Breaking The Biker (The Biker Series) - An MC Gold Vipers Motorcycle Club Biker Romance Novel Read online

  “So, I was wondering if we could go over my schedule later? I’d like to make some changes, if it’s at all possible?”

  “Sure. We can talk about it,” I said, grabbing the clipboard with our schedules from under the bar. “Are you wanting to add more hours?” Right now she worked Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturday nights.

  “Actually, I was thinking more that I’d cut back some of my late nights.”

  “You only work one now as it is,” I said, frowning.

  She smiled. “Yeah. It’s just not working for me anymore.”

  I worked Friday and Sunday nights. “Maybe you and I could switch a day? I’ll work Saturday nights and you can have my Friday nights?”

  Her smile fell. “No. That won’t work either.”

  I sighed. “Okay. How about you take my Sunday nights instead and I work your Saturdays?” That would mean two busy nights in a row, but my weekends were now as free as a bird.

  “No. I could work first shift on Friday?”

  “Matt already does,” I said, getting frustrated.

  “Oh. That’s right. Well, I’m sure we’ll come up with something,” she said, giving me a big smile. “I’ve got to get to my nail appointment.”

  “I guess we will have to, or you’ll just have to look for a job that fits into your schedule a little better.”

  Her smile fell. “I don’t want to work anywhere else.”

  I shrugged. “Then you’re going to have to stick with your current hours or talk to Matt and see if he’ll be willing to switch your Saturday night. I doubt it, though. He works another job on the weekends.”

  “I see this is going to be a fucking treat,” she mumbled, picking up her purse.

  I bit back a smile. “What was that?”

  “Nothing. I’d better get going. See you tomorrow afternoon.”

  “Okay.” I watched her walk away, a feeling of dread already working its way into my stomach. I knew that I was going to have to either be firm with Marie or fire her. I preferred the latter, but wasn’t ready to jump into doing interviews.

  Matt arrived thirty minutes later; Sal spoke to him before he started his shift. When he stepped out of Sal’s office, I could tell he had a lot on his mind.

  “First of all, congratulations,” he said, smiling. “I think it’s great that you’re going to be in charge now.”

  “Thanks,” I said, still unsure of the changes myself. I had so many emotions running through me and was beginning to crave a cigarette. I hadn’t smoked in three years, though, and money was tight. “I wish it were under different circumstances.”

  “I know.” He sighed. “Is Sal going to be okay?”

  “I hope so,” I replied. “At least he’s getting help.”

  We’d talked about Sal’s drinking before. Matt’s ex-wife was an alcoholic and had gone through treatment a couple of times.

  He nodded. “How about you? How are you doing?”

  I shrugged. “Okay, I guess. I’m more worried about him, I guess, than anything else now.”

  “I was thinking that after we close down the bar, you might want to go for breakfast?” he asked. “Maybe Charlie’s?”

  Charlie’s was a diner up the street that was open twenty-four hours.

  I was about to refuse, but my tongue had other ideas. “Sure.”

  He grinned. “Good.”

  Not sure what in the hell I was thinking, I told him that it was probably a good idea, considering all of the changes that were happening. “Maybe we should invite Peggy, too?” I asked. Peggy was the server scheduled for that evening.

  His smile faltered. “Sure, if you’d like.”

  I knew she probably wouldn’t join us, but I wanted him to know that it wasn’t going to be a date. We’d already gone there and I wasn’t feeling up to trying it again. At least, anytime soon.

  When Matt had first started working at the bar, we’d flirted innocently and then one night, after my car wouldn’t start, he ended up giving me a ride home. We shared a bottle of wine and then ended up on my sofa, making out, until Billy had woken up, needing a glass of water. It had been a little awkward afterward. Matt had gone home and we’d pretended that the episode on my sofa had never happened. Then, a week later he told me that he and his ex, Connie, were trying to work things out. That was five months ago. Since then, things had grown sour between the two of them again and I had my own problems. I had to admit, I still found him attractive. With his light brown hair and kind eyes, he reminded me of a young Kevin Costner. But, the last thing I wanted was to get involved with Matt, whether it was physical or emotional.

  Sal walked out of the back. “Raina, could I talk to you for a few minutes?”

  “Of course,” I replied

  “I’ll go and check on Monty over there. See if he needs another drink,” said Matt, nodding toward a regular at the end of the bar. It was still early and there were only a handful of customers.

  “Check and see if he wants a pizza,” I said. “He mentioned possibly ordering one.”

  “Okay,” Matt replied.

  I walked into Sal’s office.

  “I’m taking the rest of the day off,” he said in a low voice. “To get some of my things in order, before I actually do put myself into treatment.”

  I could smell the booze on him and my stomach knotted up. “Do you want me to drive you?”

  “No, I’m fine.”

  I let out a ragged sigh. “You’ve been drinking some more.”

  “Honey, I told you before, stopping cold-turkey is hard. But, I promise you – I’m going to try my best to get away from it. But not until I have my stuff in order. I can barely function when I’m stone-cold sober.”

  I crossed my arms under my chest and frowned.

  He patted me on top of the head. “Raina, don’t worry, okay? I’m not drunk. In fact, I’m waiting for Eddie to come and pick me up. He’s going to help me fill out some legal paperwork that’s needed for the bar.”

  Eddie was his lawyer and a long-time friend.

  I relaxed. “Okay.”

  “If you need anything, call me.”

  “And you call me when you find out more about enrolling into a treatment program.”

  “I will. I promise.” His cell phone went off and he looked at it. “Oh, it’s Eddie. He’s waiting for me outside. I’ll give you a call later, honey.”

  “Okay, Sal. Take care.”

  He put his phone away. “You, too,” he said, before kissing me on the cheek and heading out.

  I watched him leave, and although I hoped Sal was going to be okay, I wasn’t going to hold my breath for it. Hope had abandoned me too many times already.

  Chapter 7

  Before hitting Sal’s, I stopped back home and replaced my cut with a blue V-neck cotton shirt and added a baseball cap, just to play it safe. I then drove my black Sierra Denali and parked it up the street from the bar. When I walked inside of the place, I was a little surprised. It was packed for a Tuesday night and many of the customers were jocks and dressed in baseball uniforms. It was loud, people were having fun, and it certainly wasn’t the hole-in-the-wall I’d been expecting. It definitely reminded me more of a sports bar.

  “Hey, man, what can I get you?” asked the bartender, a friendly-looking guy in his twenties.

  “Michelob,” I replied, sitting down at the end of the bar next to an old man eating popcorn and watching a game on one of the big screen televisions. We nodded at each other.

  “Bottled or tap?” asked the bartender.

  “Bottled,” I replied, looking around. “This place is busy.”

  The bartender nodded. “Yeah, it has been hopping ever since Sal remodeled a couple of months ago and did some advertising. He’s also sponsoring a baseball team this year.”

  “Huh,” I replied, taking it all in. I’d never been in the bar itself, but it was obvious the place had been newly renovated. “You only have the one waitress working?”

  “No, we have Claire, who’s out
having a smoke,” he replied.

  The other one was serving a table full of baseball players. The woman was a short, middle-aged blonde. Not exactly the sister I had in mind for Cole, but I wasn’t about to rule her out either.

  The bartender reached into the cooler and pulled out a cold one. “Here you go.”

  “Thanks,” I said, pushing a ten dollar bill toward him.

  He walked over to the register and took out the change.

  “Keep it,” I said, taking a swig of beer.

  “Thanks,” he said, eyeing me curiously. “So, is this your first time here?”

  “Why do you ask?”

  “No reason,” he said quickly. “Just get mostly regulars here during the week.”

  “I don’t look like a regular?” I asked, smirking.

  “No, you look like that wrestler,” piped in the old man with a toothless smile. “What in the hell is his name? Oh, yeah… Randy Orton.”

  I grunted. “Hell, I wish I was Orton.”

  “So do I,” said the old geezer. “I’d make you buy me a beer. What’s your name anyway?”

  “Justin,” I said, giving him my real name.

  “I’m Gordy and that there’s Matt,” he answered, nodding toward the bartender. “Oh, and there’s Raina, coming out of the kitchen.” He lowered his voice. “Check out the tatas on that one.”

  I jerked my head around and found myself staring at a girl heading toward us carrying a small pizza. She was medium height with raven hair and bright blue eyes.

  “Here you go, Gordy,” she said, setting it down in front of him. “It’s right out of the oven, so you’d better let it cool before digging in this time.”

  “Thanks, mom,” he said, staring more at her chest than the pizza. I had to admit, her curves were impressive and owning a strip-joint, I’d seen a lot.

  She pushed her hair behind her ears. “Just looking out for you. Last week you burnt your tongue and we had to hear about it for the rest of the night.”

  “That’s ‘cause it hurt like hell,” he said. “Should have warned me about that pizza oven of yours.”

  “She did warn you,” said Matt, rolling his eyes.

  Raina put her hands on her waist. “Which reminds me, you never paid up on that bet we had.”

  “Which bet was that?” asked, Gordy.

  “The one where I warned you that the pizza was too hot to eat. You bet me a dollar that you could handle it.”

  “I don’t recall betting any money on it,” he said, blowing on the pizza.

  “You’re really going to squelch on another bet?” Raina answered, smirking.

  “You’d better pay up,” said Matt. “’Cause you definitely lost that bet.”

  Gordy looked up at Raina. “I’ve got your payment. In fact, it’s your lucky day now that my tongue is healed. You sit on it and we’ll call it even.” He stuck his tongue out and wiggled it lewdly.

  She shuddered. “How about I pay you to put it away?”

  “Dude, you need to work on your technique if your tongue rides are only worth a buck,” I said, taking another swig of beer.

  Raina laughed and Matt pulled out another bottle from the cooler. “This one’s on me. That comment deserves it,” he said, setting another beer in front of me.

  “Works for me. Thanks,” I said and then looked at Raina, who was eyeing me curiously. “That pizza looks good. You have any more of those in back?”

  “Uh, sure. What kind do you like?”

  “What do you have?” I asked, checking her out. She was definitely a looker, reminding me a lot of the actress Megan Fox.

  She licked her lips. “Sausage, pepperoni, or deluxe. That’s about it. They’re just frozen, though. Nothing to write home about.”

  “They’re damn good though,” said Gordy, picking up a piece of his. “I’d give you some of mine but I’m too hungry.”

  “That’s okay, because I’m starving myself.” I looked back over at Raina. “Why don’t you pick one out for me?”

  She looked surprised. “Me? I don’t even know what you like.”

  “Sure you do. I’m easy,” I said, giving her a little smile.

  Gordy laughed. “Hell, for Raina… we can all be easy.”

  “Get him a deluxe,” said Matt, looking a little jealous. I wondered if the two of them had something going.

  “Actually, get me two of those. Please, darlin’? I have a big appetite,” I said, standing up and stretching my legs.

  She gave me the once-over and then quickly looked away. “Sure thing.”

  “Where’s your bathroom?” I asked. “I’d like to wash my hands.”

  Raina cleared her throat. “I’ll show you.”

  “Thank you,” I said as she began walking away.

  As much as I wanted to kill her brother, I couldn’t help but admire her perky little ass. I decided that Cole owed me bigtime, and besides slitting his throat, part of the payment would definitely be a piece of Raina.

  “So, two deluxe pizzas?” she said, looking back at me over her shoulder.

  “Yes, please. Unless you’re getting off of work soon and want to join me for some real pizza?”

  She stopped abruptly and turned around. “Excuse me?”

  Chapter 8

  I stared up at the tattooed stranger and my breath suddenly caught in my throat. I hadn’t realized how big he was until now. Tall, broad shoulders, and arm muscles that could break someone’s neck easily during a choke-hold.

  “Rocco’s is a few blocks from here. Their pizza is rated the best in the city,” he said. “I’ve always wanted to try it out. You game?”

  “You’re asking me out?” I replied, flattered and yet irritated. He was hot; there was no doubt about it. He also looked like he wanted to devour me whole with that hungry gaze. But, I wasn’t in the mood for a one-night stand, and I was pretty sure it was all the he wanted. “Just like that?”

  His smile was disarming. “From where I’m standing, nothing about you is ‘just like that’.”

  I blushed, in spite of everything. This guy was definitely trouble and there’d been a time when I’d have met it head-on. That person was long gone. “How many times have you used that dorky line?”

  His smile never wavered. “First night this week. By the way, you may not know this but… I’m Batman.”

  I laughed. “Enough.”

  “Did the sun come up or did you just smile at me?”

  From the twinkle in his pale green eyes, I could see that he was thoroughly enjoying this. “Do any of these lines ever work?”

  “Of course. Only because I’m the one saying them, and admit it, you’re already finding me fascinating. I can see it in the way you’re undressing me with your eyes. Did I mention that I was Batman?”

  I laughed again. “What you are is crazy.”

  “Sorry, beautiful women bring that out in me, and that’s not a line. It’s the truth. So, what do you say? Join me later?”

  “I don’t even know your name.”

  “It’s Justin. What’s yours?”

  “Raina.” I sighed. “To be honest, I already have plans after my shift. Besides, when I get off of work, I’m sure it will be well past your bedtime.”

  His eyebrow arched. “My bedtime?”

  I nodded toward his body, which I had no doubt was amazing underneath those clothes. “A guy like you probably turns in at a reasonable hour, so you have the energy to keep up your… fitness regime,” I said, not really knowing what to call it. It was obvious that he spent hours pumping iron. It made me wonder if he was some kind of professional bodybuilder or fitness instructor. I had to admit he looked damn good, but sex wasn’t something I wanted right now and guys like this weren’t interested in long, deep conversations.

  “Number one, some of my best workouts are done in bed. Number two, I doubt I could sleep knowing that you’ve already made plans with another guy.”

  I laughed. “I don’t even know how to respond to that.”

 
; “Say you’ll go out with me and cancel your other date.”

  “It’s not a date,” I said quickly and then wondered why I’d bothered to clarify that for him.

  He grinned. “Even better.”

  “I’m sorry. I can’t cancel,” I said. “It’s a business meeting. So, do you want me to throw in the two pizzas still?”

  Justin gave me a scorned puppy-dog look and shoved his hands into his pockets. “Sure. A man’s gotta eat.”

  I laughed at the way he was drawing an imaginary line with his shoe, pouting like a schoolboy. “Stop. You really are pathetic.”

  He tilted his head. “If I do, will you agree to have dinner with me tomorrow at Axel’s, instead?”

  Axel’s was an expensive steakhouse. I’d been there once and the prices had been outrageous.

  I smiled sadly. “I really can’t.”

  “Can’t or won’t?”

  Looking around, I moved closer to him. “As much as I’d love to join you, it’s just not a good time for me right now. My life is a mess and there is too much going on here at work,” I said softly, wishing for a moment that everything was different. But, it was what it was.

  His penetrating gaze probed mine. “A mess. We have a lot in common.”

  “Oh?”

  “Sometimes the only way you can fix a mess is by creating another one. I’m just trying to decide if it’s going to bite me in the ass later,” he said, running a finger along the side of my arm.

  I shivered and took a step back. “I don’t understand.”

  He smiled again, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “I know. Anyway, I hope things start getting better for you. In the meantime,” he said, looking over my head toward the bar, “I think I’m going to take a raincheck on the pizzas.”

  Surprised, I asked why.

  “You reminded me of some other things that I need to take care of. I need to head out.”

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you off,” I said, forcing a smile.

  “Don’t worry. I’m not one who scares easily,” he said with a wink.

  “I can tell.”