Page 6 of Bound By Fate
It appeared to be just him and her, and nothing else mattered.
It was a beautiful sight to behold, and I felt the punch to the gut like a physical thing. Keeping from bending over was difficult, but the air still rushed out of my lungs as the pain threatened to take me over. Needing to steady myself, I grabbed onto the counter.
When his gaze met mine, my entire body froze from the power and intensity of it. That smile should win awards. It had a way of gripping you so tightly and wrapping around you, never wanting to let it go. And when it was directed at you, nothing else in the room mattered. It was like a tunnel. Only he and I existed for that brief period of time.
Everything else faded into the background, and I was memorized by it. Just as I had been the first day I'd met him.
“What’s up?” I asked as Ensley started telling me I had to go to the apartment to get our things.
“Can’t get into all of it right now. Just leave work now, get our stuff, and meet me at the clubhouse.” She chattered in my ear. I made way to say something, but she stopped me. “Stop. I’ll tell you when you get here.” She then disconnected the phone.
That little brat. She’d hear it as soon as I saw her.
Talking to my manager, she wasn’t happy I was cutting my shift short, just because it meant she had to jump on the line for a bit. She didn’t tell me I had to stay, though, and she liked me. She had a big family and knew that if there was a family emergency that meant it was important.
Gathering all of my things from the employee lounge, I pulled out my phone and sent a text to Ensley. This was a huge mistake, because I should’ve been looking at what was going on around me.
“You Katie?” the man asked, stopping me in my tracks as my eyes moved up and up. Surfer boy. That was the first thing that popped into my head. His blond hair was shaggy, like those guys you see on television hitting the waves. A face carved from granite with a smile that could bring any woman to their knees. Let’s not forget the bluest eyes I’d ever seen in my entire life. A woman could get lost in those babies and not want to come back.
Even with all of that, he took me by surprise. I halted, taking a step away from him.
“Who are you?”
“Your bodyguard.” What the fuck was going on here?
Just then my phone rang in my hand. It said, ‘Ensley calling,’ and I answered it without taking my eyes off of surfer dude here.
“What’s…” I started, and she interrupted me. My temper started to rise. I hated getting cut off, and she’d just done it twice. “Micah’s buddy Dryerson is comin’ to escort you to the clubhouse. Be nice to him.” Then she disconnected.
Pulling the phone from my ear, I asked, “You’re Dryerson?”
He smiled wide, almost knocking me to the ground. “Yep. You’re stuck with me.”
In that moment I knew this man was going to change something in my life. I had no idea in what way, but I wanted no part of it. “Look, I’m not some movie star who needs a bodyguard. I can handle it on my own.”
“But ya see... I was asked to help, so here I am helping.”
“Whatever.” I ignored him, got into my Impala, and locked the doors. The entire drive there he was right behind me. And all I could think about was get me the hell away from this man; he’s more trouble than I could handle.
I was not wrong.
Remy caught his attention once more, and he went back to making her laugh. Only when he looked away was I able to breathe and come back to myself, the fog lifting.
“You two not talkin’?” Ensley asked, already knowing the answer. My ever-nosy sister always wanted to be in my business. She did it out of love, that I knew. It was just something I didn’t want to talk about, not now, not ever. She wouldn’t understand. She wouldn’t get why Dryerson and I would never work.
“We talk okay. Don’t start with me. Please,” I answered, wrapping my arms around my middle and feeling the puffed-up scar on my side through my shirt. One of the many beautiful marks I was graced with from my time with psycho Daniel. Yeah. I was gross. They covered me everywhere, which was why I wore long-sleeved shirts, trying to cover my arms. An ever-present reminder of my many bad decisions, something none of them could understand—not my sister, and not Dryerson.
“We really need to talk. Can you come over tomorrow?” Ensley asked while Austyn watched us but didn’t say anything.
“Can’t, I have to work. I don’t know the rest of my schedule.” Thankfully this wasn’t a lie. I really didn’t know when I’d be off in the next few days. Schedules went out later today, and since I didn’t have anyone at home anymore, I kept busy by working. My bosses took advantage of it, and I was grateful.
“You call me tomorrow when you get it and set up a time,” she ordered, brows pinching together in determination.
I nodded, hoping she would back off. Talking about this now wasn’t helping the raging fire inside of me. I didn’t want to talk about this period, but I really didn’t want it brought up around the entire Ravage MC. They all took me in alongside Ensley. It seriously wasn’t fair the kindness they showed to me as her extended family. I put her in danger, and not one of them were rude to me. I risked one of their own, and yet here I stood in a room full of them.
“Food!” Micah called out, entering the kitchen carrying a large platter of burgers and hot dogs. The spread Ensley had out was covering her kitchen island, but that would be expected with all these people. From chips to pasta salads to hamburgers, there was enough food to feed a club full of bikers.
Micah set the platter down. “Hey, Katie. How are ya?” he asked as I moved around the island. One thing was for sure, this man loved my sister and niece, but he’d also taken a liking to me. He was everything I hoped my sister would find and everything I’d want in a brother.
