Hacking the Biker's Code Read online

  I licked my lips and took several deep breaths as we stood still and caught our breath.

  “Jesus, baby, you just get sexier,” he rasped, pulling gently out of me and turning me to face him.

  I smiled, cupping his face. “Back atya.”

  He kissed me, then pulled his jeans up and I realized we’d just made our own sex tape. “Oh my god.”

  “What’s wrong?”

  “The camera,” I said. “We need to erase—”

  “I turned it off, Pebbles.” He grinned. “But I kinda wish we hadn’t.”

  “Oh, stop,” I said with a groan, heading to the bathroom to clean up.

  Rabbit followed.

  “I wish you hadn’t destroyed my underwear,” I complained. “I’m gonna have to go commando until we get home.”

  “That’s not a problem for me,” he retorted. “Easy access.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Like you need it easier.”

  He laughed, washing his hands, and leaning down to kiss me. “You ready for Monday?”

  I nodded. He and I were heading down to the courthouse to get our license and then Doom was doing a quickie ceremony at the club that night. “Stevie’s going to watch the shop.”

  “You find a dress?”

  I rolled my eyes. “Zane, it’s been less than a week. No, I haven’t found a dress. But I will in time for our big reception. And you’ll pay for it.”

  “Okay, baby.” He grinned. “I’m gonna go turn the camera back on and check the doors.”

  “I’ll close out the drawer.”

  “Once I’m done, I’ll help you finish up.”

  “Okay, honey, thanks.”

  He closed the distance between us again and slid his hand to my neck. “Love that.”

  “I know you do.” I leaned into his touch. “But ‘honey’ is kind of boring, don’t you think?”

  “Not when you say it. And not considering I waited a long fuckin’ time to hear it.”

  I bit my lip. “Sorry.”

  “Don’t be sorry, Pebbles, we’re good.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yeah, I’m sure.” He smiled. “Let’s get this shit done so I can take you home and put you to bed.”

  “One-track mind,” I said.

  “No doubt.” He kissed me again. “With your store closed tomorrow, I plan to get you good and tired tonight.”

  I kissed his chin. “Can’t wait.”

  “Oh, forgot to tell you,” he said. “This week, we’re installing a security system in your duplex.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I say so,” he said.

  “Fine. Whatever.” I patted his chest.

  “No pushback?”

  “Nope,” I said.

  “Who are you and what have you done with my woman?”

  I shrugged. “I know you need it so you feel like I’m safe. I think it’s overkill, but it’s fine.”

  He grinned. “Like the new you, baby.”

  “Oh, don’t get too comfortable. I’m choosing my battles.”

  Rabbit laughed. “Works for me.”

  He kissed me and we went about finishing out the day.

  Parker

  The smell of bacon seeped into my dream and I came awake with my stomach rumbling. Lordy, I wanted bacon.

  “Rabbit?” I whispered, rolling over and finding his side of the bed empty. That’s when I realized the smell was bacon actually being cooked in my home. I was gonna get bacon.

  Sitting up, I slid out of bed and grabbed my robe, padding down to the kitchen and finding the hottest man alive standing in front of the stove, looking sexy as hell in his underwear and nothing else.

  “Mornin’, Pebbles.”

  I wrapped my arms around him from behind and kissed him between his shoulder blades. “Do you want a shirt or an apron?”

  He settled a hand over one of my arms. “Nah, I’m good. Got this down to a science. I do need foil, though. Mind grabbing it?”

  I opened a drawer behind him and pulled it out, naturally breaking into a full voiced version of Weird Al’s Lorde parody, “Foil.”

  “Do you want the... fooooyalll,” I sang, holding it out, but pulling it away when he grabbed for it.

  Rabbit chuckled. “Are you gonna sing about it or give it to me?”

  “Well, since that’s pretty much all I know, I suppose you can have it.”

  He grinned, taking it from me.

  “Did you make coffee?” I asked.

  “Am I a monster?”

  I chuckled. “Right. Do you want a cup?”

  “Yeah, baby, that’d be great.”

  I kissed his back again and went about preparing coffee for us both. “What brought this on?”

  He shrugged. “Woke up early, realized you were out of food, so I had one of the recruits pick up a few things.”

  I pulled open my fridge and found it chock full of more food than I’d seen in a year. “Holy crap, honey, they picked up a lot more than a few things. Lots of things that look nothing like ice cream or French fries.”

  “Yeah, well, you eat like shit, Parker. Time to change that.”

  “I don’t eat like shit,” I lied.

  He smirked. “Your idea of dinner is two quarter pounders and a large fries. You’re gonna have a fuckin’ heart attack if you keep eatin’ like that.”

  “There’s a lot of protein in that,” I argued.

  “There’s also a hell of a lot of saturated fat.”

  “Says the man frying up bacon,” I retorted.

  “I figured I was gonna have to ease you into a clean life, and it’s my cheat day, so...”

  I wrinkled my nose. “Look, we can try this, but I swear to God, if you try to take fries away from me, I’m gonna cut you.”

  “I can live with that.” He grinned, sliding a velvet box toward me. “This is for you, by the way.”

  “It’s too long to be a ring.”

  “Not a ring,” Rabbit confirmed.

  “Is this...?”

  “Yeah.”

  I set my coffee cup down with a squeal and opened the box to reveal a gorgeous silver medallion on a matching chain. It was something Olivia insisted upon...all of the club old ladies wore one...and I was now officially part of the ‘club.’

  What people didn’t know was there were homing devices inside them, activated by a little push of the button on the back. Technically, I wasn’t supposed to know about it, but Rabbit had filled me in a while ago. It meant that if I was ever lost or in danger, I could press the button and Rabbit would know exactly where I was.

  “Oh my god, this is awesome,” I said, sliding it around my neck.

  “You shoulda had it long before this, but club rules.”

  Only old ladies got them, and I had just now become an official old lady.

  I smiled. “It’s okay, honey. I have it now.”

  He kissed me gently. “It looks beautiful on you.”

  “Thanks.”

  I lifted my coffee cup to my lips just as my doorbell pealed.

  “You expectin’ someone?” he asked.

  I shook my head. “I don’t think so.”

  Rabbit frowned. “Don’t move,” he ordered.

  I nodded and Rabbit turned the stove off and headed to my door, pulling it open.

  “Nice package,” Jasmine said as she pushed inside, followed by Willow who was hiding her eyes in the form of her hand settled sideways on her head.

  “Oh my god, what are you guys doing here at ten in the morning?” I squealed.

  “Um, hello,” Jasmine snapped. “We haven’t heard from you in two days!”

  Willow pulled me in for a hug. “We were worried about you.”

  “I texted,” I argued.

  “Not the same,” Jasmine said.

  Rabbit shook his head. “Dash and Alamo were well aware of—”

  “Hush,” Jasmine interrupted. “First rule of dating our best friend. You don’t use your boys as messengers.”

  “R
abbit, would you please put some pants on?” Willow asked, her eyes shut tight even though her back was to him.

  “I’m here with my woman, gettin’ ready to feed then fuck her. You’re interruptin’ my time, so if you have a problem with me without pants, that’s on you.”

  Willow let out a quiet gasp. “Do you want me to tell Dash you were walking around naked in front of me?”

  Jasmine laughed. “Oh my god, I’d pay money to see that conversation.”

  “Jesus Christ,” Rabbit growled, and walked out of the room.

  “You’re diabolical,” I accused.

  Willow smiled. “Which is why I don’t understand why y’all think I’m goodness and light.”

  “Oh, we don’t,” Jasmine said. “But our men certainly do, and it works to our advantage, so let’s not correct them, hmmm?”

  Willow rolled her eyes while I laughed. “She’s got a point.”

  “Who’s diabolical, exactly?” Willow challenged.

  “All three of you,” Rabbit complained, stalking back into the room in pajama bottoms and a T-shirt, and we dissolved into giggles. He shook his head. “Out. All y’all. If you want coffee, grab it. If you want breakfast, give me your orders quickly and then go do your girl shit out of my kitchen.”

  “I’ll take a cheese and veggie omelet, please,” Willow said.

  “Me too,” Jasmine said, grabbing a mug out of my cabinet and pouring herself coffee. “Coffee, Will?”

  “Yes, please.”

  Rabbit went back to the stove and relit the burner, and I wrapped my arms around him kissing the back of his neck. “Thanks, honey.”

  “Welcome, baby.” He craned his neck and grinned at me, and I released him and followed my girls into the family room.

  “Your necklace looks perfect, Park,” Jasmine said.

  “Thanks. I love it,” I said, sitting in my oversized chair by the fireplace. “I’m sorry I worried you.”

  Jasmine was on the sofa and Willow was in the chair next to mine.

  “It’s all good,” Jasmine said.

  “We really just wanted an excuse to spy on you,” Willow admitted.

  “God, why do you always have to spill the secrets?” Jasmine lamented.

  “Because I’ve never been able to lie.”

  “That’s not lying, honey,” Jasmine said with her ‘patient’ voice.

  “By omission,” Willow countered.

  “Nope, not even that,” Jasmine retorted and took a sip of her coffee.

  I chuckled. “Well, I already figured out your not so subtle plan, so you both can relax.”

  “Are you okay?” Willow asked.

  “I’m fine, Willow,” I stressed. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

  “Are you serious?” Jasmine growled.

  “You had a rough week,” Willow said, soothing our friend’s irritation.

  “Right.” I bit my lip. “Sorry. I’ve been so wrapped up in all things Rabbit, I kind of forgot to check in with you.”

  “You don’t need to check-in, per se,” Willow countered.

  “But returning texts and phone calls is mandatory,” Jasmine said. “It’s part of the girl code.”

  “Fair enough,” I said just as Rabbit brought breakfast to us.

  “What service,” Willow said, taking her plate. “Thanks, Rabbit.”

  “You’re welcome,” he said.

  “Thanks, honey,” I said, and he leaned down to kiss me quickly before handing me an omelet filled with everything bad for me. “I love you.”

  He grinned. “I know.”

  He handed Jasmine hers and then stepped back into the kitchen.

  “Oh my god, this is the best omelet I’ve ever had,” Jasmine said, taking another bite.

  “Thanks, babe,” Rabbit called. “I’m gonna keep that nugget in my back pocket when I need to fuck with Alamo.”

  Alamo was a pretty decent cook, most of the guys were, actually, but he probably wouldn’t like to hear that Rabbit’s was better than his.

  “I’ll deny I said it,” Jasmine warned, and Rabbit laughed.

  She grinned and took another bite.

  “Girls’ night Friday,” Jasmine said.

  “But it’s family night on Saturday,” I pointed out.

  “Yeah. We thought we’d go out and stay at the barn Friday night,” Willow said.

  “Ooh, that sounds fun,” I said.

  “There’s a new bar downtown I want to check out.”

  “No,” Rabbit said, walking back into the room.

  “What? Why?” I demanded as he settled his butt beside me. I shifted to give him more space and he lifted me onto his lap.

  “The Bike Rack’s not what you’re looking for.”

  “Says who?” Jasmine challenged.

  “Babe, it’s a biker bar.”

  Jasmine jabbed her fork toward him. “And we’re biker women.”

  “We could go to the Scratching Post,” I suggested.

  The Scratching Post was a dive bar on the outskirts of Savannah, and it was a newer club purchase. I’d never been there, mostly because Rabbit always said no to taking me.

  “No,” Rabbit growled.

  See? He was so bossy.

  “Why’d they call it the Scratching Post?” Jasmine asked.

  “If you go there, you’ll leave with something that makes you itch,” Rabbit said.

  “Ew,” I bit out.

  “Then the Bike Rack it is,” Jasmine countered.

  “There’s no way in hell your man’s okayed that,” Rabbit deduced.

  Jasmine stared at her omelet.

  “Just as I thought,” Rabbit said.

  “Don’t be mean,” I admonished.

  “Just bein’ honest.” Rabbit shrugged. “Alamo’d be good with her walking into that bar as much as he’d be good with her fuckin’ Sugar Bear.”

  Willow gasped and I slapped his arm, but Jasmine burst into giggles. “Oh my god, could you even imagine? First, gross, but second, at least he’d finally be out of our lives once Alamo killed him.”

  “He’s not the problem,” I said.

  “We’re not having this conversation,” Rabbit said. “Shut it down.”

  I met Jasmine’s eyes and she rolled hers.

  “Rabb—”

  “Serious as fuck, ladies, shut it down.”

  I sighed. “Fine.”

  He didn’t need to know what we’d discuss out of his presence, but Willow, Jasmine, and I shared secret smiles and went back to our breakfast.

  * * *

  Rabbit needed to head to the barn for a few hours, so I took the opportunity to go home for a bit. I took a deep breath as I drove up to my childhood home in Ardsley Park. Lordy, I loved this house. It had been my father’s home growing up, then ours.

  My great-grandparents had actually built it in the 1930s and my grandmother then lived in it with Grandad. They’d raised their children, passing the home onto my father who’d always loved it more than my auntie. My grandparents took care of her as well. She got the majority of the cash, but Daddy got the house and did a huge renovation before he and Mom moved in.

  I parked and headed inside, calling, “Mama, you here?”

  “Kitchen,” she replied, and I dropped my purse on the bench by the front door, then made my way to the kitchen.

  She was sliding her roasting pan into the oven as I walked in. “You’re making a roast?”

  “Just a small one,” she said with a grin. “Unless you plan on staying for dinner? I can add some veggies.”

  “I promised I’d meet Rabbit at home by three.”

  She pulled me in for a hug. “You know he’s always welcome to join us.”

  “I know.” I smiled. “Is Daddy golfing?”

  “Yes. He should be home soon, though. He got an early start.” She poured me a glass of sweet tea, then sat with me at the kitchen table. “So, what’s up?”

  I shrugged.

  “Is this about Rabbit asking you to marry him?”

  “P
artly,” I hedged.

  Mom sat back in her seat and smiled. Waiting.

  “What if I screw it up?” I whispered.

  “Screw what up, honey?”

  “Him. Me. Us. I love him so much it’s painful.”

  She reached over and took my hand. “That’s because you’ve never met anyone who sees you for you. Not even Willow and Jazz, and they see you, baby girl.”

  I met her eyes. “I know. It’s terrifying.”

  “It’s also invigorating and something to cherish.”

  “You’re not freaked out about me marrying a biker?”

  “I was. At the beginning.” She smiled. “Well, Daddy was more than me, but we’ve gotten to know Rabbit, honey.”

  “And Daddy did a full background check.”

  “There is that,” she agreed. “But regardless, he’s your perfect match.”

  “I know. It’s just that...”

  “He’s young?”

  “So young,” I breathed out.

  “He’s not really, sweetness. You’re only a few years apart.” She sighed. “I have never been able to figure out why you’re so hung up on age, Parker.”

  I shrugged. “Probably because the guys I’ve dated in the past have been totally immature asshats.”

  “Yes, but not all of them were younger than you.”

  “I know.” I pressed my hand to my chest. “Loving him hurts and I’ve never felt that way before.”

  “He’s your first love, sweetheart.”

  “It’s too much and sometimes I find I don’t know what to do.”

  She gave me another gentle smile releasing my hand. “I think that, sometimes, when we love someone so much it’s painful, we tend to want to shut that part off because it protects us from being devastated. But we have to feel it, because when we do, we are reminded we’re alive.”

  I blinked back tears. “How did you get so smart?”

  “Netflix.”

  I laughed. “You watch murder documentaries.”

  “So? Murder documentaries can be educational.”

  “Precious!” Daddy called, and I heard the side door close.

  “In here, baby,” Mom called.

  He strolled in with a huge grin. “I thought I saw your car, Parker. Did you come for dinner?”

  I shook my head, raising my face for him to kiss me on the cheek. “I’m meeting Rabbit in a couple of hours. How was golf?”

  “I beat Rick... he’s taking care of my filings next week.”

  I chuckled. My dad was an attorney, and even though he’d been offered a judgeship, he said he wasn’t quite ready to give up litigating. He was the managing partner in a large firm in downtown Savannah, and Rick was one of his partners. They were constantly betting each other and pretty much won against each other as much as they lost.