Page 38 of Dodge

“I don’t know what I’m doing, and I don’t know where I stand,” I confessed.Why do I have the need to talk to this woman?“There are challenges between us, and I haven’t a clue what they are or how to handle them.”

She squeezed my shoulder in a side hug. “One step at a time is always best. Dodge will figure it out, and you will too. All I can say is be patient with him. If y’all can see your way through, I can tell you now, you won’t find a more loyal and trustworthy man than him. That boy needs someone to love him unconditionally, and he’s never had that before he came to the Dragon Runners. All my boys have special places in my heart, but it’s not the same thing as having a partner. I hope it works out. If it don’t, I’m gonna tell you right now, the club will have your back no matter what.”

My mouth opened, and I shoved my foot right inside. “Does the club still have Mallory’s back?”

Betsey’s grip slackened a bit, but she didn’t let go. “Now that partiscomplicated. I’ll admit, Brick and me don’t like her much. She’s been in and out of Dodge’s life so many times over the years, playing games and using him, and it drives me crazy. The club is about brotherhood and family. Every single one of my boys would lay down their bikes before hurtin’ a Dragon Runner’s woman. That’s sayin’ somethin’ ’cause you already know how they feel ’bout their bikes. Mallory betrayed that code over and over again, and I watched it take little pieces of my boy away. I don’t think she ever figured out what she was doing to him. She’s got her own problems consuming her, and I realize that, but it don’t take away the pain she gave.”

She dropped her arm and moved to pull the picture off the wall. “Brick has a thing about club women, to always protect them no matter what. Mallory was one of us at one time. If she’s in trouble, it’s deep in his nature to take care of her as we can, but it’s really hard to take someone back when they’ve hurt someone you love.”

I turned my head and noticed her eyes were wet. Betsey also felt it deep. A pang hit my heart, not for Dodge but for me. Biological or not, this was what a mother’s love looked like, and it was huge. “I’m so glad Dodge has you in his life.”

She handed me the picture. “Funny, I’m thinkin’ the same about you. Remember I came by one night when you and Dodge were pickin’ at each other while you was fixin’ up the restaurant? First time I heard him laugh in years.”

“Oh! My! Gawd!” Macie exclaimed. “Betsey, my dearest, you havegotto see these shelves! They are todiefor!”

“I’ll be right over.”

I wondered if their volume would get us thrown out as I stroked a finger over the print. Dodge would love to have this, and I wanted to give it to him.

Was that crossing a line? We were friends now. Perhaps more, but there was a shit ton of secrets he carried. Would there ever come a time when he would be free enough to be with me? Did he want to?

Yeah, I was sure he would be with me if he had the chance.

CHAPTER20

Dodge carefully tapedoff the car’s hood for the next color. This was a tedious, complicated piece that had taken him hours to design and customize. The multicolored iridescent spider was the centerpiece with its reflective white-and-silver web covering the rest of the black car. It was the intricate detail that took a long time to get right. The client was paying big bucks for the work, and Dodge was doing his best to make sure he delivered.

It was hard as his mind was full of other ideas.

“That’s gonna look damn good at night. I bet it scares the shit out of someone.”

Weatherman stepped into the spray booth and closed the door behind him. He kept a good distance away from the car, as dust and other particles were forbidden here. The booth’s exhaust was off until Dodge finished the taping; the noise level was deafening when both the venting system and the air compressor were turned on. “I hope so. I’m charging him enough.” He checked the angle of a leg and swore as he had to peel off the blocking tape and reposition it. Again. “You just get into town?”

Weatherman slipped his hands into his jean pockets and leaned back against the coated cement wall. “About a half hour ago. No one is up at the Lair, so I thought I’d stop here before heading to the house.”

“How’s your mom?”

“She’s taking her first chemo in the morning.”

“Good luck to her and to you, brother.”

Weatherman dipped his head in acknowledgment. The younger man could have been Dodge’s sibling. Both had sandy blond hair and blue eyes, but where Dodge was built like a brick house, Weatherman had the body of a runner, slim and toned. “She’s got a long way to go, but the doctors say the surgery went well. As soon as I finish my contract, I’ll move back permanently. Until then I’ll keep commuting.”

“Sorry you have to give up your dream job.”

Weatherman shrugged. “It’s my mom. I can always get another anchor position. The station said I could come back when I want. If I want.”

Dodge tapped the tape in place and rechecked. After prospecting during a gap year between high school and college, Weatherman had earned his degree at UNC-Asheville in environmental sciences. Just after graduation, his good looks and articulate voice got him snapped up by the local news station over in Knoxville, Tennessee, as one of their meteorologists. The guy oozed charisma and charm, and everyone agreed he was on his way to the big leagues. Then his mom got sick, and him being the only child, he moved closer. Originally, he and his mom lived just outside Asheville, but Weatherman’s mentor and club sponsor was Table, who resided in Bryson City. The older biker helped get his protégé and mother moved to a small cottage close to the Lair so the two of them had the support of the entire club. They did as much for Natalie Turner as possible, but it was Bryce Turner, aka Weatherman, who ultimately took care of her.

“I hope it works out,” Dodge said as he straightened. “I’m almost ready to spray. You wanna stick around for a bit, or you got other stuff to do?”

“I gotta go get a haircut, and then I’ll head over to the house. Moving sucks.”

Dodge chuckled. “I hear you. Take care, and I’ll see you at the Lair later.”

The paint was already mixed. Four air sprayers of different sizes sat on a rack near the compressor. After zipping up the paint suit, Dodge slipped on the vapor mask and safety goggles. Last, he put on the ear cans, then started up the loud machines.

As he put on the first layer, his phone buzzed in his pocket. Once he started painting, he couldn’t stop, so he ignored it. Then it started again.

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