Smokey by Sam Crescent

Chapter Thirteen

According to the realtor, there wasn’t a lot of interest in buying a shop so small. Where Ava had found it charming, others found it really small. Her bakery was enough for a one-woman operation, and so one month after the attack, she still hadn’t found anyone to buy her bakery.

Then there was the trouble with her home. She’d loved the place and had gotten it at a bargain price because it had been on the market for so long.

They were living in difficult times and with those times, no one wanted to buy a place out of the town or a city.

She sat in her yard, drinking some fresh lemonade she’d just squeezed. The lemons had been on sale at the grocery store. They’d looked amazing, and she couldn’t resist a bargain.

Now with an abundance of lemons, her creative desires were in full flow. She wanted to bake. Her hand was improving. She’d gone for another X-ray and the doctor was happy with the improvements. He didn’t think for a second she’d need surgery and she’d be able to work with it within another month.

Not being able to do anything but sit and eat was starting to get to her. She didn’t want to stay indoors all the time.

The nice warm weather offered a slight reprieve, but again, it wasn’t enough to stop the itch to do something.

Eating ice cream had lost its appeal. So had eating herself out of house and home. It was why she’d ended up at the grocery store, and now back in her yard, drinking lemonade.

What she hadn’t realized was that there was a fair in town. She’d been so out of the loop with everything.

As she sat drinking, loneliness began to creep in.

Would it hurt for her to go and enjoy the fair for a couple of hours? To be around actual people?

She finished off her glass of lemonade and decided it was time to get off her ass, to go enjoy some other company.

Ava placed the jug in the fridge, changed from her shorts to a blue summer dress with white roses on the front. She called a cab because she didn’t like driving with her hand. She was taking every single precaution when it came to helping the healing process.

At the door, she gave herself one final look in the mirror. Most of the bruises had faded. The worst ones around her eye still had some slight mottling to them. Her lip had healed up as well. Her hair, she hated it. The hairdresser had done what she could to fix the hacked locks, but she missed her long hair. She’d gone out of her way to grow it.

Just another thing they’d taken away from her.

Squaring her shoulders, she heard the cab’s horn, letting her know it was here. She locked her home and made her way to the cab. Climbing in the back, she told him where she wanted him to go. He took her there without making any conversation.

Being in town, she did notice more people were trying to make nice with her.

The truth was, she wasn’t interested. After what Abriana said about his warning to them, she didn’t care to make friends that way. She’d rather people just want to be friends because they happened to like her.

Once the cab driver arrived, she paid him and gave him a generous tip. She climbed out, and at first, panic seized her as she looked at the large crowd. Not only was this a big event for the town, but several tourists had arrived.

When she purchased the bakery, she’d been told about this time of year. How wise it would be for her to participate. She’d been looking forward to it. Even planning for it when she first opened up.

All that time had been wasted.

Rather than dwell on the dull ache in her hand, and where there were once bruises on her body that seemed to want to come to life, she stepped into the throng of people.

Everything is going to be fine.

She had always hated crowds. Another reason for Derek to dislike her. He loved to go out and party. She loved to stay in.

Watching people was a favorite pastime of hers, though. Ava didn’t immediately get stuck in with enjoyment. She took her time. Observing everyone. The laughter was somewhat infectious.

After what felt like a lifetime, she started to relax.

She had clocked the Hell’s Bastards MC, and Smokey, in particular. She ignored them all.

Stepping toward a game that required her to throw a ball in the net, she took three turns, failing each time, laughing as she didn’t come close to the shot. The high school teen manning the booth convinced her to have another three turns. She failed the first two and as he went to hand her the ball for her third and final turn, muscular, inked arms surrounded her, taking the ball.

“Let me,” Smokey said.

She tensed up. The last thing she wanted to do was cause a scene, and he knew that.

Gritting her teeth, she stayed perfectly still, feeling the heat of him surround her. He took aim and landed the ball directly in the net.

“Pick your prize,” the teen said.

She wasn’t picking anything. Smokey nodded at a monkey teddy. It was cute. Ava refused to take it when the teen tried to hand it to her. Smokey took it and she ducked under his arm and moved on.

Smokey didn’t follow her. He held the teddy in his arms.

She refused to participate in the gun shooting water game. Her hand was still her first priority to fix.

Using one hand, she came to a stop at catching some rubber ducks with little hoops on them. The poll was heavy, but she had a few minutes to be able to grab one.

She failed. Her hand wasn’t her strongest. At the last thirty seconds, Smokey took the pole and grabbed one of the ducks with ease.

He was applauded and handed a teddy. Again, he picked one out.

Smokey turned toward her, and she stepped around him. She refused to play this game with him.

She attempted to play two more games, and she failed both of them. Smokey took over and won. He now carried around four teddies. All of them were so cute. She ignored them and went straight to the crazy house. She paid her money and stepped inside.

Ava couldn’t recall a fair she’d ever been to. She’d tried to get Derek to go, but he hadn’t wanted to. Said fairs were for kids.

She enjoyed them. They were fun.

Rounding a corner, she came to a stop as Smokey was there, minus the teddies.

“Stop following me,” she said.

“I’m only doing it for your own safety.”

“I don’t need you to protect me. You’re the problem, remember?” She held up her hand for him to see and he winced.

“I am sorry about that.”

“I don’t care.” She moved past him, and the house had lost its appeal. They had gotten to the crazy mirrors. Their reflections were everywhere. She couldn’t deny having Smokey at her back gave her a thrill. It only served to enrage her even more.

She shouldn’t care about him. He was a monster.

Ignoring the pull he had over her, she took a step forward, but Smokey captured her waist, drawing her back.

“I know you hate me, but I can’t stop thinking about you, Ava. I’m going to help you regardless of whether you want it.”

“Are you interfering with my realtor?” she asked, turning around to glare at him.

“No.”

“So you’re not stopping the interest in my bakery?”

“No.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“Ava, you know I don’t want you to leave, but the truth is that shop had been vacant for fucking years before you came along. I didn’t know what you saw in the place, but believe me when I say this. You were the only one.”

“I don’t want to hear this. I’m tired of hearing this.” She tried to step away, but he still held her.

Even with the slight, dull pain in her hand and her short hair, and all the memories of what Raven and those women did to her, she ached for him. Her pussy grew slick and her nipples tightened.

The want in her body wouldn’t fade, and she hated it so much.

Staring at him now, she wanted to hurt him. To punch him, to do anything that would make him feel even an ounce of what she felt.

Nothing.

“I’ve got to go,” she said.

“I know you feel it too.”

“Yeah, and I still remember what you called me. The horrible words you said to me. I’m not going to fall for this, Smokey. Go ahead, win all the games. Take me around on rides. I don’t care, and I don’t want them.”

This time when she pulled away, he let her go. The house lost its appeal, as did the fair. Being around Smokey was too much. She had to be somewhere else.

He followed her all around the house, and finally, when she got out, she didn’t linger. A couple of his men stood there waiting for him. Hunter and Brick were there, as well as Kinky and Raven.

They looked at her with pity.

She turned on her heel and walked away. Coming to the fair had been a big mistake. She pulled out her cell phone and waited for the cab to come get her. The same man who’d dropped her off collected her.

He drove back to her house. No words, once again. She didn’t want to make conversation. Ava paid him the moment they arrived at her house. After climbing out, she headed toward the front door and came to a stop.

The four teddies were waiting with a card that read: We need a home.

They were the same teddies Smokey had won for her. She didn’t know how he got to her house before her.

She bent down and picked them up. In the back of her mind, she was tempted to throw them out in the trash. She couldn’t do it. When Smokey had won, each time, he’d picked the exact teddy she would have wanted.

That wasn’t really important, though. Sheer coincidence. She wasn’t going to believe he knew her so well as to pick out the right teddy bears.

Even still, she couldn’t help liking that he had picked them out.

****

Smokey was getting antsy. The first run had gone smoothly. They’d picked up the dope at the port and it was waiting in one of the warehouses to be collected. The ride across the county had gone off without a hitch. No interference.

He’d expected Creed and his Twisted Bastards to have interfered. To have done something to make sure it went badly. Nothing. With Creed silent, Smokey knew the bastard was up to something. He just needed to figure out what.

The club was excited for their return.

Club pussy ran into their open arms. A couple of women approached him, but he ignored them, heading straight inside. He went to the bathroom first. After stripping out of his clothes, he took a long shower. Turning it to cold to wash away the fatigue.

Once he was clean, he took off and headed back to church. The money they’d earned was distributed to each member with an amount being put aside for the club. This was how they always did business.

Overall, the club had the highest percentage. In time, it would be invested back into the bank, but at such a rate no one would know where the money came from. Their businesses helped to hide that money as well.

He waited to see if anyone wanted to contribute. Everyone was happy. He slammed the gavel down, and this time, he was the first one out of the room. Women were waiting to party, but there was only one place he wanted to be. Going straight back to his bike, he straddled the machine and took off, heading toward town. The first place he went was the bakery.

No sign of life.

His shoulders slumped. There wasn’t a single buyer.

He’d checked. He hadn’t interfered with this one, but he wanted to. If he purchased the shop, Ava would leave.

She had the means of starting over. His thorough background check of her had told him of her wealth. She didn’t need him or the club. No man. Her money was what lured Derek to her.

This pissed him off because there was nothing he could do.

“She’s still not opening.”

He turned to see Larissa, a sweet librarian, standing a couple of feet from him. She was the priest’s daughter.

“Has she been in town?”

Larissa shook her head. “No. I’ve seen her at the grocery store. That’s about it.”

Smokey nodded his head. “Tell your dad I said hi.”

She smiled. “He told me to tell you that if you ever feel the need to talk, he’s always open.”

Smokey nodded. He liked Larissa’s father. Jonah Adams. They had learned to accept each other within this small town.

“Do you need a ride home?”

Larissa shook her head. “I like to walk. Good night, Smokey.”

He offered good night and then kept an eye on her until she made it home. There were some people who needed protection. Larissa was a sweet woman. She was only eighteen years old, but damn it, the world was too cruel for her. She trusted everyone and people took advantage of that. He knew her father had to even be cautious with new people coming along.

With Larissa back home, he went to the only other place he wanted to go. Ava’s.

Parking his bike, he stared up at her house.

The curtain twitched and he smiled, offering up a wave for her to see. She closed the curtain, and seconds later, she came out, wrapping a robe around her.

“Smokey, what are you doing here?”

It was the first time in a week since he’d seen her, and his heart pounded at the sight of her. He did notice the paleness of her complexion. She looked like she’d been sick.

After climbing off his bike, he made his way toward her. Ava stopped, and realizing he was scaring her, he paused and cursed. “Shit, I’m sorry.”

“You don’t have to come here anymore.”

“Have you been sick?” he asked.

Ava frowned. “A little. Not a lot. I’m going to go and see a doctor. Not that it’s any of your concern. You look … you’re tired, Smokey. Abriana said you were on a run or whatever it’s called. Go home. Get some rest.”

“I miss you,” he said. “I don’t like that you’re sick.”

“I’m not sick. It’s, it’s kind of hard to explain. I feel fine most days. It’s just the mornings. I’m thinking I’m developing some allergies to some foods.” She shook her head. “But that’s not the point. You can’t keep doing this. You think I don’t notice that you’re always hanging out here? It’s not right.”

“Why is it not right?” he asked.

“Because we’re not together anymore.” Her hand was still bandaged up.

“When will that be completely healed?” he asked.

“You’re not listening to me.”

“I’m listening. I’m just not liking what you say.” He shrugged.

“You need to move on. I know there are plenty of women at the club who would be more than happy to have you around.”

“None of them are you.”

“This is hopeless, Smokey.” She had tears in her eyes. “Damn it. I hate crying all the time.”

“I fucked up, Ava, and I miss you so much.”

She shook her head. “I wish it was that simple.”

“Forgive me, please.”

She stared down at the floor. “‘You were only ever a decent fuck and you weren’t any good at that. You were easy, but I’ve had better.’” She looked up and tilted her head to the side. “That’s what you said to me. Do you remember it?”

“I was fucked in the head, Ava. I swear it was all lies.”

“But you said it, Smokey. Lies or not, you thought it.” She pressed her lips together. “I told you that I loved you. I even accepted there was no way you could love me back. I knew that. I still know that and it hurts. Everything you said hurt so much.”

Smokey witnessed the pain in her eyes and wished there was something he could do to make it right. What he’d done and said was all crap. All of it.

“Ava, I’m so sorry.”

“They’re words, Smokey. The people in town being nice to me. How welcoming they all suddenly are. Do you have any idea how much I’ve longed for that?”

He’d done something right.

“But it’s not real. You’ve asked or threatened them, and it’s not fair. None of this is fair.” She swiped at the tears in her eyes. “I’m sorry, but I can’t just forgive and forget. I was loyal to you, and you’d rather believe a bunch of pictures than question me. I didn’t even get a fair trial in your eyes.”

“I fucked up, Ava. I know this.”

“And what about next time? Say I accept that you’re sorry. We move on. We go back to fucking each other again. I can be around the club. What happens the next time someone uses me to make you lose your shit? What do I do then? Go through this or should I wait until Ugly Beast or another of the club thinks I’m innocent?” she asked. “I can’t live like that.”

“It won’t ever happen again.”

“That’s the point, Smokey. Again. It shouldn’t have happened the first time. Please, go home and leave me the hell alone.” She turned on her heel and walked inside the house, closing the door.

He heard the locks as she put them all into place.

Smokey didn’t go home.

He stayed right where he was, staring up at her house. The light in her bedroom window went out after a couple of hours.

Smokey tensed up when he heard the sounds of another bike making its way toward him. He reached into his jacket for his gun, but recognized the rider and the bike as it drew closer.

Ugly Beast parked his bike and came toward him, offering him a flask. “I can’t guarantee it’s good, but Abriana put a lot of love into it.”

“There’s no way we can complain when it comes to feeling. Your wife has a whole lot of it.”

They both laughed as he opened the flask.

“Soup?”

“I think so. It didn’t taste too bad, but that was when I ate it a few hours ago.”

Smokey poured some soup into the cup provided. It didn’t smell awful but when it came to Abriana’s food, scents and looks could be deceiving. It didn’t make his mouth water. He took a taste, and there was a weird twang in the background that he was almost afraid to ask about.

“I think it’s easier if you just drink it without trying to compare it to anything else you’ve ever tasted.”

He laughed and took another sip.

“Abriana’s rooting for you,” Ugly Beast said.

“Why?”

“She wants you to win her back. She thinks you have a real shot.”

Smokey snorted. “I can’t even get too close.” The last real time he’d touched her was at the fair, and that hadn’t been a lot of touching. He missed her. Not just for the sex, he missed her, the woman.

“Do you have any kind of plan?” Ugly Beast asked.

“Did you?”

“Nope. I just wanted to love her, and she gave me that chance. There’s nothing else any of us can do after that. Abriana’s not like Ava, though. I did hurt her quite badly.”

Ugly Beast had said some awful things to Abriana while he’d had the women hurt her.

“Saying stuff and getting others to do your dirty work is a different thing altogether,” he said. “Ava’s never going to forgive me.”

“Never is a long time.”

“Would you forgive someone who signed off on you being beaten? I seem to recall the people who fucked up your face are all dead.”

“Are you trying to tell me, Smokey, you’d die for Ava?” Ugly Beast asked.

“Yes. I would.”

Silence rang out. The only person he’d been willing to die for was the club, and that included all of his brothers. His devotion had been to the patch. No one else.

“Then you can’t give up.”

Smokey turned toward Ugly Beast. “You don’t think I’m a pussy?”

“No. You sound pussy-whipped, but you forget, I know what it truly means to be loved by an amazing woman. There’s nothing like it.”

Smokey took another sip of the soup and wrinkled his nose. “This is fucking disgusting.”

“Yep, but to Abriana, it’s better than the last one. I struggled through the other soup, and believe me, I never knew there was much I couldn’t stand. I think the next time we torture someone, I’ll save all of Abriana’s leftovers.”

“We’ll feed them to death?”

“Nope. They’ll talk before we get to that part.”

Smokey snorted. He finished all the soup because he was hungry.

“Staring at her window all night isn’t going to win her back,” Ugly Beast said.

“No, but it gives me comfort to know she can sleep all night. No one else is going to hurt her.”

Silence fell between them.

Smokey handed him the empty flask. “Thanks.”

“Why did you do it?” Ugly Beast asked.

“Do what?”

“You saw the pictures. I know you, Smokey. You don’t react like that. You never have. You always consider every single possibility, and yet, you didn’t that time. Why?”

Smokey ran his fingers through his hair. “I was falling for her. I knew it. Feelings like that cloud people’s judgment. She was different from the start. I knew that. I saw it every single day. She told me she loved me, and I felt like a fucking king. They were all feelings I didn’t recognize. The fact … it was easier to believe the worst in her.” He turned to look at him. “I’ve only ever known the worst.”

“True, but it’s still a lame-ass excuse.” Ugly Beast saluted him and got on his bike.

Smokey watched him go, and he settled in to watch his woman. He’d sleep for a few hours during the day if he had to.