Page 19 of Jag

“Are you okay?” I asked as I walked around the car to the sidewalk and looked the men over to see if I had hit either of them. That’s when I noticed the vest they wore. I didn’t have to see the patch on the back to know that were Black Hawk MC members. That was the kind of luck I had. Could this day get any worse?

“Holy hell, thank God my reflexes are good, or I’d be answering your question with a big ole negative.” The one who spoke had dark brown hair and matching eyes that were currently narrowed at me.

“If I didn’t hit you, then what was the thud I heard?” I glanced to my car and didn’t notice any damage or anything laying on the ground that I could have hit.

“Probably my hand when I smacked the side of the car before I jumped back. Damn, where’d you learn to drive?” Was asked by the man who spoke before.

“Sorry, I was watching to make sure I didn’t hit the other car as I was backing in and I didn’t see you.”

“That’s why cars have mirrors,” said another of the men.

“Cut her some slack, Cruz. If it was our time to be taken out, at least it would have been by a beautiful woman.”

“If it had been your ass she damn near took out, you wouldn’t be flirting with the girl, Romeo.”

“Like that is even possible for him, Flyboy. Even if she’s young enough to be his daughter.”

“Yeah, Stroker, as if that makes a difference.”

The men chuckled while I stood there and stared.

“Quit harassing River you old fools.” I turned my head at the feminine voice, and Claire stood in the doorway of her shop. I hadn’t even noticed she had opened the door with my attention focused on the older men and their banter. It surprised me a little that she remembered my name, not as if I was in her shop every single day.

“Now, darlin’, we’re not bothering the pretty woman, she almost ran over Flyboy,” one man said and walked toward Claire.

Finally, as I stood there while the man and Claire spoke, my brain kicked back in gear.

“Why would you just step off the sidewalk? You should’ve made sure no car was moving into the spot,” I pointed at my car, “before you stepped into the street. Bad enough you’re crossing in the middle of the block, which I presume was to get to the bikes parked across the street,” I said and looked between the men.

“Excuse me, sweetheart, but why didn’tyouuse your mirrors. They’re there for a purpose other than to see to put on make-up,” the one they called Flyboy, who I almost hit, snapped back.

“Why didn’tyougo to the corner to cross? You know since that is where thecrosswalkis...sweetheart,” I said snottily because I had had my fill of bikers for the day. Before Flyboy could respond, one of the other men who hadn’t spoken stepped between us.

I took a few steps back and looked up at the man now in front. The smile on his face caught me off guard.

“Do you find this funny?” I lifted a brow and asked the man, which only caused his smile to widen.

“No, ma’am. You’re Will’s daughter, aren’t you?” he asked while I stared at him.

“Excuse me?” I asked, confused about the sudden change in the conversation. If you could call what was taking place a conversation to begin with.

“Oh my gosh, I can’t believe I missed it before. You look just like Jillian,” Claire said, and I look toward her.

“You know my mother?”

“Yes, we went to school together. I remember when she married your dad. Even as a child you were as beautiful as you are now.” Claire smiled.

“Thank you,” I replied. I wanted to know more about my time here as a child but couldn’t bring myself to ask. I was five when my mother and dad divorced and didn’t remember much about the time I lived in Shades Valley or my parents together in general.

“Knew Will’s daughter had moved back. Even seen you around town, just never put the two together until now,” the man who stood in front of me said, then stepped to the side.

The other men nodded in agreement with the man who they called Preacher. After they introduced themselves, they even went on to tell me how they knew my mother and dad. As the conversation went on, the near accident confrontation was forgotten. At least I’d thought.

“Well, seems you have it out for the Amara men, River,” Romeo said. He stood by Claire and from the way he touched her gave the impression they were familiar with each other.

“Huh?” I frowned at Romeo, and he chuckled. “What are you talking about?” I asked, then felt the blush when what he said registered and my eyes flew to Flyboy. When he introduced himself before, I hadn’t really paid that close of attention to their last names. He’d said to call him Flyboy, but his name was Tony Amara. And I thought the day couldn’t have gotten any worse. Yeah, it seemed it could.

“Hmm...explains a lot of my son’s moods lately,” Flyboy said and grinned. “And getting a good look at you, I can see why.”

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