Chapter 7

CHAPTER SEVEN

Helena - 22

Tears spilled over my eyes as I sat next to Maddox in the car on the way back to the club. The funeral had been a blur; Iwasn'teven sure what the pastor had said. Pulling a Kleenex from my purse, I blotted my eyes, although my makeup was probably a lost cause.

Before long, the familiar walls of the club came into focus. Maddox shoved a whiskey into my hand and pulled me towards a back booth, almost unbalancing me on the stupid heels I was wearing.

"Here, princess, drink up."

Automatically, I took the glass he handed me and tipped it to my lips, watching him as I did, soaking in the sight of Maddox Bishop for the first time in years. He was a sight for sore eyes (and damp panties). Fuck, I should go to hell for that thought, but he was a distraction, and that sounded good right now.

The Open Road was full of members who had come to pay tribute to Dad,bringingfresh tears to my eyes. Damn it. "My dad loved this place," I mumbled.

Maddox looked over the people spread through the space and nodded."He did love it here. Roscoe was a good president."

Taking another drink, I nodded automatically, feeling strangely out of place in my work clothes. Dad would have preferred that I wear jeans rather than this outfit that made me look like I was all city. Then again, I wasn't even sure that was true. Dad had been fit to bust a gut that I'd graduated and fulfilled what had been his dream for me. So maybe to see me all fancied up would have tickled him.

Haverboro was only forty minutes from Phoenix, but the drive home had seemed so much longer. It certainlyhadn'thelped that I was rushing. My new boss was a complete jackass and had insisted I needed to go into the office that morning. Understandingwasn'tpart of his vocabulary, and I needed this job.

Now, my hair felt too tight, andthe necklace at my throat was choking me. Reaching up, I released the catch and put the pearls in my purse. Instantly, I felt better, even though I knew that Maddox was watching me, which was unsettling.

"Hi, darling,"Whitney slid onto the benchbesideme, slinging an arm around my shoulders.

"Hi, Whitney,"The words grated from my throat in a whisper.

"I'msorry about your dad."The wordsweren'tnecessary, but I appreciated them nonetheless, especially from him. I was sure they were all going to miss him too. What would happen to the Brotherhood MC without him?

"Thanks.I'llmisshim."I squeezed him and added,"I know everyone here will, too. He was your rock."

"You know thatwe'refamily, right?"Whitney said in a low voice."I knowit'snot the same, but the MC is your family always."

That lump in my throat almost got the better of me, but instead, I swallowed it down, and when Maddox refilled my glass, Ididn'tsay anything. I was surprised when the phone rang and the Open Road's number lit up. I'd not gotten a call from the bar in years. For a moment, I wondered if my dad had forgotten his cell phone or if maybe Amber was calling me from the club phone. When Maddox's voice came on the line, my breath had hitched. I knew it wasn't good.

My dad hadn't been the best at caring for himself, everyone else sure. The MC also was high-stress, so the heart attack wasn't entirely a surprise, but he wasn't that old.

"You'llstay here, right? For the night?"Amber asked, her eyes full of concern."You'redead on your feet, honey."

Thinking about the responsibilities that waited for me in Phoenix and with my new boss, I knew that Icouldn'tjust call off. I had already moved to coffee and water in preparation for driving back. There was no way that I could call in tomorrow – funeral or not.

"Ican't."Shaking my head, Ididn'tbother to offer amore extensiveexplanation. Even my bones felt tired, but there was no way the apartment I'd leased would pay for itself. There was no one to call now for that extra hundred dollars if I was short on rent. I had to stand on my own two feet.

When I was hired, they had me sign an NDA, a non-disclosure agreement, and another contract that agreed to work hours and attendance. At the time, it seemed like a small price to pay. I was second-guessing myself, wondering if this job was worth it.I reminded myself that this firm was a catch, and the pay was excellent. Right now, I needed that salary more than ever. There was no fallback plan for me anymore.

"Well, at least come into the kitchen, andlet'sget you fed before you go." Amber gave me a commiserating smile, patting me on the shoulder. "Come on, sweetheart."

"Thanks."I offered a watery smile, but Iwouldn'tturn her down.

I filled a plate in the kitchen with my favorite comfort foods from the selection in the cheery industrial space.

Sliding back into the booth, I set my plate down and indulged myself by watching Maddox while I ate. He was across the club with a group of menIdidn'tknow, making the rounds accepting condolences. Occasionally, they looked over to the table, but I noticed that Maddox shook his head more than once. He had the ‘president'patch hisMaddox'scut now, which used to belong to my Dad.

Ihadn'tbeen around, but my dad talked about the changes to the club, and I knew that Maddox had moved up. Dad had made him his Sergeant at Arms a while ago, so it was natural that the members would vote him in.

Tucking into my plate, I did not think about what washappeningwith MC business. Thankfully, itwasn'tmy problem, and I could leave that to Maddox.

I kept myself busy people-watching, and the club had always beenan excellentplace to do that. A few brave souls came over to talk and give their well wishes, but people still seemed a little shell-shocked. Also, I had been away from club life for almost four years, and it seemed like some of the players had changed.

Ducking into the bathroom to freshen up, I splashed water on my face and unpinned my hair. It had been killing me all day, and Icouldn'timagine having it up anymore. Rubbing my scalp was almost painful, but I couldn't say that it didn't feel better to have it down. I only wished I'd put a spare change of clothes in the car to drive home. My feet were killing me.

Just as I was hustling out of the bathroom, I ran straight into arigidbody. Hands immediately reached up to clutch my arms to steady me.

"Fuck." The growl was unmistakable.Hesmelled like motorcycle oil and leather. Once again, there was that surreal sense of being close to Maddox like earlier, but my emotions were all over the place.

"You let your hair down,"he said obviously.

The retort was on the tip of my tongue, but I stopped myself.

I had no choice but to tilt my head to look at him. Even with heels on, I was considerably shorter than he was, just a few inches over five feet in my bare feet. Unlike me, Maddox Bishop was a giant at six feet four inches tall. Although I liked how he towered over me, I was still tiny. His hands moved from my shoulders into my hair, tightening imperceptibly, twisting the strands in his fingers.

"It was giving me a headache. Icouldn'tleave it up anymore. I had to put it up for work this morning.It'snot my usual thing,"I babbled, but itdidn'tseem likehewas hearing me anyway. He was touching me, actually touching me. His hands ran through my hair, pulling the strands this way and that, massaging my scalp. I wanted to lean into him. Instead, I settled on staring up at him and how he looked at me with abject longing.

"You smell like coconuts."He leaned, his nose comingclose as ifsmelling me.

Was he going to kiss me? It felt like he wanted to. I was distracted by the feel of those callused hands tangled in my hair. Then, he suddenly released me—practically pushing me away from him like I had the plague.

"You have to go,"he said with authority, shaking his head as if coming out of a daze. Pulling his hands back from myhair, he crossed his arms and frowned at me. His hazel eyes turned hard.

"What?"I asked, stumbling back, confused. He wanted me to leave; what was this about?

"You need to go,"he repeated. His face was set back into that perpetually grumpy frown, his eyes unreadable.

"O-K-A-Y." I dragged the word out as I blinked up at him."You'reacting weird. Were you going to kiss me?"I asked."I would have let you."I tacked on the last part in case there was any doubt. This smackedof the sort ofconversation he had with me the night of my graduation. Maybe he was always like this.

"Don'tbe stupid.You'renot my type."His words were cutting and cruel, but they were purposeful. "You're still that naive little girl."

"Sure, whatever you say,"I retorted.His face was implacable and hard."Fine, ifthat'show you want it."

Getting into my car afterward, I considered the situation. I had left with my pride intact, but barely. Whatever that had been about, I didn'tthink it had been about me at all. Maddox had alwaysbeen tightly wound, but I was well past the age of consent now, somy age shouldn't be a problem anymore.

Shaking my head, I left those thoughts for another day. I had more than enough on my plate grieving the loss of my father. The last thing I needed to do was startsomething newwith Maddox. Leaving Haverboro and the Iron Brotherhood in my rearview mirror, I headed back toward Phoenix with one longing look. Damn Maddox Bishop for making me want him so much.