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Beau’s name was the first thing to greet me on my screen, and a smile tilted my lips. The man had already shamelessly texted me this morning, and I loved it. Couldn’t get enough of it. I adored a man who wasn’t afraid to go after what he wanted hardcore.
Beau: Good morning, goldie. I know it’s early, but I was wanting to know if you’d be interested in another date? Your choice this time.
I beamed at my phone, my heart fluttering in my chest. This man…. Oh, this wonderful, gorgeous, confident man. I couldn’t get enough of him. I was going to fall head over heels in love with him, and I wasn’t even afraid of it.
Even if things ended badly between us, I couldn’t help but want to chase this with my arms wide open, even if only for the experience of a man openly wanting me so much and not being afraid to show it.
Mikayla: Good morning! I’d love to go on another date with you. Not sure what time I’ll be finished with work, but we can just do fast food and my place after?
Beau: Sounds good, goldie. I’ll see you in a bit.
Mikayla: You will?
Beau: Yes, ma’am. Not missing out on an opportunity to see you. ;)
* * *
“Lennox, I’m going out to get lunch!” I called as I walked out of the classroom. I’d just finished doing a beginner’s boot camp class, and my clothes were clinging to my skin and my stomach was rumbling. I needed food ASAP or I was going to wither away into nothing. Probably a bit overdramatic, but that was how it felt.
“I want a salad!” she called.
“Really?” I questioned, making the guy on the treadmill snicker. “Are you sick?”
“Screw you, Mikayla!” she called from the office with a laugh.
Chuckling under my breath, I walked out of the door and began the walk down the sidewalk to the fast food chicken restaurant up the street. I could’ve taken my car, but I wanted the fresh air. And it was actually still kind of cool outside with Fall moving in and making its appearance, so I wanted to savor it. What better way than to go on a small walk?
The inside of the restaurant was calm compared to the drive-through line that was almost out into the road, but that was typical for the lunch time rushes in this small town. Walking up to the counter, I put in two salad orders and then moved to the side to wait for them.
“Oh, hey, you’re the new gym owner, right? Mikayla?”
I turned to look at who had spoken to me. A beautiful, curvy woman was smiling at me. She was wearing black scrubs with colorful butterflies all over them, her reddish-brown hair up in a ponytail. She held her hand out to me with a beaming smile, and I quickly returned her energy and her handshake.
“Yeah—I’m Mikayla,” I told her, my own smile tilting my lips.
“I’m Harbor Augustine. My husband is the Sergeant at Arms of the Storm Hogs MC. Beau’s mentioned you a couple of times.”
My cheeks colored the slightest bit, and I felt suddenly shy at the thought of Beau liking me enough to talk to what was basically his family about me. “I, uh…”
She shot me a sheepish smile. “Sorry—I have a horrible habit of putting people on the spot. It didn’t used to be this bad, but Cecily and Athena have rubbed off on me quite a bit.” I laughed a little. I wasn’t bothered by her—just more caught off guard. “Anyway, I’d love to take some flyers or business cards back to work with me; I’m a nurse at the local doctor’s office. Do you happen to have any with you?”
“Yes!” I rushed out. I reached into my wallet and pulled out a single business card, my cheeks flushing a little in embarrassment. “I don’t have more with me at the moment, but—”
She waved me off. “No biggie! I’ll make copies of these at work. Feel free to swing by any time and drop off brochures or whatever.” Her name was called, and she waved at me, backing away. “It was nice to meet you, Mikayla! I hope to see you around the clubhouse sometime.”
I waved at her as well, my heart swelling in my chest. I loved how welcoming she was—how welcoming almost everyone I’d met seemed to be, really. And the fact that she was basically Beau’s family… well, it meant a lot that she seemed to like me.
And Beau actually talked about me? I was still a little hung up over that.
* * *
A light knock sounded on my office door, and I glanced up from my lunch, an immediate smile pulling at my lips when I saw it was Beau. “Hey,” I greeted. I gestured to one of the chairs in front of my desk. “Feel free to sit down. I bought this earlier but then got swamped when I came back. This is my first opportunity to actually be able to eat.”
“I heard you met Harbor,” he told me. “She really likes you.”
A light pink blush stole over my cheeks. “She was really nice and very sweet.”
He snorted. “Don’t let the initial meeting fool you. She can be very stern if she needs to be when it comes to family.”
