I absolutely hated the fact that I was working a late shift. If it wasn't because my tuition payment was due next week I wouldn't even be here. After along day of classes all I wanted was to be in the comfort of my bed. Yet here I was behind the bar serving drinks to old men that hit on me more times than I can count. I sucked it up though cause any tips were welcomed. Paying your way threw school was not the easiest thing in the world but a girls got to do what a girls got to do and since my father and mother couldn't help me with anything, I busted my ass all threw high school to get a scholarship to get a scholarship so I could attend the university of my choice. I graduated at the top of my class and was valedictorian and with that came several scholarships to several different schools. My mother couldn't be prouder my father however wanted me to stay home and help them with what he couldn't do. I accepted a scholarship at the university of California and packed up my room. I left my family home in Chicago that summer and haven't looked back since. I still speak to my mother practically everyday but my father disowned me and I could care less. I was to busy to deal with his crap anyway. My days where filled with school and my nights where filled with work. My scholarship covered everything but a mere $2,500 and some books but I usually just went to the library for the books that I couldn't afford. I landed the job here at happy joes when I called my mother and asked for money and she told me they couldn't afford that I didn't call my parents for anything again. I've always been independent, took care of my self since my mother was taking care of my alcholic of a father all the time. She didn't necessarily forget about she just didn't really pay attention most of the time. Not that I minded I was pretty much the cool kid that could get away with murder cause her parents weren't worried about her.
I was in my third of college and finally almost done with my education. I was studying to be a teacher. An English teacher to be exact. I have always wanted to teach elementary school and I was so close to achieving that goal. My next would be finding a place to be a student teacher for my final year. That was quickly approaching and I still had no clue where the hell I wanted to go. I was in the middle of looking threw my options when my boss terry interrupted me.
"Tara put the papers away and get to work. These drinks ain't gonna serve themselves." He said annoyed
"I got it terry" I rolled my eyes and got to work. The bar was hardly full for a Thursday. It never really was till Friday night. Which was ok with me. It gave me the time I needed to either do some homework or look over school options. I folded up the papers and put them into my back pocket. I stood behind the bar and plastered a smile on my face. I got to work effortlessly filling drinks and making polite conversation with drunk old men that thought they had a chance with me. They were regulars and usually big tippers so I let the obscene comments slide most of the time. When they try to get handsy or ask me to go home with them.
"Hey Tara!" Terry called out to me and waved me over. I smiled at my customers telling them Id be right back and headed over to terry.
"listen kid. We have some very important people coming in and I need you to take good care of them." He told me quickly.
"Ok. Who are these people?" I asked because if I was dealing with them I needed to know exactly who I would be dealing with.
"Ever heard of the sons of anarchy?" I shook my head and be continued. "Well there a motorcycle club. A big one thier president is looking to expand his horizons and get into the bar business. Since I can't afford the up keep anymore were discussing a buy in."
"Ok so what do you need me to do? Just serve them? Keep them happy?" I asked him
"yes. What ever they want give it to them. I have to step out for a second I should be back before they get here but if I'm not show them into the back room and just hold them off for me. I'll cover the tips you usually make in a day for the trouble" he finished.
I smiled I could definatly do as he asked. I already got what I usually made in a day but I wasn't going to tell him that. The more money the better. I watched Terry leave before returning to my spot behind the bar. I was joined by one of my co workers named Donna I told her I would be taking care of a party that would be coming in soon so she would have to man the bar by herself. She was perfectly happy with that. Like me she was paying for her education herself. She was fairly new so I didn't know much about her but she seemed pretty cool. I reminded myself to invite her out some time. She looked like she needed a girls night out once in a while.
About 20 minutes later a group of leather clad wearing guys came strutting threw the door. One of them leaned over the bar and asked Donna something. I watched as she nodded and came over to me.
"Thier here looking for Terry" she said and I nodded
"I guess that my que. you good here?" I asked while handing her a few drink orders.
She nodded "Yup. I'll call ya if I need ya." She walked away and started making drinks for the people waiting. I walked around the bar and over to the group of men. One pushed his way to the front and I gasped. He was absolutely gorgeous. Blonde hair blue eyes and muscular I looked him up and down before meeting his crystal blue eyes. He had a smirk playing at his lips and I smiled. Focus Tara he is not here for you. I had to keep reminding myself but it was hard with the way he was looking at me. I shook my head slightly and smiled up at him.
"Hey Terry stepped out for a moment he told me to show you to the back and get you what ever you guys might need"
"Does that package include you?" The Ken doll asked me. I laughed and shook my head "Afraid not, but if your lucky I might stick around" I winked at him which was highly bold for me. I wasn't shy by any means but I didn't flirt with guys whose name wasn't even mentioned.
"Well then hopefully my Irish side will bring me some kind of luck tonight" he winked back. I felt butterflies in my stomach but ignored them. No way was I getting mixed up with this guy. He stuck out his hand "Jax Teller" I took his hand and gasped again. The electricity that I felt surging threw my body was unlike anything I've ever felt before. I looked up at him and he was staring back at me with curious eyes. I cleared my throat "Tara. Tara Knowles." I managed to get out. I took my hand from his and stepped back a little. "Let me show you guys to the back room. Anything specific you fellas want to drink?"
"Bottle of jack would be nice." He smiled a perfect smile and my knees grew weak. I reached over the bar and grabbed the bottle her requested before turning to him.
"Follow me boys." I lead them to a room in the back near the offices. I was like a lounge area. There were 2 couches and some chairs a mini fridge and a TV. A 2 way mirror was along the wall allowing them to see into the bar. I grabbed some cups and ice and beggan to pour small amounts into each glass.
"Did Terry say when he was going to be back?" Asked a man with crystal blue eyes and dark black curly hair.
"He was actually hoping to be back before you guys got here. I have no ideas where he went though. Told me to just keep the drinks coming and answer any questions" I shrugged my shoulders and handed out the drinks to each man. There was only 5 of them. Curly haired man, a big guy with a bread, a man with two scars on his face and another guy that had what looked like lighting bolts on each side of his head.
"do you guys get a lot of buiness at this spot?" The one either he tattooed head asked me. "Im juice by the way" he smiled
I returned his smile "hi juice. Weekends are the best here. The place is crowded with all types of people. During the week it's pretty slow but we still get a good amount coming in" I sat down in front of them and crossed my bare legs. I had decided to wear jean shorts and a white tank top today I paired it with some white sneakers that were comfortable to work in.
"Money wise how much do you guys have coming in?" Jax asked leaning his elbows on his knees and clasping his hands. They way he was looking at me was sending chills up and down my spine. I couldn't get over the effect he was having on me. Maybe it's just cause I haven't gotten laid in a while, I thought to myself. My last boyfriend was a douche bag after I left him a year and a half ago there had been no one else.
"Terry handles all the money. You'd have to ask him when he gets here" I said casually.
"Ever think about making this place bigger.?" Asked scar face "I'm Chibs" he added.
I nodded my head in acknowledgment "I've mentioned it before. It gets pretty crowded and we could use more space but Terry likes the size" I shrugged.
"What do you prefer?" Jax cut in. I looked over at him and saw the smirk play at his lips again. I shifted in my seat but held his gaze and smirked back. If he wanted to be a flirt I could play along.
"I prefer it to be bigger in length and a litter wider. Small things just aren't fun anymore"
jax laughed as the guys looked in between us. "Am I missing something?" Juice asked . He smeemd to be oblivious to the flirting that was happening between Jax and I but the other guys weren't. I could tell cause they all wore smirks matching Jax's. Terry bursted threw the door at that moment looking a little frantic.
"I'm sorry I'm late fellas. I had to take care of somethings with the misses. She would have my head if I didn't" he laughed uncomfortably "I see Tara has been helpful"
"yes she has actually" Jax winked at me and I could feel a blush begin to grave my cheeks. Terry turned to me "I'll take it from here Tara. You can go home if you want to. Thanks for the help." He smiled. I don't know why but I didn't really want to leave at that moment. I wanted to soak up someone more of Jaxs God like features.
"Actually I'd like her to stay and hear us out" Jax told him. Terry looked at me then at Jax then back at me he narrowed his eyes before shrugging and sitting down in the chair next to mine. "We've already come to a conclusion and we would like to take the bar off your hands." Jax concluded.
"the place isn't for sale though" Terry protested.
"Once you hear how much we're offering I'm sure you'll change your mind" Jucie chimed in.
I sat there silent as they discussed numbers and shares. The made an agreement that Terrt could still be involved and get 20% of thier earnings. Terry agreed reluctant at first but he seemed a little relieved that he didn't have to worry about the bar all the time. The big guy who I learned was named Opie pulled out some papers for Terry to sign. Once the deal was done I handed out another round of drinks and they all celebrated as I watched. I wasn't much of a drinker it always clouded my judgement and I liked having a clear head. Jax came and sat next to me. I was sitting in one of the corner couches drinking a cup of water and watching them mingle.
"No enjoying yourself?" He asked.
"I'm always enjoying myself" I smiled at him and he laughed.
"That's good to know" he turned to me fully and smiled his perfect smile "listen i was wondering if you would handle the expansion. I'm not always in town and I need someone here to over look things while I'm gone"
i looked at him confused "what about Terry?" I asked. Even though he wasn't the owner any more he made the deal so he would still be involved.
"Well you said yourself her likes things the way they are but if we could expand and get more earnings then that would benefit all of us don't you think?" He asked.
i thought about it for a moment and nodded. Expansion did seem like a good ideas. This place had so much potential it would be a good move if the expanded. "Ok I'll do it." I smiled at him brightly.
"Good" he nodded "I'll give you my number so we can keep in touch about the expansion and what not. I'm going to try to be around as much as i can but being the president of a motorcycle club and running businesses doesn't exactly give me time to do much else" he chuckled as we exchanged numbers. I nodded in understanding. School and work didn't give me much time to myself either but I made it work. I knew it wouldnt always be like this. I grabbed the piece of paper he handed me with his phone number then glanced at my watche. It was a little after 2am.
"I better get going. I have class in the morning then I have to be here by 5 and I still have a little walk ahead of me" I got up and saw him get up to.
"Walk?" He asked me
"yeah I walk to work I walk to school I walk home after. It's not that" and it wasn't I picked this bar to work in because it was closest to her apartment and to the university.
"Can I give you a ride home instead?" He had a look on his face that i could only discribe as hopeful.
I wighed out the pros and cons for a minute before realizing that I wanted to spend a little more time with him. I smiled up at him and nodded "I'd like that thank you" I didn't know how or why I was feeling this towards him all I knew thought was that I definatly didn't want to let him go so fast. He turned to his brothers and told them he would be back before taking my hand and leading me out of the bar. We headed toward the parking lot where I saw a row of bikes. He walked to the first one and handed me the helmet that dangled on the handle bars.
"Ever been on a bike before?" He smirked
"actually yes I have." I smiled and put the helmet on and straddled the bike. I wrapped my arms around him and breathed in his leather oil and cigarette scent. Oddly it suited him and turned me on more than it should have.
"Hold on tight darlin". I scooted closer to him and wrapped my arms tighter around him as he took off. I directed him to my house and we reached our destination faster than I would have liked. I got off the bike when we reached my apartments parking lot. I handed him his helmet as he sat idle on his bike.
"It's was nice meeting you Jax. Thank you for the ride"
"it was nice meeting you to darlin. And don't mention it. I wouldn't be a man if I let you walk this late at night"
i smiled at his concern and kissed his cheek "good night Jax" I took a few steps back before I attached his lips like I've wanted to do from the moment he introduced himself.
"Good night Tara. I'll be in touch" he smiled at me making my inside melt again. He put on his helmet and waved goodbye. I watched him leave for a mixture before I retreated into my apartment the smile I had would not leave my face no matter how hard a tried. I changed into my PJs quickly and climbed into bed. I fell asleep the moment my head hit the pillow. I didn't know what it was but something felt different I didn't know what it was but for the first in my life I felt OK about the change that I some how knew was coming.
A/N: I hope you liked this first chapter! I wrote it a couple of days ago and want it to get it out now. Equal parts of a whole will be updated later today!
Let me know what you guys think and if I should continue.
Review Review Review!