Page 3 of Walker

“I didn’t think biker clubs cared that the men cheated on their women.”

“Most don’t. Her brother and the man she’s married to now are also members of another chapter of this club. They weren’t happy when I checked in on her to make sure she was doing okay.”

“It’s sweet that you did that.”

He laughed. “Once a cheating asshole, people don’t see that type of thing as sweet.”

I wrinkled my nose. “Did you come off as stalkerish?”

“Maybe a little.” If I didn’t know any better, I’d swear the man blushed. “What brought you out here tonight? No offense, but you don’t seem the type to hang out here.”

“My friend.” I pointed in the general direction she’d gone last time I’d seen her. “Shaina dragged me along because I needed a night out.”

“Then your friend promptly ditched you among strangers in an MC clubhouse?” Walker asked, getting unnecessarily angry on my behalf.

“It’s okay, really. When we set out tonight, I knew it was a very real possibility. Plus, I work for S.H.E. MC, so it’s not like I’m a total stranger to the life.”

“What do you do for them?”

“Bartend mostly.” He didn’t need to know that I’d also taken more than one turn on a pole at their club, Paramour, when I needed the money. I was one of the few women who did so masked. They allowed it, so I could protect my identity since I had children to worry about and we lived in a small town with a lot of big mouths.

Walker nodded again as our conversation lulled. Just when I was about to text Shaina to find a ride home, Walker tapped my shoulder. “Want to head out there where it’s quieter? I can’t think with all the noise in here.”

“Sure.”

“Bullet, two waters.” Walker ordered before he turned back to me with a grin. “Unless you want something stronger. Coke? Dr. Pepper? Orange Juice?”

I laughed and shook my head as he palmed the two water bottles and escorted me outside to where a few picnic tables were arranged haphazardly.

“It must be nice to have all this entertainment space for parties and whatnot.”

“The club is a huge family, especially when all the other chapters come in. What about you? You have a big family?”

“Mom, sister, me and my two.”

“Your two?”

“Kids. Four and 15. Boy and girl.”

“You have an old man?” He notably slid further back from me like he might catch infidelity, which was ironic since he told me how he lost his ex-wife.

“My husband – the kids’ father – died two years ago in an accident at work.”

“Shit, darlin’, I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay; you didn’t know.”

“My real family was shit.” Walker admitted after we sat there silent for a bit. “Mom was a club whore looking for an old man. Dad was not the greatest example either. Pretty sure I have a few half siblings running around Florida, maybe other parts of the country too. I transferred here when the chapter was started to get away from their shit. Best thing I ever did was get that fresh start. Then I met Poppy, and she became the best thing until I let my own bullshit fuck that up.”

“Poppy is your ex-wife?” He nodded. “So, why cheat on her if she was the best thing to happen to you?”

“Wasn’t good enough for her.”

I laughed. “Men are idiots and you’re no exception.” His brow kicked up in question but there was a hint of an amused smirk playing at the corner of his mouth. “You proved your own point to her instead of proving yourself wrong. She married you because she knew you were good enough. She stayed married for the same reason, until you turned things around.”

Walker grinned but it quickly devolved into more of a sad glower. “Couldn’t really prove her wrong because my body was the problem. She wanted kids badly. Turned out I couldn’t make them.”

“There’s adoption, sperm donors, and…”

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