Romeo (Dark Knights MC/Blood Fury MC: Crossover)

Chapter 37

Chapter Thirty-Seven

“I’ve been sending out resumes all over. Without a good reference, I’ll have to take any interview I can get, no matter where it’s located.”

The fuck if Maddie was moving to some other fucking state. That was some goddamn bullshit.

“Shade ain’t gonna let you leave this side of the state,” Romeo said with more confidence than he felt. He hoped to fuck what he said was true.

“He might not like it, but he doesn’t rule my life.” She shot him a pointed look. “No one does. And what you did left me between a rock and a hard place, Rome. It’s not a decision I want to make, but I might not have a choice.”

“Always got a choice,” he grumbled.

She hated that pat answer because it wasn’t always true. “Oh sure. You mean the choice of working at one of the Fury businesses for practically free or wiping down tables at Coffee and Cream for minimum wage? That’s not what I went years to school for. Sorry, but I’m not giving up my dream or career goals because of Shade.” She then added, “Or you.”

He needed to come up with a plan to keep her in western Pennsylvania. “Got a gig for you.”

She rolled her eyes. “Sure you do. Doing what? Being a line cook or tending bar at Dick’s? If I wanted to do that for a living, I could work at Crazy Pete’s.”

“Need your expertise.”

“My expertise?” Her voice raised a pitch. “For what?”

“Doc said I’m gonna need a physical therapist once these fuckin’ casts are off.”

“ I can recommend you a good one.”

“Already got a good one.”

“I’m sure I can find you a competent one closer. No need to drive hours north to see me.”

“Not true. Got plenty of other fuckin’ reasons to come see you.” Not only did he have to convince her to take charge of his PT but to move back south to do so.

“Name one.” Maddie lifted a finger and added, “Other than sex.”

“Got a whole list.”

“Okay, let’s hear it.”

Shit. He wasn’t expecting to be called out on that claim. He should’ve known better. Maddie was smart and no push-over. But…

If she thought he would cut himself open by giving her that list… Fuck that. He already was doing shit not normal for him just by driving north to see her. By telling her about his mother. He never shared personal shit with women, and he certainly didn’t chase them.

Fuck. If that wasn’t a reality check…

He still didn’t understand his obsession with her. Why he couldn’t stop thinking about her day and night. What made Maddie different from the rest of his conquests? The answer should be “nothing.”

Only, it wasn’t.

His chest tightened when unexpected panic began to set in. “Ain’t my fifteen minutes up?”

Her eyebrows raised. “I’m willing to extend your time limit for this.”

Jesus Christ. “Missin’ the point.”

“I doubt that I am.”

“Maddie, I couldn’t just sit the fuck back and watch him abuse you like that.” Anyone who cared for her wouldn’t. If any Fury member knew about Smith being a total dick to her, they certainly would’ve stepped in and handled it.

“Well, you definitely solved the problem. Only not in the manner I would prefer. It would’ve been much more karmasmic for me to leave his employ once I got my dream job. I would’ve relished seeing that asshole’s face when handing in my two-week notice.”

“Karmasmic?” That was a goddamn mouthful.

Her lips curled slightly at the corners as she explained, “The satisfaction of seeing karma in action.”

“It give you a karmagasm?”

A smile flitted across her lips before she pinned them together to smother it.

Fuck , did that make him want to see her orgasm again. Unfortunately, that wouldn’t be any time soon.

Unless he got creative.

Of course, she wouldn’t be open to that right now. He had more work to do…

His brain had to be scrambled. He still couldn’t understand why he fucking cared that she had ignored all his texts and calls.

Why did that bother him so fucking much ?

And why did his heart do some crazy shit when he saw her parked out front?

Or getting out of her Toyota.

Or stepping into his motel room.

Those were signs he was fucking broken, right?

In the past, he’d been relieved when women simply disappeared out of his life. No “goodbye” was necessary. Truthfully, if they left quietly on their own, it made his life a fuck of a lot simpler.

No whining. No screeching. No stalking.

No fucking drama at all.

So, why the fuck was he here?

He said he had a list of reasons. Really, there was only one.

Her.

“You’re right. Your fifteen minutes is up.” She rose from the bed. “I need to go. Thanks for the explanation and I’m sorry for what happened to your mother. I’m sorry you lost her in that manner. But what happened to you, Rome, is your fault. What you did was reckless. I didn’t tell you to rough up Roger. You did that on your own. I told you to a thousand times to stay out of it, but you couldn’t. Now, not only am I unemployed and possibly blacklisted, you were broken into pieces.” She headed toward the door. “Have a great life, Rome. I’ll try to do the same.”

He raised his crutch and used it to block her path. He wasn’t done with her yet. “Could give you a great life, Maddie. Could give you whatever you want.”

Her eyes bugged out. “Whatever I want? I think you tried that already and look where it landed. Are you really willing to give up your title of Supreme Stud? Are you feeling okay? Do you have a fever?”

“Got a few aches and pains,” he answered. “I get that you don’t think I’m bein’ serious, but I am. You could come back with me.”

Her brown eyes got even wider. “And do what?”

“Wear my cut.”

For fuck’s sake. Did that really come out of his mouth? He never wanted an ol’ lady and figured he’d die a bachelor. Remain free to the very fucking end.

No one to answer to. No woman going on and on about bullshit in his ear. No long honey-do lists. No…

He pulled in a breath.

No Maddie.

The tightness in his chest returned.

All of this was proof Smith’s goons knocked his brain loose and scrambled his wiring.

A dry laugh burst from her. “Why? You don’t need me. You have sweet butts to do your bidding.”

She was right.

But also very wrong.

He did need her.

Not to baby him or be his nursemaid.

Not only for sex.

“It’ll tell everyone you’re mine.”

“But I’m not.”

“Only need a little convincin’.”

“You think that’s all it will take? If so, you’re simple.”

“Like a simple life.”

“Then you should live one, but I know being an MC president is far from simple. For years I’ve watched Trip lead the Blood Fury. It’s hard work and a lot of responsibility. Now that I think about it, how the hell did you become president?”

Damn. That was a low blow, but not the first time he’d been asked that. “ Got skills.”

“ Mmm hmm. What skills are those? The ability to remove bras with one hand? Or talk a woman out of her skirt? Eating pussy?”

The last one was definitely one of his greater skills and he wasn’t shy to admit it. “You forget how good I eat pussy? Need me to remind you?”

With pursed lips, her eyes sliced him up and down. “I don’t think you’re in any shape for that, but thanks for the offer.”

“Ain’t gonna be like this forever.” His brain might be broken but his mouth wasn’t. It would only take some careful planning.

“I guess you didn’t get the hint when I moved home and blocked your number.”

“‘Bout that?—”

She raised a palm. “Look… Even if I was interested in being your ol’ lady, it’s common knowledge you could never commit to one woman, Romeo . It’s not in your nature and I’m also not stupid. If and when I settle down, I want it to be with a man I love and respect and who does the same in return. Someone who supports my decisions, whether he likes them or not. Someone loyal and only has eyes for me. Someone who won’t get bored and cheat. I don’t think you fit that bill.”

He opened his mouth to tell her that she was wrong, and she would be the exception, but he quickly snapped it shut. Never in his goddamn life did he think he’d have to work so damn hard to get a woman to wear his cut.

And why would he? Again, what the fuck was wrong with him?

His plan hadn’t been to come to Manning Grove to get her to wear his cut, to become his ol’ lady, it was only to…

“Right,” he finally muttered .

“I thought so. Now… since you clearly don’t need babysitting, I should go.”

Once again, he blocked her exit by using his crutch. “Since I’m injured, a babysitter couldn’t hurt.” Especially if it was her.

“You have one already. He’s waiting in the car,” she tipped her head toward the door, “and he’s free. I charge by the hour.”

“What’s your hourly rate include?”

“Microwaving chicken nuggets and turning on your favorite cartoons.”

One side of his mouth pulled up. “Don’t fuckin’ threaten me with a good time.”

She finally cracked a smile, too. “Thanks for proving that you are simple.”

“Said simple life.”

He needed to come up with a better plan. Winging it wasn’t working.

He wracked his brain. What the hell did women like?

He had no idea. He never “dated.” He never had to “romance” any of them to get them naked.

He only ever wanted one thing from them, and he preferred women who only wanted the same from him.

Dinner? Drinks? Movies? He had no fucking clue. But everyone had to eat at one point or another, so… “Have dinner with me.”

Her head snapped back. “What? Why?”

That request shouldn’t have been so damn shocking. Jesus. “Why the fuck not? We both gotta eat, right?”

“But you want us to eat together . Like at a sit-down restaurant?”

“What the fuck, woman?” he muttered with a shake of his head .

“When’s the last time you took a woman out to dinner?”

Never. “We ate at Dick’s together.”

“We shoveled food into our mouths while standing at one of the prep tables. That isn’t the same.”

“Depends on who you ask.”

She stared at him with that elusive smile long gone. “What are you doing, Rome?”

“What d’you mean?”

“What. Are. You. Doing? What is all this?” She fluttered a hand around in the air. “Why are you suddenly wanting me to wear your cut? You, a known womanizer and perpetual bachelor.”

“Maybe that ambush woke me up and got me realizin’ life’s too fuckin’ short.”

“I’m sure you knew that before you were introduced to a tire iron.”

“Maybe it hit it home.”

“Is that supposed to be a joke?”

“Maddie…”

“Rome… I just… don’t understand this coming from you. Just because we had sex?—”

“A shitload of times,” he interjected.

“Doesn’t mean I want to be your ol’ lady,” she finished. “Are you stoned?”

“Ain’t high. Ain’t drunk...” He lowered the crutch and jerked his chin toward the door. “Never fuckin’ mind. Said you gotta go, then go.”

She stared at him for far too long with her forehead creased in confusion.

He was done trying to enlighten her. She either got it or she didn’t. And it was clear…

She didn’t.

However, she paused instead of immediately sprinting the short distance to the door. “Let me think about dinner. How long are you staying up here? Do you have a meeting with Trip?”

If he did, he certainly wouldn’t be staying in some shit-bag motel. He’d be at The Grove Inn, instead. But he was keeping his presence in the area on the down-low and preferred no one in the Fury knew he was up here chasing Maddie. Especially the Fury’s president, as well as Shade.

“Not sure how long I’m stayin’.” He had planned to stay long enough to convince her to head back south with him.

Unfortunately, it was looking like that wasn’t going to be easy and he couldn’t stay up here forever. His absence from both Dick’s and his MC would raise red flags in his own brotherhood.

“You let me know. When you do, either gonna be here or ain’t.”

“If you aren’t, I know where to find you,” she said as she headed out the door.

“Doubt you’ll even bother to look,” he muttered to the door after she shut it behind her.

If he was goddamn smart, he’d to head home and forget this woman ever fucking existed.

But he was simple and forgetting her would be impossible.