Page 8 of Huge Dynamite
“Yes, thanks!” Racing to my car, I jump in, and faster than I mean to, I pull out of the parking lot. I don’t even have to think about it. I know where I’m going—straight to Hoppa. Yeah, so maybe I am having a breakdown, but yet—for the first time all night, I feel good. In fact, I feel almost giddy.
But this isn’t me—I have responsibilities.
“Wait a second.” Easing my foot off of the gas and slowing down, I pull to the side and pause for a moment. Ahead of me lies a world I don’t know at all, and behind me, a world I know all too well.
But I’m desperate for a change. And he was there tonight. I saw him. Thathasto mean something, right?
My gaze drops to my dash, and I look over all the knobs and buttons I almost never use. Then, my attention falls to my keys on the seat next to me and the one button on my fob that Ineverpress. A thrill rushes up my spine as I take the fob into my hand and press the button for the very first time, and… the roof of my car opens.
“Holy crap,” I mutter to myself. “I drive a convertible.”
Giddiness fills me from head to toe. Slamming my foot against the gas, I pull out, heading toward Hoppa. The wind blowing against my face feels exhilarating, and for the first time—maybe ever—I feel alive. With every mile I push, I feel freer and lighter. There was no way I could go back into that building with its shiny floors and sanitized counters and everything sterile… God knows I need a little fun.
As I pass the sign that reads, “Hoppa 12 miles,” my heart pounds, my palms grow sweaty, and a full grin takes over my face. Yes, a little fun is what I need. And yes, I knowexactlywho I want to have that fun with.
Chapter Three
Dynamite
“Earth to Seth?” It’s Bullet. He’s walked up from behind the bar and is standing next to me.
I’m frozen, standing just by the bar door. Sure, I’m looking around at the busy bar, but I’m not really seeing anything. Or anyone. What I just witnessed at the hospital… damn. It’s going to keep replaying in my mind over and over again, like it did on the ride here.
“Seth?” He waves his hand in front of my face.
“Yeah?” Shaking my head, I snap out of it. I was caught in a fantasy again.
I can’t help it. Every freaking time I step into Hoppa’s Taphouse now, it’s no longer just the current clubhouse of the Steel Knights for me—it’s the place that Dr. Holly came to check on me after my injury and we had our first almost-date.
Standing here, exactly where I am right now—with her hair pulled back, her large diamond earrings flashing, and a floor-length camel-colored coat… damn. She was stunning.
Drawing in a deep breath, the smell of testosterone-laced sweat and beer fills my nose, and it helps calm my desire. As I exhale, I make my decision. I need to move on, and that means it’s time to hook up with the next woman I see at the bar tonight. It doesn’t matter who she is as long as she’s willing. I need some kind of release, and one thing is for sure: I cannot waste one more second thinking about Dr. Holly Boling. She didn’t need me tonight, and probably never will. Hell, until tonight, when we made eye contact for that flash of time, she probably hasn’t thought of me once.
Our connection that night was a one-time thing. She liked my tattoo. She was intrigued by the novelty of a man like me. Maybe she went slumming for the night. That’s all it was.
“Seth?” Bullet furrows his brow when he speaks. “Not one single text? You couldn’t shoot me one quick text to let me know what was happening?”
“What are you, my wife?” I have to be careful here. Harry’s been my only friend for a while now. He was the one who vouched for me to pledge for the Steel Knights, and he was the one who took me under his wing and gave me a job as his right-hand dealing with the accounting and the books. Even when things got really bad between Bullseye, who is Harry’s best friend, and me, Harry still stuck by my side. That’s saying something. “Sorry.”
Narrowing his eyes, Harry sighs. “We’ve had enough drama for one night, so instead of kicking your ass for the smartass remark, I’m going to let it go. Come on.”
“Where?”
“The back room. Nick has some new ideas he wants to run by you.”
“Now?” I question. “We had a meeting this afternoon. I go to the construction company with our proposal in two days.”
Bullet shrugs. “I think your actions tonight inspired him.”
“Fuck, man, you told him?”
“Come on.” Harry motions to the back room.
Shoving my hands into my pockets, I follow Harry past the busy bar area and nod to some of the guys: Bucky, our Road Captain, Texas sitting next to him, and Small Fry and Jonesie, who are sitting on the opposite side of Bucky. Vil’s hanging down at the other end of the bar, talking to some woman I can’t see from here, and Travis is playing darts alone. None of them give me a second glance. Thank god. That means Nick didn’t tell them that I may have just put the club at risk so I could go rushing in to save a woman who didn’t need saving.
Hustling past them, I don’t feel bad about not stopping to talk; they all know I’m the kind of guy that keeps to himself. No, it doesn’t win me a lot of friends, but they have my back. That’s all I need, and it’s just fine by me.
I don’t need relationships. Never have. That’s why if I never see Dr. Holly again, it won’t change things for me one bit.
