Chapter 10

Sophie

I love my apartment. It's a bit small and it needs a little work, but it's all mine. Chrissy didn't want me to move out. We kept each other company while Diesel was gone doing whatever he did. I knew she wanted me to stay and Diesel never asked me to leave, but he eagerly volunteered to help carry my bags and boxes up all those backstairs to the new apartment.

Now don't get me wrong, Diesel and I got along really well, but I knew he wanted his privacy back. And I didn't blame him at all. I wanted mine too.

The furniture that came with it was older and used, but it would do until I could get some of my own. The living room had a soft brown slightly worn sofa, a couple of tables, and two very out of style lamps. There was a small round table in the kitchen with two chairs. The bedroom had only a full-size bed, a three-drawer dresser, and a nightstand. It was the bare basics, but it was all I needed.

Ron, my landlord, let me choose what color I wanted the walls. I went with a nice neutral beige. Imagine a cup of coffee and heavy on the milk, so it wasn't too light or too dark. I threw in bright colors accents with the towels in the bathroom or the sheets with matching duvet on the bed. I also added a few red pillows on the sofa. It was slowly becoming home.

I was on my own for the first time in a long time and I loved it. No live-in boyfriend to clean up after or even a roommate to annoy me. I felt like I was in control of my life for the first time in my adult life.

A quick glance at the clock on the microwave told me I needed to get moving and head to the bakery. It was Friday and for once I was going to have the weekend off from both jobs. I tended to work every other Saturday at Angel Cakes, but last week Shelly, who was scheduled, needed the day off, so she worked my Friday shift and I did two Saturdays in a row.

I was looking forward to a nice relaxing weekend.

The door closed behind me and I made sure it was locked before running down the stairs. My apartment opened into the back lot behind the building and I had a big flight of stairs to go up and down every day. When I walked in the back door of the bakery Carlos was arguing with Stefano as they formed loaf after loaf of French bread.

Neither heard my "good morning" as they argued in their native language. I grabbed an apron from the pile on the counter and went to drop my purse off in Maddie's office.

"They're arguing again."

Maddie looked up from the papers on her desk. "Really? Those two live to argue. As long as they don't pull knives on each other again we're good."

Wait? "They did that? Here?" Not what I expected to have happened in her bakery.

"Yes, but I think it was just in the heat of the moment…or least I hope it was. This happens every year around World Cup time. Those boys take their soccer very seriously," she told me with a wink.

I laughed. "I'll never understand men and sports. Anyway, I'd keep an eye on them as it was getting quite heated. I'll be out front setting up."

"Call if you need me," Maddie said as she always does. She followed me out of her office and I heard her yelling in rapid Spanish to the guys in the back. I couldn't make out a word she was saying, but her tone said it all. Shut up and get back to work.

It was a normal morning at the counter. We had the rush between seven and nine with the before work crowd coming in to grab their breakfast treats. I spent a good part of the early afternoon in between customers restocking our bakery boxes, bags, and of course the baked goods.

I was grabbing a quick drink of water in the back when I heard the bells ring over the door. I walked out with a smile on my face that I lost the instant I saw who it was…Daryl or Trax. Take your pick.

"What are you doing here," I snapped at him.

"Your customer service sure sucks. Does Maddie let you talk to everyone that way?"

As much as I hated to admit it he looked damn good standing there with his hands in his pockets looking every inch of a bad boy biker.

His jeans looked lived in, with the soft material hiding the hard muscles underneath. I had still yet to see him a shirt that had sleeves. Today was no different. There were just frayed edges where the sleeves had been that emphasized his muscular arms. He had tattoos on them, but not as many as most of the guy in the club had. Yet, it was the cut he wore that reminded me that he was bad news.

I think I growled under my breath. "My customer service is excellent and is reserved for customers. Are you here to buy something or just annoy me?"

This wasn't me, I wasn't normally this rude, but he surprised me. It had been a few weeks since I had seen Daryl and I had hoped that he was truly gone out of my life. Or at least that's what my head said. It was my heart that beat faster every time I heard the roar of a motorcycle approaching and was disappointed when it wasn't him.

I had a battle waging within myself on whether I was finished with him or not. For my sanity, I wanted to be rid of him, but my memories of that afternoon still ran through my head every day. It was worse at night when I was lying in bed alone and remembering what his hands felt on me.

I half hate him.

But I wanted him anyway. Damn it.

"It's Friday," he said to me as if it was supposed to mean something.

"And?"

He didn't answer me. Instead, I watched him walk back behind the counter and come as close to me as he could. I hoped he couldn't hear my heart as it was beating so fast I thought it was going to jump out of my chest. What was he doing?

"The MC has a standing Friday order, don't we? I'm here to pick it up…as a customer," he said with a smile as he looked down into my eyes. He looked so pleased with himself and I felt like an idiot.

There wasn't any reason for me to be a bitch to him. He had apologized for what happened at the clubhouse. It kind of did flatter me that he was jealous of Wolf, but it was me not wanting to take this further, not him. I knew if I did, I wouldn't be able to resist him. I wanted a better life than coming in second to a club, but I still wanted him at the same time.

I was screwed up and blaming him when the fault was all my own. Damn it.

"I forgot about the order. I'm sorry, Daryl. I was rude and it was uncalled for. It's just…tough, you know." I looked away from him lowering my eyes to his chest. That's the closest I can get without telling him I really still want him. I'm letting my head rule my heart and it's damn hard.

I felt his fingers under my chin and he gently forced my eyes back up to his. The urge to cry was strong and I fought it as hard as I could. "That's the most honest thing you've said to me. And yeah, this is hard. It doesn't have to be, Sophie. Neither of us knows what this could be. "

He didn't give me a chance to answer him. Instead, he crushed his mouth to mine and I melted against him. I had forgotten how good he tasted. How perfect his body felt up against mine. I gave up fighting the battle within myself. He felt too good to say no to anymore.

His fingers fisted in my hair tugging my head back. The blue in his eyes deepened as they burned through mine.

My arms wrapped around his neck holding him tight to me. I didn't care that we were still in the middle of the store. That the huge front plate glass window would show anyone walking by that I had no self-control when it came to this man.

"You need to remember how good we are." His voice was deep and husky. "How good I can make you feel."

Daryl's hand was on my thigh. Normally, I wore jeans to work, but today for some reason I wore a t-shirt with the bakery's logo on it and a jean skirt. I felt his callused fingers touch my bare skin as he slipped them under my skirt.

There's no way we should be doing this here. Not in the middle of Maddie's shop, but I didn't stop him. I never said no as Daryl's fingers moved up my thigh to touch the edge of my pink silk panties. His mouth never left mine as I felt him slide underneath and touch me where no one should ever touch another person in the middle of the day in a bakery by the damn window.

If a customer walked in or Maddie came out from the back, Daryl had his hand up my skirt and was rubbing my clit. I would be so screwed if any of that happened. I was so wet and excited by what he was doing that he brought me to a climax faster than I ever thought possible.

His teeth nipped at my throat as his fingers flicking over my clit. My body trembled at his touch as my own hands slid over his broad, muscular shoulders. It still surprised me how quickly my body reacted to his.

"You're lovin' this, ain't you?" he growled.

By now I had my head resting on his shoulder as he moved his fingers faster. The best I could answer him was with an "Oh God." Seconds later I was coming on his hand and trying not to scream. Daryl held my shaking body until the tidal wave he had thrown me into subsided.

He dropped his hand from touching me and I smoothed down my skirt. I loved what he had done, but I was embarrassed at the same time. Why did I always give in to him so easily?

"So it's a yes, right?" he asked me before sucking on his fingers. The fingers that had just brought me more pleasure than anyone else's ever had.

I was still in that post-orgasm bliss moment. What was he talking about? "Yes to what?"

"Yes to you wanting to give us a try. We're good now."

It was tempting. I wanted to fling myself into his arms again and scream yes, but I had regained enough composure to remember this was more than just him. I needed to hear his response to a simple question. "What's the most important thing in your life?"

"The club." He answered without hesitation.

"Is there anything that could change that?" I asked so softly that it was almost a whisper.

He shook his head. "No. The club will always come first."

"That's your answer then. I want to be the most important thing in my man's life. I deserve that. If that's never going to happen with you, then the answer is 'No' there's nothing to try for."

He couldn't argue with me. I made sense. I hated that I did, but I did.

"Got it. Loud and clear. Now you got that order for me?" Daryl stepped back from me and headed around the counter to where the customers usually stood. He was going to let me go. Not that he ever had me, but I think he realized the idea of us was dead.

Or at least I hoped he did.

"Let me get the boxes," I quickly said as I dashed into the back. "Do not cry, Sophie. Do not let him see you cry," ran through my head as I struggled to regain my composure.

I quickly wiped my eyes and walked over to the shelf where we kept the orders that were waiting for pickup. I saw three boxes this week instead of the usual two. "Maddie, the MC gets three boxes this week?" I called out. Maddie was decorating a custom ordered birthday cake in the workroom.

"Yes. Oh, and I have an extra one that I need to get. I'll bring it out in a second. Ask Brick to wait," she yelled back to me.

"It's not Brick," I mumbled under my breath. Which made me wonder where was the prospect?

I grabbed the three oversize boxes and carefully made my way out to the store. They were heavy, but I had a table that I could easily put them down on out there. Daryl saw me and rushed over to give me a hand. "You should have called me, I would have gotten these."

"I wasn't expecting three boxes. It was always two in the past. Maddie says she has another one coming too. You guys having a party this week?"

"Not that I know. It's just for us at Church."

"I have the last box," Maddie said as she walked in from the back. "Oh, Trax. I didn't expect you. Where's Brick?" she asked sneaking a look at me.

"He got pulled off bakery duty. It's mine now."

Maddie gave him a sympathetic look. "Did you piss off Bear?"

"Nope. All's good. He just wants me to do this run. He's the boss, so I do what I'm told."

That didn't make sense that Bear was making Daryl do such a menial job that it was really for a prospect. Is that the story he wants us to believe or did he ask for this job to see me?

"Well, we like seeing you stop by, don't we Sophie?" Okay, what was up with Maddie? She knew my history with Daryl so why was she saying something like this?"

I had to agree or look childish. "Of course we do." Damn, he was going to be here every Friday. While it was just a quick pick up, I still would have to see his handsome face each week. It was going to be heartbreaking.

"Good to see you, Trax. I have to get back and finish the Murphy girl's birthday cake. This extra box is for Bear. I remember you said he wished to have something to eat later. I hope you enjoy this week's selection." Maddie started to go but Daryl stopped her.

"Three boxes, not two?"

Maddie smiled. "Trying out some mini cakes on you guys and they needed more room. Enjoy." And she and her long red braid vanished into the back.

"I'll ring you up." The sooner he is gone the better it would be. "It's a hundred this week."

"For all this? She's only charging us a hundred? Maddie's fuckin' crazy. There's no way Bear's gonna let me pay only a hundred bucks for all of this." I watched him pull two one hundred dollar bills from his wallet. He had one of those biker wallets with a chain on them. "Take the two hundred and tell Maddie that unless she wants to piss off Bear, she needs to either charge the correct damn amount or stop giving us a discount, We don't need it."

I took the money he held out. "For once I totally agree with you. Maddie needs to up her prices."

The extra cash went into the register. I'd have to figure out how Maddie wanted that rung in. It was time for Daryl to head back to the RDMC clubhouse. "I'll hold the door for you," I volunteered. I needed him to go before I changed my mind and jumped his bones right here in the store.

"I'll take the three big boxes. Can you grab the one for Bear?" he asked.

I picked up the smaller box by the red and white bakery string wrapped around it and headed toward the door. Daryl carefully picked up the bigger ones and headed toward the van. I slid the side panel open and he placed them on the metal floor of the van. When they were no longer piled high and each found their space on the floor, he secured them in place by tucking some blankets they had in the back next to them. The door closed with a soft thud.

I held up the last box for Bear but instead of taking it from me, Daryl stepped closer and again his blue eyes looked down into mine. "I know what you said. I get it, I don't like it, but I get it." Then he took my face between his hands and surprised me by kissing me. It was a deep passionate kiss that I felt from my traitorous lips down to my curling toes. I should have been the one to break the kiss instantly, but I didn't. I simply melted against his chest still holding that damn bakery box.

That man could kiss.

Daryl was the one that stepped back first. We were both breathing heavily as our eyes stayed locked in on the others. Seeing the swirl of emotion in his eyes as he stood there staring at me stole my breath.

He spoke first since I was essentially incapable of any rational thought, saying, "I'll see you next week, Sophie, if not sooner," as he took the box from my hand.

"You do not play fair," I laughed finally finding my voice. "Not at all." He knew that kiss would get to me and it did. I was already questioning why I was doing this and that was after just a kiss. Imagine if I let him get any further?

"Never said I was a good guy. If I have to play dirty, Sophie I will. You want this over, but I don't. Just remember this, when you lose, you're still gonna win."

He turned away from me and opened the passenger door. The box went on the floor and his cut when on the seat. Daryl drove away and I was still standing there on the sidewalk in front of the store. I was so screwed.

I headed back into the store and finished my shift in a bit of a daze.

What was I going to do?

For the rest of the day, I thought about what I let him do what he did to me in the middle of the bakery. I could have lost my job if Maddie walked out or a customer walked in. Am I that desperate for him that I put everything in jeopardy just to have him get me off?

Why him?

Why Daryl?

Why can't it be someone with a regular job and life? Why is my body and heart betraying me with a biker who doesn't even know the word normal? I didn't understand myself. Then again any of the so called "normal" guys I've dated all turned out to be assholes, especially my ex-boyfriend Sean.

None of them ever made me feel the way Daryl does. All he has to do is look at me and I get wet. And that's the sad part. I want more for myself than a biker's lifestyle. I was damned either way.

Saturday morning, I took a walk down to The Divine Cafe to treat myself to one of their iced lattes and a cranberry scone. I settled myself at one of their outside tables since the day was so much less humid than normal. I was engrossed in my phone when I heard a voice say, "Beautiful day, isn't it?"

"Oh hello, Jacob. For once it's not sweltering out here." Jacob was a customer at the bakery. In the beginning, when I started to work he came in maybe once a week, now it's almost every day.

He was an average looking guy who came in for the same order each day - a cheese danish and a buttered roll. He never purchased anything else. Recently, he's started to say more to me when he came in, but he was never a talkative guy.

"Do you mind if I join you?"

That was a surprise.

I didn't want to be rude, even though I was enjoying the quiet. "Sure. Have a seat."

We talked for about half an hour and I was surprised that I was enjoying myself. He seemed so shy at the bakery, but he was much more outgoing here. Then I heard the distant rumble of motorcycles. It got louder and louder as they got closer. I was praying it wasn't the Road Devils, but when I saw Bear leading the pack, I knew it was them.

The rumble of dozens of Harley's traveling two across made it impossible to talk. It was an impressive sight to see all of these hard bikers traveling together in near-perfect formation.

I don't know why I was nervous. I had nothing to hide. Daryl knew how I felt and even though he kissed me yesterday, it had to mean nothing. I had woken up this morning with a new resolve to stay strong when it came to him. I couldn't let a little kiss sidetrack me, plus there couldn't be any more kisses.

His kisses were my weakness so I had to make sure I never let him do that again.

And those fingers of his. I couldn't even think about what they could do or I'd be completely at his mercy.

It was as if he knew I was there as he rode past with the club. Even though he had sunglasses on, his head was turned looking right at me. He was going extremely slow as he was staring at me the entire time. I could tell he wasn't very happy.

I quickly looked back at Jacob and smiled. Since talking was impossible until the club passed by, I watched each and every one of them as they rode by the coffee shop. I noticed Jacob refused to look their way as he slipped his coffee. I wondered if it was some sort of weekend ride as I saw several of the guys with women riding behind them. Even Chrissy was there sitting behind Diesel. She waved when she saw me.

All I wanted was a quiet morning to myself and not only I ended up with Jacob for company but the whole MC driving by watching me. All this added up to me being unusually nervous and when I'm nervous I can do stupid things like accepting Jacob's invitation to dinner next Saturday.

I regretted it after I said yes. He was a nice guy, maybe a bit boring so far, but I really hadn't given him a chance. If I kept thinking about Daryl, no one else stood a chance. I may have regretted saying yes, but it was a step in the right direction.

TRAX

I was fucking pissed. Who the fucking hell was that asshole sitting with Sophie at the coffee shop? She knows I want her and I don't give a fuckin' goddamn that she says no. She wants this too and is just too damn stubborn to admit it. If that loser lays one finger on her, he's dead.

D.E.A.D … Dead.

This is me being mad. So damn mad that I can barely see straight. I almost took out the bike ahead of me since I was looking at Sophie and not the road. I can't believe a chick has me this worked up that I almost turned my bike around and went back to punch him in the face. It took everything in me not to do that, but the club and today's ride had to come first. A little bit of sanity returned as I rode further out of sight and out of town.

I'd take care of this on Monday. You can bet your ass I will.

It left me pissed off all weekend and the guys steered clear of me for the most part. I drank myself stupid when we got back Saturday night and paid the price all day on Sunday. Monday morning, I was parked down a few stores waiting for the bakery to open at six-thirty in the morning. Normally, it took an act of God to get me up this early, but I was on a goddamn mission. Plus, I had to be at the garage by eight and this was gonna be the only time I could talk to her.

Except, she never showed up. There was some older woman behind the counter so I rode to the garage early and caught up on the paperwork that had been piling up. I liked my job, I really did, but I could do without the forms, invoices, and spreadsheets I had to deal with. I never finished high school so that I could do this stuff was nothing short of a damned miracle.

It's Tuesday morning now and I'm back waiting for the bakery to open up when I should still be asleep. I'm reclining on my bike as I see Sophie bringing in tray after tray of baked goods from the back. I should have a smile on my face, but I don't. I just ain't sure how this is gonna go over.

I try and plan my approach as Angel Valley slowly comes awake. The main street is quiet at this time of day. Only one other car drove past me as I sat on my bike watching the store.

The second she flipped the closed sign to open I was off my bike and stomped my way to the door. I stopped just out of sight and took a deep breath. If I went in there like a bull on a rampage it wasn't gonna get me anywhere. I needed a more tactful approach.

And I was not known for having any tact at all. This could be a big fucking challenge.

The bells announced my arrival as I walked through the door. "Good morning!" Sophie said as she turned around. I saw her smile drop when she saw it was me. "Oh, it's you. What can I get for you, Daryl?"

Shit. She sure didn't sound happy to see me. Maybe if I bought something it would help. "Don't sound so excited to see me, Soph. Give me a dozen assorted donuts for the guys at the shop."

"I'm sure they will enjoy these," she said without looking at me. Yeah, it was slightly awkward and it was about to get worse.

I let a few seconds go by before I blurted out, "Who was that guy?"

"What guy?" Oh, she knew exactly who I was talking about.

"You know the fuckin' guy I'm talking about. The one with you at the damn coffee shop."

She didn't answer me right away. I knew she stalling so I pushed her, "Sophie, answer my fuckin' question."

She dropped the box on the counter and her hands went on her hips. Good, now we were both pissed. "Daryl, I don't have to answer to you. There is nothing going on between us, so I don't owe you any explanation. I can talk to anyone I want to and it's none of your damn business."

She was right, but that wasn't gonna stop me. Sophie was gonna be mine and I'll be damned if some asshole pussy was gonna try to worm his way in. I walked around the display cases and stood so close to her and that she took an unconscious step back. Her eyes were no longer angry. She didn't know me well enough to know that I would never hurt her, but she would.

"Woman, you need to accept the fact that the second I stopped to help you with that flat tire you were mine. I proved that to you in that backseat when you were bouncing on my dick. I even hit a fuckin' brother because he was touching you. All of this going on between us, I don't do. I never chased a damn woman in my life, but look at me here. The sun's barely up and my ass is your first customer because you need to know this is happening. Whoever that asshole was, he's gone. Got it?"

The indecision was all over her face. I knew she wanted me, but not my lifestyle. I was going to be a Road Devil until my dying day. All she had to do was accept that and we could move forward.

Except, her look changed to one of being pissed off again. She put her hand on my chest and pushed me backward with steady pressure. I moved two feet before I stopped letting her do that.

"Trax..." Great, she was using my club name instead of Daryl. That wasn't good. "...as I said you have no say in who I talk to or even date." Wait...fuck, did she say date? Was she dating that loser? "I told you we're not going to happen. If I am not a priority in my guy's life, what good am I?"

Take a deep breath, man. You gotta be calm about this ran through my head. I made sure she was looking at me when I said, "We don't know what's going to happen unless we try. All we got to go on is some great sex. Normally, that's all I do and I don't stay around for more. This time it ain't enough. I can't get you outta my head." This time I pulled her closer to me. "Please," I whispered as I rested my forehead on hers. It was a word I never used.

I heard her sigh. "I want to Daryl, but I can't. If we try and I fall for you, I'm going to end up coming in second with a broken heart. I need to put myself first this time. No one else is so I have to. I'm sorry."

I leaned my head back and saw that she had tears in her beautiful eyes. I hated that she made sense. My thumbs wiped away her tears and I pulled her into a hug which was something I rarely ever did. I wasn't a hugger. The brothers all did that quick back-pounding hug, but that was it. Who did I ever have to hug?

"I won't push you, but don't expect me to go away. I'm not giving up that easily," I told her. I stepped back from her and looked over at the box of donuts, "These done?"

"Oh no, just a second."

Sophie finished filling the box and handed it to me. I gave her a ten-dollar bill and started to leave. "Daryl, you need your change."

"Naw, I'm good. See you Friday." I said as I walked from behind the counter to the door. I didn't look back at her. I wanted to but didn't. I just didn't trust myself.

The donut box fit in my saddlebag and I made my way over to the garage. The guys at the shop devoured the donuts and I kept my head buried in an engine all day. Sophie was proving to be a harder nut to crack than I anticipated; then again I never went after a woman before. I never had to because they all knew what to expect out of me which was nothing.

I stayed away from Sophie until Friday.

I didn't want to admit that I was a bit nervous driving in and that's not something I'm used to. Sophie's fucking with my head and she ain't even trying. I planned on not pushing her today. She needs time to realize that I'm a decent guy, well usually, and the idea of us being together or even just trying is a good one.

We may not last a week, but call me fucking crazy, I want to try. This is something I never wanted before or even considered with anyone. I never saw a decent relationship until Striker married Marci. One minute he's banging anything he can and the next he's fighting with this woman who forced his bike off the road when she didn't see him. They yelled non-stop as she kept showing up here blaming him for the small dent her car got when it was his bike that was fucked. When a couple of us from the club walked in on them fucking out in the open in the clubhouse, everything changed. These two are so in love, it can almost make you sick.

But they are making it work along with a couple of other couples. Diesel's another one as he's got Chrissy, but they ain't been together long enough to know if they are in it for the long haul. If these women can handle having their guy a Road Devil, why can't Sophie?

This is a position I never thought I'd be in, so I am fuckin' clueless on what to do. Apparently, my you're-gonna-be-mine-whether-you-like-it-or-not approach wasn't the best idea. Now I'm gonna try for slow and steady. Now sure what else to do.

Luckily for me, the parking spot in front of the bakery is empty and I pull right in. There's a customer in the store and as I park I realize it's that dick I saw talking to Sophie at the coffee shop. This ain't happening, no fucking way.

I get out of the van and shrug into my cut. I'm boiling mad cause I see him smiling at her and her smiling back at him. There's only one way I can play this and not screw everything up.

I open the door and those damn tinkling bells announce me. Sophie looks over at the door and the second she sees me, I see the scared look on her face. I leaned back against the cake refrigerator with my arms crossed and wait my turn with a smirk I am doing the damnedest not to lose.

The limp dick asshole she's talking to turns and sees me. He may not know me, but he knows the cut. The flash of fear in his eyes turned my smirk into a full-fledged smile. "Sophie, you can take care of him," he offered.

"I'm good. I can wait."

"Oh, no I insist," Mr. Limp Dick said. He was trying to get me out of the store before him. That was not happening.

"I'm good," I replied again this time a bit more sternly. "Babe..." my eyes locked in on Sophie's, "...finish with your customer. I have plenty of time today."

I kept the smile on my face as neither one of them liked that I called her "Babe." The dickwad needed to know that she and I weren't strangers.

"Fine," he huffed. "I'll take my usual cheese danish and a buttered roll."

I rolled my eyes at his order and I saw Sophie stifle a laugh at me. She turned to fix his order and I pulled my big hunting knife out its sheath on my hip. It didn't matter that I had come from the garage, my knife was always with me. I was pretending to clean my nails with it when she placed the bag on the counter. Sophie over at me and saw what I was doing. "Trax, stop that."

Mr. Limp Dick turned around and I saw his eyes go wide at my knife. "Should you have a weapon in this store? I'm sure that's highly illegal."

"It's totally fuckin' legal, which is why it's always on my belt." I slid it back into its sheath so he would see that I did indeed openly wear it.

"That'll be $5.26, Jacob." Now I knew limp dicks name.

I rolled my eyes again as I watched him count out the change and hand it to her. "Thank you, Sophie. I'll pick you up tomorrow at six-thirty. Are you going to be alright?"

I knew he was talking about me. Did that asshole think I was actually going to hurt her? It took everything in me I had not to smash his face. Not to mention, they were going out on a date? I know I told her to get rid of him. She's not gonna date anyone, 'cept me. I kept the smile on my face but if he stayed any longer, I couldn't be responsible for my actions.

"I'll be fine. Trax and I are...friends."

"Close friends." I couldn't resist.

I could see that Jacob didn't know how to respond to that. Good. He needed to know Sophie and I knew each other. I wasn't here just because I had a fucking sweet tooth.

"Alright, I'll see you Saturday. I'm looking forward to it," he said that last part while looking at me. Maybe Mr. Limp Dick was trying to grow some manly balls? Then again looking at what he was wearing the guy had lost his man card long ago.

"Nice pants," I laughed as he walked out the door. The dude was wearing plaid pants. He had to have been drunk when he got dressed this morning.

Sophie waved at him and turned to glare at me when he was gone. "What the hell, Daryl?"

"Oh, so now I'm Daryl?" I did nothing to hold back the attitude she heard. "And you're going out on a date with that loser? C'mon babe, you know he ain't got what I do. You're mine, you know that."

I was doing my best to stay in control, but there was no way I wanted her to go out on a date with that asshole. I may wear jeans and shirts with ripped-off sleeves, but you wouldn't catch me in a fucking blazer with plaid pants. Who the hell dressed this guy?

"Stop, Daryl. Just stop! We are not dating. We are not ever going to date. And you have no say in my life. Jacob seems like a nice guy, so yes I am going out with him. Now I'm going to get the club's order. Stay here and just shut up!" And she stormed through the doorway and I heard her yell out, "Stop calling me babe!"

I rested my arms on the counter and laid my head on them. I was fucking up bad. Every approach I tried all ended up with me doing the same thing - demanding she be with me and she kept telling me no. I knew I should give up even though I didn't want to. Maybe this date would suck and she'd realize she made a mistake. Yeah, fat chance.

It was time to step back even though that was the last thing I wanted to do.

I wasn't going to go anywhere, just pull back on what I was doing. I was going to see who this asshole she thought was better than me was. I'd get Code looking him up the second Church was over today. I was gonna know him better than his Momma did.

Sophie brought out the boxes and we didn't say much as she rang up the sale. She held the door for me and helped me to get everything to the van. When she turned to head back in I grabbed her arm. "Thanks, Sophie." She smiled at me before turning to go. "Wait."

I could see the 'what the hell now running through her head' as she turned back to look at me.

"Plaid pants? Really? You're gonna date a guy that wears plaid pants?"

I could see a smile start in the corner of her mouth, but then it quickly went away. "At least they aren't covered in grease," and she was gone.

I looked down at my work pants and not only were there dark grease stains on them, but I also had a hole in my knee that thankfully she didn't mention. I worked in a garage, so what did she expect? So I made a mental note to change on Fridays before I came over.

At least she'd never see me in any damn plaid pants. That guy's nothing but an embarrassment to men.

Fuckin' Christ.

The clock on the dash caught my attention and it was telling me I was pushing my luck. I got out of town as quickly as I could to make it back in time for church. I didn't have a message from Maddie this week, so if I was late, I was fucked.