Trust (Trojans MC Book 6) (4 page)

He watched Pike straddle his bike, with clearly the intention of going to settle a score with the diner man.

Knuckles took another bite of his brownie, thinking back to last night. It really had been a perfect date.

****

“So, my brother let you out of his sight for two minutes to come and see me.”

“It’s not like that, Beth,” Maria said, smiling.

Holding little Tanya, Beth stared down at her sleeping niece, falling in love with her all over again. She was such a sweet girl, so loving and quiet. “I know it’s not like that.”

Maria and her brother had an interesting relationship. Beth was aware of Daisy’s need for control. It wasn’t a violent control, or anything like that. It was something a bit deeper. She couldn’t be sure of it either, only that Maria had flourished being with him.

“She’s so cute,” she said.

“And she sleeps through. I never thought she would. There were times I thought she’d, you know, be a bit of a problem, but no. She’s a darling.”

“Are you taking care of yourself?” Beth asked. “I’ve heard that some mothers can struggle in the early days of giving birth.”

“I’m not in the early days of giving birth, Beth. I know what you mean. Post natal depression. I know, Daisy was worried, and he made sure I was okay. I’m more than fine. I’m blissfully happy.”

“That’s good.” She was happy with her best friend. Maria had chosen to come with her to Vale Valley rather than go off to college. Maria was like a sister to her, and now she was her sister-in-law, so it all made perfect sense.

“What about you?” Maria asked.

Glancing up, Beth frowned. “Me?”

“Yeah, you. I’m happy. I’m in love with an amazing guy. I have a beautiful daughter. I’m an old lady in a wonderful MC. What about you?”

“I’m happy.”

“How are you coping?” Maria asked.

Her best friend knew everything, and had been there to help her afterward. Maria was her rock, where she had been dying inside. “I’m fine. I, um, I had a date last night with Knuckles.”

“You did?”

“Yeah, don’t tell Daisy. He’ll ruin it for me.”

“He doesn’t think Knuckles is good for you.”

“I told him to butt out of it.” Beth shrugged. “I don’t know. I want to move on. It has been over two years now. Can’t I move on? Am I not allowed to move on?”

“Benedict won’t ever be able to hurt you again, Beth.”

“I know. I should have been stronger though.”

“You did what you had to do.”

“At what cost? Are there other women he’s going to hurt in that way?”

“I know your brother and several men went to pay him a visit. I doubt they’d let him hurt anyone else.”

“Or they all run away, hiding like it was all their fault.”

“It wasn’t your fault, Beth.”

“I don’t know. Some people would argue that I was the one in the wrong for going to the party in the first place. I shouldn’t have gone.”

“I should have gone with you. If I had, I’d have been there to keep an eye on you.”

Beth sighed. “I fucked up, Maria. I just, I want a clean shot. A chance to actually be happy, and that’s never going to happen if I don’t move on. I like Knuckles. He makes me feel … alive.”

Maria smiled. “Daisy makes me feel that. Everything is always so dark before he comes into a room, and when he’s there, the world falls away.”

“That’s the way I feel with Knuckles. Our date was sweet. Did you know he can cook? And you can’t tell anyone else that. He cooked for me, and it was so delicious. He put me at ease.”

“Daisy’s going to be annoyed. He’s asked for Knuckles to leave you alone.”

“I’m happy that he’s ignoring him. It’s my life, no one else’s, and even though I love my brother, it’s not his place to tell me what to do.”

“He cares, and he worries.”

Beth sighed and glanced down at the Tanya who wiggled in her arms. What would it be like to have a child of her own? She wondered if Knuckles wanted a baby. He’d make one hell of a dad.

Chapter Four

Knuckles rubbed the back of his head as he glanced over at the beautiful woman by his side. The movie they had seen was heavy on the erotic. There was a time he had to wonder if he hadn’t taken her to a full-fledged porn film. He’d wanted to take his time, allow her to get used to him, and instead, the movie had been a complete disaster.

They walked side by side, and he listened to the other movie goers, talking nonstop about the film.

“When I get you home, I’m going to try that out on you,” one guy said.

“So,” Beth said, surprising him by actually speaking first. “Was that intentional, or just coincidence?”

He looked over at her to find that she was smiling. Her cheeks were slightly flushed, and she looked on the verge of laughing. “You know it was coincidence. I read the review, and it was supposed to be cultured, a love story.”

She snorted. “I’ve seen more love with Darla getting initiated into the club.”

“You snorted. I can’t believe you’re laughing.”

“You’re squirming, and you look seriously uncomfortable. Why?”

He shoved his hands into his jeans and shrugged. “I don’t know. I don’t want you to feel like I’m pressuring you.”

“It was an … interesting movie. I don’t feel pressured, not at all.” She chuckled. “Please don’t act like you have to wear kid gloves around me. It’s bad enough that I get it from Daisy and from Maria.”

Knuckles paused, and they both stopped, moving out of the way so people could pass freely. “I don’t.”

“Then why were you nervous? What happened to me, happened. I can’t change it, even if I wanted to.” She held her hands up. “Please, be Knuckles. Be the guy who doesn’t care what happened. See me for a person, and not for anything other than that.”

Knuckles reached out, stroking her cheek. “I don’t.”

“Then don’t think a silly movie would make me think less of you. After what you did to me in the clubhouse, you better be taking some pointers.”

She pulled away, laughing as she started down the street. He loved the fire inside her. This woman, she’d changed in the months she’d been at the club. Beth was stronger, harder, yet more confident within herself.

“Baby, I don’t need any pointers.”

“Really? Nothing left to learn.”

“Nothing. Ask me anything, and I’ll tell you.”

“Hum, interesting.” She linked her arm through his as they made their way to the diner, which was still open. “I can ask you anything about sex?”

“Anything.” Knuckles doubted there was a single thing she could ask.

“Okay, did you know you were going to do that to me in the clubhouse?”

He smiled. “Do what?” If she wanted to get right down and personal, he was happy to do that. However, he was going to make sure she said things right.

“You know.”

“No, I don’t. I did a lot of things. I watched your brother fight, a Prospect get his ass kicked, a slut get fucked. You name it.”

“You touched me.” She slapped his arm.

“If you’re going to be asking me questions about my sex life, don’t you think you should be able to actually say it?” he asked.

“You’re right. Did you plan to stroke my pussy?”

He tripped over his own feet as she surprised him with her choice of words.

“Ha, see, I can surprise you.”

“Baby, you’re treading in dangerous waters.”

“Well, did you?”

“Plan it?”

She nodded.

“Not a chance. I didn’t plan anything when it came to you. I saw you. I saw the way you were looking at Darla, and I just couldn’t look away from you.”

They got to the diner, and Knuckles found them a booth in the back. He didn’t want any disturbances. They grabbed their menus, scanning over them. He took his order first, and Beth had the same.

He liked a woman with a good appetite.

Pouring her some water, he watched as she folded her arms in front of her and leaned forward.

“Tell me, what was going on in that head of yours while watching Darla?”

Her cheeks turned a wonderful shade of red. “You really want to know?”

“I wouldn’t have asked if I didn’t.”

She signed. “I thought I was supposed to be the one to question you on all things sex.”

“You are. I can ask some of my own.”

“Fine. I found Darla … freeing.”

“Freeing?”

“Yeah, she wasn’t plagued by bad thoughts. She looked completely in the zone, and almost lost, headily on arousal. I’ve never felt anything like that, and yet, she could feel it without even thinking, not really. There was a room full of men, and most of them, they wanted her. They wanted to screw her.”

“You want that?” he asked.

She shook her head. “I don’t want a room full of men to line up to fuck me. I want to feel that safe within myself to express that kind of need. I’ve never known that, and I feel like I shouldn’t feel that, if it makes sense. If you take away what happened to me, okay, think about the way women have to be in the work place, or to even get equal rights.” She leaned forward a little more, and he found her passion inspiring. Fuck, she was actually turning him on. “I read somewhere that women in the porn industry, just as an area, they don’t even get equal pay. They have the same sex that men do. They’re getting pushed around, flipped over, banged around, and forced to swallow some nasty stuff, and they don’t even have equal pay within a scene.”

Knuckles smirked. “Do you watch a lot of porn?”

“Seriously, out of everything I just said, you’re hung up on porn?”

“Every guy loves a little bit of porn, especially when their girl likes it as well.”

She held up her finger. “I didn’t say I liked it. I just happened to read it. For all I know, it was false, but then, women overall are paid less than men in exactly the same jobs.”

“I agree with everything you say. Any woman that is doing exactly the same job should be paid the same. If that woman is doing a little more, then she should be paid more.”

During the entire conversation, Knuckles wondered if Beth realized how close she had gotten to him. They were practically touching lips with how close they were.

“Here is your order,” the waitress said, and they both pulled away.

“This looks great,” Beth said.

“Enjoy.”

The waitress was gone, and Knuckles gritted his teeth. Of all the worst times to actually invade his personal space, she had to pick now.

“You’re looking mightily ticked off there. How come?”

“Nothing.” He grabbed a cheese soaked fry and popped it into his mouth.

“Nothing? I thought it was because we were interrupted from having our little moment. I was expecting a little kiss, or something.” She looked up at him, smiling wickedly.

“I’m starting to think that you’ve been hiding this little minx.”

“I may have.” She shrugged. “There’s no telling, is there?”

Knuckles sat back, watching her. He had heard from Maria that Beth used to be a bit of a wild, party animal. Now, he was starting to see little signs of her rebellious personality. She wasn’t this scared, timid little girl. She was in fact an outgoing woman. What had made her seem so timid was what had happened to her.

“I enjoyed going to the movies with you. It has been a long time since I enjoyed myself like that, going out, having fun. It was great.”

“Vale Valley is having a good impact on you.”

“I don’t know. Maybe it’s being around you, knowing my brother doesn’t want me to.”

“I should take that as an insult. You’re only with me because of your brother.”

She giggled. “Not really, no. To be honest, I want Daisy to see that I’m growing up, and I’m better, if that makes sense. I didn’t have an illness, and like all scary things, it takes some time.”

“I’m glad you’re happy.”

“So, will you be taking me on another date?”

He picked up his cheeseburger and took a large bite. The special sauce was something Mary had implemented for Mac’s burgers, and it was so damn good.

“I don’t know. Are you free tomorrow night?”

“Sure, I’m free.”

“Cool, I want to take you shopping.”

“Really? You’re a guy, and you’re offering to take a woman shopping. You do know that it’s a crazy idea to invite a woman shopping?”

“It’s not for clothes. I’ve got something I want to get you.”

Knuckles smirked when he saw her confusion. He loved watching Beth, the way she worked shit out, all of it.

“Huh, okay, so we’re going shopping, but it’s not for something I need, or maybe even want?”

“You’ll never guess, which is why it’s going to be so much fun to take you.”

“Will we be riding on your bike?” she asked.

“No. I’m afraid this is going to have to be by car.”

“All right,” she said, smirking as she took a bite of her burger.

They ate the rest of their food, enjoying conversation. By the time they were finished, the diner was ready for closing, so Knuckles walked her toward her apartment building. He didn’t stay outside, but walked her right up toward her door.

“This is me,” she said, joking. “You can come in for coffee, or tea, or even a beer. After sharing wine with you last night, I went shopping.”

“Should I be worried that you’re turning into an alcoholic?”

“Not at all. Or maybe? I can’t seem to remember half my date.”

He cupped her hips, and pulled her forward, pressing a kiss to her head. “Goodnight, Beth,” he said.

“Oh, um, goodnight.”

“I enjoyed tonight, Beth.”

“Me too. I really did. Thank you.”

He waited until her door was closed before leaving her building and walking toward the clubhouse. When he entered, he found Daisy sitting at the bar with Tanya in his arms, drinking from her bottle.

“Are you waiting around for me?” he asked.

“What do you think?” Daisy glared at him. “You know, I asked you as a friend to stay away from my sister, and yet you’re dating her.”

“Beth has a right to make her own decisions, Daisy. If she didn’t want to go out with me, guess what, I wouldn’t force her.”

Daisy snorted, and immediately calmed down as Tanya got a little scared.

“You really shouldn’t be having this conversation with me right now. What is going to happen is between Beth and me, no one else.”

“She’s my sister, and she was fucking date raped.”

Knuckles gritted his teeth. “That’s all you see, isn’t it?”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

“There’s more to Beth than what happened. You need to fucking see it.” Knuckles shook his head. “I’m not going to have this out with you.”

“Daisy?” Maria said, coming downstairs. She was wrapped in a gown, and she took the two of them in, biting her lip as she did.

“Yeah, baby,” Daisy said.

“Beth’s happy.”

“She’s my sister. I know what is best—”

“No, you don’t. You don’t have a clue what is best for her. You’re only going on what
you
think is best,” Knuckles said, getting angry. “Why don’t you go and see her for yourself? Maybe then you’ll finally realize that I’m not going to hurt her.”

****

Beth hummed to herself as she put the latest files away into the filing cabinet. After last night’s date, she’d gotten a good night’s sleep, and even though she’d been worried that Knuckles had gotten into the habit of kissing and going, she knew it wouldn’t last.

“Someone is in a perky mood this morning,” Clinton said, coming out of his office.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to distract you.”

“You didn’t. I’m just waiting for a client to come in for a drunk and disorderly.” Clinton folded his arms, leaning against her desk. He blew out a breath.

She chuckled. “You sound troubled.”

“It’s nothing. Ugh, okay, fine. I’ve met someone, only it was a friend of a friend.”

Beth held her hand up. “You’re coming to me for relationship advice?”

“You’re the only woman here, and I don’t trust anyone else. Is that a problem?”

“It’s not a problem. I don’t consider myself an expert.”

“You’re a woman.”

“Okay, fine, hit me with whatever you want to say.”

“I met this woman, and she’s really sweet. She works in a bakery in the city.”

“All right. I still don’t see the problem right now.”

“It’s not a problem. Look, I’m an asshole. I accept that I’m an asshole. It’s who I am. I have to be. No one should like me, and women, I bed them, and forget about them.”

Beth pushed her hair out of the way. “So?”

“I like her, and the thing is, I was going to say all these shitty things to her, only I didn’t.”

She chuckled. “What’s her name?”

“Rebecca Duncan.”

“I never thought I’d say this, but it sounds to me like you’ve got some feelings for this woman.”