Finding Out (novella) Read online

  I gulped, and with wide eyes, I watched him stalk his way over. He stopped just beside me, and in a deep voice, with a hint of a growl, he said, “Ivy, right?”

  And I said, “Huh?”

  His serious face stayed serious, only I caught the little lift in the corner of his mouth. I only caught it because I happened to be staring at his mouth-watering lips. He pulled out the chair opposite me, and turned it backwards to straddle it. His hands rested on the top of the chair and he stared a piercing stare straight to my heart.

  “So?” he said.

  That was when I vomited, not actual spew, but in a sense, only with words. That’s right...I vomited words right in his face.

  “Hi, yes...I’m...ah, Ivy and I guess you’re Fox, right? I mean, I hope I don’t have that wrong, you are Fox, right?” He sent me a chin lift and I continued puking works, “Thank you for agreeing to meet me, you...um...I mean. I didn’t think you would. You are extremely good looking and, well, you saw my photo. I don’t really know why I joined the site. I mean I do. It’s been a long time since I’ve had sex. Oh, my God, I did not just say that. I did. God, I did.” My hands went to my glowing cheeks.

  “Let me explain. I didn’t join the site to just have sex with random guys.” I grabbed my latte for something to do or else they would be running through his thick hair. “I joined...dammit; I may as well just come out and say it. I need a date...not for sex, though that would be good.” I reached my hand up and shook it in front of me. “Not that you have to have sex with me. What I’m trying to say is I joined ages ago, but was too scared to get on, and now I have no choice.” I took a breath and placed my hands in my lap. “I’m really nervous, if you couldn’t tell...did I mention you’re good looking and that it’s making me really nervous and the way you’re staring at me without saying anything...I ramble in situations like this and I can’t seem to help myself.” Another breath. “I was meaning to tell you...that I need a date, for my bitchy cousin’s wedding that’s coming up. That’s why I got the courage to get back on that site.”

  I snapped my lips shut. Oh God, was I getting an eye twitch? Hell. Yes I was. There it went again and again. Shit.

  Next thing I heard was something being slammed down and then Justine was stomping our way. Oh, sweet Jesus and Joseph. She thought I was winking at her. I waved my hands up in front of me and with wide eyes I said, “Justine, no it’s fine. At least I think it is.” The poor guy hadn’t even said a word. I just knew he was going to run for the hills.

  Justine stopped beside us and asked, “So I don’t need to pretend to be your gay partner?”

  Fuck me.

  Sighing, my head flopped forward so my chin rested against my chest. “No, Justine, but thank you,” I uttered.

  “Well good,” she said and leaned closer to me. “He is sex on legs, Ivy. I’d stoop him.” With that, she turned and walked off.

  Holy shit.

  “I hav’ta get goin’,” Fox said and stood up, moving to the side of the table.

  I didn’t look up at him, only nodded and whispered, “I understand.” He was way out of my league.

  “Tonight, I’ll pick you up here at five. We’re going out to dinner.”

  My head snapped up. “Are you crazy?” I asked. After everything he just witnessed, I was sure I’d lost any chance of anything.

  Crossing his muscled arms over his chest, he grunted. “No. I like what I see in you. We go out and talk. ‘Bout your cousin’s weddin’, ‘bout why I joined the site and...‘bout us havin’ sex.”

  I swore as soon as the word sex left his sweet mouth I was jabbed in the snatch by an invisible dick because I nearly came on the spot.

  He smirked. “Five?”

  I nodded and then whispered, “Five.”

  His parting word was, “Good.” Then he left.

  Two seconds later, Helen walked in, she took one look at me and uttered, “Shit, you’re a goner.” She came over and sat in the seat Fox vacated. “He wasn’t here long. Was he an arse? It doesn’t look like he was. You’re all...moony.”

  “No—” I began, only to stop when Manny walked up and placed a piece of paper on the table.

  “Miss M, this was left for you on another table.”

  I smiled up at him. “Thank you.” I unfolded the paper that held my name on the front. It read, The way you acted with that man was disgusting. Scoffing I scrunched the paper up and placed it in my coffee cup.

  “What was that?” Helen asked.

  “Nothing really, I think it was from one of my family members popping in to annoy me.” I rolled my eyes.

  She snorted. “Annoying.” Helen sang, and then smiled. “Come on, I need you to tell me the sweet stuff. Tell me everything.” She leaned forward, her head in her hands with her elbows on the table.

  “Well...” I started only to stop when there was a loud commotion at the front counter.

  “I don’t give a fuck about the policy and that you can’t divulge information like that. I know the fuckin’ owner is Ivy Morrison. Just point me in the right goddamn way to see her,” A beautiful blonde yelled at Justine over the counter.

  “Fuck you,” Justine hissed with a glare in her green eyes.

  The blonde laughed and said, ‘I like you. You got fire. But, sweetheart, you won’t win against me.”

  “Jeesh, Satan with a pussy, the girl is doing her job. Leave her be,” a tall, obviously gay man said from beside the blonde.

  “Dee, calm down and listen to Julian,” a dark-haired woman sighed. “Miss, thank you for your help—”

  “She wasn’t any bloody help,” the girl named Dee snapped.

  Before she could scare any customers away or before Justine jumped the counter and attacked the foul-mouthed woman, I stood from the table and called, “Excuse me.” The three of them turned to face me. “Is there anything I can help you with? I am the owner, Ivy Morrison.”

  “Well fuck me sideways,” Dee smiled.

  “Oh, bless my gay heart, aren’t you pretty.” Julian grinned, and as the dark-haired lady made her way over to me, the other two followed.

  She held out her hand and beamed. “Hi, I’m Zara. I was wondering if we could have a chat?”

  I looked from one smiling face to another and then nodded, gesturing to the table where Helen was still sitting. Julian pulled up a chair from another table and Dee sat on one side, while Zara, who was just as gorgeous as Dee, sat on the other side of me.

  “So, is there a problem you have with my café?”

  “No,” Zara answered and then introduced herself to Helen.

  “Hi, I’m Helen, Ivy’s best friend.”

  “I’m Deanna, but most call me Dee.”

  “Or Hell Mouth, slutguts, hooker, sponge cake...oh, I could go on and on.” Julian smiled and then shook Helen’s offered hand. “I’m Julian. I just came along for the ride with these two interfering crazies.”

  “Whatever, gay man.” Dee snorted. “You love this shit just as much as us.”

  I cleared my throat. “And what is this?” I questioned.

  “You just had a date with Killer right?” Zara asked.

  “Killer?”

  “Sorry, I mean Fox.”

  “How is it that you know all their first names and I don’t?” Dee asked Zara.

  “Because I have a heart and I care.”

  Dee shrugged and rolled her eyes. “I have a heart...now.”

  Zara patted her hand and said, “You do, honey, you do and I’m so happy for you.”

  Oh, my God. What in the hell is going on? Who were these nice freaks?

  “What in the hell is going on?” I asked.

  “Sorry,” Zara said, “you see, we just wanted to make sure you were okay after the date with Killer or as you know him Fox.”

  My heart started tap dancing. “Shouldn’t I be?” I squeaked.

  “Yes, no, um...Yes,” Zara stuttered, “the thing is, Fox lost a bet with his biker brothers—”

  “He’s a biker?�
� I gasped.

  “Well, yes, but a nice one...sort of. Anyway, what I was saying was that after he lost the bet, he was dared to join this dating site and go on at least one date and you were it. I just wanted to make sure he treated you right. Sometimes he can be a bit...broody and abrupt or not talk at all.”

  Julian and Deanna nodded along with Zara.

  “He, um, he was fine?” I said, making it sound like a question.

  Helen scoffed. “She was more than fine. At first glance when I arrived, he’d already left, but when I spotted Ivy here, she was off in la-la land. I think she fell already and hard.”

  “Hoo-boy.” Julian clapped.

  “Awesome.” Dee smiled.

  “What happened?” Zara asked.

  “That’s what I want to know,” Helen said.

  “Well...” I fidgeted in my seat. “You see, he really didn’t get a chance to say much.” I bit my lip and then spewed once again. “I get nervous around good-looking people, not that you all aren’t good looking because you are, and if I was I’d be checking you out more. Anyway, I have a tendency to ramble when I’m nervous, which is what I did with Fox and I ended up telling him my plan—”

  “Oh, God,” Helen moaned in sympathy. She knew all about my ramblings.

  “I mentioned to him that I just really needed a date for my bitchy cousin’s wedding and something about not having sex in a long time. Though, I did say I didn’t go on the site to just have sex, but really it was all because I need to find a date for the wedding.” I took a breath and looked at their wide eyes. “Then, he said he had to go. But that he was going to be here at five to take me to dinner where we will talk about why he was on the site, my cousin’s wedding and...um, intercourse.”

  “Holy sex on wheels, I totally wish I was there to hear that. I mean Killer is smoking hot,” Julian said.

  Deanna and Zara shared a look, a look that caused them to smile. That look and smile had me on edge.

  “What?” I asked. “What’s that look about?” I pointed from one woman to another.

  “Nothin’,” Dee smirked.

  “Should I be worried about this?” I squawked. “I mean, he’s a biker. Aren’t bikers bad guys? Oh, my God, did he get his name from being a killer? Do I need to run and hide?”

  Zara placed her hand over mine. “Honey, no to all of the above. You have nothing to fear from this man. Sure he is broody and snappy, but it’s obvious you have caught his attention and honestly,” —she looked to Dee and then back— “we’re glad. He’s a nice guy, Ivy, and yes he may be a biker, but the Hawks MC Club members are good men. I should know, I married their president.”

  My eye widened. “You did?”

  “Yes and he’s wonderful, sweet, kind, but bossy and all alpha male. Deanna has just gotten engaged to another biker too.”

  “You are?”

  “Hell yes, they’re hot.” She grinned.

  I turned to Julian and asked, “What about you?”

  “Oh no, lovey, I’m not married, engaged or doing any bikers. My partner is Zara’s brother and he runs in his own kind of hotness. Though, I do have to say...not many bikers would put up with my,” he waved his hands over himself “whole greatness, but these men do and it just proves how special these women’s snatches are. These bikers love and devote their time and lives to their women. If I wasn’t with Mattie, I’d try and snag me one, because then I’d know I’d be safe and loved for the rest of my gay life. Not that I won’t be with Mattie. He is possessive and manly hot,” he sighed, smiling.

  Wow. These men sounded wonderful.

  “Are you going to go on this date with Fox?” Helen asked me.

  They all waited with baited breath for my answer. I already knew I would, even after I found out he was a broody biker. However, these three awesome people had totally sold me on Fox.

  Smiling, I said, “Yes.”

  Helen smiled back at me.

  Julian squealed. Deanna yelled, “Fuck yeah.” And Zara quietly said, “Yay,” with a big smile upon her face.

  Chapter Three

  My afternoon was very strange. I left Justine and Manny in charge while I went home to find something to wear.

  I wasn’t alone though.

  No, Helen and my three new friends all followed me the block to my house. While Julian, with Trixie, my dog, at his side, riffled through my wardrobe looking for something for me to wear, I sat at the kitchen table with Zara standing in front of me as she applied my make-up. Helen was sitting opposite us gabbing with Deanna.

  How was it possible that we had only met these three people hours ago, yet it already felt like we’d known them for years?

  “Okay, I’m nearly done. It’s not too much so you don’t look like a...”

  “Hooker,” Deanna supplied for Zara.

  “Yes.” Zara nodded. She picked up my make-up mirror from the table and held it out in front of me. “What do you think?” she asked.

  “Oh, my,” I sighed. She had done a wonderful job. It was delicate and subtle. Just perfect. “I love it, thank you.”

  She beamed down at me. “My pleasure. Julian,” she called down the hall. Trixie came running. When we had walked through my front door and Julian started cooing over Trixie, she hadn’t left his side.

  “What, cabbage breath?” Julian answered.

  “We’d better get going soon, get your skinny butt out here.” She helped me tidy the makeup as she explained, “I can’t leave the twins with Talon for too long and it’s already been an hour.”

  “You have twins?” I gushed.

  “Sure do...” she paused to grin, “and Maya who’s seven and Cody who’s thirteen, one big, happy family.”

  “That sounds wonderful. What about you, Deanna, do you have any children?” I asked.

  She smiled a warm smile, her eyes softening. “Yes, my man has a two-year-old. Her name is Swan.”

  We heard Julian’s shoes clip-clopping down the wooden hallway floor when he said, “And don’t forget you’re trying for your own little demon. God knows I’d never get out of bed if I was trying to get knocked up with Griz’s kid.” He laughed as he walked around the corner carrying a red and white sundress.

  I gulped. “Really?”

  “Shit, yes,” Deanna said.

  “Killer will love that on you,” Zara added.

  “And maybe you’ll get more than a sentence out of him.” Julian grinned.

  “You’ll look smoking hot in that, Ivy.” Helen smiled.

  # #

  I arrived back at work in the red-and-white sunflower dress. My hair was loose and wavy, my makeup minimal and pretty. I teamed my outfit with black ballet slippers. In case the night grew cold, I also brought along a black jacket. As soon as I was through the door, Manny wolf whistled and Justine clapped and said, “You look hot, Ivy.”

  Blushing, I replied, “Um, thanks. Is everything nearly ready for lock-up?”

  “Sure is, Miss M. But I doubt you’ll be checking everything twice before you leave.”

  “Why do you say that?”

  Manny gestured with his chin just as the bell jingled as the door opened. I turned to find Fox standing in the doorway. His body had stilled, except for his eyes. No, they ran along my body and finally landed on my face. “You ready?” he asked.

  My body sagged. I was a little deflated from his reaction. I guess that maybe he wasn’t happy with what he saw.

  Justine must have seen this and I was thankful that no one else, besides Manny, was in the store when she hissed, “Don’t be a jerk. You just eye fucked her, now tell her how much you like what you see.”

  “Justine—” I started.

  “Justine,” Manny warned. He grabbed her hand and pulled until she stood behind him. I was wondering why he’d done that until I saw Fox’s face. It looked like he was about to verbally rip shreds through Justine. His lip was raised, his brows drawn together and a growl rumbled from within his chest.

  “Fuck,” he snapped. “This is why
I don’t do this datin’ shit.” He took a step forward, wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me close. His mouth met mine. It was hard and possessive, only too gentle, and when his tongue ran over my bottom lip, I gasped and he took the chance to force his tongue into my mouth, which I liked, a lot. Coming out of my shocked state, I wrapped my arms around his neck and gripped him closely to me.

  He growled. I moaned and then a throat cleared behind us. Fox pulled away and I whimpered. He ignored our audience, and with our faces close, he uttered, “You look edible. In fact, you taste like cupcakes and I want fuckin’ more.”

  I whimpered again.

  “Wow, oh wow, oh wow.” I heard Justine say behind me.

  “Now, are you ready?” Fox asked.

  “Um...yes?” I said and made it sound like a question, because honestly, I wasn’t sure I was ready for Fox Kilpatrick.

  He smirked for a second and then it disappeared. He looked behind me and said, “Later.” He took my hand and turned back to the door.

  I looked over my shoulder to a worried Manny and a smiling Justine and said, “You’ll both be okay?”

  “Oh, we’ll be fine, Ivy. Have fun,” Justine sang.

  I managed a nod before we were out the door and in front of his black Jeep.

  He opened the passenger door for me and nodded to it. “In,” he stated.

  Biting my bottom lip to hide my smile, I thought of what Zara, Deanna and Julian had said. They were right. Fox was a man of minimal words. Climbing in, he shut the door and I got to admire the view of Fox in black jeans and a white tee as he walked around the front of his car and then climbed in.

  “Um,” I started, “where are we going?”

  There’s a seafood joint a few blocks away. Hell, do you even like seafood?” he asked. Worry marred his face with drawn brows.

  “Yes, I do. It sounds nice.”

  He looked at me and then back to the road. “Good.”

  It didn’t take us long to get there. Soon enough, we were seated opposite each other with a menu in front of us. I knew I was studying the menu, but I could feel Fox’s gaze on me.

  Looking up, I asked, “Do you know what you want?”

  “Yes,” he growled.