He took my hand, and we left the office behind.
I’d never been to Steel Mustang before, but everyone in town knew of the biker bar. Their live music was a constant draw that appealed to bikers and non-bikers alike. I also knew Jed worked there as a second source of income.
I could hear the music trying to crawl through the walls as we walked toward the building. When we made it to the door, which Jed held open for me, I could feel the energy inside like I was entering into a whole different dimension. The place was already decently full, in spite of the somewhat early hour. As Jed pulled me into the crowd, my eyes were everywhere.
At first glance, I noted there were a handful of Stallions scattered about, identified by their leatherkuttes, as one would expect. There were also men—and women, too—in different motorcycle vests. Then, of course, there were the regular folk, including myself. Though, I was certainly not dressed like anyone else. I stuck out like a sore thumb. My saving grace was Jed, who kept me close.
I spotted Bull at the bar, but Jed didn’t take me there. Instead, I soon found myself approaching a high-top table where three women sat, one with a familiar man at her back—the Stallion from the storage unit with the long, curly hair. Only, at present, he wore it in a top-knot.
I glanced at the patches on the front of his kutte and saw his road name wasMaverick.To my delight, the woman I assume belonged to him—given he was standing really close and there was a shiny diamond she wore on the hand wrapped around her drink—made me feel a little better about what I had on.
She wore a navy romper with thick straps, a sweetheart neckline, and a stylish bow across her bust. While it wasn’tneck-to-knee, it was dressier than cotton, making my satin feel not so out of place. She was also very pretty, with just a touch of makeup and long, thick, straight honey-brown hair.
If Maverick hadn’t been standing at her back, I would not have pictured the two of them together, and I kind of liked that about them.
Jed took me to the barstool that remained empty at their table and pulled it out, signaling for me to sit. I looked up at him, a bit apprehensive about sitting with strangers who hadn’t invited me to do so, and he immediately jerked his head toward the platinum blonde sitting in the spot to the left of us.
She was older—maybe in her early to mid-forties—with blue eyes and an attractive, angular face. She was the kind of biker babe who could be on the cover of a magazine; the kind of babe who could pull off a cropped graphic tee, like the one she had on, until she was closer to sixty; but also, the kind of woman who smiled warmly and invitingly at me before she even knew my name.
“This is Winnie, Bull’s ol’ lady.”
Thatmost certainly checked.
“Winnie, this is—”
“Alexia,” she finished for him, speaking loud enough to be heard over the music as she extended her hand in greeting. “I was hoping to meet you. Glad you came. Have a seat.”
I accepted her offer and found my way onto the barstool.
Jed pressed a hand against the small of my back and then brought his lips to my ear as he muttered, “Be right back. Gonna see about that drink.”
Steel Mustang did not look like the kind of place that had the kind of drinkware to house a cosmo. Except, before I could tell him I’d be happy with something else, he was maneuvering his way toward the bar.
“I have to know who you are.”
My gaze snapped to the woman who sat across from me as she lifted herself off of her stool in order to lean over the table to speak to me. She had dirty blonde hair—more dirty than blonde—and it hung in waves, brushing the tops of her shoulders. Her golden-brown eyes were alight in excitement, and she had an awesome smile.
I had no idea who she was, but she looked like a good time.
“I’ve never seen Wrangler holdanywoman’s hand. That man is among the baddest, badass bikers of the bunch. He’s got a soft spot for his kids but—you—he likes you.” Her eyes danced around my face before she asked, “What was your name, again?”
My insides did that thing as her comment sank in, but I ignored it and replied, “I’m Alexia.”
“I’m Tess,” she said, offering me her hand. I shook it and then she nodded to the woman in the romper and said, “This is Jenna. And the giant behind her is her fiancé, Maverick.”
I looked at Jenna, who lifted her drink and smiled, and then up at Maverick, who winked—as if to express no one at the table knew we’d seen each other before, and it could remain our secret if I wanted.
I nodded then settled my attention on Tess. “Nice to meet you.”
She sat in her seat and cast a quick glance over her shoulder, then turned and waggled her eyebrows at me. “Before he gets back, what’s the story? Are you two together?”
“Oh, uh, I—I don’t know how to answer that,” I replied honestly.
“Alexia is an attorney,” said Winnie, rescuing me. “Wrangler brought her in to meet Bull. The club is looking to hire her.” Shifting her focus onto me, she added, “Bull says you’re good. Made of solid stuff.”
I glanced toward the bar, where I last saw Bull, and found him shoulder to shoulder with Jed. I wondered what they were talking about. I also wondered if it made me a narcissist to think it was probablyme.
“Something tells me that’s a high praise,” I said in response.
