Outlaws’ Property (Property of Outlaw Sons MC #1)

11. Tex

11

TEX

I rap my knuckles against the glass on Bonnie’s front door. Not sure what I’m going to find on the other side. I know Ghost texted earlier to make sure everything was under control, but shit, they’re not used to this kind of life. They might have locked themselves in her spare room for all I know. Bonnie has a good heart, but she’s not exactly the softest woman in the world.

“Come in!” Bonnie yells from the other side.

I turn the knob and step inside, ready for a lot of things, but not what I find. “Holy fuck.”

The girls are sitting in the kitchen together, and Bonnie has a small suitcase worth of makeup spread out on the table. She’s giving Jessica a makeover as Anne watches. In the background, Mick Jagger sings about Satisfaction.

Jessica turns my way and my world tilts and rearranges itself. Last night, scared with no makeup and dressed in shapeless clothes, she was cute, but it didn’t prepare me for seeing her like this. Her golden brown hair is out of the braid and hanging loosely around her shoulders. Her bare shoulder. Her skin looks so silky smooth I’m almost afraid to touch her.

But I do, running my calloused fingers over her bare skin as I walk by to go lean against Bonnie’s counter and admire the transformation. Jessica’s breath catches at the touch.

She’s fucking gorgeous. They did a good job dressing her up just enough to make it clear that she’s no little church mouse, but nothing that takes away from her natural, innocent beauty.

Jessica licks her lips nervously, drawing my attention right to how full and pink they are. “Is everything okay?”

“More than okay, baby. You look amazing. I just didn’t expect to see you looking so…” Fuckable. “Settled in.”

She blushes and reaches for her glasses, slipping them back on. It doesn’t make her any less pretty. If anything, it proves I have a thing for smart chicks.

“Bonnie has been really nice,” Jessica says. “Considering the situation, we’re doing pretty well I guess.”

“Good, good… Last night was a fucking mess. I’m so damn sorry you have to deal with this, but we can’t just let you go home. Either of you.”

Anne looks up. “She lives with me.”

A live-in nanny?

Jessica nods. “It’s okay. I wouldn’t want Anne to be here alone, anyway.”

“Yeah, we’re pretty much family,” Anne adds.

Oh? That doesn’t sound like it matches up with what Ghost said about her not being Victor’s biggest fan. I want to trust her, but I’m not stupid. How much do we really know about this woman?

Jessica hesitates but she smiles at Anne. “I’ve worked for Mr. Kane for a long time. She’s like my little sister.”

How the fuck long could she have worked there? “How old are you?”

“Twenty-one.”

I want to get her away from her sidekick. Both because she’s fucking hot, and because I want to get her somewhere she can talk without a kid listening to her every word. If she isn’t really what she seems, it’s better to find out now.

“Hey Bonnie? You good with watching Anne for a while? I’m heading over to the Burnout to meet Ghost and Riot, and I think maybe Jessica could use a field trip.”

“Sure, we’re good here. We have a criminal empire to build, right kid?”

“Yep!”

“What do you think?” I ask Jessica. “It’s not quite freedom, but it beats sitting around here all day.”

“I don’t know…”

I push off from the counter and get closer to Jessica. “Come on, you look too damn good to waste the day in here. You’re officially off duty. We’ll keep you safe.”

She looks up at me with big brown eyes, framed by sexy round librarian glasses. “Promise?”

I twist a lock of her hair between my fingers and give it a tiny tug. “Cross my black fucking heart.”

She smiles shyly and looks away. “Okay.”

More than one brother takes a good long look as I lead Jessica down from Bonnie’s place and over to where my bike is waiting. She loaned some leather boots and a jacket from Bonnie, and if I didn’t know better, I would say she fits right in.

She doesn’t have a fucking clue how it looks when I help guide her though getting onto the bike behind me. Last night was an emergency situation, but this feels different. All the boys know the score, but when she puts her arms around me and settles against my back, it feels like a fucking statement.

“Stay close and hold on. Do you remember last night? When I lean, you lean, got it?”

“Got it,” she answers. I can feel the nod, and I can sure as fuck feel her hands slide around my chest and flatten over my abs.

If we weren’t on high alert, I’d be tempted to take her down the coast for a ride so she can see that a motorcycle is more than just a way to get from point A to point B. It’s a beast with as much temperament and personality as a horse, and as close to flying as we can get without leaving the ground.

Don’t want to piss Hellfire off, though. Bringing her to the bar shouldn’t be a problem since all three of us will be around to make sure nothing happens. The Burnout is practically club grounds, and right around the corner.

I doubt it’s her sort of place. Barely above a complete dive bar, but that’s just the way we like it. I take it easy on the drive and pull up out front alongside the long line of other bikes. The storefronts on either side are blacked out, but big neon letters proclaim The Burnout open, even if all the bikers milling around didn’t give it away. Rock music rumbles out the front door, loud enough to feel the vibration in my chest.

I put my hands around Jessica’s waist and lift her off my bike before she gets the chance to try and do it herself.

“I can do it,” she grumbles.

“I’m sure, but then I wouldn’t have the excuse to put my hands on you.”

Her cheeks are already pink from the ride, but they go a shade darker. I rest a hand on the small of her back and guide her to the door.

The bouncer opens as soon as he sees my jacket. “Tex,” he greets with a curt nod. “Your friends are at the bar.” His gaze lingers a little too long on Jessica.

“Thanks.” I switch my hold, putting my arm over her shoulder. She might only be around until this shit gets sorted, but she’s ours for the moment and I don’t want anyone to fucking doubt it.