My roommate Heather leaned against the doorway as I primped in front of the bathroom mirror. “He just gave you a job just like that?” She snapped her fingers.
I combed fingers through my black hair. “Just like that.”
“Do you trust him? You know he’s going to try making a pass at you.”
I didn’t tell Heather how his lips brushed across mine the day before. “I know that, Heather. But I do trust him. And I need the job.”
For my first day at Hardcore Cycles, I squeezed into a pair of leopard print leggings, black lace-up boots, push up bra, and a tight black tank top. I parked the Ninja in front of Hardcore Cycles and climbed off with a smile on my face. Torque stood out front finishing a cigarette.
“Holy fuck!” His mouth hung open as I strutted toward him.
“You like my first-day-on-the-job uniform?” I giggled.
He dropped his cigarette, crushing it with his booted heel. “Like it? No. I love it!”
Torque introduced me to Skully, his long-time friend and mechanic who was a member of the Chaos Kings MC. He employed two other mechanics, Cooper and Toby. Half of Hardcore Cycles was a big garage where the mechanics worked. The other half was the store, Torque’s office, retail floor to sell bike accessories, T-shirts and apparel, plus a few used bikes sitting on kickstands for sale.
Torque’s niece, Kacy, showed me around the store counter, the cash register, and inventory in the back room. I remembered being her age and having that teenage attitude. She was a sweet girl, just going through those raging hormones that reign over your mind and body. We got along pretty well, compared to how she interacted with Torque. He was the alpha male and a biker, who doted on his niece, but was also overprotective—just like most uncles are.
I pull into the lot on my third day at work, and my Sporty was parked out in front of the shop, shiny and beautiful, tilted on her kickstand. I’d swear I heard angels singing. I parked the Ninja and climbed off grinning from ear to ear.
Torque came walking out of the shop just then. “She’s back to beautiful for you, Ronnie.”
I couldn’t contain my happiness as I ran and jumped on him, wrapping my arms around him. “Thank you, Torque!”
He chuckled, wrapping his arms around me. “Don’t thank me! It was all Skully.”
I stared into those hazel eyes of his and then my smile faded. I planted my feet back on the ground and realized he was still holding me; my tits were pressed against his hard chest, and he smelled like cigarettes and a faint hint of woodsy cologne. I sighed when he leaned down and planted his lips on mine. It was gentle like last time. I couldn’t control myself as my tongue penetrated his parted lips. He tasted so good, and his big hands pressed me closer to him.
Torque pulled away first. “You’re such a feisty little woman…” He groaned against my lips.
“O-M-G, Uncle Torque!” Kacy appeared from the garage, her mouth hung open in shock.
I realized then we were tonguing each other in broad daylight in front of the shop!
Torque cleared his throat, releasing me. “Go do work, Kacy!” he barked at her.
My body was heated and flushed all day after that kiss. And it didn’t help any that Kacy gave me the side-eye all day. Torque was distant, too, either working in his office or talking with customers and the mechanics. Later in the afternoon, Kacy clocked out, and Torque made his appearance again.
He came to the front counter and leaned up against it, folding his hulk size arms over his chest. “I hope my brat niece kept her mouth shut about what happened between us earlier today.”
I laughed nervously. He was so close, I could smell his cologne again. “She didn’t say anything, even though I’m sure she wanted to.”
He grinned then. “I’ve never seen someone as happy as you were the moment you saw your bike, Ronnie.”
I felt my cheeks flush. “I promise I will pay you back as soon as I can.”
He handed me the pep cot key to my bike. “There’s no rush, Ronnie, really. We’ll figure some kind of monthly payment that you can afford.”
“Thanks, Torque.” I gathered my things, grabbing my backpack.
“Wait.” He looked nervous, rubbing the back of his neck. “You want to get some coffee or lunch tomorrow?”
“I’m your employee now. I don’t think it’s a good idea.”
“It’s just coffee or a sandwich; that’s all.”
I couldn’t help but smile, feeling giddy inside. “Sure, okay.”
I was so nervous the next morning. The only thing that helped me calm my nerves was riding my Sporty again. The vibration and thunder of the pipes, the feel of the bike as I twisted the throttle felt so familiar to me. It was so good to have her back again.
I spent most of the morning surfing the internet on the computer, deep in thought with promotional ideas, ways to attract customers to Hardcore Cycles. By noon, Torque and I walked to a local sandwich shop only a few blocks away. He was professional as we talked as employer to employee. But I struggled to concentrate on listening to him talk as I looked into his hazel brown eyes, and his male scent made my pulse race.
We sat and ate lunch together at a small table as I opened the conversation, wanting to know all I could about him. “So how long have you been in business with Hardcore Cycles?”
“I started from the ground up. I loved tinkering with motorcycles since I was a kid. My old man was a member of a club back in the day called Iron Bastards MC, so I was around it all my life. I took a bike mechanics course down in Florida and then signed a lease on that garage and opened up my business. A few years later, I bought the property, so it’s all mine now. Business has always been good, and I know every club and anyone who rides on two wheels in the surrounding counties.”
I smiled, swallowing a bite of my ham and cheese sandwich, “Well you didn’t know me, and I ride on two wheels.”
“Yes, true. You sure did catch me by surprise that day you came pulling into my shop wearing those skimpy-ass shorts!”
I laughed. “I like to wear revealing clothes when I ride, along with my loud pipes. Gets me noticed by others on the road.”
“You can say that again!”
“Thanks again for giving me this job, Torque. And fixing up my bike.”
“Even though Kacy can be annoying at times, are you liking it?”
“Yes, I do. I’ve been doing some research, wanting to find ways to help market and brand your shop. Maybe do some events, like a bikini bike wash or a weekend event. Have a local band play, have some vendors set up, sell hot dogs, sodas. Make like a mini biker weekend event. I can look into creating a logo for Hardcore Cycles too. Make it look mean—”
Torque’s brows lifted as he swallowed down a bite of his sandwich. “Are you a mind reader?” His shocked look was boyish in a way.
“Uh. No. Why?”
“That’s the name of my future business—Mean Machines—I want to start building my own custom bikes!”
Just when I thought I found the best job, Torque was about to rain on my parade… “Really? But what about Hardcore Cycles?”
“Hardcore Cycles is my baby. I’m not selling the business, I’m keeping it. I want to open Mean Machines next year. But I need someone I can trust, someone who can help me manage Hardcore Cycles while I work on starting up Mean Machines.”
Suddenly, I became anxious because I was the type to rush and conclude the worst. Dealing with anxiety that swam in my stomach the past few months was exhausting and wore me down. All because of Wayde. I pushed away all my emotions trying to build a callous tough skin.
I wiped my hands with my napkin and stood up from the table. “Maybe you should have told me this before you hired me on the spot!” There were only a few customers in the shop, but all heads turned in my direction, and my cheeks felt warm. I turned, aiming to stomp out the door.
Torque stood suddenly and took hold of my wrist. “Wait! You think I’m firing you?”
I looked into his hazel brown eyes, my throat dry. “You just said you’re looking for someone you can trust to manage Hardcore Cycles!”
“That someone is you, Ronnie!” He let go of my wrist. “Now sit back down with me and finish your lunch.”
I huffed, still feeling the warmth creeping up my chest to my cheeks and sat down. “I sometimes rush to assume the worst.”
Torque reached over, placing his big hand over mine like he had at the Cantina. “I don’t want to rush anything. I just like to see what’s ahead of me. I see Mean Machines. And I see you.”
