.
Axel
Maybe next time you won’t take it off.
Next time. The promise in those two words has me pressing my thighs together.
Poppy
That a threat or a promise, Road Captain?
Axel
Both.
From Dad’s side of the wall, I hear the murmur of another late-night phone call.
Something about ‘progress reports’ and ‘keeping things on schedule.’ Usually I’d ignore it—Dad’s always working, always scheming about the next big contract.
But after Axel’s vague warnings about the town and questions about Summit.
.. something about it makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up.
I set my phone down, moving closer to my wall. Dad’s voice gets clearer: “No, no one suspects anything. I’ve got it under control. Just make sure the money?—”
The floor creaks under my feet and his voice cuts off abruptly.
Shit.
I dive for my bed as his door opens, my heart pounding. But it’s not the conversation that has my pulse racing—it’s the memory of Axel’s words outside city hall:
This town isn’t what it seems. And neither are the people running it.
What exactly has my father gotten us mixed up in?