Page 48 of Ash (Dragon Riders MC 3)
“That’s totally fine. I need your input on some inventory space I’ve got anyway. I want to get some more plus-sized fashion in this store, but for the life of me I can’t seem to find decent-looking plus-sized clothing.”
“I’m your gal for that job. You sit me in front of whatever catalogue you’re looking at and I’ll fill your entire store with clothes that’ll fit a woman like me just fine.”
“You’re a lifesaver, you know that?”
I smiled. “Trust me, you’re saving mine as well right now.”
“Can you come in tomorrow morning? The boutique opens at nine and we stay open until seven. You’d train for the first week for three hours a day, then I’d get you a regular part-time schedule that’s around twenty-five hours a week. How does that sound?”
“How much does the job pay?”
“10 bucks an hour for training, then that goes up to thirteen once you start part-time. And after your six-month review, if things are going well, that gets upped to fourteen an hour. With chances to keep getting raises every six months, provided that you meet review marking standards.”
My heart filled with delight. “I’ll take it.”
She squealed. “Oh, this is fabulous! I can’t wait to meet you. I’ll go ahead and get everything in the back office set up. My back office is usually for all employees, but until you’re comfortable being on the floor, it’ll be your personal space.”
“One week is all I’ll need. I promise.”
“This is fantastic. Meet me here in the morning promptly at nine. You’ll train until noon, then we’ll start the process all over again the next day.”
“I’m looking forward to it, Brandy.”
I heard the sound of a motorcycle off in the distance just as I hung up the phone and I leapt from my seat. A job. I finally had a job! And I couldn't wait to tell Ash all about it. I knew he’d be happy. I knew he’d support me. But more than that, I knew this meant that I was finally solidifying my life with him. Here, in this small upstate New York town.
He’s gonna jump out of his skin with happiness.
However, when he finally walked through the front door, I knew something was wrong.
“Uh oh,” I said.
He dropped his helmet. “I’m so sorry, Hannah.”
I furrowed my brow. “What happened at work?”
He walked up to me. “I promise I’ll be back soon.”
“No.”
“Hannah…”
I shook my head. “We just got back, Ash! Where the hell could you possibly be going now?”
His hands gripped my shoulders. “Skeleton’s reared his head again, only this time he’s taken out three of our friends.”
My face paled. “Are the guys okay? Who’s hurt?”
He shook his head. “No one from our crew. But some good friends from a crew we play poker with once a week are in critical condition. Skeleton’s making some moves that have all of us nervous. Not just for our safety—or yours—but for the safety of this town.”
I sighed. “When do you leave?”
He cupped my cheek. “Tonight.”
My eyes watered. “And you really have to go? Even with me in this condition?”
“You say the word, and I’ll stay behind to take care of you.”
I can’t do that to him. “There’s no need. I actually feel great, despite the superficial stuff. I even got myself a job today. I start tomorrow morning.”
He blinked. “You found a job?”
I nodded. “Working at a dress boutique as a plus-size stylist and fashion extraordinaire.”
He kissed my forehead. “I’m so proud of you.”
I resisted the urge to sigh again. “I start tomorrow for three hours of paid training, and that’ll last for a week. Then, she bumps me up to twenty-five hours a week with the option to work full-time during Christmas and summers, when she’s the busiest.”
“I’m so fucking proud of you,” he whispered.
I wrapped my arms around him. “Let me hug you before you start packing.”
His arms blanketed my body and I closed my eyes. I committed every feeling and smell to memory as my face nuzzled against his chest. Well, what part of his chest I touched anyway. I pressed my ear against his shirt and heard the echo of his heartbeat rattling inside his body. But once his arms finally went slack, I forced myself to back away.
“I really am sorry, Hannah.”
I shrugged. “Hey, this is part of being a club gal. I get it. I can handle this, as much as it sucks.”
He cupped my cheeks. “I’m coming home to you. We’ll all be back soon. You have my word.”
I nodded. “I know you are. You’re a strong, capable man. I know you’ll come back to me.”
His lips pressed against my own and I tried not to act like it might be our last one. But part of me understood the danger he was walking into. I didn’t know much about this Skeleton asshole, but I knew he wasn’t someone to be messed with. I wanted to ask him so many questions about what he was going to do, but I resisted the urge. I knew that the less I knew, the better. Though, I’d have to sleep with a knife underneath my pillow while he was gone.
