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Chapter 6

Payton

It was only Thursday and I was already going out of my mind. Monday I went shopping with my mother and Roland’s card because there is no way my card would be accepted at the stores she took me to. I knew Roland had money but I had no idea how much. His house is the nicest one I have ever stepped foot in but it is not new and flashy. In fact, it is in an older development and from what I understand it is the same house he had with his first wife.

The women in the store all seemed to know my mother and by the look of the clothes they sold, I knew why mom now looked like a Stepford Wife. It was nothing like what I would ever pick out for myself but mom and the sales ladies seemed to think it was what I needed to work at such a prestigious firm. I have to say, when I tried on a few dresses, the feel of the material and the fit of the clothes was like nothing I had ever experienced. I gave in and allowed my mother to charge two dresses and a few skirts and blouses to Roland’s account but I drew the line at lingerie. No way was I modeling lingerie for anyone. Except maybe Jake.

Okay, where the hell did that thought come from? From my suddenly overactive imagination, that’s where. It must be because I have free time on my hands for the first time in years. No way could he be as hot as I recall, even thinking of him made me hot and flushed. I was even seeing him in the streets and I am pretty sure he would have little use to be in the Gaslamp Quarter. It’s not like he buys his jeans at a boutique. Darn it all, now I’m thinking about how his jeans hugged his muscular thighs.

Christ on a cracker! I have got to get out of this house. It’s a good thing I am spending the day with two of my girl friends. We had all gone different ways after high school but stayed in touch and visited when we were home. Melissa had been back in San Diego for two years and was working as a paralegal. Kara had just moved back to the city and was a nurse. I was more than anxious to catch up with them properly. Pulling on my new jeans and t-shirt I bought yesterday at the mall, I grabbed my purse and headed out the door.

As I am walking from my car to the restaurant I hear a loud noise and look up. A low motorcycle slowly passes by and I could swear it is Jake. The hair and beard, the size of the shoulders, everything looks like him. I shake my head and give myself a pep talk. There are thousands of men his age and size who ride motorcycles and most of those have long hair and beards. Besides, it is not like he is following me, geez.

I enter the restaurant and see Kara sitting at a table on the back deck. She is easy to spot with her head of red curly hair she has always cursed. I’d kill to have her hair and mesmerizing green eyes. I always feel like a plain Jane with my brown eyes and brown hair next to her. And don’t even get me started on Melissa with her blond hair and blue eyes. We certainly all have a different look and I always feel like the ugly duckling in the group. But they are my best friends, have been since high school and hopefully for years to come.

Kara sees me coming and gets up to wrap me in a big hug. “It’s so good to see you!” She exclaims.

Before I get a chance to respond, I hear “What about me?”

I turn around and Melissa is standing there with her arms out. It is so good to be back home with my besties. We don’t have much time to catch up properly because Melissa is on her lunch break but we promise to go out the following weekend for a girls night. Melissa and I will be free every weekend, unless Melissa is working on a case for her asshat off a boss as she calls him. Kara, working in the neonatal ward of the hospital only has one Saturday night a month off and next Saturday happens to be it.

When we leave the restaurant Kara, not someone to be discreet, stops dead in her tracks. “Sweet baby Jesus, wouldn’t I like to ride that big boy.”

I follow her line of sight and there is Jake sitting on what I am pretty sure is the same bike that passed me earlier. What the fuck?!

Melissa giggles. “The Harley or the biker?” She asks.

“Both and I don’t care in which order,” Kare replies, blowing Jake a kiss.

I snort, used to their antics and continue on my way as if I have no idea who he is. But not before I see the smirk on his face or the wink he throws our way. Arrogant a hole.

Jake

Yes, I admit, I’ve turned into a bit of a stalker. I can’t help it. The more we look into my father, Wallace, and the Devils, the more concerned I get. Not for him. I don’t give a fuck about him. He made his bed, now he can lay in it, hopefully for eternity. We had finished up putting our plan in place in the early hours of the morning. I was no longer a mechanic but now part of the security services we offer. I had my own team for the time being. It was part of how I was going to get into my father’s world.

Running for mayor of San Diego could become dangerous and he would need personal protection. Yes, we were in a relatively safe city but being a port city there was always the risk of drugs and illegals. After what happened to Wallace’s daughter and wife last year, surely dear old dad would want to protect his new family. Besides, we were now aware that the Devils had some ex-marines in their ranks as well. Now it was personal. We had a reputation to uphold and the Marines’ reputation would not be sullied by some assholes looking to make a quick buck.

I noticed Payton stiffen when I passed her an hour ago as she walked from her car to the restaurant. She didn’t notice me when she left Roland’s house, she was too focused on her phone. I was going to have to talk to her about that. Women needed to know how to take care of themselves, even if it was broad daylight, not being aware of your surroundings was putting yourself in danger.

I also noticed the shock on her face when she walked out of the restaurant with two other women. They all stopped and looked at me. The redhead ate me up with her eyes, while the tall blonde said something, making them all laugh. Payton tried to act like she hadn’t a clue who I was but I saw the blush on her face and how quickly she turned away. It was obvious the redhead would have loved an introduction. Was she ashamed of me? Or was it something else. Interesting.

I watch them now as they walk away together laughing and joking. They are obviously good friends. I can’t help but notice how curvy Payton is compared to her friends. Fuck. Now I got to ride with a hard on. That is not the most comfortable thing in the world. I sit there thinking about my childhood and my two tours until I can ride comfortably again.

Just as I move to straddle my bike, I feel my phone vibrate. It’s Luke. “Luke,” I say by way of greeting.

“Wallace is missing. He never showed up for work today and no one has seen him. You need to get in there ASAP.” With that he is gone.

Shit. I was thinking I still had time to work on my acting skills but this may actually work to our advantage. With Wallace missing before he even publicly announced he was leaving will work toward my insistence that Roland and his family need protection. Guess I better pack a bag and visit my old man.

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