“Don’t you like them?”
“I’m just joking.” He glanced at her and saw the red marks around her face start to darken. “When we get back, you gotta put some ice on your face. We got pain pills in case you need any. Did he hurt you anywhere else?”
“Not really. He was a little rough with my tits, but I bit him and that’s when he started hitting on me. I swear I don’t know where they came from.”
“Motherfuckers like them go trolling for women. You were the perfect prey—alone in an isolated place. Don’t do that shit again. If I hadn’t come, who knows what they would’ve done to you.”
Ruby visibly shuddered. “I know. It’s just starting to sink in how bad it could’ve been. I’ve learned my lesson.”
“Do you want a joint?”
Her blonde curls danced when she nodded.
He reached into the inner pocket of his cut and took one out. “Matches are in the glove box.”
Ruby moved over and after lighting the joint, she blew the smoke out the window. For the rest of the drive back, they were both lost in their thoughts. Of course, Autumn had the starring role in Chains’s musings, and as hard as he tried, she wouldn’t go away. He figured in time, she’d be replaced by the next pretty and sexy woman who caught his eye, but deep down he knew it wouldn’t be that easy. Autumn was the first woman who’d had an impact on him since his divorce. There was a connection between them that he couldn’t explain, and he knew she felt it too. Why else would she run after him when he’d left his parents’ house?
Autumn had acted like it was her fault that Bret was her fiancé. Most women who were happy and secure with their relationship wouldn’t have given him the time of day, except for maybe a glance or two, and they certainly wouldn’t have left their man to run after his brother like she did that day.
None of this shit matters ’cause she’s Bret’s woman.And even though there was no love lost between them, Chains wouldn’t think of messing with his brother’s woman. But a part of him was pissed and he didn’t understand why. It wasn’t like he and Autumn really knew each other or went out. She was Thor’s vet and she saved his life, but then, that was what she was supposed to do, right?
Deep down inside him, the thought that his jerk brother didn’t deserve her pricked at him, but he had no intentions of thinking further on that.
“Whatcha thinking about?” Ruby said, breaking the silence.
Chains turned onto the road leading to the clubhouse. “Not much.”
“You’re a pretty quiet guy sometimes. I think it’s because you’re so smart. I mean, you do all that computer stuff and make all that software. I dated a real smart guy once—he wanted to be a doctor, so he was in school studying all that. He was so serious and always thinking.” She glanced over at him. “He wasn’t as good-looking as you, but he liked being by himself and could be real quiet. I don’t know—you kinda remind me of him—the smart and quiet stuff, I mean.”
Chains nodded, then leaned out the window and punched in the code. The steel gates opened and he drove through.
“Let me know if you need some meds,” he said before turning off the ignition.
“Will do. I just want a long hot shower.”
“I’ll let the guys know what’s up so they don’t bother you tonight.” Chains opened the driver’s back door and Thor jumped out of the car.
“Thanks. You’re a real sweetie—just like the medical student.” She giggled, then sashayed into the clubhouse.
Thor dashed toward the back porch while Chains sauntered after him. He filled one of Thor’s bowls with water and watched the husky lap it up. The leaves on the oak tree rustled softly in the crisp breeze, and a few of them in warm colors of gold and red floated in the air until finally collapsing to the ground.
Chains leaned against the cool stucco wall of the porch and watched Thor run and bark while trying to catch the falling leaves. Then, in an instant, Autumn was in his head again. Images of her warm smile and the copper highlights in her auburn hair caused a deep yearning in his gut. For one fleeting moment, Chains regretted that he’d sworn off citizen women since his divorce.
The screen door slammed behind him, and Chains looked over and saw Aztec walking toward him.
“Ruby’s singing your praises, dude,” the biker said as he took out a joint.
“I wanted to kill those fuckers, but we don’t need the damn badges up our ass,” he replied.
“Did you hurt them at least?”
Chains nodded. “Thor and I made sure they were in a whole lot of pain. Motherfuckers.”
“Yeah—assholes like that gotta be taught a lesson. I hope Ruby learned hers—this was bound to happen.” Aztec blew a thin stream of smoke out of the corner of his mouth.
“I got a feeling she won’t be walking alone anymore.”
“We’re headed to Brother’s for some food—you wanna come?”