SAVIOR: A Motorcycle Club Romance by Fiona Garland Read Free Book Online Page B

waist even tighter. “Haven’t had a fancy breakfast like this quite some time.”
     
     
    “Please,” I said, lifting the pan off the stove. With the bacon ready, I took it out of the pan placed it on the plate where it sizzled. “You talking like this is the French Laundry.”
     
     
    Max raised an eyebrow. “The French what?”
     
     
    “You philistine,” I chided, placing the plate on the kitchen table. Breakfast was finished. “It’s a fancy restaurant in San Francisco. I always wanted to go there but it was just way too expensive for me. An eight course meal over there costs a small fortune.”
     
     
    Max sat across from me at the table. “You’re from the West Coast?”
     
     
    I nodded. “I was born there. I left about a year ago to start a new life around these parts. I just wanted to get away from that place… and the people there.”
     
     
    “Is that why you moved in-land?” he asked, hesitant to probe further. “To get away from your ex?”
     
     
    Shaking my head, I poked my toast with a fork. “No, there were a lot of reasons. My father for one thing.”
     
     
    “Your father?”
     
     
    “My dad was a cop,” I said, reminiscing about the past. “After mom died, I had to hold down the fort at home. He was always too busy with work. Dad would be in and out of the house like a ghost while I slept.”
     
     
    “Dad was cop, huh?” Max replied. “I guess that’s why you never liked bad boys.”
     
     
    “No, that was Todd,” I corrected. “Anyway, Dad died when I was just coming out of college. It was a traffic ticket that went wrong. Dad had promised me he would cut back on his hours so he could spend more time with me. He told me he regretted seeing his little girl grow up without him…”
     
     
    We were both quiet for some time before Max spoke. “That’s sad to hear.”
     
     
    “I was lost after his death,” I said absentmindedly. “Between just growing up and dealing with his death, I was desperate for someone to help me. That’s how I ended up with Todd.”
     
     
    “Who was he?”
     
     
    “Some rich kid I met through college,” I answered. “He was persistent and I gave in after Dad died. He was rich and had a nice car. I was young and stupid. We were a match made in hell.”
     
     
    He reached across the table to touch the faded scar on my shoulder. Anger flashed briefly in his eyes. “He hurt you, didn’t he?”
     
     
    “He hurt me in a lot of ways,” I sighed. “I was just so depressed at the time. It was like I was perpetually drowning with each waking minute. I wanted some to help… to save me. But Todd just made it worst. He dragged me under the water.”
     
     
    “What made you leave?” Max asked, before a pang of regret hit his face. “Sorry, I should be asking these questions.”
     
     
    “No, it’s okay,” I replied, blushing at his show of sensitivity. “You told me about your past in all fairness. One day, I had a dream about Dad.”
     
     
    “A dream? What was it about?”
     
     
    “Nothing particularly interesting,” I said with a shrug. “We were having dinner together. It was like one of those rare occasions he was home before dark. I don’t know why exactly but it made me rethink my life. I had thought a few bruises was worth having Todd provide for me. However, I knew my dad would’ve hated to see me with a degenerate like Todd. The next day, I packed my bags and sneaked out… all because of that dream.”
     
     
    A half-smile appeared on Max’s lips. “Electrons firing in your brain.”
     
     
    “Electrons firing in your brain,” I said, my lips mirroring his smile. “I left California and headed eastward. I ended up finding a decent enough roommate in a small town thirty something miles from here. For work, I did odd jobs, such as babysitting or doing someone else’s laundry. We’re both poor as squirrels but we pay the rent on time. I suppose that’s something.”
     
     
    Max finished up his