Page 4

Rebel

S he was late. Only ten minutes, but still. My gaze stayed fixed on my phone screen as each minute ticked away revealing the truth that I feared, she wasn’t going to show up. Anger warred with the brutal sting of rejection, and I wondered why the fuck I was putting myself through this. If Nikki didn’t want a conversation, and didn’t want my help, then why was I pushing it so hard?

She was a grown-ass woman, and she managed to stay alive in all the years we’ve been apart, so what did I give a shit?

“Hey, sorry I’m late.” She stood beside my table wearing an unsure smile as she waited for me to say something. “It took longer than I expected to get out of the festival parking lot. They didn’t give me any special parking spot, not that I expected it, but you know I kind of did, since it was a madhouse getting out of there.”

“You’re rambling, Nikki.”

Her mouth snapped shut but her eyes sparkled with amusement. “This is weird, and this day has been… a lot.” I found her honesty refreshing.

“Is that why you changed?” Instead of the black dress and ankle boots she had on earlier, Nikki had changed into a pair of skintight black pants, a plain black t-shirt, and a denim jacket, but her legs still looked a mile long in those damn ankle boots with the four inch heel.

My question shocked her as she took the booth seat across from me. “In part, yeah.” Her chin notched high in the air, her expression almost a dare.

“Trying to look hot for me?”

“No,” she answered a little too quickly. “After everything that happened, I felt better in pants. And I needed a shower after twelve hours in the desert.”

It wasn’t a complete answer, but I didn’t push because there were other things I needed answers for. “Well you look beautiful.” She looked even more beautiful than she had the night we met.

“Thank you.” She studied me but she was uneasy, eyes darting around the bar as if she was worried that she was being followed. “Your hair is longer.”

“That happens over the years. You like it?”

She shrugged. “It works for you.”

Yeah, she liked it. “So what do you want to talk about first? Our night together, or why you were messing with the Blood Fangs?” There was no point beating around the bush.

“No,” she answered easily and with a teasing smile. She ordered a shot and a beer before she turned to me, relaxing into the booth seat.

“As pretty as you are Nikki, I didn’t come here just to look at ya.” Even though I could look at her all night long.

When the drinks arrived, she knocked the shot back immediately and took several healthy pulls from her beer before she leaned back, sighed and folded her hands on top of the table. “I was hurt that you didn’t leave a number or wake me up before you left. I realize now that was foolish, maybe a little na?ve. It was a one night stand.”

“It was more than that to me, that’s why I left a note with my number on the nightstand.”

Nikki looked away as if she couldn’t handle that particular truth. “I don’t know what happened, but it wasn’t there.”

I sighed and took another sip to give myself time to think. To process. Whatever happened it had cost us a chance to explore the chemistry between us, but it was done. It happened. “So, what do we do about it?”

She shrugged. “I’m not sure. I was, maybe I still am, so angry. And hurt. I know if what you’re saying is true then I have no reason to be angry at you, but still…”

“I get it, believe me.” My anger had been a hot flash compared to how long the hurt had unexpectedly lingered.

Nikki stared at me for a long time, tilting her head to the side as if she was studying me and taking note of the differences she mentioned earlier. She licked her lips slowly and there was a flash of arousal in her eyes, but it disappeared as quickly as it had appeared. “You get it,” she whispered, her tone held a hint of disbelief. “That oddly makes me feel better,” she said and let out a heavy sigh before she picked up her beer.

“Good.” It was so good to see her again. Like, really fucking good and I almost couldn’t believe it.

“You called into my show.” Her lips curled into a smile. “Rebel.” She nodded towards the patch right over my heart.

Her smile was contagious, and I found myself with a big-ass grin on my face too. “I did. I heard your voice, and it was instantly familiar. So fucking familiar, and before I knew what I was doing, your voice was in my ear.”

“And you were spilling your guts. Was any of it true?” Those big brown eyes were filled with hope as she looked at me.

“Yeah, almost all of it was true, though some might have been sanitized for public broadcast. We were heading to Chicago for business, not just a road trip and the trouble on the road followed us.”

“Is the Steel Demons thing a new development, or were you a biker back when we met?”

“Been in the MC for more than a decade.”

“And the reason you didn’t tell me?”

I shrugged. “Because when a woman finds out I’m just a conquest, and I liked how you were just interested in me.” It wasn’t an admission I made lightly but I knew the only shot I had with Nikki was honesty.

“All right, I accept that answer.” She flagged down the lone waitress in the bar and offered a friendly smile. “Another shot and a beer, please.”

“Sure thing. Anything for you, hon?”

“Another beer. Thanks.” Once the young waitress was gone, I turned back to Nikki and grinned. “Nervous?”

“Some, I guess. You’re not?”

I shrugged. “Maybe, but now that I know it was all just a mistake, I’m just happy to see you.” She wasn’t ready to hear that she was the reason I’d given up on relationships, or that I wanted a second chance with her. Not yet. But soon.

She smiled. “It’s good to see you too, Logan. Or should I call you Rebel?”

“Call me whatever you want.” I smiled again, which was more than I’ve smiled in the past few months. Maybe longer. But the smile was short-lived, because I just clocked two members of the Blood Fangs near the entrance.

They looked around, two men on a mission, and I was sure that it was me they were after. Or Nikki. Maybe both of us.

“What is it, Logan? What’s wrong?” She looked over her shoulder and froze when she saw them. “Shit. This wouldn’t happen to be a biker bar, would it?”

I wanted to lie to her and tell her it was, but she was a smart woman, and I refused to lie. “It’s not.”

“They’re here for me?” she asked.

I shrugged. “Or me. Want to tell me how long this has been going on?”

“It’s a recent development that I didn’t know was an actual thing, until I spotted them at the festival talking to Joe Cameron.” She blew out a breath and took the shot glass straight from the waitress. “Thanks.”

“Whatever you do,” I leaned in and told her, my gaze deadly serious. “Don’t freak out.”

“Yeah, sure.” She finished the shot and schooled her expression just as the Blood Fangs appeared.

“You shouldn’t go around starting rumors about people.” His gaze was fixed on Nikki. “It’s how people get hurt.”

“And if they’re not rumors?” Nikki wore a teasing expression that only served to piss the long-haired bikers off.

He leaned in and got in her face. “As far as you’re concerned, they are.”

She sat back and reached for her beer. “Whatever you say.”

That was the wrong thing to say. “You and your fucking show have people stirring up trouble and asking questions they shouldn’t. Questions that could get people hurt.”

“Like the councilman?” She arched a brow. “Look, I don’t know the whole story, but what I do know, is that he’s more likely to throw you under the bus than I am. I don’t care about your biker business, I care about the public servant.”

“Don’t fuck with me.”

Nikki sighed dramatically, it was fake as fuck though. “I can see it now, local biker gang forced councilman into dirty business, according to Joe Cameron.”

“Bitch,” he growled and banged his fist on the table before he lunged forward and put his hand around her throat.

I swept his feet from under the table which sent him falling backwards onto the floor before I got to my feet and punched the other asshole straight in his big-ass nose. “Don’t ever fucking touch her again!” I pressed my foot on his chest and applied pressure. “You understand?”

“Fuck. You.” He laughed a second before his friend landed a cheap shot to my kidney.

A pained grunt escaped before I turned around to handle that motherfucker, throwing two quick jabs to his nose—again—and two body shots that made him stagger to his knees.

“Logan,” Nikki shouted, and when I turned, she had a beer bottle raised over her head and brought it down over his with a ferocious growl. “Behind you!”

I ducked instinctively and turned with a gut shot. And then another. And another. I pounded on him until I felt a kick to my back that knocked me on top of the nearly unconscious Blood Fangs member.

“Stop,” Nikki shouted and then I heard a grunt.

“You rotten bitch!”

I turned at the sound of his angry voice just in time to see him backhand Nikki and send her flying across the floor. I got to my feet and rushed him, both of us skidded on the floor just as more boots appeared in my view.

“Good thing we showed up before he got his ass kicked.” That was the amused voice of my so-called friend, Maverick. “Need a hand?”

I grabbed his offered hand and got to my feet before I turned to face Nikki. “Are you okay?”

She held one hand to the side of her face. “I hurt a little, but I’ll live. You?”

“Fine.” I helped her to her feet and held her face in both of my hands. “Listen Nikki, this isn’t just a story someone told you on your show. There’s some truth to it and the Blood Fangs are watching you. They won’t forget, I can promise you that.”

Her eyes were round as fear swam in her depths. “So, what do I do? It’s not like the radio station is going to give me a security detail.” She shook her head. “Thank you for stepping in Logan. I really appreciate it.” She laid her hand on my arm and gave it a squeeze. “Really.”

That one touch. One look. So full of sincerity, and if I wasn’t mistaken a hint of longing. “You don’t have to thank me for doing what’s right, Nikki. I won’t let those assholes get close to you.”

She looked away quickly, but her hand stayed on my arm.

“As wonderful as it is watching Rebel’s tongue malfunction, we should get the hell out of here unless we’re ready to whoop some ass.” Maverick’s voice was too fucking amused.

Hawk joined in. “Don’t get us wrong, this is really fucking entertaining and I’m happy to kick some ass. But I don’t have enough ammo if those assholes come back.”

“Ammo?” Nikki whispered softly, her eyes as wide as saucers. “Gun ammo?”

We all laughed. “Is there another kind?”

She rolled her eyes. “I guess not. It’s just that, well the rumor mill about the Steel Demons says you guys have done a lot for Steel City and its citizens.”

“Two things can be true, sweetheart.” Hawk motioned towards the exit with his head. “Let’s get gone.”

I placed my hand on Nikki’s lower back and gave her a gentle nudge towards the door. “I’ll give you a ride.”

She inhaled deeply the minute the cool desert air hit her skin. “I took a rideshare so that would be great.”

Fuck yeah! “I’m over here.”

She stopped at the sight of my bike, eyes wide as her gaze bounced between me and my best girl. “That’s your ride?”

I laughed and nodded. “Kinda hard to be a biker without… the bike.”

Nikki laughed at herself, which was even sexier than I ever thought it could be. “Right. What was I thinking?”

“Scared?”

She shook her head. “Nervous. It’s safe, right?”

“Absolutely. Just hang on tight and don’t work against me. We’ll be fine.”

She nodded and repeated the words to herself. “Hang on tight. No problem.” She shook out her hands as if that would get rid of her nerves.

I let her calm herself while I settled on the bike. “Hop on.”

She stepped on the peg and swung her leg around, settling the warmth of her inner thighs against my legs. “Okay. I’m good.”

***

The ride back to her hotel was short. Too short. I thought maybe she would invite me up and we could have a repeat of our last meeting, but she shocked the hell out of me when she wrapped her arms around me and squeezed tight. “Is this good night?”

“Yeah. I still have another twelve hour day tomorrow and then a three hour ride back to the city. I’ll call you when things settle down.”

I knew a brush-off when I heard one. “Nikki don’t make me track you down. I will. Happily.”

“I’m not, but there are… things I need to think about first. Soon.” Nikki stepped in close and pressed her lips to my cheek. “I promise.”

I watched her enter the hotel, feeling something I hadn’t felt in a long time.

Hopeful.