Page 24 of Hot as Hell (Royal Bastards MC, Montreal, Canada #2)

Chapter Twenty-One

Hemlock breathed in the crisp night air as they rode down the highway.

Losing himself in the road and the wind rushing past him, he relaxed against Charlie.

Out on the highway, he didn’t have to think about work, the club, not even his past bothered him there.

Just the freedom that surrounded him as he rode.

His mind had been inundated with memories since telling Charlie about his past. He hated when his mind wandered back in time.

The past couldn’t be changed, you had to live in the now, for tomorrow was never promised.

Watching as those in front of the pack signaled, he slowed down to turn into the parking lot.

Pulling in, he backed up his bike in line with the others.

He felt Charlie grip his shoulder and climb from behind him.

Removing his helmet, he set it over the odometer, then got off the bike.

He smiled when Charlie hung her helmet from the back foot peg.

When he looked back around, everyone was milling about waiting on them before heading into the restaurant. It was supposed to have been a night out, just the two of them. But instead, half the chapter was in tow. Seemed no one had any real plans and wanted to ride out to Mull-hallow Hall.

Upstairs was a restaurant that had a nineteen fifties vibe.

Downstairs had a very chill bowling alley area with leather sofa sectionals and a martini bar.

How they had gotten a reservation for a dozen people amazed him, especially since it was last minute.

With his hand on the small of Charlie’s back, Hemlock walked them into the restaurant.

Grumbling to himself, Hemlock thought next time he’d keep his plans to himself.

He felt Charlie slip her arm around his waist as they entered the establishment and immediately relaxed.

Three hours later, Charlie lifted the glass to her mouth. She was not alone in her drinking. Oh no, Sway, Vicious’ wife and her best friend Lottie, were right there with her and a few of the girls from the club to boot.

They had enjoyed a great meal, afterwards they had managed to snag a lane downstairs. Not much bowling was happening, but drinking was. Especially by the ladies. Now the empty wine bottles lingered on the table as the women toasted to fine men and wine.

Hemlock sipped his club soda, watching Charlie as she laughed. He’d realized early on she was cutting loose, and he stopped drinking. It would be hard enough keeping Charlie on the back of his bike intoxicated much less sober.

She had indulged in everything from Chicago Charcuterie board, which consisted of grilled sausages, assorted cheeses, pimento cheese, pepperoncini’s, red apples, Chicago-style bar-b-q sauce, maple mustard, pickles, candied pecans, fried naan to Atlantic cod and Hot Honey Chicken.

Charlie rested her chin on her fist smiling at something one of the other girls was saying when she felt that feeling in her gut.

And her smile faded. Jumping up, Charlie darted away in the direction of the lady’s room.

“I got this,” Sway said as she followed in pursuit of Charlie.

That was their clue the night was at its end. Signaling for the waitress, Hemlock asked for the check. Too much wine and rich food sometimes did not go well. He was about to send Lottie to check on Sway and Charlie when they walked back to the table. Charlie looked a lot less chipper than before.

“Are you ready to go, sweetheart?”

Charlie nodded, said, “Yep,” which was immediately followed by a hiccup.

Laughing, Hemlock led her back upstairs almost having to carry her so she wouldn’t fall down.

When they got outside, he decided the best course of action was to carry her.

Scooping her up, he made it to the bike in record time.

It took him and Truck to get her on the bike.

Then he did something he thought he’d never have to do.

Using a bungee cord from his saddlebag, he strapped Charlie to the bitch bar of his bike.

“You think you can get her back to the house?” Truck asked.

“Fuck no. That’s why I’m heading one block over to The Mulberry Inn.”

“That sounds like a solid plan. I think I’ll do the same and roll back with you two in the morning.”

“Keep on my six where you have eyes on us.”

“Will do.”

Turned out everyone had the same idea as Hemlock.

No one wanted to make the hour and a half drive back after drinking.

He managed to get down the street before Charlie started dancing around on the bike.

It was like having one of the inflatable sales-guys moving in the wind.

Slapping her on the thigh, Hemlock got her to stop.

All he had to do was turn the corner and get to the end of the street.

It would have been easier to have walked her there and went back for the damn bike.

Making the corner, Hemlock glanced over catching their reflection in a shop window. He saw Charlie’s helmet had slipped down over her face. He felt it fall off, getting wedged between them. He wanted to be pissed but it was too damn funny the way she was struggling to get it from between them.

Hemlock waited for Truck to park and come to help with Charlie, before backing his own bike into a parking spot.

Taking her helmet, he shoved it into the saddlebag and half walked, half carried her into the hotel lobby.

The first chair he spotted was where he planted Charlie while he checked them in.

When he turned around, she was sliding out of the chair like melted ice cream sliding from a sugar cone. As she fell onto the floor, he heard her laugh. “She’s toast,” Truck said beside him with a laugh.

“Yes, she is.” Now all he needed to do was get her upstairs and ready for bed. “I’m blaming all of you on her current condition. All he got was laughter and a lot of ribbing from his brothers. Even the ladies laughed when they were the ones behind giving Charlie not just wine but shots.

“Do you think you can get her off the floor?”

“I’m thinking of leaving her there.”

“Stop you two.” Sway stepped around her husband and Hemlock. Staring down at Charlie and thought the boys might have it right. The girl laid on the rug with her eyes closed and a wide spread grin on her face.

It took Hemlock, Vicious, and Truck to get her upright. Once she was on her feet, Hemlock realized getting her to walk to the room was futile. As he scooped her up into his arms, she let out a woo-hoo, which echoed in the hotel lobby. Yep, this is gonna be fun he thought sarcastically.

Late into the night Hemlock lay awake, listening to Charlie softly snoring next to him.

As he stared at the ceiling, he thought about Charlie being a part of his life.

Seemed he found himself doing that a lot lately.

He worried what he was bringing into her life.

Baggage, that’s what. Even if she left him tomorrow, he’d had a great time while it lasted.

Rolling over, Hemlock wrapped himself around her.

Sometimes he just needed to shut his mind off and live in the moment.