Chapter 6: LYON

I was gone for about an hour before I felt it was safe to return. I'd done some thinking while I was gone, and I'd realized that part of my problem was Char's stupid prediction, which made no sense because I don't believe in that shit anyway.

So there was really nothing like a blooming attraction, or anything going on, just the power of suggestion I guess.

I turned the corner and almost had a heart attack. She was standing on the seat of a power bike holding onto the handlebars while my crew stood around watching her.

I didn't run, or yell, or make any fast movements. I didn't want to scare her, and make her fall. She flipped herself over the bars and back into the seat in a seated position.

That's when I moved forward, well when my legs finally worked anyway.

The crew was whistling and applauding while she grinned the biggest fucking grin I had ever seen on her face behind the helmet.

Everyone grew quiet when they saw me coming, and some of the men started to scatter.

"Off." She climbed off the bike, removed her helmet, and placed it under her arm. She had her head down, biting into her lip no doubt.

I'm sure she expected me to lash out at her, and though that had been my first inclination, I wouldn't take her joy away like that, neither would I embarrass her in front of the men.

"Good job." Fuck, the smile on her face when she lifted her head rivaled the sun for brightness.

"Don't you clowns have better things to do?" I turned to the men who were brave enough to hang around.

"Yes, boss." They grinned as they walked away, giving Kat more praise as they left.

"Come with me." I turned and headed to the office, Kat behind me chattering away like a magpie.

I held my shit together until we got to the office. I opened the door, and waited for her to precede me, then closing it I pushed her back against it.

"You ever pull a stunt like that again, and I'll tan your little ass you hear me?"

"What...I...you, but you said."

"I know what I said, it was a nice stunt, but not for you."

"But why? You don't say anything when the guys do it."

How could I explain it to her, when I couldn't explain it to myself? All I know is that the thought of her being hurt made my blood run cold.

"I'm really careful, Colton, promise, you don't have to worry, and I wear all my protective gear see."

She showed me the arm and knee pads she wore over yet another ugly ass suit.

She seemed so fucking happy, unlike her usual withdrawn self. How could I take that away from her?

"Isn't there anything else you like as much, anything safer?"

I was caving, but how could I put out that light in her eyes?

"No, not really."

There she goes with that soft little girl voice again.

I studied her for a moment. The kid had very little to make her happy it seemed like, so it wouldn't be right to take this away from her too, but damn couldn't she find a safer hobby?

And why do you care, Lyon? thought you weren't interested! I ignored the annoying voice in my head as I looked at her.

"Okay, I'll make you a deal. If you want to do these stunts, then you'll have to wait until I'm there to make sure you're safe, okay."

"I don't want to take you away from stuff, I'll be careful I promise." She wouldn't look me in the eye as she blushed.

Damn this girl was some kinda shy.

"Take it or leave it, Katarina, either I'm there or you don't do them."

"Fine, I'll only do them when you're here."

She actually pouted, and it was cute as hell. I guess that ride was a waste of time because she was once again planted firmly in the forefront of my mind.

***

COLT

***

The rest of the afternoon went by without my little daredevil pulling any more stunts, and I stayed out of her way as much as possible because she was just confusing the hell out of me

I wanted to knock some of the guys' heads together for letting her do that shit, but that would only raise a lot of questions. And since there was no real boss, or an underling divide, these nosy fucks wouldn't think twice about sticking their noses in my damn business.

Don't let anyone fool you that women were the only ones who did that shit, men are some gossiping shit heads. All I needed was for them to get wind of me sniffing around the flying nun, and my life would be hell. I still haven't cornered Jared as yet to give him a piece of my mind, but I'll get to that soon enough.

At knock off time I made myself scarce. I certainly didn't need another replay of yesterday's little interlude between those two, little sister my ass.

The next couple days were uneventful thank God. I stayed away from the office as much as possible, and no one was the wiser because we were knee deep in bikes.

Grimaldi, once he made up his mind, was a no nonsense kind of guy. He'd already ordered ten bikes, and that was just a drop in the pan, so no one wondered why I was spending more time in the shop and less in the office.

As if having her plaguing my ass all the time wasn't enough, my mother was up to something, and I couldn't for the life of me figure out what it could be.

Whatever, it wouldn't be the first time she was being sneaky about some shit, but usually I'd have a hint because she couldn't keep a secret to save her life. This time, nothing, but she was all sugary sweet and smiling all the damn time, and that shit scares the crap out of me.

Dad's answer was that her and the hen pack must be planning somebody's life for them. That's what he thinks her and her busy body hen pack, as he calls them, get up to.

He better not let her hear him, or it will be his ass. Mom takes her book clubs/hen pecking sessions seriously.

I caught glimpses of Sloane here and there in another one of her horrendous get ups. Seriously, each one was worst than the last if that were possible.

Friday's was puke green, I kid you not. And I wanted to say something but refrained. The guys, for some strange reason, were taking it easy on her with the jokes. Usually my boys would've picked her carcass clean like a condor on carrion but, nothing. I guess because of Storm.

I made it to the weekend with my sanity in tact, but not seeing her Saturday and Sunday was a pain in the ass. I missed the fuck out of our little skirmishes, and that pissed me off.

I'd only known her a week, so why should she take up so much space in my head? other than to wonder what hair brained scheme she was getting up to that would break her fool neck.

***

It's BBQ day. Of course mom has dad and I running our asses off fetching her last minute shit. I think we must've bought every available bag of ice in Greenville.

"Colton, aren't you going to go get ready for the BBQ?"

"Mom, seriously? I just got through running like fifty last minute errands, so can I please just catch my breath before I have to go back out there in this heat?"

"Sorry for your suffering son, but we don't have time for your little drama today, chop-chop. Everyone will be here soon. You don't want to be all sweaty and cranky when your friends get here do you?"

"Geez, mom, they're not twelve."

"Don't argue with your mother, and go get dressed. You'll feel better after you do."

What was the point of arguing? I turned and headed for the door.

On my way back to my place I realized that I hadn't thought of Kat in a few hours. Maybe because I was feeling guilty for not inviting her. After all, everyone else from the shop will be there, so there was no reason not to have invited her.

I wondered what she was doing today, since the whole town would be in my parents' backyard, and the guilt intensified. Oh well, it was too late now anyway.

I took a shower and threw on some jeans and one of my tees, arms bared and tats well displayed. One swipe of my hand through my hair was enough, since the shit never stayed the way I brushed it anyway, let it do its thing.

The party wasn't in full swing when I returned, but it was well on its way, and the smell of grilling meat permeated the air as voices rang out with laughter and conversation.

I loved this shit, my friends and family together having a good time. Now all I needed was a cold beer and a cool place to sit before mom started running my ass again.

I found Jared and some of the guys in a huddle, talking shop.

"Don't you freaks know how to relax and unwind? It's a party, leave work alone."

"Bro, that design you did for the Grimaldi racing bike is killer, that shit is gonna blow everything else out the water."

"Get a girl, bro, I thought you had a date for this thing?"

"The girls dragged her off somewhere, like, ten minutes ago."

"Probably doing the initiation ceremony and teaching her how to fry Jared's ass."

"Shut up, Pete." Jared elbowed him, as most of the crew except Jared started to scatter to look for their women.

I hopped up on one of the picnic tables mom had set up and looked around at all the beautiful people. My eyes caught something... new!

"Who the fuck is that?"

"Who?" Jared looked around like he couldn't see the hot as fuck woman across from us. Her back was turned, but if her front looked anything like her back, then damn.

Her ass was mouth watering, tight and high and round and...fuck, I had a hard on, and don't get me started on the hair, it was wild and thick and fucking gorgeous falling to the top of her ass.

"Shit who is she?" With my luck she'd be here with some unworthy prick.

"Who, man?"

"Carol's friend." I pointed with my beer to where my sister was talking to the dish.

Jared turned in my little sister's direction.

"Who, Kat?"

She turned at that moment, and my fucking world shifted.

Fucking Char and her fucking tea leaves.