“The last time I let Sex Piston do my hair, Sharon’s color lasted longer than mine.”
Crazy Bitch was tempted to tell the woman that her sister didn’t have as much grey.
“I tried.” Sex Piston came up behind her when she was mixing the color in the back room.
“It’s cool.” Crazy Bitch absently checked the color chart.
“Did you figure out the clue?” Sex Piston asked, pretending to search for gloves to place at their stations.
“No,” she lied. “You?”
Sex Piston flickered her eyes away as she grabbed the box of gloves. “No.”
The bitch was lying.
She bit her lip to keep from calling her out on the lie.
They spent what was left of the day staring at each other suspiciously. She and Sex Piston had never been on separate teams before. For that matter, their crew had always stood together against everyone else.
As she gloomily worked, she didn’t feel bad for not sharing information with Sex Piston or the others. They had been the ones who had chosen their husbands and boyfriends over her. She had been forced to work with Calder when they had left her with no choice. Even T.A. had chosen dick over her, and Bear had no intention of putting a ring on her finger, despite T.A.’s demands.
She was checking out the twins when Sex Piston left for the night with the bank deposit. All she had to do after they left was turn out the lights and lock the door. Thankfully, Sex Piston had already cleaned.
She tiredly walked to her car, glad it was summer and just now getting dark.
She had just gotten inside her apartment and changed into a pair of shorts and a tank top when she heard a knock on her door.
Opening it, she was greeted with the appetizing aroma of the pizzas Calder was holding.
“Hungry?”
“I’m starved.” Crazy Bitch shut the door. “You can set them on the counter.” Going behind the counter, she took out paper plates, setting them next to the pizza boxes before going to the fridge to get beers.
Calder had opened the pizza box and was putting a couple of slices on a plate. She handed him a beer before he handed her a plate.
“We can sit on the couch. What movie do you want to watch?”
“What you got?”
Her ass had just sat down when she heard another knock on her door.
“You want me to get it?” he asked, the pizza poised at his mouth.
“I got it.”
Opening the door, she instantly regretted not looking through the peephole.
“What the fuck do you want?” She held on to the doorknob, preventing Sam from coming inside.
“You haven’t been answering my calls or texts. I wanted to talk to you. You accu—”
“I have company, and if I wanted to talk to you, I would’ve answered when you called. I have nothing to say to you,” she shut him up before he could say anything else.
“Who’s here?” Sam tried to look around the partially opened door.
“Sam, get lost and lose my number.” Slamming the door, she turned and ran right into Calder’s chest.
“Is he bugging you?” He aggressively started to go around her.
She moved to block his path. “No. He’s just trying to cover his ass.” As soon as the words were out of her mouth, she regretted them. “I mean… he wants to make sure there are no hard feelings after our breakup.”
“Why would there be hard feelings?”
“Because men are weenies. Let’s eat; the pizza is getting cold.”
She sank back down on the couch and picked the first movie that came up on her DVR, unconcernedly eating her food as Calder resumed his seat. She was so distracted she didn’t realize what movie they were watching until she noticed it had Calder’s rapt attention.
Picking up the remote, she exited out of the movie, choosing another one.
“Why did you stop it?”
“Because I only watch that movie with other bitches, or men I’m going to fuck.”
“I’m not a bitch, so it leaves me out of that category. You don’t see yourself fucking me? I definitely see myself fucking you.”
“In your dreams.” She chewed on her pizza, turning on a comedy she had recorded.
She felt his eyes go to her breasts when she leaned over for her beer.
“It could be hot.”
“Do you know how many men have told me that? Oh, baby, it’s going to be so hot when I do you,” she mimicked in a low voice. “Damn, woman, that’s so hot.”
Calder laughed. “I was trying to be sexy, not lame.”
When he laughed, his tough façade lightened.
Her cynical heart started beating faster, reminding her of when she was nineteen and had first met him. She had thought the attraction between them was two-sided until he had stood her up to get lit and laid by another woman. It had hurt her that he had blown her off.
He was the type of man who made you feel feminine by just being around him. You couldn’t look at him without thinking what he would be like in the sack. His stormy grey eyes could carry you out to sea, and you wouldn’t even care if he carried you back at high tide.
She shook her head, drawing herself back to earth. Crazy Bitch had to make herself remember that the time they would be spending together wasn’t for hooking up; it was for money. She had no intention of letting him sweep her off her feet into choppy waters and leaving her stranded and at the mercy of a riptide.
Despite the comedy on the screen, her expression grew serious. “I’m not into one-liners you used to catch Candi and Demie. I don’t play games. I expect the men I go out with to do the same.”
His laughter died. “You don’t think a lot of me, do you?”
“I don’t think about you at all.”
10
“The sheets and blankets are in the hall closet. The spare bedroom is by the kitchen,” Crazy Bitch said as she came out of the bathroom after her shower, wearing her short blue robe that she had tied at her waist.
“You going to bed?”
“I’ve been up since six this morning, and I’ve been on my feet all day. I had to cut, dye, dry, and curl Sharon and Tilly Hines’s hair. They each tipped me a buck and told me I needed to go on a diet. So, yeah, I’m going to bed.”
She went into her bedroom, leaving Calder watching the ten-o’clock news. She threw her robe down on the bottom of her bed, looking around her room for her cat. Usually the manic feline would attack any male. Crazy Bitch corrected herself—anyone unwary to enter his—again she had to correct herself—her apartment. The hellcat was getting old. She was sure he was hiding underneath her bed and would come out when she went to sleep.
Turning off the bedside lamp, she yawned tiredly then, stretching out on her bed, listened to the soft music she had turned on.
Drifting off to the soothing sounds of a lonely violin, she sank deeper into sleep.
A loud yell had her bolting up in bed. Disoriented, she fell as she tried to get out of bed. Tangled in her sheet, she had to extricate herself from the covers before she could manage to get to her feet.
Hearing another yell, she ran to the bedroom door, flinging it open then running into the room she had told Calder to sleep in, to see him standing on his tumbled bed with a pillow in his hand.
“What are you—”
“Get back. There’s a snake in here!” he shouted.
“I don’t have snakes….” She carefully backed toward the door, peering around the upturned room.
“There!”
She jumped when he pointed at something black that moved underneath the bed.
She started laughing. “That’s not a snake. It’s Manson.”
“Manson?”
“My cat. Well, technically it’s Fat Louise’s, but she forgot to take him when she moved out.”
Red-faced, Calder jumped off the bed, then jumped back on it when a vicious claw raked his shin.
“It bit me.”
“He doesn’t bite.
He doesn’t have any teeth.”
He jumped off the bed, moving in a walk-run toward her. “Why doesn’t he have teeth? Cade knock them out?”
“No, he’s old. Most of them were broken off, so the vet removed what was left. Cost me six hundred dollars. You think Fat Louise or Cade paid me back? Every time I mention it, they say it was her sister’s cat.”
“Did you ask her for the money?”
“She’s dead.”
“The cat killed her?”
“He’s not rabid, just old.” She bent down to pick up the purring cat as he rubbed against her leg. “See? No teeth.” She lifted him higher so Calder could see the toothless, hissing cat.
“You should have saved yourself six hundred dollars and put him down.”
The cat hissed louder.
“Shh… Manson. He didn’t mean it.”
“Yes, I did.” He jerked his arm back from a darting claw that threatened to rip his hand to shreds.
Crazy Bitch rubbed her cheek against the spiked fur as his claws sunk into her night top.
She was carefully trying to lift it when Calder tried to help her and his knuckles rubbed against the globes of her breasts. She sucked in a sharp breath at his touch.
“Girl, you need to get your ass outta here,” Crazy Bitch said to herself as she awkwardly turned toward the door, making sure to keep her eyes away from his naked body, still picturing him in all his glory.
He might lack an inch in height compared to Stud, but Calder was broader and more muscular than his loose jeans and T-shirts had shown.
She was so close to him that she could touch him. And if she didn’t get out of the close confines of the bedroom, she was going to regret it in about five minutes… after she was done with him.
“Do not lead me into temptation,” she chanted to herself, stopping when Calder placed a hand on the doorway, blocking her escape.
“You sure you don’t want to stay and watch… another movie?”
“I’m sure.” She didn’t lash out at him the way she had intended. Instead, she sounded like she was about to cough up one of Manson’s fur balls.
She started to barge past his restraining arm when he gave her a quizzical look.
“Are you listening to classical music?”
“What’s wrong with that?” she snapped. “You don’t think I can appreciate it?”
“I’m just surprised. When we play music at the club, you make us play hard rock or punk.”
“That’s for dancing, not for sleeping.”
His eyes gentled. “You have trouble sleeping?”
“Sometimes.” She couldn’t believe she was admitting to a weakness she had never confessed to anyone before.
He dropped his hand, giving her space to leave. “Good night.”
She nodded, fleeing the room before she changed her mind and threw the sexy biker to the bed. Closing her bedroom door, she laid Manson down on the bed, where he clawed her sheets into a mound to show his dissatisfaction before choosing her pillow to curl up on.
Shooing him off the pillow, she lay down, trying to go back to sleep, but she didn’t fall asleep again so easily. She was tossing and turning until her body was so fatigued it gave in to a restless sleep that had her not hearing the alarm that was going off on the nightstand.
“Anna-Kate, wake up.”
The use of her real name had her eyes flying open. She hadn’t heard it since her mother had died.
“Do you want to sit here and talk about it, or do you want to get on the road?”
She tossed her sheet off, seeing Calder was already dressed.
Going to her dresser, she took out a pair of jeans and a green tank top that she could put a jacket over. At work, it would be hidden underneath her smock.
“Get out. I’ll be out in a minute.”
“Gee, thanks for waking me up,” he said sarcastically, leaving the room.
“Thanks.” She slammed her door closed then dressed in a rush, dodging Manson’s attempts to swat her when she tried to put her boots on.
“I shouldn’t feed your hairy ass.” Jerking her jacket on, she hurried to the kitchen to place a bowl of cat food down. “I’m ready.”
Calder got up from the couch. “What about breakfast?”
She opened a kitchen drawer, taking out two protein bars, and tossed one to him.
“There’s breakfast. Let’s go.”
“You’re lucky I’m a man of simple needs.”
The only needs she had on her mind were the ones that had left her unfulfilled and restless the night before. She wanted to find the motorcycles and jackets so she could go back to ignoring the bastard.
“Next time I want you to stay the night, I’ll go to the store and buy some Pop-Tarts… and I’ll hide my mail so you’re snooping ass won’t see something I don’t want you to see.”
“I like donuts better.” He grinned, opening the door for her while ignoring her last comment.
“That belly of yours hasn’t seen a donut in years.”
His body was hard and toned. There was no beer or donut belly to mar the perfection that had her debating what to do to him.
His grin widened. “I saw you looking at me last night.”
“Kind of hard to miss… with everything flapping around.”
“It wasn’t flapping after I saw you in those panties and that white T-shirt.”
“Really?” She sniffed, climbing on behind him on his bike. “I didn’t notice.” She held on to his sides as he backed out of the parking spot.
“You noticed. Anytime you want another show, let me know. I’m available.” Giving her a wink, he pulled out, driving out of town.
There wasn’t much traffic as Calder drove along streets that gradually grew darker and narrowed down to a winding road that led to Treepoint.
Crazy Bitch held on to his waist. She had never ridden with him before. When they had gone out as a club, she had always been on the back of another biker’s motorcycle.
He handled the powerful machine with ease. She could feel the strength in his body as he held the bike steady through the dangerous curves. Numerous people had lost their lives by getting lulled into a false sense of security when taking the curves at speeds the locals knew to be wary of.
When they reached Treepoint, Calder made the turn that would lead them away from the town and toward the large mountain that was looming above them. The sun was just coming up as they traveled up the inclining road. Several houses were built along the route, but as it reached higher, the homes became sparse.
Crazy Bitch wasn’t afraid of heights, but she stopped looking down when she could see the tops of trees. She had a come-to-Jesus moment when a large truck rounded a sharp curve at the same time as Calder’s motorcycle.
Closing her eyes, she rested her helmet against his back, deciding not to look anymore. She had confidence in his ability; it was the assholes they had to share the road with who had her terrified.
The sight of the sign with an arrow pointing to a small road that would lead them to the overlook had her eagerness returning.
The overlook was empty when they arrived. As soon as Calder stopped the bike, she climbed off, wanting to kiss the ground.
“I wish I had brought a six-pack with me to enjoy the view.” Removing his helmet, Calder climbed off his bike to look around the tree-studded mountains appreciatively.
“You’d be driving back alone.” She walked around the area, trying to get feeling back in her legs.
“If that gas station we passed isn’t open, you might be, anyway.” Calder took out his phone. “Sweet. We made it with five minutes to spare before Greer’s clue.”
She gave him a victorious smile. “I bet everyone is in the club…” Her voice trailed off at the sound of a motorcycle. “Son of a bitch, is that…?”
“Stud and Sex Piston.”
Their eyes met in disappointment.
“That’s fine. We got here first. As long as it stays that way, they can keep eating
our dust.”
Her friend got off the back of Stud’s bike as the brothers stood talking.
“Bitch, I knew you knew the answer.” Sex Piston’s calling her out on her lie didn’t make her feel guilty.
Pasting an innocent look on her face, she stared back unrepentantly. “You could have told me you had figured it out. I didn’t until I went to my car after I closed.”
“You lying bitch.” Sex Piston’s lips trembled in laughter.
“Prove it.”
The friends shouldered each other as they went to stand next the men, both anxious for the clue.
“I wish he would send it before someone else shows.”
“Yeah, that sucks when it happens.” Crazy Bitch used her chin to point at the approaching car.
“Who in the fuck is that?”
“Viper and Winter.”
“Son of a—”
“Those were my exact words when you and Stud showed.”
Again, she had to mask her disappointment as Viper and Winter got out of their SUV. The small group didn’t have to say anything to each other as Stud’s, Viper’s, and Calder’s phones started pinging.
She wanted to grab the phone away from Calder when the men texted the clue to their clubs before reading it.
Calder finished first, reading it aloud.
“If you figured out the first clue, then you know I wear a necklace. You will find the third clue in the clasp.”
Crazy Bitch turned around in a circle before turning back to the group. The couples had already pulled apart to talk.
Calder moved to her, turning his back so the others couldn’t see or hear what he was saying. “It’s the rock.”
Her eyes darted to the rock. “How? It’s too big to lift.”
“Not if I have help.”
“Dammit! You sure?”
“Yes, if we’re at the right mountain.”
“We could go get my car and a chain and move it after everyone leaves,” she suggested.
“It would save time. If Viper and Winter have figured out the clue, they’ll just wait until we leave, and then they’ll have a start on the next clue. We can do whatever you want to do. I’ll leave the choice to you.”