Bad Boy Series: Hawk's Call (Bad Boy Romance Book 1) Page 2

  They maintained eye contact for several seconds before Robyn broke the spell that seemed to bind them. She offered him a crisp head nod then slid into the driver’s seat of her car.

  Her fingers trembled as she turned the key in the ignition. That man was completely unnerving. His mere presence seemed to steal her breath away. Thank God she wouldn’t be seeing him again.

  Chapter 3

  Robyn had made a reservation at the cheapest hotel she could find in Brown County. The Meadowlark Inn was small and old, but the rooms were clean, which was good enough for her.

  She dragged her suitcase into the room and headed straight to the bathroom. The first order of business was a warm shower. In just a matter of seconds she was stripped naked standing under a steaming shower with surprisingly strong water pressure.

  Robyn stayed in the shower longer than usual. The hot water beat on her shoulders, loosening the tight muscles. She closed her eyes and tipped her head back, letting the water wash over her, allowing herself a moment to completely relax.

  As soon as she did, an image of the big man floated before her eyes. God, he was so hot.

  Lord, he was so scary.

  Big men scared the hell out of her. Her many-times-married mother had preferred big men. A few of them were mean drunks who were free with their fists, and Robyn had suffered more than one blow from their hands. And then there was her mother’s third husband.

  Leo Van Dyke was a huge man, tall and heavy. He liked to drink and didn’t like to work. He was always “between jobs,” which meant he was home a lot. Robyn’s mother worked as a bartender and was gone frequently at night. Robyn couldn’t remember how many times she’d watched her stepfather drink all evening before passing out in front of the TV.

  She’d never trusted him. He watched her. She could feel it. Then one night when she was 14, Robyn was in her room reading a book. It was a Friday, and eight-year-old Crystal was spending the night with a friend from school while her mother was working. She was alone in their shabby apartment with Leo. She tried to stay as quiet as possible, not wanting to draw attention to herself.

  It was just about midnight and Robyn was getting ready for bed. She’d just slipped into her nightgown when there was a knock on the door. She held her breath. Maybe he would think she was asleep.

  No such luck. She watched the door handle turn, and the door creaked open. Leo stuck his balding head around the door, his narrow eyes searching the room for her. When they spotted her standing by her closet, a feral gleam lit up their pale blue pupils.

  “I came to see if you need anything before bedtime.” He stepped into the room and walked over to her. “After all, I am your stepdaddy, even if you don’t appreciate that fact. I’ll take care of all your needs, little darling.”

  The smell of his beer-tainted breath nearly gagged her. She forced herself to hide her revulsion and shook her head.

  “No. I don’t need anything.”

  “Ah, now, dumpling, I think you’re wrong. I think I’ve got exactly what you need.” He pounced then, grabbing her by the arms and forcing a wet, slobbery kiss on her lips. “Come here now and don’t fight me. Just let me teach you a thing or two.”

  Robyn panicked when he pulled her tight against him, his blubbery lips covering her mouth. Her hands instinctively balled into fists and began pounding at him, fighting him with everything she had in her. He raised a meaty fist and hit her, hard. Her head rang with the force of the blow and she staggered. He took advantage of the moment and threw her on the bed, falling on top of her with all his weight.

  She struggled and fought against his hands roaming all over her body. They pushed up under her nightgown and rutted under her panties. God, he was going to rape her. The thought drove her to fight harder but it was like a mouse fighting an eagle. She was losing the battle, and quickly.

  She didn’t know why her mother came home early that night, but thank God she did. She burst through the bedroom door like an avenging angel, armed with a stiletto she’d pulled off her foot and a big old purse. She hammered and beat at the man until he let Robyn loose and turned on her mother.

  As soon as Robyn realized she was free she didn’t waste a moment. She ran to the kitchen and grabbed a cast iron skillet, the first weapon she found. Racing back into the bedroom, she watched for a moment as her mother struggled with Leo. First Mom on top, then Leo. Moving in at just the right moment, Robyn hoisted the pan high and brought it crashing down on Leo’s head.

  That was the end of the marriage to Leo. But her mother hadn’t learned her lesson. She went on to marry Calvin, a junkie who liked to gamble and then Joey, a schizophrenic with a drinking problem. Each one worse than the next. Drunks, druggies, and sickos, they paraded through their lives like the seasons, one following the other. It was almost a relief when her mother died when Robyn was 21 and she knew there would be no more stepfathers in her life.

  But it was after Leo that Robyn had decided to learn to defend herself. She never wanted to feel that helpless again. She started taking lessons in self-defense and became the star pupil at the local girls’ club. Now she knew that if she ever had to she could whip ass with the best of them.

  So why had she felt so vulnerable when the big man was near her today? She wasn’t a helpless teenager anymore. She wasn’t weak or defenseless. Yet there was something about the man that frightened her, something that made her feel powerless, helpless.

  And something that made her heart pound faster, her knees grow weak, and moisture spring between her legs. Something magnetic that drew her to him like ants drawn to sugar.

  Robyn turned her face into the pounding water and tried not to think. She stood like that until the water turned cold and she had to get out of the shower and face the world.

  Chapter 4

  There was still enough time to run into town and start a preliminary search for Crystal. It was still daylight when she climbed back into her old black Malibu. Her first stop was the bar her sister had called her from. She found a parking place less than a block away and walked to Devil Dan’s. Swallowing down her fearful instincts, she walked into the bar.

  She kept a hard expression on her face as she made her way to the bar, managing to push in between two burly guys and order a beer. The place was busy, the bar full and most of the tables crowded with people around them. She observed a fairly rough-looking crowd and immediately became aware of a lot of attention from some of the male clientele, including the old guy sitting next to her.

  She’d brought a picture of Crystal with her and asked the bartender if he’d seen her. He took a brief look at the photo she held out and he shook his shaved head.

  “Are you sure? She called me from here a few days ago.” Robyn knew she sounded whiny but she couldn’t help it. She wanted so much for this to go easily but obviously that wasn’t going to happen.

  “Sorry, lady. I was off most of the week. You need to talk to some of the other bartenders.”

  Crap. Now she’d have to come back if she couldn’t find anyone else who had seen her sister. Her russet-colored brows furrowed, wondering if she’d have any better luck with the waitress.

  “How about I buy you a beer, lady?”

  She turned at the sound of a gruff voice near her ear. Her gaze collided with the wrinkled eyes of the man sitting next to her.

  “No, thanks, I’ve still got plenty.” She fingered the photo she’d brought with her. “I don’t suppose you’ve seen this girl around here?”

  She didn’t have much hope that he would have come into contact with Crystal.

  “Well, I’m here most every evening. Let me have a closer look at that picture.” The man took the photograph in his hands and studied it closely. “You know, I think I did see her in here last week. She was with a greasy looking biker.”

  Robyn’s heart began to thump. Maybe she was getting close.

  “She looked like a sweet young thing.” He ducked his head, looking embarrassed to admit he’d noticed her. “But
that biker guy had a tight leash on her.”

  “Did you hear the guy’s name?” Robyn leaned forward on her barstool, her breathing stilled.

  “Yeah, I think she called him Guts.”

  Guts. Then this guy really had seen Crystal.

  Robyn drove back to the motel feeling hopeful. According to Clay, the guy sitting next to her, Guts was still in town, so that meant Crystal was probably nearby, too. For the first time since Crystal had run away from home a month ago, Robyn felt optimistic. She was close. She knew it.

  She tumbled into bed, expecting to fall right to sleep, but she was wrong. She found she was too pent up, too anxious about Crystal, to rest. She tossed and turned, thoughts bounding through her head. What if Crystal had left the area? What if Guts had harmed her? She shuddered at the idea.

  When thoughts of Crystal began to fade and her body gave in to exhaustion, a picture of the man who had changed her tire fluttered through her mind. Damn. She’d never get to sleep if she didn’t get thoughts of him out of her head. She rolled over, flipped her pillow to the cool side, and buried her face in the clean fabric. She tried blinking, but the provocative images kept appearing before her eyes.

  Good Lord, what the hell was wrong with her? The man was someone she was never going to see again. Just a blip on her screen of life. Just a big badass dude who she’d had a very brief encounter with. So why did vivid images of him keep replaying through her mind? Why did she imagine how it would feel to kiss him?

  Well, that was one question she knew would never be answered. There would never be the opportunity to find out. The man was gone. Simply another ship passing through her life. No big deal.

  So why did she picture him every time she closed her eyes?

  And why did she dream of him after she fell into a restless sleep?

  Chapter 5

  The next few days Robyn spent looking for her sister. She went into town early each day and wandered from shop to shop showing Crystal’s picture and making inquiries. She spent most of her time running into dead ends, but she met a couple helpful people. There was a server at a restaurant who said she had waited on Crystal and a man who sounded like Guts just the day before yesterday. And then there was Waylon, a longhaired hippie looking dude who worked at a leather shop in town.

  He looked at Crystal’s picture then studied Robyn with a quizzical look on his face.

  “You related to this chick?” He continued working a design into the leather in his hands.

  “She’s my sister.”

  Waylon nodded sagely. “You look alike. Both good looking babes. That’s why I noticed her.”

  Robyn ignored the compliment.

  “So you’ve seen her?”

  He twisted the leather to a different angle and continued his work.

  “Yep.”

  Robyn sighed with frustration.

  “Do you mind telling me when?”

  “Nope. It was yesterday.”

  Robyn’s nerves tensed up.

  “Was she with anyone?”

  “She came in by herself at first but a guy joined up with her pretty soon.”

  “A biker-type guy?”

  “Yep.”

  “Did you hear them say anything about where they’re staying or where they’re going?” Robyn was growing frustrated with his scarce answers, but excitement trilled through her at the same time.

  “Nope.”

  Damn. Another dead end. But at least she knew Crystal was nearby. How she was going to go about finding her was another story. She thanked Waylon for his time and wandered outside to question other merchants.

  By the end of the afternoon, Robyn was exhausted, but at least she’d come up with a plan. Not only might it help her find Crystal, but it would help her stretch her finances. The Meadowlark might be one of the least expensive places to stay in Brown County, but that still was more than she could afford. Since Crystal was apparently appearing fairly regularly in businesses in the area, Robyn figured if she could get a job here, she might have a better chance of finding her.

  She went to sleep that night feeling more hopeful than she had since Crystal disappeared.

  Robyn arose the next morning bright and early, dressed in business casual clothing, and headed into town. By noon she’d applied at more than half a dozen establishments and been turned down as many times. Her frustration was building quickly. If she was told one more time to come back in the fall when business was at its peak and the college students weren’t working, she would scream.

  By mid-afternoon she had given up. There weren’t any positions open for waitresses, retail clerks, or office help in any businesses she visited. Crud, she’d thought this plan would be so simple to carry out. Now it looked like it would be impossible.

  Robyn pulled into to the parking lot of The Meadowlark Inn and got out of the car, her shoulders slumped in defeat. Now what? She couldn’t afford to keep staying here if she didn’t find a job. The thought of giving up before she really got started, especially when she knew Crystal was nearby, wasn’t acceptable. She’d just have to keep trying.

  With that decision in mind, Robyn headed to the motel’s office. She’d have a look at the classifieds in the newspaper. Maybe there’d be a help wanted ad for a job in a nearby town she could answer.

  “Hi, Sheila. I wondered if you have a paper I could look at?”

  Sheila grinned at Robyn, her smile warm and contagious. “Sure. How are you, Robyn? Is your room okay?”

  “Oh sure. It’s fine. I just want to look at the want ads and see if there are any jobs I might apply for.”

  “No problem. Hey, what kind of work are you looking for?”

  “Anything.” Robyn’s answer was blunt but to the point.

  “Have you ever done any bartending?

  “That’s one of the ways I worked myself through school,” Robyn replied. “Why? Do you know of something?”

  “I might. A friend of mine just mentioned today that they need to hire a bartender out at The Hawk’s Nest. It’s a couple of miles out of town up towards Gnaw Bone. It’s kind of rough, but the pay’s decent.”

  “I’ve still got my bartender’s license. I could do it.” Robyn’s voice took on a hopeful note. “Where’s this place at?”

  Sheila filled her in and Robyn took on new hope. Maybe this would work out.

  She took time to go to her room and freshen up and change clothes. This didn’t sound like a job where business attire would be appreciated. She changed into a pair of tightfitting jeans and a lavender gauzy blouse with a scooped neckline. Most bars appreciated a little show of skin.

  She took a long look at herself in the mirror. She was petite and there was nothing she could do to hide that fact. She’d piled her hair into a topknot, so that made her look a little taller, but it did nothing to disguise the fact that she stilled looked young and innocent. You would think after all she’d been through it would show on her face. She was surprised she didn’t have lines and wrinkles eroding her complexion. It still looked fresh and dewy. It was enough to make you believe in miracles.

  Robyn headed out to the car with hope battling fear. She needed to get this job. If she didn’t, she wouldn’t have enough money to stay in Brown County for more than a few more days.

  Robyn followed the directions Sheila had given her, and in just a few minutes found herself on a county road turning uphill on to a long, curving driveway lined with trees. A small wooden sign announced that she had arrived at her destination: The Hawk’s Nest.

  She was surprised to find a wholesome looking farmhouse at the end of the drive. The big white house with a wide wraparound porch seemed incongruous with the motorcycles jammed into the lot in front of it. Clearly, though, this was a biker hangout. Good. Maybe Guts liked to come here. The wailing guitars sounds of classic rock emanated from the house, reaching faintly to where she sat in her car.

  The house was surrounded by acres of forest, presenting a pastoral aura with an edge of danger. The porch was
scattered with rocking chairs occupied by customers who ranged from clean-cut professionals types to big bearded bikers. Wow. This was surreal.

  She sat in the car for a long moment taking it all in before slowly climbing out and squaring her shoulders. She’d dealt with all these types before. She’d faced down bikers at bars, she’d put professors in their place when they grew too arrogant to deal with, and she’d even physically taken on a drunk or two. It might have been a while but she could do it again.

  It felt like it was 10 miles from her car to the entrance, but in reality was only a couple of hundred feet. She walked tall and proud as she felt a dozen pairs of eyes turned towards her. No one spoke but she knew her arrival was noticed.

  She entered through a screen door and walked into a moody atmosphere. The long bar was full, as were many of the tables in the room. The iconic sounds of Pink Floyd filled the room and there was an undercurrent of laughter. She felt liked she’d walked into a time warp carrying her back a couple of generations.

  Robyn headed for a vacant bar stool and hoisted herself onto the padded seat, her eyes trying to take it all in at once. A couple of tables held card players, and the pool tables were busy. Some tables held diners devouring food. Still others were filled with a variety of people enjoying drinks together.

  “Hi. Welcome to the Hawk’s Nest. What can I get you?”

  Robyn turned at the sound of the friendly voice and smiled at the big, burly bartender with a bushy handlebar moustache.

  “I heard you need a bartender. I’d like to apply for the job.”

  She noted the look of surprise on the bartender’s face before he gave her a grin. “Sure. Let me call Hawk.”

  “He’ll be down in a minute,” the guy told her after he made a quick phone call. “Just sit tight.”

  So sit tight is what she did. For five minutes, then ten, and finally fifteen. She fidgeted on the barstool the entire time, her nerves growing tenser by the minute. She took a sip of the ice water Brady the bartender had provided for her. She’d been waiting nearly thirty minutes by the time she finally heard someone calling from behind her.