Woods (Aces MC Series Book 5) (9 page)

Lauren

I'd managed to have another
successful day without any drama. During my free periods, I went to the library
as I knew people from the party that particular evening didn't frequently use
such a place. It was my sanctuary, somewhere I could relax and forget about my
worries if only for a couple of hours, surrounded by the things I enjoyed most.

I sniggered as my tummy rumbled
and glanced at my watch. It was nearing dinner time and I hadn't even stopped
for lunch today as I'd been too busy studying for my exams. I opened my
rucksack and placed my books inside before fastening it securely, groaning to
myself regarding the sheer volume of reading material I had with me. As I stood,
I felt faint and rested my hands on the table in front of me to take most of my
weight. My tummy rumbled again, I'd need to get a snack or at least a drink on
the way home as I probably wouldn't make it otherwise. Once the dizziness had subsided,
I secured my rucksack to my back and took a slow walk from the building.

It was still a pleasant day and I
looked forward to my walks to and from school as it was the only exercise I was
currently getting. I held onto the straps of my bag and walked across the grass
in the direction of the car park.
"Lauren!"
My heart lurched in my chest but I kept my head down and continued to briskly
walk in the same direction.
"Lauren!"
Shit they weren't giving up, I heard a door to a vehicle slam and the jingling
of keys and loose change as the person jogged in my direction.
Someone grabbed my arm lightly and I spun around ready to attack if I needed
to.
"Easy tiger, it's only me." His bright blue eyes sparkled in the
sunlight and I was physically relieved by his presence. "Everything
okay?"
I nodded my head, it was now that he was here.  "You just startled me
that's all. I don't know that many people so I was concerned when someone
called my name."
"Not a problem, it's better to be safe than sorry." His cheeky grin
was infectious and made me smile.
I nodded my head agreeing with his comment "So what brings you here?"
I asked genuinely surprised to see him.
"I know that you've been working hard so I wanted to take you out for
something to eat."
"Ah babe that's really sweet of you but I've got a lot of studying to do
tonight." I shrugged my shoulder to pull the strap of my rucksack up
further, the books were heavy and I made a mental note to clear my bag out
tonight and keep the most important reading material.
Ramsey stepped closer and took the rucksack from me, "What the fuck you
got in here, it weighs a ton?" he looked at the bag before returning his
attention to me with a puzzled expression.
"Just a few books..." I trailed off amused by his expression.
"No shit Sherlock," he flung the rucksack over his shoulder and
linked arms with me. "Right I'm taking you for something to eat, you'll be
home at a respectable hour so therefore you can still study this evening."
I glanced at him from the corner of my eye as he marched me across the car park
towards the van. It looked like I didn't have much of a choice and to be
honest, I quite liked the fact that he was making the effort. I didn't have
many friends as people didn't understand the whole motorcycle club thing and
the majority thought my studying regime was strange but if people couldn't take
me for who I was, then they wouldn't make very good friends anyway.
"Do I have much choice?" I asked humorously.
Ramsey smiled, "No."
I continued to allow him to guide me through the car park as I did my best to
keep up with his strides, he stopped as he reached the passenger door to the
van and opened it wide. "Your chariot awaits."
I sniggered, he was just what I needed at the moment. His cockiness was in full
flow this evening and it allowed me to relax and have fun. I was struggling to
know how to unwind. I'd seen Mark over the years let his hair down and enjoy
himself but it didn't come naturally with me. I was a little socially awkward,
I knew that and my naivety was shown in full force on the night of the party
but it had given me the time to analyse my life. Everything happened for a
reason. However big or small, I was a true believer of this. It hadn't felt
that way the night my parents died but that event led me to live with Mark and because
of that my life had completely changed. I wasn't sure if it had changed for the
better but the turn of events had opened my eyes and thrown new challenges at
me which possibly wouldn't have happened.
I was devastated that I'd lost my parents but the bond that Mark and I had now formed
had filled some of that void. I would forever blame myself for their deaths but
I knew deep down that my parents wouldn't and I couldn't wait to see them again
although I knew they'd be watching down over me every single day.
The night of the attack however horrific, was a challenge in its own right. One
of the hardest that I'd ever encountered. I could've let my attackers win, I
could've reported it to the police and had my name dragged through the mud or I
could've quite easily told the club and stood back as all three men disappeared
but that would've been too easy. That wasn't a challenge, my challenge was to
see how this event would affect me and how I would react. I hadn't realised how
strong I actually was until now. People saw me as a weak nerdy book type from a
privileged background but they were wrong I wasn't just that. Those turn of
events had released something else, a beast inside me that had been waiting to
emerge. A strong independent woman that in the face of adversity, had dealt with
her pain, suffering and turned it into a positive. I was determined that this
was only going to make me stronger and no one or anything was going to stand in
my way in order for me to achieve my dreams.

"So what have you been up to
today?" I asked securing my seatbelt. His hesitation was noticeable and I
immediately remembered that I shouldn't be asking. "Sorry I was just
chatting, I forgot about the rules."
"That's okay." He started the ignition and pulled out of the space
heading in the direction of the exit.
"So what can you tell me?"
He chewed the inside of his mouth contemplating my question, "I cleaned
the bar, ran an errand for Maggie and later I'm going to help her set up for
this evening's party."
"Ever the little helper!"
He smiled, "I do what I need to do."
We both fell silent and listened to the radio play. It wasn't an uncomfortable silence
which I liked, it was two people comfortable within each other's company and I
was starting to enjoy spending time with him quite a lot.
"So where are you taking me?" I asked intrigued as he hadn't asked my
likes and dislikes.
"For pizza," he smiled.
"Oooh my favourite."
"I know."
I looked at him confused, "How do you know it's my favourite?"
"I asked Chloe," he stated as a matter of fact keeping his eyes
firmly on the road. I smiled inside knowing that he'd been asking after me and
grateful that it was Chloe as she wouldn't say anything, she owed me a favour
after I caught her and Mark together. I sniggered at the thought earning myself
an unreadable expression from Ramsey before I snuggled into the seat and looked
out of the window.

He parked the van and eagerly
jumped out. I watched as he jogged around the front of the vehicle and opened
my door.
"Are you for real?" I asked surprised by his actions.
He furrowed his brows, "What you mean?"
"I'm not knocking it but I'm a little surprised with you being such a
gentleman."
"What because I'm associated with an MC and was raised in the care
system?"
"No I didn't mean that..."
"And isn't your brother a gentleman? I see the way he is, he's a good
bloke. Maybe it's how he was raised, to respect women and make them feel
special. I had fantastic foster parents that taught me all of those things."
"Whoa, easy tiger! Let's back up a little and take a breath. I wasn't
knocking it, I was just surprised in a good way. Now aren't you going to take
my hand and help me down from here?"
"No do it yourself," he stated humorously folding his arms across his
chest. I laughed and snorted in the process, I quickly lifted my hand to my
face to cup my mouth and nose. "I can't take you anywhere," he
sniggered rolling his eyes.
This set me off further and I doubled over laughing and snorting in the
process. Ramsey dug his hand in the crook of my arm and helped me from the van
as tears streamed down my face.
He shut the door behind me and locked the vehicle before directing me to the
pizza restaurant. As we reached the doors I had calmed down a little and wiped
my tears.
"I'm sorry," I stated still sniggering lightly.
"I haven't seen this side of you."
"Ooops is that a bad thing?"
"No I'm pleasantly surprised," he stated throwing my words back at
me.

As we entered the building, I
glanced around at the customers and noticed Spike, Angel and the twins. "Erm,
we've been spotted Ramsey," I nodded in the direction of their table.
He lifted his head in recognition that he'd seen them and turned to the lady
ready to seat us.
"Can we be placed with that family over there?" Ramsey pointed to
Spike which surprised me.
The waitress smiled and took two menus from the counter top. "Follow
me," she stated walking in the direction of their table.
I grabbed Ramsey's hand and pulled him back. He glanced down at our entwined
fingers and a smile grew across his face, "Babe if you want a bit of TLC
you only had to ask." He lifted my hand to his mouth and laid soft kisses
on the back of my hand. He took me totally by surprise but I was annoyed at
myself that I didn't immediately stop him. He worked his way across my hand to
my wrist and continued up my forearm, "Do you want me to carry on babe,
coz I will."
I shook my head and blinked several times gaining my composure and dropped my
arm, "Stop it you're causing a scene."
He glanced to his left and then his right, "No one's looking babe. They're
more concerned about their pizzas then us making out." He gave me a cheeky
wink and pulled me gently towards the table as I felt my cheeks redden.

"Good afternoon," Spike
greeted us as we approached the table.
"You don't mind us joining you, do ya?" Ramsey asked leaning on the
back of a spare chair positioned at the end of the table.
Louise smiled, "Of course not more the merrier." She extended her arm
encouraging us to sit.
"Thank you," I smiled as Ramsey pulled out the chair from under the
table for me to sit down.
Spike smirked but quickly turned his attention to Tommy. "I'm sorry,"
the little boy's eyes welled with tears as he knocked his drink over.
Spike picked Tommy up from his chair and placed him onto his lap, "It's an
accident mate don't get upset."
Tommy squeezed his eyes shut forcing back the tears and after a while opened
one and then the other, "Look no tears."
"High five to that," Spike held up his hand and Tommy slapped it with
a huge smile now on his face.
Louise looked lovingly at their interaction although she was busy mopping up
the spilt drink from the table. I enjoyed watching people interact, you could
learn so much from body language rather than words and the four of them just
oozed love and respect.

"What can I get you?"
The waitress asked holding her note pad and pen ready to take the order.
Ramsey looked at me expectantly. I shrugged, "I eat anything."
He nodded, "Okay then, we'll have a large pan BBQ base Texas chicken pizza
with garlic bread and a sharing combo. Can I also have two diet cokes
please?"
"Thank you," the waitress took the menus and left us to our
conversation.

"So what you two doing
here?" Spike asked placing Tommy back onto his own chair.
I felt a little uncomfortable under his scrutiny but I knew he was one of the
least scary club members. I sat quietly hoping that Ramsey would take the lead
and answer his question rather than leaving it to me to respond.
"Lauren's been working too hard lately coz she's got exams coming up but
she needs food for energy to study so I've brought her here."
I listened to the conversation like an outsider looking in although they were
talking about me. Ramsey hit the nail on the head with his explanation, which
surprised me as the boy actually listened to what I'd been saying. In fact he'd
paid more attention to me lately than my own brother had.
"I didn't realise you knew each other so well." Spike glanced between
the two of us and leaned on the table resting his chin on his clasped hands.
"We don't really but I know Woods has been busy lately and I thought Lauren
may be lonely," Ramsey moved his arms from the table so the waitress could
place our drinks.
I smiled at her and lifted my glass to take a sip, I didn't like where this
conversation was going and felt a little awkward. Maybe Spike wasn't so
understanding after all.
"And you thought you'd take it upon yourself to keep her company?"
Ramsey nodded, "Pretty much."
"Leave them alone Spike, they've come here to have their dinner that's
all." Louise spoke firmly enough to get her point across without causing a
scene.
"Yeah sorry, it's just I don't want to be involved in any more drama where
your family is concerned." Spike sniggered looking directly at me. I
narrowed my brows confused by what he meant at first but then I remembered the
story Mark had told me about him and Chloe over the park when they bumped into
Spike.
"No drama here I promise," I held up my hands indicating I wasn't
crossing my finger and the group laughed.

"What's your name?"
I looked down at the little girl sitting beside me and smiled, "I'm Lauren
and your name is?" I knew who she was but I waited patiently as she looked
me up and down checking me out.
"I'm Devon."
"Well Devon, I'm very pleased to meet you."
"Is he your boyfriend?" she pointed to Ramsey and I was a little
taken aback by her boldness. I'd heard stories regarding how outspoken she was
for someone so young but I'd never encountered it until now.
"Devon where have your manners gone? We don't ask questions like that, it
has nothing to do with us." Louise scolded Devon but she didn't care, the
little girl leaned on the table awaiting a response.
"Well, he is a boy and he is my friend. Does that answer your
question?" I wasn't sure how much young children knew about this kind of
stuff at her age.
"Well I saw him kissing your hand and you didn't stop him," she
picked up her cup from the table and sucked her straw not taking her eyes from
me for a second.
I could feel my face blush under her scrutiny and picked up my glass to take a
sip to stall for time.
"You don't miss a thing do you little lady." I was grateful that
Ramsey had spoken to break the uncomfortable silence. He placed his hand on top
of mine across the table, "We're just good friends." Ramsey looked
thoughtfully into my eyes which didn't help my blush.
"Well that's good because Dad says I'm not allowed to have a boyfriend
until I'm thirty, and you two aren't thirty and that just wouldn't be
fair." I glanced at Devon to see her fold her arms across her chest and
she poked her tongue out at Spike.
"Do that again and I'll cut it off," Spike said humorously.
"Come on you three, I think we've had enough excitement for one day."
Louise stood and the two children followed suit.
"Are you okay to put the kids in the Jeep babe, I just want a quick word
with Ramsey." Louise nodded and leaned over to place a kiss on the side on
Spike's cheek before he'd hand over the keys. Their exchange made me smile,
they seemed to really get on well and the children although cheeky were
adorable.
"Bye Devon, see you later Tommy," Ramsey waved and the children
returned the gesture.