CHAPTER SEVENTY-EIGHT
Website where all photos of all outfits mentioned is on my profile. 5 reviews gets next chapter early. There is a little more Jax/Sarah action coming but the main event is still a little while away sorry all. It'll be worth the wait.
Clay and Tig both drop their tools and head in the direction of where the unusual car parked just by the office but as the door opens I notice the logo on the door and jump to my feet laughing, "It's the insurance assessor, calm down guys."
The second he opens his mouth I know this is not going to be easy, "I'm looking for Mr Shale." Unfortunately for him he has decided that the owner of the modified bright blue 2013 Dodge Challenger should be a man and has managed to run my initial and surname together which immediate gets my hackles up.
"It's S for Sarah and my surname is Hale…two separate words, and that's me." I growl as I walk towards him.
He takes a couple of steps back before giving me a once over, the feel of him examining me from head to toe is creepy, and I'm suddenly glad that the lot is crowded with cars and there are Sons everywhere working, that way if I feel the need to beat the shit out of this guy I'll have someone to stop me (and do it for me).
"Right, sorry about that Miss Hale. I'm Scott Crane, I'm here about a claim you've recently made on your policy. For a Challenger that you believe should be written off. Is that right?" His voice is slimy and I just know I'm going to need another drink by the end of this.
"Yes, but I also sent photos to the office to show them why I think it's a write off, but that's why you're here. To confirm if I'm right or if it can be repaired." I say. "It's over here."
I step past him and over to the corner where someone had thoughtfully covered up the mangled mess. Pulling the huge grey tarp off the car I'm looking at Mr Crane's reaction to the mess. He manages to pull his eyes off my tits as I move the cover, his eyes widen a little and his grip tightens on his pen as the twisted metal is revealed.
"What happened? I read the report you sent, it's completely different to the one Doctor Knowles submitted to her insurance provider."
I snort a little, "First off you should be aware that Miss Knowles is not a doctor. Secondly I'm not surprised her report is different to mine, given that the way she did this damage would be enough to get her licence suspended for years if I decided to press charges. Thirdly, I guess it's just as well that I have the video footage of what actually happened so you don't need to go by 'he said, she said' reports."
I step around him, "I'll leave you to it. I'll just be over here if you need anything." All I get is a half nod as he heads towards my car, clip board in his arms and camera in his hand.
I practically stalk back to where I've left Gemma sitting. She hands me my cup and I see that in the few minutes I've been dealing with the insurance asshole she's had the cups refilled.
Taking another mouthful I sigh and rest my head on my arms. Gemma reaches over and pats my hand lightly, "It'll be okay baby." She pulls her hand back and lights a cigarette as I start talking.
"I'm just sick of all this shit. The car, Donna's house, my house, Craig, Ima, Jax. Can't it all fuck off and leave me alone for just one day." I lift my head up and look at Gemma, hoping she'll have some sort of advice.
"At least your drama is all coming at once." Gemma says with a grin.
"Pft, yeah right." The dismissive sound I make depresses me and I take the cigarette off Gemma, just before it reaches my mouth a hand appears in front of my face and plucks it from my fingers.
"You don't smoke." Jax says as he plonks down beside me. Taking a drag he passes the smoke back to his mother.
"You're right, I don't…not cigarettes anyway, and not with the assessor over there watching every move I'm making." I flick my head in the direction of the suited man who's now walking round taking photos of my car from every angle.
Jax rests a hand on the back of my neck and I have to fight my body's instinct to lean into his touch. "It'll be okay Darlin', he's not gonna be around for long."
I raise my eyes and look at him, "I know that Jax, I'm just stressed."
A grin splits his face, "Then get in the kitchen and bake something."
I roll my eyes, "Certainly your highness, what would you like."
Before he can answer Happy's voice floats over, "Cupcakes." He looks around and I can see him daring anyone to say a word, anyone that was gets shut down when Tig voices his agreement.
Getting to my feet I turn and head inside, "Right, cupcakes it is. Can someone please come get me when he's done?" I nod my head towards the man who's now watching me intently, I know the skirt and shirt I'm wearing don't cover much but I don't remember giving him a pass to ogle me.
"Sure will." Clay says from his position under the bonnet of a red Subaru.
I wander through the clubhouse to the kitchen and start making cupcakes grinning as I pop the cases into the tray. I don't know if the guys will appreciate the skull and cross bones design on them but I couldn't resist when I saw them online.
45 minutes later the cupcakes are cooling on the bench when Miles comes in the door, "The assessor is almost ready to leave; he's putting his shit in his cage."
I nod and follow him out the door. Walking across the lot I stop just by the back of the car and place my hand on the boot which he's just closed.
"Did you get everything you needed?" I ask politely, hoping that he won't need to come back.
"Almost, I only need a couple more things. A copy of your licence and registration details for the car and a copy of the insurance certificate."
"They were all attached to the photos that I e-mailed in." I inform him, still trying to hold my composure.
Out of the corner of my eye I see Tig walking towards the clubhouse, "Stay out of the kitchen Tigger or so help me I'll skin you alive."
He pauses and turns to me, a smile on his face as he salutes he calls back, "Certainly Captain."
Turning my attention back to the person standing in front of me I see that my order had the intended result. The eyes that had been glued to my tits were now firmly fixed on my face.
"Just give me a second and I'll get you the copies." I tell him.
"Don't worry Miss Hale; I can see that the office already has copies of them." He says, backtracking quickly. "I'm all done here." He steps towards his driver's door. "You should be hearing from someone in a few days with the decision."
"Do you have any idea of what the findings will point to?" I ask I'd really like to know if I'm going to be going car shopping any time soon.
"I'm sorry, I can't say. Until I get to the office and look at the costs for replacement parts and panel work I can't make any conclusions." He sounds like he's trying to hurry out of the lot and I guess it may have something to do with the 5 bikers who are now lined up beside their bikes preparing to leave.
"I'd like a copy of the report before you leave thanks." I state, standing beside the car so he can't open the door
"I'll have to write it out again, there are only 2 copies created from this form." He stutters.
"That's alright, we have a photocopier, the same one I was going to have to use to copy my licence, registration and insurance details." I say. "It's in the office just over here."
He follows me to the office and I make copies of everything he's written down, noting to myself that most of it is only on lined office paper. The only parts that he's actually written on the report are the cars make, model, chassis number and my details.
Handing the report back to him I curl the copies I'm holding together. Leading him out to his car I hold my hand out, "Thank you."
He looks at me like I've grown a second head before shaking my hand quickly. Almost faster than I can blink he's in the car and out of the lot.
Happy is standing by his bike with Bobby, the other 3 (Opie, Clay and Jax have already left). As I walk past he tells me, "Tig's inside with your cupcakes."
"You mean that Tig's inside with your cupcakes." I tell him grinning
"Fuck." He mutters. "But duty calls. You better make me some more." He straddles his bike and puts on his helmet.
Bobby leans over, "Those are organic aye?"
I nod, "Of course Elvis."
Smiling widely the 2 of them leave the lot and I rush inside hoping to save whatever is left of the cupcakes I made.
Striding into the kitchen I see Tig standing with a pile of silver cupcake wrappers in front of him. "Freeze!"
He spins in place, "I wasn't doing anything."
I burst into laughter. "Oh Tigger you're funny. The fact you have chocolate all over your face may be a giveaway that you did do something."
He brushes off his face and laughs when he sees the crumbs falling off his face. "Okay, so I had a couple."
"And you couldn't even wait till I put frosting on them!" I laugh, stepping past him and pulling out the other trays of cupcakes, with the skull motif decorating the cases, which I'd hidden in the cupboard.
Tig's jaw drops, "Hold out!"
"Here, take this and go!" I shove him out the door with another cupcake in his hand. Shaking my head I mutter, "Who knew, give a biker a cupcake and he'll be your eternal slave." Pulling out the ingredients I get to work on the vanilla frosting and forget all about the papers I dropped in my bag as I walked past.