Page 15 of The List
“Oak, you got something to say?”
He snickered, staring at Cue. “I think she’s got a little crush on our boy. Last time we were here, she couldn’t take her eyes off him.” His taunting tone had Cue visibly annoyed. “I offered to wait around if he wanted to take her in the back, but I think Cue’s playing hard to get.”
Cue ripped his helmet from his handlebar, glaring at Oak. “Not playing anything. I can get dirty pussy at my own house, don’t need theirs.”
Cross was almost taken aback by Cue’s response. Everyone in the club had a foul mouth, but Cue was usually tamer than most. Especially when it came to women.
“I don’t know, brother. She looked pretty clean to me,” Oak said.
Cue shot out his arm, pointing to the clubhouse. “Thenyoubang her.”
Oak chuckled and straddled his bike. “But Cue, man, I wasn’t the one she was eye fucking.”
Cue started his bike and waited for Cross to lead them out. He’d put the brother out of his misery for now and end this conversation.
Chapter Three
Addison stood in the center of the living room at the rental house, peering around. There had definitely been enhancement tools used for the advertising photos. She’d done her research and was able to find the only rental property for fifty miles. It was as close to Killcreek as she could get without actually staying in the town. There was a motel off the highway, but since her stay was a month long, she was more comfortable with a house.Well, I was.
The description was accurate. Two bedrooms, one and a half bathrooms, and a living room with an eat-in-kitchen. She glanced over her shoulder to the next room. The appliances were dated, and the linoleum was reminiscent of her grandparents’ house. But by all accounts, it was clean.I hope.
It had taken her less than thirty minutes to get unpacked and check out her new living space for the next month. It was a little late to go grocery shopping, and she found a bar only ten minutes away. She would’ve preferred an actual eatery, but at nine o’clock everything in the small town of Birch was closed.
She grabbed her bag from the hook near the front door and her phone from the table. She hadn’t gotten any calls, only a few notifications that she chose to ignore.
Addison didn’t have any type of plan when it came to contacting Cleo. She’d figured she’d fly by the seat of her pants and figure it out when she got here. Now, here she was with zero plans. They’d only spoken a few times on the phone. Cleo always initiated them. It was Addison’s way of allowing her to call the shots when it came to their relationship.
Pfft…now look at me.She tapped the screen and pulled up Cleo’s contact information. Technically, she didn’t have to tell Cleo she was there. Not yet. Addison could ask leading questions and get a read on Cleo’s thoughts about meeting. That’s how she’d approach it. Addison held the phone up to her ear, listening to the rings. A nervous energy built in her belly. She licked her lips and blew out a breath.
Voicemail. Secretly, it was what she’d been hoping for. Addison needed a little more time to prepare herself for the conversation.
“Hi Cleo, it’s Addison.” She paused, driving her hand through her hair. “I” —she cleared her throat— “I’m sorry I missed you. Give me a call when you can. If you want to. No pressure.” She squeezed her eyes shut. Why was she so damn nervous?Because you’re about to ambush this woman.
“Anyway, hope to hear from you soon. Bye!” Addison tapped the screen and dragged her hand down her face.
“What the hell am I doing?” she mumbled.
Doubt was coming in hard and fast. Her sister’s words were playing over in her head. This wasn’t something that should be sprung upon Cleo. Maybe thishadbeen a mistake. A monumental one. But she could still back out. Cleo had no idea how close she was. Addison had time to change her mind and head home without Cleo knowing.
But that was the last thing she wanted to do. She was so close. Not only to Cleo but Knox’s home. A place, according to his sister, he loved. Cleo once told her Knox said he’d never imagined himself happy in a rural area and so far from the city. But living in Killcreek, he’d finally found a home.
Her thoughts of Knox were interrupted.
Her stomach growled. “Alright, alright.” Maybe with food in her belly, she’d be able to think rationally and thoroughly.
She followed the GPS to the bar ten minutes away. From the outside it didn’t look like anything more than a dive bar. Inside proved it was just that. There were a handful of older guys crowded in one corner of the bar. She sat at the opposite end. The bar was old and dated. The service was much what she’d expected. A crabby, less than welcoming, balding, potbellied older man who acted inconvenienced when she ordered a burger, fries, and a beer.
Addison randomly checked her phone. Oddly she was relieved she hadn’t heard from Cleo. Her mind was going in a million different directions. This had felt so right weeks ago, days ago, hours ago. But now that she was here?
She popped a French fry in her mouth and reached for her beer. It was slightly stale, but she wouldn’t be voicing her dissatisfaction to the bartender. She lifted the mug and glanced over the rim when a few men walked in. She slowly sipped her beer, eyeing the group of three.
Oh shit!Addison put her mug down and ducked her head. It might’ve been a ridiculous response. They didn’t know her.But I know them.Kind of.
Cleo hadn’t mentioned much about Knox’s motorcycle club. Only the name. Addison had done hours of research trying to find any and all information, but she’d come up short on every lead. There were a few posts people had made but no pictures. Except a few of their club insignia. The same one the men across the bar were wearing on the back of their vests. She peeked up and read the name of the club. Killcreek Drifters MC.
Knox’s club.
Ironically, her heart started to pump at rapid speed. Was it her nervousness or something deeper?Does his heart know his family is close?That thought had her emotions running high.
