Shane walked into the Ancient Mariner, and found an empty booth. A worn, faded menu stood upright against the window. He picked it up, and started to look over the lunch selections.
“Hi, honey. I’ll be right with you,” a false-cheerful voice said as the waitress hurried by.
Shane smiled, amused that Crystal was so busy she hadn’t recognized him. He decided on a club sandwich and fries, and put the menu away.
She’s sexy no matter what she wears, he thought as he watched her. Damn, I’m going to miss fucking her regularly.
Her waitress uniform was faded, but it didn’t stand a chance at hiding her curves. Her hair was pulled back into a tight ponytail, and she wasn’t wearing much, if any, makeup. But he noticed that the male customers still paid her a lot of attention.
Crystal delivered a tray of food to another table, and approached him…but she didn’t recognize him until she was standing directly in front of him with her notepad and pen out. “Oh my God!” she gasped happily. “What are you doing here?”
He laughed. “I heard the food was good, and the waitresses were pretty,” he teased. “I had to see for myself. I don’t know about the food, but the waitresses are gorgeous.”
Crystal grinned, enjoying the compliment. Then she glanced around, and slid into the booth across from him. “Are you really here to eat?”
“Actually, yes,” he agreed. “But I also wanted to talk to you about something else.”
She nodded, and stood up again. “Okay. Let me get your order, and once you’re done eating, I’ll take a quick break. How’s that sound?”
His food arrived in record time. He was certain she’d bumped a few orders to get it done so quickly. Food’s not bad, he thought as he bit into his sandwich.
He finished quickly, and caught her eye. She nodded, and disappeared into the back. When he stood, he left enough cash on the table to cover his bill, plus a substantial tip.
She met him outside, around the corner of the low building. “So what’s up, handsome?” she demanded. “Did I win the lottery or something?”
“What are you doing this Sunday?”
“Nothing,” she grumbled, and frustration rang through her lyrical voice. “Tim’s going into work. I guess the accounting firm is really busy. But I don’t have any plans.”
“He’s really busy, huh?” It was just what he’d hoped to hear.
“Yes!” she replied hotly. “Don’t get me wrong…I’m glad he’s doing well at work, and he’s really a hard worker. It’s just that we barely see each other now. I’m always alone and bored,” she added, and looked meaningfully at Shane. “I also don’t see a certain biker as much as I used to, and I miss him.”
“Sorry to hear that, Crystal,” he apologized. “I’ve been busy with the club. I miss you too, if that means anything.” He sounded earnest, but secretly he was delighted, because a bored Crystal was perfect for his plans. I can definitely help her fill her time.
She sighed, and shook her head. “Thanks. But you didn’t come here to hear my marital problems. What’s up?”
“The Blades are having a barbeque this weekend, and I thought you’d like to come.”
Warily she cocked her head. “Didn’t you say they were dangerous?”
He laughed. “Not dangerous, just wild. I meant that more for Tim than for you, Crystal. I think you’d fit right in, and probably have a lot of fun.”
“Really?” she asked teasingly.
“Definitely.” He matched her wicked grin with an easy smile. “You’ll be perfectly safe. I promise.”
“What if I don’t want to be perfectly safe?” she smirked. “I have that right now.”
Amused, he shook his head. “Believe me, Crystal. Whatever you’re looking for, you’ll find it with the Blades.”
“What time?”
That confused him, and he blankly echoed her quick question. “What time?”
“Yes, silly,” she replied. “What time is the barbeque?”
“Oh. Sorry. Pick you up at noon?” he asked. “Dress casual. The Blades don’t do formal.”
“Perfect. I’ll be ready.”
He smiled at her, and then quickly braced himself because she jumped in his arms and tightly hugged him. “Thank you, Shane. Call me sometime…hell, call me anytime, gorgeous. I miss you.”
”You’re welcome, Crystal. I miss you, too.”
On Sunday morning, Crystal got up early and made breakfast for Tim. “I’m sorry I have to go to work today, honey,” he apologized for the hundredth time. “It’s a busy time at the firm right now, and the overtime is really nice.”
Crystal swallowed the eggs she’d been chewing, and replied, “It’s okay.”
“Cool,” he replied gratefully. “Any plans for today?”
“Umm. Yes,” she said carefully. “I’m going to a barbeque with Shane.”
He’d started to sip his juice, and almost spit it out again in surprise. Quickly he recovered, and studied her over the rim of his glass. Anger was lurking right below the surface. If he didn’t give in gracefully, his life would be a living hell.
“Well…that sounds like fun,” he managed.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner,” she said coolly, “but we don’t see each other very much anymore.”
A blind, deaf, and completely dumb man couldn’t have missed what she was telling him. He’d been working so much that she was left by herself, and now he was going in on a Sunday. The message was clear: If you’re going to be away so much, I’m going to find ways to occupy my time.
He couldn’t very well protest—though he wasn’t comfortable with her seeing Shane alone, he had no real reason to object. “What time will you be home?” he asked quietly.
“I’m not sure,” she shrugged. “But I’ll keep in touch with you.”
“Be careful,” he urged, and hoped his voice didn’t reveal how his stomach was churning.
She tossed her hair over one shoulder, and fixed him with an exasperated look. “I’ll be fine.”
He forced a shaky smile. I hope you’re right, baby.
Shane had said to dress casually…but how casually was casually?
Immediately after Tim left, Crystal hurried back to their tiny bedroom and rummaged through her closet. One ‘casual’ outfit after another landed on the bed in an untidy heap.
Finally she settled on a skirt that was short, but not too short, and a fitted V-neck blouse. Hastily she rehung her discarded clothes while she waited for him to arrive, then checked her makeup.
Her heart raced when she heard his Harley rumble up the street. Then he knocked crisply on the door. Grinning, she slid into a pair of high-heeled sandals that would show off her legs. Her outfit was sexy, but not too sexy, she decided, spinning one last time in front of the mirror, and definitely casual. Perfect.
Eagerly she opened the door, and smiled up at him. He’d grown a goatee in the last few weeks, and he kept it carefully trimmed. She thought he looked even more attractive.
He started to say something, but the carefree greeting died on his lips. His mouth dropped open, and he whistled slowly. “Wow,” he said after a full minute. “You look gorgeous!”
“Awww. Why, thank you, sir,” she teased, sweeping into a low bow that showed as much of her cleavage as possible. “Am I dressed okay? I don’t mind taking everything off if you think I need to change.” Impishly she wiggled her eyebrows to emphasize her double meaning.
“You’re dressed perfectly,” he assured her with an admiring nod.
“You’re sure? I won’t stick out or anything, will I?”
“Crystal, you’re going to stick out, but you’d do that no matter how you dressed. You’d stick out in a burlap sack,” he assured her. “But you’re dressed perfectly for a Blades barbeque.”
“Good.” She stepped out, then closed and locked the door behind her. “I’m ready, should I follow you?”
“Why don’t you ride with me?”
Her eyes widened. “Shane, I’m wearing a skirt.”
He looked confused. “So?”
“So, I don’t want to ride behind you with my legs spread, wearing a skirt and showing my underwear,” she retorted. “Dummy.”
“I thought you liked to ride on my bike.”
“I do, but…” Suddenly she snapped her fingers. “I’ll be right back.”
Quickly she unlocked the trailer door, and rushed back inside. What she wanted was in her bedroom drawer. “Aha!” she exclaimed, tugging on her black spandex workout shorts. They looked a bit funny under her short skirt, but she did want to ride on Shane’s bike again. This way she could, without flashing the entire world. She’d just find a restroom once they arrived, and tuck them into her purse until he drove her back home.
When she bounced back outside with a triumphant grin, he was confused; since he couldn’t see under her skirt, it didn’t look like she’d changed a thing. “What did you do?” he asked.
She winked at him, and lifted her skirt. “See?”
“Ahhhh. Good thinking,” he chuckled.
“I’ll take them off when I get to the barbeque,” she said, and dropped her skirt again. “Let’s rock!”
The barbeque was already in full swing by the time Shane and Crystal arrived.
He parked his Harley at the end of a long line of gleaming bikes. Crystal hugged him one last time before dismounting. It had been fun and exciting to ride with him again, and holding onto him the whole time had been a huge bonus.
“That was awesome,” she gushed as he dismounted.
He laughed, and carefully laid his helmet and gloves on the long seat. “I’m glad you liked it.”
“You popped a wheelie!” Eagerly she bounced in place and clapped her hands. “That was so scary!”
Her little-girl exuberance amused him. “I’m telling you, Harleys are a lot of fun.” Then he canted his head toward the distant music. “C’mon, I’ll introduce you around.”
Shyly she laid a hand on his muscular arm. “Restrooms?”
He pointed over her shoulder. “Over there.”
“I’ll be right back. Wait for me?”
Tolerantly he nodded and leaned against his bike, enjoying the balmy weather and delicious aromas wafting over the next hill.
These monthly get-togethers at the local park were just one more thing he’d missed. It was a chance for club members to mingle and relax…and since it was a family-friendly event, the ‘old ladies’ were always invited, and drinking was kept to a reasonable level. The few rules Lobo insisted on were strictly enforced…by Coke, if necessary. Few cared to risk his anger.
When Crystal returned, she was holding a pretty little girl’s hand. “I found this cute little lady over near the restrooms,” she told him. “She can’t find her mom.”
Smiling, Shane knelt down, and wiped lingering tears off the child’s cheeks. “Don’t worry, honey. We’ll find her.”
The little girl nodded shyly, and clung to Crystal’s leg.
“Can I leave my purse with your bike?” she asked. When he nodded, she picked up the girl and settled her on one hip. “Let’s go find your mom, okay, honey?” she urged.
The child smiled, and hugged her tightly.
Shane was almost certain he knew her parents, but he also knew how dangerous it could be for a stranger to be caught holding a club member’s child. Blood had been spilled for lesser offenses. He made sure to keep Crystal close as he led the way toward the distant pavilion.
She stroked the little girl’s silky blonde hair as she hurried in his wake. “It’s okay, honey,” she crooned. “We’ll find your mommy. I promise.”
As soon as they rounded the hill, Shane sensed the tension in the air. The old ladies were gathered together in a tight huddle, and the bikers looked worried. Prospects were fanning out, clearly searching for something.
“Crystal, walk behind me,” he softly commanded, then glanced quickly at her. “Please.”
She obeyed immediately and hugged the child, who trustingly laid her head on Crystal’s shoulder.
Shane lifted one hand in greeting. “Hey!” His muscles tensed when they whipped around to face him, and several hands disappeared into their vests. “Someone lose something?” Carefully he motioned for Crystal to move forward.
“Alyssa!” One of the women dashed over, crying and holding out her arms. The biker who jogged right behind her broke into a beaming smile.
“Mommy!” Alyssa recognized her mother, and wriggled out of Crystal’s arms. The moment her feet touched the ground, she hurled herself into her mother’s eager embrace. Her father enveloped them both in a tight group hug. Crystal saw him wipe his eyes when Alyssa twisted around to return his relieved hug.
Shane curled his fingers around Crystal’s, then whispered, “Trust me.”
She did, so she leaned against him and managed a cheerful smile.
The general mood relaxed as Prospects began handing out fresh cups of beer. Shane waited another moment, then led Crystal through the crowd. All eyes focused on her. Since that made her extremely nervous, she pressed even tighter against him, and tried to calm her racing heart.
The little girl’s mother ignored Shane completely, and wrapped Crystal in a fierce hug. “Thank you for bringing my baby back!” she exclaimed, dashing tears off her cheeks. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!”
“You’re very welcome,” Crystal smiled. “I found her over near the restrooms, crying, and brought her to Shane.” She angled her head in his direction. “He’s the one who suggested we bring her to the barbeque.”
Alyssa’s father gripped her hand, then hugged Shane. “Thank you, brother.”
In moments they were surrounded by club members who pounded him on the back while their wives thanked Crystal. Then one of the bikers jumped up on a picnic table and lifted his hands. “Folks! Blades!” He waited until he had everyone’s attention. “We’re damned lucky today.” Mumbles of agreement rippled through the crowd. “This is a family barbeque, so let’s make sure we do a better job of watching our families. That goes for everyone, understood? It could have been anyone’s child today.
“Prospects, see me later,” he commanded, then motioned toward Crystal. “Shane, will you introduce the young lady standing next to you? I think we’d all like to meet the woman who found our little girl.”
He turned to face the group, and laid a hand on Crystal’s arm. “Blades, this is Crystal. She’s a friend of mine, and she’s the one responsible for finding Alyssa.”
“Thank you both,” the biker said earnestly. “Now can we get back to the barbeque? We have a couple of briskets cooking, more beer than we can all drink, and the other kids are waiting to go play again. It’s a beautiful day, Blades; let’s enjoy it with our families.”
The crowd started breaking up, and the Prospects offered cups of beer to anyone who wanted one. Crystal took one, and slowly sipped it while Shane quietly spoke to the lead biker.
She was just starting to feel abandoned when a familiar face emerged from the crowd. “Rowdy!” Eagerly she hugged him, and couldn’t help noticing how nice his body felt against hers. He smelled really good, too. Quickly she inhaled his scent before stepping back and smiling up at him. “It’s good to see you!”
“You too!” he grinned. “Man, you really know how to make an entrance!”
“It wasn’t intentional,” she said quickly.
“Of course not,” he agreed. “But you made a damned good impression on the club…even the old ladies…and that’s not easy.”
She wasn’t sure how to respond. “Well, I’m glad,” she said lamely.
Crystal was still getting plenty of looks, so Rowdy decided to take over the introductions before everyone started making assumptions. Shane and he spent the next half hour walking her around the party. Everyone was gracious, thanked her for finding Alyssa, and welcomed her to the club.
Shane was smugly satisfied. He couldn’t have planned a smoother way to present her to the club if he’d tried.
He introduced her as ‘just a friend,’ so of course everyone assumed they were fucking regularly. It was too bad, Crystal thought, that it had ended too soon. Way too soon. God, I miss being naked with Shane!
As she moved through the crowd, she was struck by a curious contrast. The bikers were hard men, and she suspected many of them had done prison time. But today, at this barbeque, they were totally different…soft and gentle with their kids, and loving with their wives. She was touched. This was a different, more private side of the Lone Star Blades, and she felt lucky to see it.
Finally they managed to grab plates of brisket, beans, and potato salad, and found an empty picnic table. She was grateful Shane had stayed with her through the introductions. She didn’t mind attention, and everyone was friendly…but being the newcomer in such a large gathering had made her feel shy. It had felt natural and safe to hold Shane’s hand.
Suddenly a gorgeous brunette settled down onto the bench across from them. “Shane,” she said softly, “who’s your new friend?”
She was dressed casually, too, wearing shorts and a tank top, but Crystal couldn’t help noticing her generous curves and overall amazing body. A small, curious smile flitted across her lips as she looked expectantly at Shane.
He smiled warmly at her. “This is Crystal. We’re neighbors. Crystal, this is Raven. She’s the old lady of another club member, and a very close friend of mine.”
“Nice to meet you,” Crystal said, holding out her hand. Raven firmly shook it, and returned the polite greeting. “Is your husband here today?” she continued, trying to remember who was married and who wasn’t. It seemed like valuable information in this group.
Raven shook her head. “Unfortunately, no. He couldn’t be with us today.”
She shot a questioning glance at Shane, and received a covert nod in return. Then he turned and smiled at Crystal. “Guess what Raven does for a living?”
“Runway model?” Crystal guessed.
“Ooooh, I like her,” Raven exclaimed.
He laughed. “I thought you might. Raven works at a club in San Antonio,” he told Crystal, and then lowered his voice. “A strip club.”
Her eyes widened in delight. A second later, she was sitting next to Raven, holding her hands. “Oh my God,” she gushed. “You have to tell me what it’s like. Tell me everything. The good, the bad, everything. Please. Please!”
Raven shot Shane a confused glance. “Is she for real?”
“Yep. She wants to be a stripper.”
“I do, I really do,” Crystal said quickly. “I’ve always wanted to try it.”
Raven looked her over, then smiled. “Well, you have the body and the looks for it. You’ll probably do well.”
“Thank you so much,” she beamed. “Please, tell me what it’s like.”
Raven glanced back at Shane. “This probably isn’t the place to have this conversation.”
“That’s what I was thinking,” he said, and took a sip of his beer. “Clubhouse?”
“Sure. I can also give her some tips, and maybe some of the guys would like a show.” She laughed shortly. “It’s not free, though, so tell them to bring some money.”
“Sounds good. Why don’t you take her, and I’ll follow.”
Raven winked seductively at him. “You won’t need any money, Shane.”
Chuckling, he rose and took their empty plates to the trash.
Raven stood up, too, and looked down at Crystal. “Come on, honey. Let’s go to the clubhouse, and I’ll tell you all about stripping. I’ll show you some dance moves, too, so when you get on stage the first time, you’ll know what to do.”
“You are so awesome!” Crystal exclaimed.