Page 9 of Vortex

“Why would you do that? Why would you not give me a ride on your bike? Am I so repulsive that you won’t be seen with me? Is your passenger seat sacred for another to use?” I am getting angry again. I know that he has looked at me as a woman before this day. I also know that Cannon even warned him that he was like my brother and Vortex should remember that.

“You are not repulsive, Allegra. Far from it. I would love to have you on the back of my bike, but that is where the problem lies.”

I look at the back of his bike, and I see no problem there. “I see no issue with your bike?”

“That’s because you don’t know much about bikes. Where would you sit? There is no passenger seat, Allegra. Nowhere for that fine ass to rest.”

Looking again at the bike, I feel myself blush once more. How could I be so blind as to not notice that?

As soon as Cannon arrives, Vortex gives him a nod and rides off into the sunset on his metal steed. Cannon has to poke me to bring me back to earth, and he gives me a seriously hard stare when I look at him.

I have a fine ass. He noticed my ass. Ha!

Chapter 6

*~* Vortex *~*

Riding to the ranch, I can’t help but grin at the look on Chris’s face when he was so outraged that he’d been knocked off his chair by Allegra. She was equally outraged that he wouldn’t help her with her house hunting. They were like two kids in a classroom arguing over something trivial.

When I gave them my ‘Don’t fuck with me’ look, I wasn’t surprised that Chris couldn’t look me in the eye, but I was surprised when Allegra’s lip trembled and I thought she was going to cry. As much as I don’t want to be the cause of any tears for her, I can’t help liking the feeling of control I had for that brief moment.

She is a beautiful woman, and any man would be a fool not to see that. She is the same height as me, too. Some men might find that intimidating, but it’s not a red flag for me at all. I certainly don’t class it as a deal-breaker like some would. Her long black hair is definitely a turn-on for me. I’ve liked long hair since the first time I saw a Crystal Gayle music video as a kid.

I told her she had a fine ass, and I didn’t miss the look on her face when I said it. She was pleased with that comment, I know. I haven’t had much interaction with her, but I can’t deny her beauty. Maybe given time I could explore more of her personality, though that would have to be done far from the clubhouse. If she worked there, I have no doubt that she would pique the interest of more than one of my brothers.

The ranch is quiet as I roll into the front yard, I assume that’s what they call it.

Silas walks out the door as I get off my girl, a coffee in each hand. “I’m glad you’re here, Vortex. It’s nice to have someone to talk to during the day. I guess I thought I’d see more of Ghost and Chips while they’re here.”

“What do you mean, Silas? Aren’t they here with you?” That is a worry if they’ve gone off and left him alone.

“Oh, they’re here somewhere. I don’t see ‘em from can see to can’t see. They disappear before the sun comes up and don’t come back ‘til it’s gone down. Then they take turns keeping watch throughout the night. I insisted that they let me do my stint on watch, or I’d kick their asses back to your clubhouse.” I sit beside Silas and take a good look around the place. I don’t see anything out of place or any sign of those two.

“I’m sure they have a close eye on you, Silas. They are both very good at what they are doing right now. Ghost especially. I bet they could talk you through your day with ease.” I have every confidence that Ghost will be watching us both right now and depending where he has Chips positioned, I’d say they can both see the front yard.

“Chips takes great pleasure telling me what I’ve been up to during the day. If I were some years younger, I’d sneak out of here and show him just what I learned from my years of hunting this land. I could track a snake across bare rock out there.”

“I bet you could at that.” I wonder where Cannon took Allegra until it was time for her shift?

“You know, Estrella never spent much time sitting out here. She always said there were better places to sit than on the porch looking out at the dirt yard. She used to enjoy taking a horse ride after we’d finished for the day and just letting it wander. She found us some great places to spend the evenings sitting, reflecting, and sometimes in silence. I built a bench for every one of those places. Each one different and unique to the area.”

“I bet that was hard work.”

“Hard? No. It was the easiest thing I ever did on this ranch. It made her so happy.” Silas sits back in his chair and falls silent. It takes me a few moments to notice.

“What? What’s the matter?”

“Son. You’ve had something on your mind ever since you got here. I don’t mind if you don’t want to share it, but I know that look. If she’s that important, you should be with her.” Before I can say anything to that, he gets up, takes both of our cups and goes inside. I just sit there without a word.

Pres has called Church and wants everyone present, so we’ve left the ranch unattended and brought Silas to the clubhouse. He can’t attend Church, obviously, but he can chill in the rec room until we’re done. There’s been no movement at the ranch, but it would be typical that when we leave him alone, someone would turn up to cause a fuss.

We all get settled, and Pres soon calls us to order. Once he has silence, his first order of business is Tanner.

“So, Tanner. We’ve left him hanging long enough. I want to know if…”

“I’ll propose him,” I say without a second thought.

Cannon speaks up then. “I’ll second that.”