Wanted by the Devil (11 page)

12

             
Kaylie served a cheeseburger and turkey club to Mr. and Mrs. Marcus. They were a sweet old couple who came in at least once a week. Kaylie had always imagined she'd have something like that someday- growing old together, taking walks, raising a family.

             
But how could she ever have any of that with Dev?

             
Maybe he wasn't the problem. Maybe it was her. His lifestyle was extreme to be sure but he'd shown her that he was a good man time and again. Better than most she'd wager. So what if he rode a bike and hung out with a bunch of tattoo'd tough guys. They stuck together like glue. If any of them ever needed anything, Dev would be there for them and vise versa. They had loyalty and guts in spades.
Especially
Dev.

             
If she couldn't get past all of this then she knew she would be the one missing out. She had no doubt that Devlin would have another woman just by snapping his fingers. He might miss her, or even be really sad for a while, but she doubted he would experience the soul crushing loss that she was anticipating. Just thinking about being without him made her feel desolate and alone.

             
Maybe it was just better to turn a blind eye to the club and the troubles that went hand in hand with it. If the cops wanted to harass her, so be it. She would just toughen up. She loved Dev already. As time went on she was realizing that she wasn't even close to done falling for him. In fact, she couldn't think about anything else but him, and the way he'd made love to her that afternoon.

             
Her cheeks were flushed as she walked to Mae's to do her night shift. She had been glad for an excuse to get out of the club house. She'd needed time to think and she was almost certain she'd made her decision. Whether it was the right one or not was hard to say.

             
She tied her apron over her pink rayon uniform and got to work. It was busy tonight which was a blessing. It kept her mind off of… other things. Images of Dev and Grant were swapping places in her mind with intensely different results. She went from feeling very warm in the diner to wanting to run out back and upchuck all over her tennis shoes. So being busy was great. Until he walked in.

             
Officer Grant.

             
Her stomach felt like it dropped to her shoes. He was looking around the place as if he owned it. He caught sight of her behind the counter and his expression changed to one of unconcealed lust. He oozed his way toward the counter like the slime ball that he was and sat down in front of her.

             
He rested his big meaty hands on the formica counter. She had trouble looking away from them for a minute. Officer Grant was a huge man. Tall and strong but also getting close to thirty and starting to get fat. His hands looked pink and swollen laying there on the counter like two uncooked chicken cutlets. If he touched her with them she'd scream.

             
"Well, if it isn't my favorite little waitress. How are you doin' tonight honey?"

             
She flipped over her pad and stared at it, pen at the ready.

             
"What can I get you, Officer Grant?"

             
A disgusting smile crept over his face as he pondered the question. It was obvious that he was thinking about things that were
not
on the menu. And never would be!

             
"I don't know doll face. Do you have any specials tonight? Maybe a discount on something leftover, like sloppy seconds?"

             
She swallowed the bile rising in her throat. Was he kidding with that BS? Suddenly she started hoping that Dev would do something to the guy. Not kill him but… something bad.

             
Maybe she was cut out to be a biker's woman after all.

             
"Let me know when you're ready to order."

             
She slapped a menu down in front of him and walked away. She didn't see Donnie outside on his bike making a phone call.

**********

              Devlin was being held down by three guys. He'd taken the call from Donnie and ran out of the clubhouse before anyone could stop him. It was Jack who wrestled him off his bike to the pavement and then got a few other guys to help him hold Dev down.

             
Grant was at Mae's. Bothering Kaylie. Again.

             
His guts twisted at the thought of that pig talking dirty to his sweet girl. She'd lost her virginity less than a week ago and she was already dealing with this crap? It made his blood boil.

             
Enough so that he was ready to break the agreement of his release. If he left the clubhouse compound his ankle bracelet would go off and that would be it. Guaranteed jail time.

             
Then he wouldn't be able to protect Kaylie at all. Or touch her. Or…

             
He nodded curtly and the guys eased their weight off of him. He stood and brushed himself off then stalked back inside the club. He got up on a chair and put his boot on the bar.

             
"Listen up! We are having an outing. All of you are going to Mae's for banana splits."

             
A couple of the guys moaned amongst all the cheering.

             
"I'm lactose intolerant Dev!"

             
"Whatever- get what you want Lennie. The point is, that pig Grant is in there right now, messing with my old lady. I can't go anywhere. But you guys can."

             
In unison all the guys got up and ran for the door. The sound of 40 something hogs revving up and hitting the road was like music to his ears. He climbed down and reached behind the bar for a beer. Even the guy manning the bar had gone.

             
Grant was going to love this.

**********

              Mae's was full of leather. Kaylie stared around as she rushed to take everyone's orders. There were at least fifty bikers in the diner, all coming within the last few minutes. She saw Donnie and Jack had taken seats on either side of a suddenly nervous looking Grant.

             
She was worried about getting all the orders straight until she realized they were all getting the same thing. Banana split. Extra nuts. Well, all except for one guy who ordered sprite, mumbling under his breath 'food allergies.' She felt tears welling in her eyes. Dev couldn't have sent a clearer message to Grant. Or to her.

             
She was his. He would protect her.

             
Donnie was leaning in toward Grant and whispering something in an urgent manner. Jack said nothing as usual, but was following the conversation closely and nodding. When Kaylie brought Grant his check she looked him proudly in the face. Sloppy seconds didn't get this kind of escort home.

             
"Anything else Officer Grant?"

             
He shook his head and reached for his wallet. His hand was shaking slightly and his face was white as a sheet. Jack grabbed his hand, twisting it hard while Donnie grinned up at her and winked.

             
"No thank you. I'm- uh- sorry for not treating you like a lady."

             
She nodded at him regally.

             
"I accept your apology. Just see that it doesn't happen again. To any woman."

             
He nodded eagerly while his wrist was slowly wrenched underneath the counter.

             
"And tell Dev-"

             
She cocked an eyebrow at him.

             
"The charges are dropped."

             
With a whoosh of air he stood and dropped twenty bucks on the counter. In less than 30 seconds, he was gone.

             
A huge cheer went up from the crowd, bikers and staff alike. And then one of the prospects came behind the counter to help her dole out ice cream for everyone. He cleaned up afterwards too, much to Charlie’s amusement. By the time they all left she had a stack of twenty dollar tips a couple of inches high.

**********

              He was waiting for her when she walked into the clubhouse. It was late. She'd finished her shift later than usual. There had been a lot of ice cream bowls to put away from what he’d heard. Jack had waited outside while Donnie went back to the club to pick up Dev's SUV.

             
There was a nervous knot in the pit of his stomach as she walked toward him through the crowd of bikers. They all smiled at her as she passed. She was one of them now. They loved her as much as he did.

             
Love. There it was again. No point fighting it now. He loved her, for better or worse. He was praying he wasn’t about to get his heart ripped out by the woman he loved.

             
Finally she stood in front of him. She didn't smile or kiss him. She just raised her chin and stared him right in the eye.

             
"I didn't know if I wanted this kind of life."

             
His chest felt like it might explode but he forced his voice to remain steady.

             
"I understand. I won't be mad if this isn't what you want Kaylie. I could never be mad at you."

             
She looked down as if she were embarrassed about what she was saying. Like the words didn't come easy. He held his breath, hoping beyond hope that she wouldn't say they were through.

             
"I said I
didn't
know. But now I do."

             
When she looked up again he was shocked at the triumphant look blazing out of her eyes. It was strong and sure and confident. It was full of love. For him.

             
"I'm yours Devlin. For as long as you want me."

             
He almost laughed but he felt emotion choking his throat, making it tough to even talk. He cupped her face and stared into her eyes.

             
"Forever Kaylie. Is that long enough?"

             
She nodded as he watched tears fill her beautiful eyes. He clasped her to him harder and bent his lips to hers.

             
"Forever."

We hope you enjoyed
Wanted By The Devil!
Joanna is already hard at work on the next book in the
Devil’s Riders
series, also a collaboration with Pincushion Press, an independent publishing house with a focus on romance.

Joanna loves to hear from her fans! Please contact her at
JoannaBlakeRomance
@
gmail
.
com

You can also follow her on her
blog
and
twitter
!

http
://
jbromancenovels
.
tumblr
.
com
/

https
://twitter.com/JBromancenovels