Page 29 of Demo

Like Demo, she hadn’t actually met him in person before. Only knew stories from Harper, Abby, or Lucky. He was lanky and not very muscular. He had on a winter coat with the club’s logo and his info on the front pockets. If the club had winter coats, why had Demo been wearing a different coat and his leather cut?

“That’s me. If you’ll unlock your door, I can get started.” He really was so young. Bright blue eyes, a dusting of freckles across his nose, bright smile, rosy cheeks, and onyx hair that shined in the winter sunlight.

“Get started with what?” A sharp wind wracked them and Paige realized she was not going to have this conversation outside. “Wait a second.”

She rushed over to her door. Using her keys, she undid the deadbolt and lock. Shuffling inside, Paige flipped on the light switches. The heat was on low, so it wasn’t that much warmer inside than out, but at least there was no wind. She stepped back to hold the door open for Keys. He was holding all of the small boxes and the plastic bag of wires when he came in.

Paige took off her scarf so she could hear him correctly. “Okay. What is going on? Why are you here?”

“I’m here to set up your security system and new computer.”

She blinked at him. He just stood there smiling at her. “I didn’t order a security system or a new computer.” There was no way she could afford any of that.

“Steel did,” Keys informed her. He walked past her to put the boxes on her reception desk. Then he walked outside, picked up the medium boxes, and used his butt to push his way back inside her clinic. One more trip brought in the big box that he struggled with. Eventually, he had to put it down and push it across her hardwood flooring to the reception desk. “Don’t mind me. I’ll be out of here in no time. Just show me where your router is and I’ll take care of everything.”

Paige shifted uncomfortably. “I don’t have a router.” Well, she did, but it stopped working due to nonpayment.

Keys frowned. He removed his coat to reveal a brown leather messenger bag slung over his shoulder. He looked like he was on his way to college classes. It was hard to believe he owned his own security company at his age.

He pulled a tablet out of his bag. After several taps one-handed, he scratched his smooth cheek. It was mean of her to wonder if he was even old enough to shave. Compared to the others in the club though, he really was just a kid. Which made his life all the more impressive. He had to be some sort of prodigy. What branch of the military would he have served? Maybe he hadn’t served and he was the exception to the rule because the club wanted his computer expertise? Harper made it sound like he was able to accomplish anything as long as he had a keyboard. It also begged the question why a motorcycle club needed someone like Keys amongst their membership.

Harper swore to her that the club members were not criminals. Paige would not have allowed her boys around the club otherwise, even if Luckywasher brother-in-law.

“You signed up for service when you signed your lease,” Keys informed her. “Did they never set it up for you… Oh.” Keys’ eyes flew up to her and his cheeks darkened. This time it wasn’t from the wind.

Paige swallowed hard. “It just became too expensive for how little I use it.” That waspartlytrue at least.

His young face looking back down at his tablet, Keys said in a flustered rush, “Don’t worry. I’ll take care of it.”

Paige didn’t know what it was he planned on taking care of. She had a feeling, though, if she refused, Steel would be on her doorstep in less than an hour and not taking no for an answer. She had to get the clinic opened and ready for her first appointment at eight-thirty. Abby had her standard appointment at ten and Paige had seen Bulldog’s name on her schedule too. That was a first. The only reason Paige even knew ‘José Santiago’ was Bulldog’s legal name was because Abby called him ‘José’ and not ‘Bulldog’. No one called Demo ‘Ron’ so it was completely understandable that she wouldn’t have known who he was.

If Abby called Bulldog ‘José’, did that mean Harper called Lucky ‘Russell’ when they were alone and ‘Lucky’ when they were in public? Paige had picked up on certain protocols around the club. Things they did and did not do based on tradition or rule. Abby seemed to be in a category all her own, so Paige could believe she wasn’t supposed to call Bulldog ‘José’ but did anyway and Bulldog just stood between her and any ridicule for it.

One thing she knew for certain, though, was that Steel was in charge. Like a monarchy and he was king. There was no arguing or disobeying him. If Steel ordered Keys to come to her clinic and set up a security system, Keys would do it regardless of Paige’s wishes.

She scratched her forehead. “How much is this going to cost?” Steel meant well, he really did, and she did want a security system, but it would increase her electric bill and add an internet bill back to her ever-growing pile.

“Don’t worry about it,” Keys said offhandedly.

Unfortunately, that wasn’t an option. “Keys, I need to know what it is I am expected to pay?—”

He shook his head, still not looking at her. “Like I said, don’t worry about it. It’s covered.”

“What’s covered?” He couldn’t possibly mean her bills.

“Look, I’m just here to do the set up. I don’t know about the bills or anything like that. You’ll need to talk to Steel or Demo. He runs the books.”

Paige’s eyes narrowed. “I’ll do that,” she told him. But first she had to get ready for her day. She couldn’t have clients come in when the clinic wasn’t warmed up yet.

As she walked towards the backroom, Keys flipped on the rest of the lights out front. Paige winced. She absolutely hated that she had to pinch pennies so tightly and really hoped the few clients she did see regularly thought the low lighting was for the ambiance.

Paige escortedher first client out to the waiting room. Her jaw dropped. Holy fuckeroni! A largeMacdesktop computer sat on her reception desk. Along with a pristine white keyboard and mouse. Her logo was even on the wallpaper of the computer.

Mrs. Guthrie paid in cash. She didn’t like computers or credit cards and had originally tried to pay via check. It wasn’t that Paige didn’t trust the older woman to give her a good check, but she couldn’t risk the possibility of it bouncing and having to fight charges at the bank. She also hadn’t charged Mrs. Guthrie full price because she only wanted her hands worked on for their arthritis. Paige would have liked to have helped with her varicose veins or her balance, but Mrs. Guthrie refused.

“Just my hands, dear,” she’d said. She’d even questioned Paige’s knowledge of anatomy when Paige had asked her to take off her shoes.“Dear, do you know where the hands are?”

It had been an interesting appointment to say the least.

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