Page 34 of Laying it Bare Biker Style: Ryder

“I was immediately drawn toyou as well so we’ll call it magnetism instead ofobsession.”

“That sounds better.” Hesnuggled me back into his side for a bit and I sat in his arms,centering myself so that I could finish out my shift. The incidenthad me rattled and I’d be lying if I didn’t say I was still scared.But I refused to give in to that fear and have it affect ourlives.

About ten minutes later, I decided Ihad taken a long enough break and needed to earn my paycheck. “I’mgoing to get back to work. The lunch time crowd is growing.” Iscooted out of the booth and smoothed my apron down so that Ididn’t look as if I were attacked less than an hour ago. “Do I lookokay?”

“Beautiful.” His lipscurled into a devilish grin. “And your beauty detracts from thescrapes and brush burns; they are barely noticeable.”

Ugh. I had almost forgotten aboutthose. “Are you heading back to the garage?” I tilted my head athim. “You’re not planning on sitting there for the duration of myshift, are you?”

He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “Thatidea has merit. But no, I’m not going to invade your space. But Iam going to grab lunch. Do you know where I can get any decentservice around here?”

Smirking, I pulled my pad and pen outof my apron. “Good afternoon, Sir. We have a huge variety ofsandwiches on lunch special today.” Leaning across his arm, Ipulled a menu from the stack standing in the holder and pointed tothe list. “They pair nicely with our various flavors of iced tea.But you look like a beer man. Can I start you out with something todrink? Or do you still need a minute? I can come – ”

He chuckled. “So formal.” He leanedback in the booth and gave me a once over.

“Iamat work you know.” I tossed myhand on my hip.

“It’s kinda hot. And I likeyou waiting on me and calling me Sir. And I can see why you likewatching me at work.”

“It’s not really the same.You’re working with your hands building something or repairing it.I’m just bringing out food.”

“I don’t know. You look hotdoing so, in your cut off shorts showing off your shapely legs andtight t-shirt showcasing your amazing breasts that, lucky for me, Ihave been very intimate with. And guys love when someone bringsthem food.” His mouth flattened into a grimace. “You know, I don’tknow if I like that scenario at all. Guys drooling overyou.”

“It’s not a strip club;it’s a restaurant. They’re not supposed to touch me. No one haseven tried. I haven’t even noticed any indecent looks made my way.So are you going to order or should I come back after I take careof someone else?” I tapped my foot, getting the feeling he wastrying to monopolize my time.

“You might pay for thatsass later.” He winked at me. “I love you. And I’m ready to order.I won’t keep you any longer.”

His threat made my panties damp and myheart race. After I fixed Ryder up with his lunch, I continuedtaking orders and serving my customers. He stayed for an hour thistime instead of his usual half hour break, but at least he didn’tlinger for the remainder of my shift.

For the rest of my day, a steady flowof customers entered the restaurant, but it never got overly busy.And I made sure I didn’t venture outside, so the last hours of myshift were uneventful.

A few minutes before Ryder was due topick me up, I rushed back to the lounge to clock out and grab mypurse. However, when I stepped inside the room, I stopped dead inmy tracks at the scene unfolding before me.

Randy had a teenage boy in a chokehold and was wrestling him toward a metal chair where he shoved himto a seated position. “Sit the fuck down and don’t make amove.”

I glanced at the boy who gave me anodd look and then to Randy. “What the hell is going on? Do you needme to call the police?”

While Randy shook his head, a grimlook on his face, Ryder pushed through the door.

“What the hell are youdoing Randy, making my girl work overtime?” When Ryder took in thescowling teenager in the chair and the pissed off expressioncrowding Randy’s face, his own grew stormy. “What the fuck are youdoing here? I thought we made ourselves clear while you werecleaning the walls surrounding our club. Leave our businesses aloneor I’m going to make things very unpleasant for you.” He shiftedhis attention to Randy. “What damage did he do? I’ll make sure hetakes care of it. And if there are any costs involved, it’s comingout of his ass.”

“He didn’t do anything tothe restaurant. At least not that I can tell. I don’t believe thatwas his intention.” Randy pulled a piece of paper out of his apronand offered it to Ryder.

But I snatched the slipfrom his hand; opened it up; and read it aloud.“Ryder took something of mine and there will be consequences.I will get back what’s rightfully mine.”With each word, my gut twisted tighter.

“It’s from Wasp.” Theteenage punk sneered.

Goosebumps zipped along my skin as achill raced up my spine. “What does he think he had taken fromhim?” Although unnecessary, the question fell from my lipsanyway.

“You.”

Seven

~Ryder~

The fuck hesay?

When I had first marched into theemployee lounge and spotted the same rat, lanky with dirty blondhair and brown eyes, who a month ago had been caught vandalizingthe walls around our club house, my vision had turned red. Myinitial thought was they were beginning to scope out our businessesas well. But when it came to light that he was there delivering amessage about taking Sage back, a fresh swell of rage surgedthrough me like hot lava.

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