Not a Role Model (Battle Crows MC 4)

“My sister got them for me,” I lied. “Normally, I’m not a Croc guy, because they’re ugly as all get-out but… I humor her when I can. And don’t tell her I told you this but, they’re actually fairly comfortable.”

Maureen smiled, her hand going to her little boy’s hair as she did.

“He’s obsessed with bikers. I’m talking, that’s all Jase talks about. We play this game when we’re in the car. We see how many motorcycles we can count.” Her breath hitched. “He’s been doing this since he was young. Eighteen months. Now he’s seven, going on eight, and we still count all of our bikers.”

“That’s actually a really good way to keep regular drivers aware of us bikers,” I admitted, feeling my chest tighten.

“Thank you for saving him. For giving me just a few more weeks with him.” She shook her head. “I’m not ready.”

Was anyone ever ready to lose a child? I didn’t think so.

“His biggest wish is to ride one, in the middle of a rally, but with his strength going, we didn’t think that was possible for him anymore.” She sighed.

I thought about that for a long moment, crossing my arms over my chest. “You know, I could maybe work something out. There’s a big rally in town for the next week. I could definitely find someone that could help… let me get back to you?”

The mother’s eyes filled with tears, and the father made a sound in his throat that reminded me of when a man was about to lose it.

Offering them both small smiles, I left the room, only to have to turn around and head right back into surgery for the rest of my day.

It was nearing eight that evening when I walked out of another appendectomy and found myself greeted with a scowling face and a glare that could peel paint.

“Don’t take this to mean that I like you,” Elvis growled. “I don’t. I just… you’re late getting home. I came up here because I locked my phone in your house. And I was hungry, so I grabbed food.”

I pulled my keys out of my pocket and pulled off the key to my place.

I handed it to her. When she reached for it, though, I held on.

Her eyes narrowed. “You’ll be there when I get back? I don’t have another key.”

She opened her mouth to deny me when I said, “And you’ll join me for dinner? Since you brought food and all?”

She sighed. “I left mine in the car.”

“Then we can eat it in the parking lot. I have a forty-five-minute break until I need to be in another surgery, anyway,” I said.

So that was what we did.

We sat on the hood of her piece of shit car, ate tacos, and talked about all that had happened today.

She was humming with excitement when I told her about the little boy’s wish.

“Let me talk to my friend that works with me at the shop. He has one of those little sidecars that his dog usually rides in. I think it’s actually for a person, but he doesn’t use it that way,” she explained.

And together, we formed a plan for the next day.

I only hoped that the ride wouldn’t exacerbate his new surgical scar.

“It won’t matter to them. Just load him up with the good drugs. If he’s as bad as you say…” Coreline hesitated. “Then he won’t get another opportunity like this, will he?”

I hated that she had a valid point.

I hated even more that I wanted to kiss her.

Why?

Because I had a distinct feeling that she was about to ruin my life.

And not in a bad way.

It was as we were parting ways that I stopped her from getting into her Suburban and said, “You like me, don’t you, Elvis? Admit it.”

She sneered at me. “Don’t flatter yourself.”

“You know you do.” I stalked closer to her, causing her to eye me warily. “Admit it.”

Before she could do anything defensively to stop me, I rushed forward and pressed her against the truck. With my lips on hers, I devoured her for a few long seconds before pulling back and saying, “You want me. You don’t even have to admit it.”

She scoffed.

“Be naked in my bed when I get home later tonight. I’ll reward you if you admit it,” I teased.

She pushed me away. Hard.

“Fuck you.” She glared, pointing her finger at me. “And fuck you with the biggest fucking fuck you can be fucked with.”

I sure did enjoy her colorful words.

CHAPTER 16

I wasn’t listening, so I’m gonna smile, nod and hope for the best.

-T-shirt

CORELINE

I was dumb.

Why?

Because I was naked in his bed waiting for him when he got home, just like he asked.

I’d used his key, gotten my phone, and then left to go home, shower, and get in my own bed.

Only, instead of getting into my own bed, I’d decided to straighten my hair. Then I’d rubbed lotion over every square inch of my body. Then I’d tossed and turned in my bed thinking about him and what he’d done to me.