ROMANCE: BIKER ROMANCE: Werewolf Rider (MC Shifter Pregnancy Romance) (New Adult Paranormal Romance Short Stories) (68 page)

              As she got to her car she remembered the previous night and went to check on the bushes. She was halfway there when she noticed tracks. Lily had been in the area a long while so she immediately recognized them as mountain lion tracks. She followed them in the daylight and they led around her trailer, loitering around her bedroom window, then off into the woods behind her trailer. She thought it was strange, but knew she was not in danger. Whatever the animal had been doing it was long gone by now.  Mountain lions rarely stalked people. There was easier game out there.

Chapter Two

Lily pulled into the Outpost parking lot whistling happily as the song Freebird blasted out of her truck speakers. The parking lot was only half full, and half of those were out of state. Figured with the summer kicking into high gear the tourists would really be flocking in now. She locked up her truck when the song ended, and went in the back door to punch in and let the boss know she was there.

              Shelly Linburg was the owner of the Outpost, and a pretty good boss. Lily had worked for her since before her husband had passed away and the woman always gave her employees a fair shake. Lily smiled when she went and ordered her meal. Every employee working over four hours got to have a free meal, anything they wanted. So Lily ordered her regular cheeseburger and spicy fries with a coke. She felt a little guilty considering her breakfast, but this meal would ensure she made it through the night without getting too hungry. She worked from 4 pm to midnight, the perfect shift for her. She did not have to stay until closing, but she did not have to be in early either.

              “So how is life treating you Lily?” Shelly asked sitting next to her at the end of the bar where she was eating. Shelly was a petite woman with graying red hair to the middle of her back and bright green eyes. Today she was wearing her cowboy outfit. Complete with country skirt, blouse and cowboy hat.

              “Good Shelly, how about you?” She asked politely.

              “Can't complain, can't complain. I heard that Luther jerk was giving you shit last night, again,” she said. Lily shrugged.

              “Yeah, but you know him. He is just an asshole. Ignore him and he will eventually fade away,” she responded to her boss. Shelly shook her head.

              “Not this one girl. I have heard from other establishments and other woman. He does not just go away unless you make him. He grabbed you last night didn't he?” She asked. Lily had to be truthful.

              “Yeah, but it was no big deal,” she said holding out her wrist. She was surprised to see a slight bruise where the jerk had grabbed her. Lily had not noticed. Shelly gently took her hand looking at her wrist.

              “No big deal? Jesus Lily, no one hurts my people, no one. It makes me glad I already told the bouncers he is not welcome here. Jake did not like what happened last night and now I agree even more. Why didn't you say anything girl?” She asked, a little hurt Lily thought.

              “Really Shelly, I did not even notice this last night. Not until just now. I admit I was just glad when he left. If you want him out I am not going to complain. I promise to let you know if shit like that happens again, ok?” she asked her boss.

              “Oh alright. What about that Mike guy. He is the second biker hitting on you isn't he?” Shelly questioned. Lily bought herself time chewing her hamburger.

              “Yeah but he is nice about it and takes my no for no. I don't mind a little flirting. It is fun and the night goes faster. You know that,” Lily said. Shelly grinned.

              “That I do. I know Mike is a nice guy, and he obviously has excellent taste, but he runs his gang with an iron fist, or so I hear. Just be careful honey, we all love you and look out for you,” she finished patting her on the shoulder and kissing her cheek before moving off to talk to customers.

              It was moments like this that made Lily doubt her plans for moving away. She had some good people in this little town who looked after her and loved her. She knew that for a fact, despite the crap she had been through they were always there. Even and most especially, after her parents had passed away years before. Then again, she thought, as she sopped up ketchup with her fries, Shelly was the one who was encouraging to go to school. Lily finished her lunch and went to work, thinking about her future.

              Around eight o'clock she got Mike his usual shot and a beer. The place had died down some, so she asked him how it was going.

              “Going pretty good Lily. Finished a job today and lined up another for next week. I have the weekend off and I am thinking of going riding to anywhere that seems fun. Want to come?” He asked both humorously and seriously. For a brief second she thought about the look on his face if she said yes. She decided to spare him that joke.

              “Sorry bud, I have work and then more work at home this weekend. Serious stuff I can't put off,” she informed him.

              “Like what,” he challenged with a grin.

              “The first free weekend I have had in two months. I am going to put my feet up and binge watch television for hours on end. That is serious business where I come from,” she informed him with a fake snooty accent. They both laughed.

              “Ok, fair enough, the offer always stands though girl, you know that right?” She did.

              “Yep, and thanks Mike,” she answered seriously. He smiled slightly. She knew he was not going to give up, but at least he was nice about it.

              “I hear through the grape vine that that idiot Luther is no longer a patron here,” he said. He wasn't asking a question. He already knew it.

              “Yeah, Shelly put her foot down. She looks out for us even when we don't,” Lily told him fondly. His eyes traveled to her bruised wrist.

              “She is nicer than me. If this was my place I would beat his ass until he decided not to come back. Then again that would probably be illegal huh?” He said humorously.

              “Ya think,” she answered with a grin and went off to stock the cooler.

              Mike paid up around then, and there were only three people left in the bar by that time. He gave her a good tip and she knew better than to protest.

              “Thanks Mike, and Mike, thanks for the concern. I am good, no worries, ok?” She told him.

              “Ok, no worries. Have a good night,” he told her. His eyes ran up and down her curvy figure once, and then with a wink he was out the door. She felt a little tingle deep inside, and sighed with a smile. It was nice to be appreciated, she had to admit.

              The next day went well, if a little slow. She was counting the minutes to closing so she could start her weekend of indulgence. As soon as she was off the clock, she was out the door. Waving goodbye and not looking back. As she got in her truck she thought about whether she needed to stop at the store. Running over the list of her shopping earlier in the day she decided, nope. She had everything she needed at home, and started up her truck.

              The past few months had been busy ones as she had told Mike. Her friend Carol's house had been flooded by a burst pipe, so she had been helping her clean up and move her stuff out until it could be repaired. Then once it was repaired she helped her move stuff back. Having two days off to herself in a row was like a gift for her efforts, and she was not going to waist it.

              She pulled out of the parking lot and her truck was running a bit sluggish. She ignored it and rolled down the windows. The heat had been brutal, and she had broken out in a sweat just leaving the bar's air conditioned interior. As she cruised down the road the trucks engine began making some pinging noises and a strange whirring sound. She was about to pull it over when she heard a loud, metallic clunk. Then it just died and she was coasting off to the side of the pavement into the gravel shoulder. Damn! She thought viciously. Not this weekend! Damn! She thought again.

              Lily grabbed her purse and rolled up the windows. She was not going to try and figure it out in the dark. She knew she would be coming back in the morning. Carol's boyfriend was a mechanic, she thought. After the work she had done for them he could help her out with it. That thought made her feel a little better, and she pulled out her little flashlight and began hoofing it up the road. Lily was only a couple miles from her trailer so it would not be long, she consoled herself. She had a fleeting wish she had not worn her usual Friday night dress. It was loose and frilly. While it was cool, it was not exactly hiking material. Neither were her high heeled boots. She only went about a hundred yards when she heard some rustling in the brush across the road. She stopped, and after a few seconds it did too. She heard a rough purring sound and realized what it was.

              A frigging mountain lion, again! What were the odds, her panicking mind questioned? Doesn't matter she answered herself, and started walking again. She did not know if running would encourage the beast to run or what, so she walked. Her heart began thumping loudly as she heard the rustling as soon as she started moving. Looking back over her shoulder and pointing her light, she saw a big mountain lion head poke out of the huckleberry bushes. The shining eyes seemed to meet hers and she started walking faster. The look in those eyes gave her a familiar creepy feeling she could not place. As she walked faster she head a growl behind her, and she lost her nerve and began running. She heard a coughing roar but refused to look behind her. She also thought she heard the sound of an engine, then saw a headlight coming towards her. She began waving her hands above her head as she ran. The growling behind her became louder as did the engine coming towards her. It sounded like a motorcycle that was kicking into high gear. Lily had never been so scared and still could not bring herself to look behind her, yet was terrified she would feel fangs on her throat soon. As the bike got close it turned sideways and slid right towards her!

Chapter Three

             
Lily screamed as the bike slid past her, and turning her little flashlight saw it's back tire hit a truly huge mountain lion about ten yards behind her. The big cat rolled along the pavement as the bike shot towards and skidded to a stop. It was Mike Jameson with his hand out.

              “Get on quick!” He shouted. She did not waste any time and hopped on. She wrapped her arms around his waist and they took off so fast she almost lost her grip. She heard the roar of the cat as they rode away. It sounded like a very angry animal. They took the curving road at a high speed and she shouted pointing to her turn off. Mike skidded down to a speed they could turn with and drove slower up the gravel drive to her trailer. As soon as they stopped she got off. She was shaking and her thoughts were still in panic mode.

              “Hey, Lily, you ok?” Mike said as he got off. She shook her head and felt an upheaval in her stomach. She turned and made it to the bushes and threw up. She managed to keep her hair out of it, and when she finished she actually felt better. She breathed heavily trying to get her breath back. Slowly she stood and wiped her mouth. OK, that is better, she thought. She turned back to Mike who was standing at a distance, smoking a thin cigar. Giving her space she thought.

              “I'm better now, I think. What the hell just happened?” She burst out. OK, maybe not better, she thought.

              “Beats me Lily. I was cruising along and saw you being chased by a big cat. You tell me, I am just glad I came along when I did. Who else would I have to hit on if I hadn't,” he asked in a completely reasonable tone. She ignored his pass.

              “My damn truck broke down. I was walking home and that cougar started following me. I had one around here the other night. When you came along I thought I was a goner. Uh, thanks Mike really, you saved my biscuit,” she told him as her heart rate finally slowed. He smiled slightly.

              “My pleasure, anytime. You say there was a lion around here the other night?” He asked showing obvious concern.

              “Yeah there was. In fact I would be more comfortable if I could get inside,” she said as she headed for her trailer door. Once they both were in she felt a little safer. She went into the kitchen and tossed her purse down on the counter and saw all of her snacks and things she had bought for her weekend and cursed.

              “Damn it. I had this whole weekend planned, and now this shit!” she turned to him saying. “No kidding. I have a big pizza, beer and food for a weekend of doing absolutely nothing! Now I have to get my truck towed, probably call the rangers and let them know what is going on, Shit!” Lily cursed again.

              “Calm down, look, you still have your pizza and tomorrow that stuff can be taken care of easily. So put in your pizza and crack a beer. I won't stop you. You may want to know you are stuck with me tonight though,” he informed her.

              “Huh, what? You don't have to stay Mike. I am fine, really. I am just pissed off and scared. I will get over it,” she told him. He nodded.

              “I am sure you will. You are a tough broad, but are you going to tell me you won't feel better knowing another person is in the place in case that cat comes back?” Was his question. Lily hesitated and he sensed why. He put a hand over his heart.

              “Do not worry pretty lady, I will be hands off and will not even hit on you. You have had a rough experience and now is not the time. Whether you ever take me up on my generous offers or not, I still like to think we are friends. I don't leave friends who are in trouble. It is a code I live by. I may try and cage a piece of pizza and a beer off of you though,” he finished with a rakish grin that was both humorous and sexy at the same time. Lily decided having someone around would make her feel better, and she did think she could trust him in this instance.