Rough Ride (23 page)

“The point this asshole is failing miserably to make is that you weren’t a tag it and…” Tommy began “I mean you were not a one night stand to him… if that’s what you thought.  He has been torn up since you left.”

“Not to mention…” Chuck started and then paused when Tommy lifted his fist to him “Not to mention the office… well you seen it.”

She listened as Chuck and Tommy tried to explain.  Even amidst the embarrassment she felt knowing that at the very least they had heard bits and pieces of private conversation she couldn’t help but appreciate their loyalty.  They were admitting it in an attempt to ease the pain of a friend.

“Look guys” She said finally removing her hands from her face.  “I came to the shop today to see him.  Dickie said he was out of town, but I plan on talking to him when he comes back.  I had some things I had to deal with these past couple of weeks and now that I have…I plan to stick around this time.”

“So you aren’t doing some other guy?” Chuck asked.

Tommy leaned over and smacked Chuck again.  “Man, why don’t you stop and think before you open your pie hole.”

“Sorry… God!” Chuck said then bumping up against Lilly’s shoulder he said “I’m a dumb ass and that’s not my business.”  Then looking at Tommy he said “There… happy?”

“Why did you leave us…I mean the job…Bobby… you know what I mean.” Tommy stammered

She explained her trip to New York and even pulled out an article she had printed from a website covering the story.  After they both read it, they seemed to relax.

“What did Bobby say when you told him about it?” Chuck asked.

Lilly could feel the heat crawl up her cheeks yet again and said “I never got a chance to explain.”

Tommy and Chuck grinned at each other across the table.

“So I’m guessing that amongst other things is what you plan to talk to him about when he gets back on Friday?” Tommy asked pointing at the printout she held.

“I plan to tell him about that and I plan to tell him that I love him.” She said as she watched Tommy and Chuck’s face for any sign that this was a bad idea.  She released the breath she was holding when both guys broke out in a smile and bumped knuckles.

“Well, I predict that Friday will be one of the best days we’ve had in the shop for quite a while” Chuck said “And not just because we get paid.”



“Without her testimony they got nothing!  I want the bitch dead and soon.  If not it will be my ass!  Do you understand that?” Simon said through clenched teeth.  “Jail will be the least of my worries.  I brought those two stupid fucks on board with this whole operation.  I took care of one of them.  Now thanks to the hard on Kyle has for the widow, I’m in this mess… we are in this mess.  Now take care of it or I will sing like a canary… you got me?”

“Kyle said Darren mentioned some sister of Lilly’s that lives in Florida.  Some guys I know down there did a little digging and it seems a classy chick with a little red sports car has been staying with one Sherri Simons.  I got Sherri’s address right here.” A man said, patting his double breasted suit jacket.  “Once I take care of this little problem of yours, you will owe me… more than the eight million it cost to bail your ass out the last time.”

“I’ll get the money… just take care of this will you?” Simon said rubbing his temples as a migraine set in.

“I plan to take care of it and then I will be leaving the country for a little while and watching how the chips fall from afar… but Simon?  Don’t ever threaten me.” The man said as he stood and knocked on the door to catch the attention of the guard who waited just outside of the room.



Bobby sat in his hotel room peeling the label off of a Zinfandel wine bottle.  He had finished the whole thing last night and it still hadn’t been enough.  Sleep had been fleeting at best.  He shouldn’t have left her there in Sherri’s garage like that… he should have manned up and had it out with her.  Here it was four days later and he was driving himself nuts thinking of what he should have done and how it might have changed things.

Mr. Dumas loved the designs he had come up with for the bikes.  He was planning a cross country bike ride with his grown sons and wanted to do it in style.  With only a few minor changes to each bike, he was ready to head back and get started on the project.

Deciding to check in at the shop he dialed Dickie’s cell phone.  When the old man didn’t answer he called the shop phone and was shocked to hear Lilly answer.

“Bobby’s Custom Chop Shop, this is Lilly may I help you?” She nearly yelled into the phone.

“Lilly?” He choked out

“Bobby, is that you?” She said

“Yea…what are you doing there?” He asked and then smacked himself in the head for sounding so gruff.

“I um… Dickie asked me to help out for a few days.” She replied

Music was the only sound Bobby heard before she finally said “Did you need to talk to one of the guys?  They are out in the garage blasting the radio and probably didn’t hear their cell phones.”

The sound of her voice made him close his eyes.  He could hear her whimpers of pleasure as he slammed into her again and again.

“Bobby?” She said

“Yea, I’m here.” He said

“Are you ok?  Did you need me to get one of the guys on the phone?” She asked concern in her voice.

“No” He said

The sound of the music playing loudly in the background continued for nearly a full minute before she said again “Bobby, your scaring me.  Say something…talk to me.”

“Say that again.” He replied

“Say what again? Bobby are you ok?” She asked again.

“God I love the sound of my name on your lips.  That alone makes me have dirty thoughts.” He said

He heard her small intake of breath and it nearly made him come unglued.  “I’m sorry I uh… I’m sorry about the other night.  I shouldn’t have been so rough with you.  Did I hurt you?”

“Only my heart, Bobby, only my heart.  I understand now why it bothered you so bad that I didn’t give you a chance to explain.  You didn’t give me a chance to explain and it has been killing me ever since.” She said softly after a long pause.

“Tell me.” He said

“Tell you what?” She asked.

“Tell me why you didn’t call me back.” He said

“You once told me that maybe I needed to find a new path.  Well the detective who investigated me after my husband died, called and asked me to help him.  My husband’s best friend Kyle was suspected of being involved with Darren’s illegal business deals but they had no proof.  The detective asked me to come back and help him get the evidence he needed to bring Kyle to justice.  When you didn’t come back that night I decided to go where I was needed.” She said

“I needed you Lilly but I needed this job too.  I’m sorry if you doubted that for even a minute.  Do you have any idea what seeing you on the news in handcuffs did to me?” He asked

“My arrest was all just a way to get Kyle’s attention and allow me an opportunity to get him to say something or do something or throw around money he shouldn’t have had.  They were looking for new clues on how he was involved.  I was able to not only get them the information they needed on Kyle but several other people who were involved as well.” She said

“I’d rather be shot than ever see another man touch you… only me ok?  Promise it will only be me from now on… swear it Lilly.” He said “I haven’t been with any other woman since I met you and I have no desire to…I only want you. I swear to God.”

“I took a different path that night in Arizona, Bobby…it
was
a bikers path and my heart hasn’t been the same since.  I’m sorry I doubted you I didn’t trust what was happening between us…I didn’t trust myself… my choices.  I realized that losing Darren hurt me, but not as bad as the scandal he left behind.  Thinking I lost you nearly killed me.  I swear I don’t want Kyle or any other man, I just want you.  You’re not a loser, you’re a good man and I love you.” She cried

“I’ll be there by eight o’clock tonight.  You stay and wait for me at the shop.  We are going to take a little ride and will be gone for the weekend and maybe for a few days of next week.  Give the guys their checks and let them all leave early by around two or three so you have time to go and pack.  Lilly?”

“Yes?” she said breathlessly

“I love you… Jesus I think I’ve loved you since the day I walked in and seen you sitting there with Gran.  I’m leaving now and when I get there I
am
going to get in your space… and Lilly?”

“Yes?”

“I’m going to show you just how hard to take I really am.”

As she hung up the phone she covered her cheeks with her hands in an attempt to calm her heartbeat and breathing. 
He loved her!
  God she hadn’t realized how much she missed him, the things he said to her, the sound of his voice… his amazing body.

Glancing at the clock, she could hardly believe it wasn’t even lunchtime yet.  Somehow she knew that this evening would take forever to roll around.  After pulling herself together from her sexually heated conversation with Bobby, she headed to the garage to relay his message about leaving early to the guys.

As she entered the bay area, Tommy appeared to be working on the CD player of a motorcycle while Chuck and Dickie were working on the engine of an ancient looking car.  At least they were doing the work she knew needed done first before the upcoming build.  Based on the messages she had returned throughout the week, the guys would be pretty busy for a while.

“Hey Miss Lilly, how do you like our music selection?” Dickie asked smiling as he started dancing…badly.

Lilly recognized the sound of her Motown’s greatest hits CD blasting through the garage.  She’d been so wrapped up in her phone call from Bobby she hadn’t paid any attention to what was going on out in the bay.

“Where did you get that?” She asked

“The owner of a little red sports car parked out front left it unlocked and this was just lying there on the front seat, begging to be listened too.” Chuck said laughing

“Ignore their dumb asses I think it’s a great CD” Tommy said as she approached them.

As she started around Tommy to retrieve her CD from the stereo system, he caught her arm and pulled her up close.  He began dancing very inappropriately with her, holding her hips in his hands and forcing her to dance with him.  She was shocked at how well he moved.

“Better not let Bobby catch you doing that Tommy.  He will lay you the fuck out!” Chuck said

Dickie walked over to where Chuck stood and smacked him in the back of the head.

“What?” Chuck said

She couldn’t help but laugh at them as Tommy finally let her go.  This past week with Bobby gone, she’d had a little more time to get to know them.  She had always avoided the garage before because it was where Bobby was and she was never sure how to take him.

Turning the volume down and hitting the eject button on the player she said “How would you guys feel about cutting out early today?”

“Damn!  If I knew all we had to do to leave early was get Tommy here to bust a move, I’d have done it weeks ago.” Dickie said laughing “Not sure the boss would be too good with that though.”

“The boss is the one who offered it.” She said turning to face them.

“You talked to him?” Tommy asked

“I just got off the phone with him and he told me to give you guys your checks and tell you to take off around two or three today.” She replied