Page 1 of Flick

Chapter One

Danny “Flick” Adams sipped his beer, leaning back against the Bluff Creek Brotherhood MC’s clubhouse bar. One of his best friends, Cannon, had finally officially made his woman his forever and was celebrating with their friends and family. Everything should be perfect, but his female best friend was hurting.

Beth Franks had dated who Flick considered a gaslighting, abusive ass whom Flick had wished he could get rid of forever. Unfortunately, Beth had been okay with Bluff Creek just sending him on his way. Beth’s dad, Locks, one of the Originals, hadn’t let anyone else get much in because Deputy Kerwin was a pile of sniveling, crying man when Locks was done.

Flick couldn’t figure out what his best friend had seen in the man. Sure, he’d been persistent, but Flick had never trusted the man. Flick had wanted to tell her what his thoughts were about Kerwin, but Beth had been so excited to be dating someone. Hefigured it had come from just wanting someone because all her sisters had been falling for men and wanting to be with someone.

Flick could understand that because sometimes he was lonely too, as the guys in the MC found the women that made their lives complete. Until he’d come to Bluff Creek, he’d never seen that at all. In fact, he’d never seen how a husband was supposed to act until he’d come to the MC. What if he wasn’t the man someone needed?

Flick had grown up with three brothers. He could understand and empathize with Beth always having to work to try to be different. As the youngest, he was compared to his older brothers in sports, grades, and how they acted. Fortunately, his middle brother was a prankster. When Flick had entered high school, the teachers had worried he’d be like his brother, but Flick had toed the line. He’d been a teacher’s favorite because his brother had set the bar so low.

Beth was the surveillance guru of Franks and Daughters Bail Bonds and was phenomenal at her job. She was also fun to be around. They’d bonded and become friends over their love of movies and TV shows and being the youngest sibling. They texted a lot when they were working. He’d share the dumbest things people needed an EMT for, and she’d share some of the stupid reasons people said they missed their court date. In their jobs, they dealt with the best and worst of people.

The party had been going on for a while. Flick was planning on a ride after the bride and groom left. He’d worked back-to-back shifts to make sure he wasn’t on call for emergency services during the wedding, and he needed some alone time. Beth got that about him too. They both liked being around people but also needed that time when there was quiet. Beth was a talker like he was, but she seemed to know when he needed quiet, just like he knew that about her. He couldn’t ask for a better best friend.

He wasn’t sure how to help his friend, but tonight, maybe he should see if she wanted to go on a ride with him. She could ride behind him if she didn’t want to ride her own motorcycle. The rush of the wind and the relaxation of the road was a great time to relax and just let his thoughts go.

Bear clapped him on the shoulder. “You looking forward to the weekend off?”

Flick turned and smiled. “Yes. I love providing emergency services to our county, but a double shift is long. How’s the diner doing?”

“Diner is doing great. I’m almost afraid to say it because then something will blow up. I might need to add more staff because we’re getting so many weekend riders dropping in. I’ve upped a couple of our food orders already due to the increase. The kids are fantastic, and we finally have a routine with them. Joey is ten months old and growing so quickly. Phoebe is a crack-up, and her questions challenge me every day. David is growing, and seeing them so happy after how they came to us is fantastic. I’m looking forward to the holidays with them this year. Last year was such a blur. This year, I want to enjoy. And thank goodness, Beth kicked Kerwin to the curb. I fudging hated seeing that guy every Sunday,” Bear said.

Flick chuckled. It was good to know he wasn’t the only one who had hated the waste of space.

“Yep. He gave me indigestion every friggin’ week,” Flick said.

Bear laughed. “Remi’s rubbing off on us. That and the kids having the swear jar.”

Flick nodded. He hadn’t been someone who swore a lot because his first partner on the ambulance had been very professional. He coached Flick on how to take care of people while helping them not be so scared. Flick had followed his advice. He worked on helping people while calming them down.

“You two look like you’re planning something. Am I going to like it?” Winnie asked, sliding her arm around her husband’s waist. Bear leaned close and dropped a kiss on her forehead.

“We were just basking in the joy of never, ever having to deal with that disgusting deputy,” Bear said.

“I know. I wish Beth hadn’t gone through it, though,” Winnie said.

Flick glanced around the room looking for her. He finally saw her walking back in the room holding Phoebe’s hand. He wondered what they’d been doing. Her teaching Phoebe surveillance and allowing Phoebe to use her listening equipment had caused quite the ruckus a while ago. When Beth had asked Locks when he’d taken her on her first surveillance job, everyone had quieted down because the Franks girls had all learned surveillance and how to handle guns from a very early age. Bear had been appalled, but Winnie had shrugged her shoulders.

“Me too. But I’m a firm believer that sometimes we go through something because there’s something better later. Look at how we all ended up here. I grieve for those who were lost, but Bear found you, Winnie, because he came here full-time. If we all weren’t fed up with our jobs and the problems in the department, we might still be working in the city,” Flick said.

Winnie grinned. “My man is pretty great. I just want all my sisters as happy as I am.”

Flick nodded. “One more down then and one more to go. It will happen for her when the time is right.”

His brothers were dropping like flies and finding their one. Flick was content with how his life was. He had a fantastic best friend along with so many incredible brothers in the brotherhood. He friggin’ loved his job, and helping out with the bail bonds’ secret charity fed that part of him that needed to be the hero for others.

Winnie and Bear wandered off. Flick sat around, snacking and waiting until the happy couple said their goodbyes. He walked over to Beth, where she was sitting with Meg, Regina, and Stella.

“I think I want to get in a late evening ride to Lake Coldwater. Anybody up for a ride?” he asked.

Regina shook her head. “I would, but we’re babysitting tonight.”

Beth stood up. “I’m up for it. I need to go home, feed the dogs, and let them out. Then I’d be ready to go.”

“Cool. Would an hour work?” Flick asked.

“Perfect,” Beth said.

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