New Love (Angels Warriors MC Trilogy Book 0) (4 page)

For some reason, after I had my car worked on at Angel’s shop, Shawn has contacted me a few times to hang out. She said she got my number from the paperwork, and since she was new in town, wanted to make a friend.

Tonight, we’ve decided to hit the local bar downtown for some greasy food and drinks.

Half way through our food, Shawn speaks up. “So what’s up with you and Mr. Broody?”

I look at her in confusion. “Who?”

She rolls her eyes at me. “Mason, duh. What’s up with you two?”

I shake my head and wipe my mouth with a napkin. “Nothing at all. He was all mad I was placing flowers on his wife’s grave.” I don’t tell her about the kiss we shared in the hospital, because I’m worried about how that will make me look.

She smirks. “I think he likes you and is feeling guilty.”

I say nothing as I grab my beer and down it.

“He quit the shop the day you dropped off your car,” Shawn tells me.

“Why?” I ask, confused.

“He’s all moody and pissed about Eden, that’s Jasper’s wife, about the whole dead wife thing. Told Jasper it was either him or her. Jasper, of course, didn’t answer him, and Mason threw his rag and quit. Hasn’t talked to Jasper since, apparently.”

I frown. “I heard the story of what happened. I don’t think it was anyone’s fault. Wasn’t it her brother that killed her?”

“Yeah, but Mason seems to say it was Eden and Hilary’s father’s fault for it.” She shoves a fry in her mouth and grins at me.

I shake my head. “Sounds like the guy needs therapy.” I wish I could do something for him, but what? I’m no shrink.

“Or to get laid,” Shawn quips, flashing her pearly whites.

“What?”

“You need to do him, get that stick out of his ass. Give him a blowjob, seduce him, or something. That man needs a good woman.”

“Stop that!” I blush at the thought of Mason, with me on my knees, taking him in my mouth. Oh God! I want that.

“Yeah, you want to give it to him. I can see it written all over your face. You aren’t very good at hiding your thoughts.” Oh God, am I really so transparent?

It’s Monday morning, and I’m on my way for my visit with Hilary, when I spot Moira pulling into the cemetery in front of me. I hang back a bit, watching her.  I watch as she takes the flowers out of her car and goes to Hilary’s grave first, arranging the flowers just off to the side. Then she takes her second bundle and pulls stems from the bouquet, placing them evenly over four different graves.

I quietly close the door to my Jeep so she doesn’t hear me, and walk quietly up behind her, wanting to hear what she’s saying. I know I owe her an apology, but I don’t know what to say. She probably thinks I am a lunatic after the way I treated her.

“I miss you guys so much. I wish you were here for me to talk to, to give me advice. I know you wouldn’t have let me get married to the Dick. He’s decided to move back to town,” she says quietly. “The worst part is he’s bringing his new wife with him and every single person in the hospital knows about it. Yesterday I almost left work, couldn’t stand the pity looks they gave me.” She quiets again. “Not even two months after we divorced, he got married.”

Rage fills me, but I don’t get why. I don’t know if I’m pissed that she was married, or pissed about how she was betrayed by him.

“There’s also someone new, but he doesn’t feel that way about me. Hell, I’m sure he hates me.” She hangs her head down before lifting it back up and running her fingers along her mother’s name. “I wish you were here. Talking to Shawn isn’t the same, and everyone else in town is really close to this man.”

I decide I need to let her know I’m here, because I have a feeling she’s talking about me, and most likely would hate that I’m overhearing her confession.

I clear my throat, startling her. “Oh, uh... hi, Mason,” she says, getting up off the ground and brushing the dead leaves from her knees. She looks good. I’m used to only seeing her in her uniform. The sweater she has on stops right at the waist of her jeans, revealing a hint of her stomach.

“How’d they go?”  I noticed the dates on each grave; they all died within a day of each other. I ask, to stop my eyes from raking over her ass in them jeans.

“Car accident. Gram and Pops died instantly. Mom hung on until the hospital, and Dad passed the next day,” she says, whispering.

Before I can even think about the words coming out of my mouth, I blurt out, “Go out with me.” Why did I just say that? Stupid. I shouldn’t be starting something I can’t finish.

Her eyes widen before she answers. “Uh, I don’t know.”

“Just coffee,” I say, sounding like I’m begging. I don’t know what I am doing here. I only meant to say sorry, not fuckin’ take her out.

I watch her face, and can see that she is chewing the inside of her cheek. Finally, she answers. “Okay, I can do coffee.”

I watch her kiss her hand and place it on each tombstone. Bending down to Hilary’s, I trace my finger over her name, when a breeze comes in and I swear to fuck I hear Hilary’s voice, just a whisper of it. ‘
She’s perfect for you, baby’. 
My head jerks up. What the...?  Moira interrupts and the breeze disappears.

“Ready?” she asks.

I stand up and face her. “Yeah.”

“I’ll drive behind you? That okay?”

“Sounds good,” I say, walking slightly behind her out of the cemetery. Now I am staring at that ass. I smile. It feels nice.

When we get to Moira’s car, I open her door for her. I can be a gentleman on occasion; it’s rare, but it comes out sometimes. “Momma B’s Bakery okay?” she asks me.

I haven’t really paid much attention to the bakery since the shit went down with Betty, but I nod. “Yeah, sounds good.” She gets in, and I shut the door behind her. Damn, she needs a new ride. It’s all banged up, having seen better days. It is like a damn death trap waiting to happen. If she were mine, I wouldn’t ever allow her to drive the damn thing.

We walk into Momma B’s Bakery and place our order, taking a seat right by the window. This is feeling kind of awkward. I am trying to steer our conversation clear of his son and his wife. I want him to be comfortable. But it all turns tense when we’re interrupted. I was in the middle of telling him about how I love my work, when a woman comes over to the table, looking at Mason, her eyes sad.

She’s beautiful, despite the scars on her face. I recognize her from the hospital as one of Hilary’s friends.

“Mason,” she says, as I’m sipping on my Caramel Latte. She interrupted us, but I feel like I am the one intruding here.

His face turns to stone, and he glares at her through gritted teeth. “What are you doing here?”

Yikes. Something is going on here, and I don’t know what to do or where to look. I am tempted to say something. She is clearly upsetting Mason, but I am afraid he will think I am crossing the line. He is a man that doesn’t want or need anyone to fight his battles. I decide to keep my mouth closed, biting my tongue. I don’t like the way she is making him feel. His relaxed face is now stiff, and his mouth is cast down.

“Momma B left this place to me.”

“Why the fuck would you agree to take this place? Betty was a fuckin’ cunt, and here you are workin’ at her place after what she fuckin’ did to you?”

I feel myself shrinking back into the chair. He is getting angry and ready to blow his top. If his face gets any redder, steam will come from his ears. Not good. Not good at all.

“It’s not her place anymore, the new sign will be going up next week and then renovations start and yes, she hurt us all, but this is my place now. It’s going to be different,” Eden says quietly.

“Fuck that, and fuck you. You and Betty, so much alike. Fuck you.” Mason gets up angrily from his seat and looks at me. “Sorry, Moira, cuttin’ this short. We’ll get together another time.”

He gets up, leaving his coffee on the table, and stalks out of the Bakery.

I’m left sitting here, stunned. I have no clue what to say as I watch Eden cry. I feel bad for her, but I feel more for Mason. I want to go after him, but decide against it.

She wipes at her face and sits down in the seat Mason just left.

“You’re the nurse from the hospital, right?” she asks hesitantly.

“Yes, I am. That’s how I originally met Mason,” I tell her.

“I shouldn’t be doing this, because he hates me so damn much right now, but I need to know what your intentions are with Mason.”

My eyes go up as I look at her. In the hospital, I witnessed Mason and Eden hugging often, but something is definitely up with them right now. At first, I don’t see how it is any of her business, but then I relent. “I like him,” I say quietly.

“If you want to be good enough for him, you need a back bone. Otherwise, any relationship you have with him is fucked,” she states plainly.

“Um, okay,” is all I can say.

“He just lost his wife. Why are you moving in so soon?” she asks sharply.

“I’m not,” I reply, giving her a slightly dirty look. “He’s the one that asked me on a date. Mostly, it’s him pissed at me and ruining my flowers, but he’s the one that asked me out.”

Eden’s face turns to shock. “Oh,” she whispers. “I love him, I do. Don’t get me wrong. Right now, we’re going through things, what with Hilary’s death and him blaming me, but he’s my best friend. You need to back off. It’s way too soon for him to move on.”

With that, she gets up from the chair and moves to the back of the bakery. For some weird crazy reason, a cold snap hits the room. I watch Eden shiver, as if it’s causing her pain. The strangest thing, though, is I feel as if the cold is hugging me, trying to keep me warm through this chilly blast. Then just as quickly, it’s gone. Did the A/C just randomly turn on? That was strange.

I won’t cry. It’s stupid that I want to. Wiping at my eyes, I feel dumb. I don’t know if I am hurt that he left, or if Eden’s words make me feel like shit. Taking out my phone, I call Shawn. She knows them, and she knows me, kind of. I feel comfortable with her. She is different than the girls I work with, and I trust her.

“Hello,” she answers, picking up quickly.

“Hey,” I sniffle.

“What did he do?” she asks, automatically assuming my tears are due to Mason.

“Nothing, really, it’s… I’m so lame.” I exit the bakery and fill her in on my day as I get in my car. We hang up with me agreeing to meet her at my place with ice cream after work. She is bringing the movie—girls night.