Page 5 of More than Enough
“Yeah.” Her voice came out softer than she wanted, trembling to match the rest of her. Blade’s hand tightened around her wrist, and she gently twisted free from his grip. The sadness in his eyes only lasted a moment before Jenn placed both hands against his chest. “I’m okay.” She tried for a laugh, only partly successful. “Again.”
Slowly, as if afraid she’d protest, Blade rested his hands on either side of her waist. His fingers tangled in her apron strings when she smiled up at him.
“Those two. They aren’t part, part of our club. They weren’t yet, and now won’t. They won’t ever be.” Blade shifted to the side and indicated the president with a tip of his head. “Gibby won’t stand for that kind of asshole wearin’ his colors.”
“Blade.” At her use of his name, Blade’s eyes widened, and his hands jerked her a little closer. “I’m okay, really. Nothing bad happened.”
“Could have.” Gibby stepped into her line of sight. “I’m glad it didn’t.” Two men backed through the swinging doors into the kitchen, and Jenn looked to see each carried full tubs of dirty dishes. She turned to Blade with a question, but before she opened her mouth, Gibby answered. “I can’t stop it from happening, that’s already behind us. But I can make life easier for you.” He gestured towards the two now piling dishes into the sink. “Come out front with Blade, sit a spell and get to know us. The real us.” Arms spread wide, Gibby smiled, teeth flashing white in his beard. “We are the Borderline Freaks, and we’re gonna be in your corner always. Welcome to the family, Jenn.”
She watched silently as he turned and walked out, and except for Blade, the other club members followed him. Jenn blinked. “What just happened?”
Rose laughed, the cook scrambled to keep things from burning, and Blade stared at her, gaze unwavering as he said, “You just got adopted. By a motorcycle club president.”
Oh, Lord.
Five
Blade
He sat his bike on a corner of the lot, studying the empty expanse of gravel in front of him.
A quick conversation with Monk had secured another sweep assigned for the remainder of the run, the man’s expression unreadable as Blade told him he’d be hanging here. Unspoken was the reason: to ensure the two FNGs now cut from the club didn’t return to hassle Jenn.
Gibby had agreed with him, wordlessly clapping Blade on the shoulder as he strode past to his own bike, rolling out of the lot in his privileged position behind Monk. Gibby was a good man, fair and always aware of the public perception of his club. When Blade approached him with repossessed vests in hand and the story of what had happened, Gibby’s expression hadn’t taken long to grow stony and angry.
Him racin’ into the kitchen took me off guard. Blade snorted as he remembered the surprise in the old man’s eyes when Blade jumped in and set him back on his heels. That took him to remembering the look of sweet trust on Jenn’s face when he’d turned to face her, and the heat in his chest returned twofold.
The kitchen door opening caught at his attention, and he watched as Jenn and the other waitress walked out, heads bent together as they laughed at something. Jenn stopped in her tracks and stared when she noticed him. Rose said something he didn’t catch, and Jenn responded, “No, it’s okay. You go on home. See you tomorrow.”
Then, shoulders back, she stalked towards him. Or attempted to, anyway, but her gingerly placed steps lent her a far less imposing presence. Blade grinned, then tried to wipe it from his face, dipping his chin to hide the expression when he was unsuccessful.
“What are you doing still here?” She stopped just out of reach, a move he mourned. “I thought you left a while ago.”
“I’m just sittin’.” He shrugged and rested his wrist on the handlebar. “Just hangin’ out.”
Jenn rolled her eyes. “Liar. You’re watching out for me.”
“Maybe,” he allowed with a smile.
“Again.” She stepped closer and placed her hand on the grip next to his, so close he felt the heat from her fingers. “You’ve done enough, Blade.”
Fuck. He liked hearing his name on her lips. Soft and slow, like her mouth didn’t want to let the sounds go, like she wanted to hold him in her mouth awhile. And that idea started a party in his pants, his dick chubbing up more than a little.
He shifted on the bike’s seat. “Just makin’ sure you’re okay.” She smiled when he admitted the truth, and the beauty in that tiny quirk of her lips was mind-blowing. “Damn, you’re pretty.”
That earned him a wider grin, and she rolled her eyes again as she muttered dismissively, “Shut up.”
Blade watched her for a moment, unsure what his heart was telling him. She was stunning, with her thick, dark hair pulled back into a ponytail, warm brown eyes looking steadily at him. “You headed home?” She nodded. “Go on then.” He pointed his chin at the only car left on the lot. “You’ve gotta be tired. Been on your feet all day.”
“Okay.” She didn’t move right away, just kept looking at him with that smile curling her generous mouth. Huffing out a sigh, she took a step back. “Okay. Ride safely, Blade.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He dipped his chin to his throat, holding her stare until he watched her turn and start to walk away. “I’ll see you around, Jenn.”
Six
Jenn
Jenn leaned her forehead against the steering wheel, twisting the key in the ignition again and listening to the tiny clicks sounding from underneath the hood. She sighed and lifted her head, looking at the empty parking lot behind the diner. It was her first closing shift since the unsettling events a couple of weeks ago and the first time she remembered being alone since then. Normally she liked working Sundays, because the diner closed after a late lunch, which left her the entire evening for herself.
