Rough Ride (22 page)

“What?” Sherri asked with a laugh

“Nothing.” She replied

“I probably don’t want to know.” Sherri said

“You really think he’s in love with me?” She asked.

“Yea I do and so does a whole bunch of broken hearted women, now that he’s off the market.” Sherri replied.

“Off the market?” She asked.

“He hasn’t even looked at another woman since he met you.  In Bobby Jackson time a month’s worth of interest in only one woman speaks volumes.” Sherri said finishing off her wine and pouring herself another glass.  “Hell from what I’ve heard Tommy has taken on Chuck as his new P.I.C. when he goes on the
prowl
.”

“P.I.C.?” She asked

“Partner in Crime.” Sherri replied

“That’s probably information
I
don’t want to know.” She said with a laugh.

“I’m not sure what happened between you two tonight but he’s yours for the taking…if you want him.” Sherri said.

“I’m heading up to bed.  I am so worn out…emotionally and physically.” She said standing and placing her wine glass in the sink.

“From what I’ve heard, Bobby Jackson will do that to a woman...”  Sherri snickered.

Lilly lightly punched Sherri on the arm as she left the kitchen and made her way up the stairs to her room.  Closing the door she glanced at the window only to catch her breath at the memories of Bobby out on the rooftop.

“What was the best part? Did you like the rush from going fast, the roar and power between your legs, or the feel of me in your arms?”

Squeezing her eyes shut tightly to block out the memories, she changed, brushed her teeth, washed her face and climbed into bed.

Two days later, she found herself standing at the entrance to the garage bay of the shop.  Glancing up Dickie spotted her and a slow grin spread across his face.

“That foreign job you drive, giving you problems again?” He asked walking towards her.

Lilly watched as Tommy peered around the opened hood of the car they were working on and Chuck rolled out from under the car on a creeper.  Tommy’s eyes lit up and Chuck smiled when they saw her.  Before she could fully appreciate their unexpected welcome, Dickie scooped her up into a big bear hug and whirled her around.

“Man, am I glad to see you!” He said standing her back on her feet and releasing her “Just in time for payroll.”

“I um… I just stopped by to…” She said embarrassment heating her cheeks as the guys all stared at her.

“Go through the mail?  It’s right this way.” Dickie said jokingly as he guided her into the office with his hand on her lower back.

As they stepped inside, she could not help but notice the condition of the desk.  The part of her that needed to organize every aspect of her life drew her to it like a moth to a flame.  They had completely trashed her desk…again. 
Her desk
…

“I suppose you’re looking for Bobby.  He’s actually out of town.  He left to go and review the plans he’s been working on for four new custom bikes with the customer.” Dickie said in a serious tone.

“As much as I want to lie and tell you that I just stopped by to see you and the guys, you and I both know why I’m here.” She said turning with the pile of mail she had scooped off the counter that ran along the top of the desk.

“I want to apologize to you Lilly.  I already apologized to Bobby.  When he didn’t come back the night of the rally I assumed he was out ‘painting the town’ so to speak.  I think my reaction to those assumptions spilled over to you and gave you the wrong impression.” He said “I’ve since learned that for once he was doing the right thing, making this business a priority.  He wasn’t with another woman that night.  He was out drumming up business.  In this industry sometimes that is done in less conventional ways than you’re used to.”

“I know.  He sort of told me.” She said

“Look, I’ve known Bobby for a very long time and I’ve never seen him act like he does with you.” Dickie said “I just hope along with forgiving me for putting my own assumptions into your pretty little head, that you can find it in your heart to give him another chance.”

“Do you know when he will be back from his trip?” She asked quietly attempting to clear the burning tears from her eyes by blinking rapidly and looking away from Dickie.

“No but your more than welcome to wait in here for him, unless you have some place else to be.” He replied.

After pausing for a brief moment, Dickie made his way back out to the garage leaving her alone with her thoughts and the mess.  She spent the remainder of the afternoon cleaning the desk back off and entering in bills, invoices and timesheet information into the computer.  Finding a file folder she shuffled through the contents and found the contract for the upcoming build.  Looking over it she noticed it was dated the night of the rally and contained information and pricing on the four bikes the shop would be building.

After scanning through the information, she checked voicemail and was amazed at how many there were and how many referred to the custom bike they had seen at the rally.  Making a list of all the messages, she finished up just as Tommy entered the office.

“So are you coming back for more tomorrow?” He teased after looking at the now clean desk.

“I fear ever taking even a single day off from this place on account of this mess.” She replied with a smile.

“Hey if you’re not busy I thought you might like to get a drink with me and Chuck…just as friends.  We could take the bikes if you promise not to dry hump me like you tried to do to Chuckie.” He said with a grin.

She burst out laughing.  “He told you huh?”

“Yea, he told me giggling like a school girl the whole time.  That’s my man Bobby though, when he sees something he really wants, he’s balls to the wall.” Tommy said

“Sure…why not.  Is Dickie coming too?” She asked.

“Ahh, well that’s the thing.  Dickie doesn’t do the whole bar scene anymore…got himself in a little trouble in his younger years at one and hasn’t stepped foot in one since.” Tommy said “He’ll ride with us for a while but usually heads home when we stop for a drink but not before handing out his fatherly lectures on the wickedness of our ways.”

She shut down the computer and followed Tommy out shutting off the light as she went.  She was surprised at how painful it was to ride behind Tommy on the bike.  She hadn’t been on a bike since Chuck had driven her to the campsite the night before she left. 

Chuck’s bike had no backrest which had made her nervous even though he had been very careful with her on the back.  Tommy’s bike was quite comfortable as the passenger seat was bigger to accommodate the special armrests needed for Gretchen’s seat.  Though Bobby’s bike was louder and sat lower to the ground, and the seat ensured she felt every bump, she somehow didn’t enjoy riding with Tommy quite like she enjoyed the roughness of riding with
him
.

Entering the dimly lit bar, Chuck led her to a booth in the corner while Tommy approached the bar to order drinks.  She slid into the booth and Chuck sat next to her.

“Thanks a lot for telling Tommy about our little bike ride to the campgrounds.” She said with a laugh as she playfully swatted his arm.

“Well much like Bobby, that will probably be the one and only time I get a high class broad on the back of my bike too.” He grinned.

“Bobby called me a high class broad?” She asked

“Pretty much…” Chuck said as he watched Tommy approach the table with three beers.

“What exactly
did
he say?” She asked

“I’d rather not tell you considering Bobby’s already in a world of shit where you’re concerned and I don’t want to add to my boy’s problems.” Chuck said

“If I remember correctly, he told me he wanted a still shot from the shop surveillance video showing you on the back of his bike.”  Tommy said

“Okay but what does that have to do with me being a high class broad?” She asked

“He said that since there was no chance in hell he’d ever get another smoking hot, classy piece of tail like you to ride with him again he wanted proof you were real.” Tommy said taking the bottle cap off one of the beers and handing it to her.

“I see” she said laughing “I appreciate you telling me what was actually said rather than adlibbing.” She finished looking pointedly at Chuck.

“Hey! That’s not word for word either so don’t give me that look” He laughed.

“Well with Bobby I can only imagine what was actually said.” She said with a light laugh as she felt heat creep up her neck at the erotic words that played through her mind.

“Look, I wanted to get you out of the shop, pump you full of liquor and get you to sign a contract agreeing to work for the shop until the day you die.” Tommy said laughing “So drink up, there’s more where that came from.” He finished pointing to her beer.

Oh God!
  Had Bobby told them what happened the night
he
had pumped her full of alcohol?  She did not know what to say to that but could feel her cheeks heat with embarrassment at the thought these two knew what had happened between her and Bobby.

“Are you blushing Miss Lilly?” Chuck said tickling her cheek with his index finger and laughing. “Is there something you care to share?”

“What… what are you talking about?” She said smacking Chuck’s hand away from her cheek.

Tommy and Chuck shared a look and Lilly’s stomach clinched.

“Look, I’m not sure if you really know how things roll at the shop.  I mean you got the office stuff down to like a science but I don’t know if you really know what everyone does.” Tommy said eyeing Chuck.

“See, Bobby designs bikes.  He also makes custom parts for bikes as well as cars… like Gretchen’s motorcycle.  Dickie’s a mechanical genius and can usually hotwire or fix just about anything that’s wrong with an engine or transmission.  He also works with leather and does most of the custom seats for the bikes we build.  I started out painting cars until Dickie pulled me in to work on engines and now I’m doing not only painting but some mechanic stuff too.” Chuck explained

“My area of expertise is electronics… I work on anything requiring wiring or electrical work.  Though video, photos, and stereos are my expertise.” Tommy said and then looked away and took a deep breath.  “The competition before the one in Arizona, we had a little trouble with some people at the campsite we were staying at.  They broke into the camper and stole some stuff so I hooked up outside video much like I added the outdoor speakers for the radio so that it turns on whenever there is activity detected outside the camper…”

Lilly put her face in her hands…Bobby hadn’t told them, they’d seen it on video!

“Please tell me this conversation isn’t going where I think it’s going…”She said through her hands she used to shield her face from their view.

“Look we turned it off after the ‘Get on the back Bitch’ comment so we didn’t see anything beyond that.” Chuck attempted to lie.

“Oh God!” She cried in a high pitched whine.

“Shut up dipshit!” Tommy said smacking Chuck in the head.  “Look, the only reason we are telling you this and not taking it to our graves like we originally talked about, is because I’ve known Bobby for longer than I can remember and he is like head over heels for you.  He sat and talked to you for like an hour in the rain and then stayed and talked to you instead of hooking up with us that night…”

“Bobby doesn’t do that shit with women, he doesn’t have to… he can get ass whenever he wants it.” Chuck said

“Dude, why don’t you shut the fuck up, you are not helping here.” Tommy said with a frown.