Down and Out (Hawks MC: Caroline Springs Charter Book 3) (15 page)

For lunch, I made pizza, enough to feed an army. Though I was sure bikers would get through it all. My eyes kept drifting out the kitchen window to where the shed was. The men stayed in there doing whatever they were doing. Still, eager for a chance to see Kalen, I kept watching while cooking.

After all the pizzas were ready, I went to the side door to call out, "Lunch time." And then headed back to dish up Koda's before it all disappeared. My nerves kicked up when I heard the door open and men stomping in. Turning from my seat in front of Koda's high chair, I smiled in greeting to all.

"Looks good, babe," the one who helped me with the tray earlier said with an easy grin.

"Thanks. I wasn't sure what you all liked, so I hope you'll find one at least with something you eat."

"We'd eat just about anything, sunshine." Kalen winked. "Babe, that there is Knife, Muff, Dallas, and Beast."

Muff offered a salute, Beast a chin lift, and Dallas a head nod.

"Hi, all. Thank you for coming to help. I hope it didn't put anyone out."

"How come you're moving in, darlin'?" Muff asked.

"Um." Nervousness and embarrassment flipped my stomach.

"She's in between places," Kalen said before he shoved a bit of pizza in his mouth. I met his eyes and smiled my gratitude for not telling them my story.

"Too bad you don't live in Caroline Springs. I would'a had you at my place, in my house and bed," Knife stated. My face went to raging heat in seconds, quickly running down my neck also.

"Knife," Kalen clipped in a rough tone.

"If she cooked like this all the time, I'd give it a try as well." Dallas grunted, taking another slice of quickly disappearing pizza.

"If she looked like that every day and couldn't cook, I'd have her in mine," Muff said. My cool hand went to cover my cheeks. Koda, finished with his food, started babbling about something and playing with his truck.

The only one who didn't say anything was Beast. Though when I looked at him, he winked at me. I quickly averted my gaze and heard a chuckle from all.

All except Kalen, who said acidly, "Jesus Christ, brothers."

When the front door opened and Judy called out, "I'm here," I sighed in relief. She came into the kitchen, smiled, and greeted everyone. She then made her way to my only escape. She took Koda from the high chair and cooed at him. "How long until you finish up?" Her eyes went to her son.

"'Bout an hour."

"Cool." She looked to me and said, "You're gonna love it. Best feeling in the world."

Confused, I asked quietly, "What?"

"Hadn't told her yet, Mum."

"Told me what?" I asked, looking to Kalen and standing from my seat.

"Gonna ride out with my brothers for a while. You're on the back of my bike."

"I'm sorry?" I whispered.

Kalen smirked, rolled his eyes and said, "You. Back of my bike in an hour."

I was stunned speechless. Kalen wanted to take me for a ride on his bike. In front of his brothers, with his brothers riding with us, around us. Did Kalen realise I would have to hold onto him, so I didn't get my brain squished on the pavement?

Hugging Kalen.

Holding Kalen.

Oh. My. God.

I fisted my trembling hands. My eyes went low, and heat hit my cheeks once again. Wow, I couldn't seem to get my blushes under control around these people. That and the fact I seemed to turn red quite a bit when Kalen came to mind.

"Sunshine?"

Looking up, I mumbled, "Hmm?"

"You in?"

"She's in," Judy announced. "Now go and get the shit done so you can go."

Kalen gave me a look I didn't understand before he followed the rest of his brothers out of the house.

Once the side door closed, I spun to Judy. Laughing at my expression, she pulled me into a side hug and said, "Why do you look so worried?"

"Does Kalen understand I've never been on a motorbike before?" That my arms would be wrapped around him?

"He can tell, like we all can. You look a little green around the gills." She laughed. "Don't worry. He's a brilliant rider. They all are." She smiled. "Oh, by the way, I have some of my clothes that don't fit me anymore in the car. They'd be perfect for you, though. There're some jeans in there. Why don't you go out and grab them while I spend time with my grandbaby."

With my chin out and up, I asked, "Did Kalen tell you about how few clothes I have?"

Her smirk told me he had, though she replied, "No, why would he do that? I was just having a clean out before I head away."

Grumbling under by breath, I headed out to Judy's car and grabbed the bags from the back seat. Really, I shouldn't complain. It was sweet he'd rang his Mum.

Very sweet in fact.

As I changed in the bathroom into jeans, a smile lit my face. A silly smile. My stomach churned from the giddiness sweeping through me. Riding on Kalen's bike with him… I couldn't wait. In fact, I found myself skipping from the bathroom and down the hall.

"They fit perfectly," Judy commented as I came to a stop in the living room.

"I'm just going to clean the kitchen while I wait. Are you okay with Koda?"

She scoffed. "Of course."

It turned out to be an hour and a half before the men came back inside. Judy was in Koda's room putting him down for his nap. I sprung up from the couch and stood, with my hands clasped in front of me.

Kalen was the first to enter the living room, and I sucked in a hiss. He looked handsome in a rough biker looking way, wearing his biker vest. His eyes raked over me before he nodded and gave me a wink. Those winks were driving the lower half of my body crazy.

"You ready?"

"Yes." I grinned. "Though, I have to admit, I'm a bit nervous. I've never been on a bike before." Or had my hands on your waist, or been pressed close to you.

"You're a virgin." Knife laughed. "Man, let me take her on the back. I have the need to break her in."

Kalen's hand came out, and the slap to the back of Knife's head seemed to echo in the room. "Fuckin' enough." With a nod, he gestured to the door. The brothers, understanding any movement or grunt or chin lift, filed out of the house through the front door. Kalen looked back to me and said, "They can sometimes be dicks, but don't let it get to you."

Shaking my head, I said, "I won't."

"Good," he said and then went into the kitchen for something, coming back with a helmet. "I don't have a spare one right now. You can use mine."

He didn't have a spare one
right now.

Right now.

Did that mean he was going to be getting one for me?

What was going on here?

"But, what about you? You need to be safe as well."

He smiled and pulled a piece of cloth from his back pocket. He tied it around the top of his head. It was a bandana, and he looked amazing in one.

What would his beard feel like on my body?

Oh, God.
Where did that thought come from?

"Ready?"

"Yes," I answered breathily.

Mind still thinking about his beard, I watched his lips twitch, lips I could see clearly because he kept his beard trimmed nicely. I lowered my gaze, taking a calming breath. I had no idea how I would survive pressed against him and not turn into a puddle of goo.

He started for the door, and I followed quietly. The sun was still shining down on us. No dark clouds marred the sky. His brothers were already astride their rides waiting for us. Kalen stopped beside his and flung his leg over.

"You need to put the helmet on first, sunshine." He smiled. I fumbled with it and placed it on my head. I tried doing up the straps, but I couldn't work it out. Were they freaking childproof? Or did you need to take a course on it? Chuckling, Kalen demanded, “Come here, woman." I stepped up to him. His warm hands went to the straps and too soon, he had it done up. "Throw your leg over and slide on, Mena."

"Um, okay." I nodded yet stood frozen. I wasn't sure I was ready for a ride.

My decision was taken from me when suddenly a large presence was behind me, Dallas. I let out a squeak of surprise when he picked me up and sat me straight in behind Kalen. Then, to my utter embarrassment, he placed his hand on my butt and pushed me forward, so my crotch pressed against Kalen's lower back and butt. Finally, if that wasn't bad enough, he took my arm and wound it around Kalen's waist. I quickly did the other one and gripped them to Kalen's leather vest.

"Done. Now let's ride," Dallas barked.

All the men, even Kalen, threw their heads back and laughed. Of course, I watched Kalen. When he'd calmed down, he looked over his shoulder and asked, "You good?"

"I'm afraid to move in case Dallas comes back to rearrange me."

He chuckled. "You're good." He slid his mirrored sunglasses onto his nose and kicked his bike to start.

Judy was right. I freaking loved riding. Holding Kalen close wasn't the only fact I loved so much about riding. It was being surrounded by his brothers, feeling safe with them all. It was the wind, the smell, and the sound. It was everything combined.

After an hour-long ride, we had a quick coffee in town before Kalen's brothers headed back to Caroline Springs. Feeling in the best mood, I made them all suffer through a hug and thanks for coming to help. Though, the only ones who really suffered were Dallas and Beast. Knife went to feel my butt up until I smacked his hand away and glared. He was a tease and nothing else.

I didn't want the afternoon to end, but all too soon, we were pulling up out the front of the house. I climbed off, and while I took off my helmet, Kalen hopped off, and then I passed it over to him. He placed it on the seat behind him.

"Wanna see your room?"

Smiling, I said excitedly, "Yes, please. But, will Judy mind us being a bit longer?"

He snorted. "Nope."

We walked across the lawn. I trailed a bit because my legs were a little like jelly. They weren't used to sitting on a Harley. Kalen already had the door open and stepping in by the time I was there.

Gasping, my hands went to my chest. Then I slid one to cover my mouth because my bottom lip trembled. Tears filled my eyes and my heart beat at a frantic, excited pace.

It was wonderful.

No, it was amazing.

Beautiful and special.

Kalen had done this for me. Having someone give so freely meant more to me than anything I had experienced in life.

There was a bed in the far back, and next to it were some drawers. On the other side was a nightstand with a lamp. In the space at the end of the bed, sat a couch. Opposite it was the TV and stand. A little kitchenette was to the left of the room. It had a bar fridge and a small two-seater table. The room seemed warm. My eye landed on the heater to the right of the room. Everything was perfect.

"There's a toilet room with sink to the side of the bed, but it don't have a shower, so you'll have to use the one inside. We cleaned it up as much as we could. Some stuff was already in here. The rest we got in from my place in Caroline Springs."

"Kalen… it's fantastic. No, more than that, but I can't think of the right word to use." My voice hitched. "I, you, I mean… I don't know what to say."

"Nothing is needed to be said, Mena. Glad you like it. I'll leave you to it." He started for the door, only to face me again and say, "There're some things in the fridge already. I asked Mum to fill it. But, did you want to grab something inside for dinner?"

"Thank you, but do you mind if I stay out here? Unless you would like me to cook something for you and Koda?"

"All good. Koda would have eaten with Mum, so I'll just grab a sandwich or something. See you in the morning, Mena." He turned to the door again, but I called his name and rushed at him. I had to hug him. The day had been perfect. I had to hold him and show him how much it meant. Before he could wrap his arms around me, if that was his intention, I moved back.

Smiling up at him with tears in my eyes, I said, "Thank you again. So much, Kalen, thank you."

He winked. My heart winked with him. "No problem," he said gruffly before he walked out, closing the door behind him.

Chapter Fifteen

Two Weeks Later

Dive

She wouldn't eat dinner with us. She'd make it, and then, once I got home, she'd take off out to her shed. I'd asked, but she'd said she had her meal already. Shit, I found myself hoping for the last two weeks she'd stay, keep me company, and eat with us. Even after Koda was in bed, I stood at the kitchen window looking out to the light in the shed and wondered what she was up to. Mum was away on another trip, so I knew she wasn't getting any food from her. Then again, Mena was more than capable to go into town to buy her food in her car during the day, after I'd given her keys back. I trusted she wouldn't up and leave. She loved Koda too much to leave him.

What did she think of me, though?

I didn't have a fuckin' clue.

I wanted… no, I needed to get to know her.

Fuckin' hell, why didn't she want to spend time with me at night?

Fed up with pining for her company, I opened the door and took the steps it took to get to her door in a quick stride and knocked.

The moment it opened, I barked, "You eaten?" Then, fuck me, my eyes slid over her, and I had to hide my smile when I saw her dressed in Big Bird PJs and slippers that had the head of Big Bird as well. They looked fucked-up for a thirty-year-old to wear them, but still, she looked goddamn cute.

"Um, yes?"

What in the fuck? Why was she answering in a question?

With a hand on her belly, I pressed forward, and she moved aside. I stalked to the kitchen and opened the fridge. Milk, cheese, and some vegetables stared back at me. I picked up the last carrot, and it flopped to the side. Growling low, I threw it in the sink and moved to the small cupboard and opened it. Fuckin' cups of soup and noodles.

Spinning to face her, I took in her heated cheeks and wide eyes. "This is what you ate for dinner?"