Page 24 of Ripper's Redemption

“Seriously, Tara, you can’t fool me,” Kelsey says, her voice softer now, more genuine. “There’s something there between the two of you. You can’t deny it.”

“There’s nothing to deny,” I insist, but the words sound hollow even to my own ears. “It’s just... it’s complicated.”

“Complicated?” Kelsey snorts. “That’s an understatement. But come on, girl. Even I can see the way he looks at you. And the way you look at him.”

“He’s just—” I start, then stop, searching for the right words. I guess I don’t really have any. “He’s different than what I’m used to, okay? Not like the others.”

Kelsey leans forward, genuinely curious now. “Different how?”

“He’s got this...cockiness, sure, but there’s something else. Something... sweet. Like he actually cares, even if he tries to hide it.” I sigh, shaking my head. “But it doesn’t matter. It’s just sex. That’s all it can be.”

Kelsey narrows her eyes, “And why is that all it can be? You’re seeing him, right?”

I stop icing the donuts and look right in her eyes. “Ripper and I came to an agreement, okay? We’re going to make it seem like we’re dating, madly in love, but in reality we’re only trying to piss my dad off, but you can’t tell anyone.”

Kelsey blinks at me a couple of times. “I’m obviously missing something. Why would you want to piss your dad off?”

I get back to icing more donuts before more customers come in. “That might have something to do with my initial job offer only being because my father was working with the club. They brought me here to keep me safe, under the guise of the job offer. I thought they saw my potential and wanted me here… but that wasn’t the case. So, I wanted to get back at my dad for doing that to me.”

“So, you want to get under his skin as payback. I get what you’re doing, but, you’re standing here telling me it’s just sex. Sure.” Kelsey doesn’t believe me at all.

“Seriously, Kels,” I say, trying to keep my voice steady. “I can’t afford to catch feelings. Not with him. Not with anyone from the Reapers Rejects. I’ll only end up heartbroken in the process. You know that. I know that.”

“Well, if you say so. But, you know the boys in that biker club know how to talk. There’s one—Boulder. He came up for two weeks a couple months back. Man, Boulder used that magic mouth of his on me many times,” she replies, her tone dripping with longing.

My jaw drops to the floor. “Sorry, what?!”

She grabs a freshly iced donut and takes a big bite, chewing thoughtfully as she watches me. “A lady never kisses and tells, but man, I was sad when that man had to go back to Mexico.”

I’m still reeling from the fact she and a member of the club had something going on before.

“What I’m doing doesn’t have any meaning behind it,” I add, feeling the need to justify myself, “You know why I'm doing this. It’s to get back at my dad. Ripper is just... a bonus I can toy around with in the meantime. He’s collateral damage if you really think about it.”

“Collateral damage who happens to be really hot,” Kelsey interjects, wagging her eyebrows suggestively. “And who clearly has a thing for you.”

“Enough, okay?” I snap, more sharply than I intended.

The truth is, her words hit too close to home.

I don’t want to admit how much I enjoy Ripper’s company, his touch, or the way he makes me feel something other than anger and resentment.

He’s only someone I can be with for a short time, and then life will go back to normal.

Maybe at some point I’ll find that guy I’m supposed to be with, but until then I’ll enjoy the good sex and the way Ripper makes me feel.

“Okay, okay.” Kelsey says, holding up her hands in mock surrender. “But just remember, Tara, sometimes ‘just sex'‘can turn into something more. And it looks like you’re already halfway there. I know you’re gonna deny it, but I’m shooting it straight with you. There is something between you both, even if you’re deadset on denying it.”

“Whatever,” I mutter, but a small part of me can’t help but wonder if she’s right. If maybe, just maybe, there’s more to this than I want to admit.

Kelsey changing the subject.“Okay, let’s get these donuts out before the next rush,”

She starts placing the heart-shaped treats on display, and I follow suit, grateful for the distraction.

As we work, I can’t help but steal glances at the door, half-expecting Ripper to come back.

But he doesn’t, and I’m left with only my thoughts and Kelsey’s knowing smile.

Kelsey giggles, “What, are you expecting a certain someone to come back in?”

---