Page 12 of Outlaw Xmas
“Two o’clock.”
Relief washed over her and she giggled from giddiness. She had time to clean up, put herself together, and get dinner on the table before he came home.If he’s coming home.The thought of him with one of the club girls made her eyes water, but she wouldn’t call or text him to see if he’d be home. That would only make him angry, and she couldn’t withstand another of his rages in the same day.
“Can I come in?”
She darted her eyes around the street, making sure no one was watching. She was positive Tigger had people informing him of everything she did.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Just for a minute? Tigger’s at the club. He’ll be there for a while. The club’s got some shit going on that we have to figure out.”
Wanting the company, but afraid Tigger would find out she had a man in the house, she started to close the door. “I don’t think Tigger would want you in here without him being home.”
“We’re brothers. It’s cool. Besides, he didn’t mind when I’d take you to the pen to see him when your car broke down.”
She smiled, then winced from the pain. Wheelie had been a good friend to Tigger and to her while he was locked up. He’d been at the biker bar the night Tigger had gone ballistic and been arrested. A bond had formed between the three of them that night, only to grow stronger when Wheelie had helped her out so many times during Tigger’s incarceration.
Moving aside, she opened the door wider, trying to hide her face behind her hair as he slid past her. “Have a seat. Do you want a beer?”
Wheelie sank down on the couch. “Sure. Do you think you can open some of these drapes? It’s dark as hell in here.”
“I like it dark. The light gives me a headache, and I feel one coming on.” She took out a can of Coors for Wheelie and a Pepsi for her. “Here you go.” She handed it to him.
He popped open the top and took a long drink, tilting his head back. His dark brown hair fell just below his collar and the silver earring he wore in his right ear dangled. Placing the beer down on the table, he smiled at her and she turned away.
When she’d first met Wheelie, she’d thought he was a heartbreaker in leather. He was good-looking and he knew it, but he wasn’t stuck-up about it; he just knew he was handsome the way a person knew he had two ears, a nose, and a mouth. His square jaw, full lips, and perfectly shaped brows over gray eyes the same color of the ocean during a storm made her give him a once-over. Tigger was nice-looking, but Wheelie was ruggedly gorgeous in a way that drove women wild. He was buff, though not like Tigger’s body builder’s physique; Wheelie’s body was toned, taut, and perfection. And the perpetual scruff he wore made her want to touch his face. When Tigger had scruff, he’d always shave it when she told him she liked it. That was his way of showing her that her opinions, likes, and dislikes didn’t mean shit to him. It was his way of controlling her. One of many.
“The women missed you at the meeting today.”
She crossed and uncrossed her legs. “I wasn’t feeling well.”He must see the shape my face is in.She pulled her hair over the right side, trying to cover what she could. “How’ve you been?”
“Good. You don’t have to hide your face. I’ve already seen what that sonofabitch did to you. I saw it when you opened the door. Is that the real reason you didn’t come?”
Looking down, her insides quivered and her eyelid twitched. “You know it is. I don’t want to hear anything about it. I already know how you feel about it. You’ve made all that perfectly clear before. I’m just not in the mood, okay?”
Wheelie stared at her, his eyes soft and kind, and then he nodded and picked up his beer. “You wanna go out for dinner when Tigger goes on the poker run over the weekend?”
Fear that they’d be spotted assaulted her. “No. I can’t. Please don’t ask again.”
He ran his eyes over her. “Okay. What about me bringing dinner to you? We can eat here, talk, and watch a movie.”
Excitement coursed through her as she pictured them having a pleasant night without any fear, incriminations, or insults. She missed companionship with other people. Tigger had made sure that her friends and family didn’t call or come over anymore, and the contact she had with the old ladies was only for club purposes. After she kept telling them no for happy hour get-togethers, dinners, and movies, they’d stopped asking. She missed having a friend.But what if Tigger finds out? He’d kill me for sure.
“It wouldn’t be a big deal. We’re friends, right?”
We are friends and it shouldn’t be a big deal.She rubbed her cheek and winced, forgetting it was sore from her earlier beating. If Tigger had hurt her just for not washing his favorite pair of jeans, she could only imagine what he’d do if she had Wheelie over for dinner when he was out of town. Back and forth she wrestled with what she should do, her mind a scramble of fear, excitement, disgust, and defiance.I’m so fucking tired of being afraid. I’m even more tired of being isolated.She couldn’t remember when she’d spent time with someone other than Tigger. She was desperate for a pleasant interaction with someone.
“So what do you say?” Wheelie asked.
I want to. Can I do this? Am I willing to suffer the consequences if Tigger finds out?“I’m not sure. I’d like to, but I don’t know,” she said softly.
He put his hand on hers, and his cool touch calmed her, parting the reeling emotions and chaotic thoughts. She glanced up at him and his kind eyes pulled her in, and an inner strength surged inside her. Enough was enough. She’d deal with the fallout when it came, but she wanted to spend time with Wheelie. He’d always been a good friend to her. She breathed out a ragged breath. “You coming over would be good.”
“Then it’s a plan. Saturday night good?”
Any night would be fine since she never had any plans. She nodded. “I can’t have Tigger find out.”
“Tigger actually suggested that me, Bear, Chas, and Jax look in on you while he’s gone to make sure you’re safe.”
