Baker (The Skulls Book 14)
EVERNIGHT PUBLISHING ®
www.evernightpublishing.com
Copyright© 2016 Sam Crescent
ISBN: 978-1-77339-064-2
Cover Artist: Sour Cherry Designs
Editor: Karyn White
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.
This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, and places are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
DEDICATION
I would like to dedicate this to my amazing readers for their patience, their love, and support. Thank you all so much.
BAKER
The Skulls, 14
Sam Crescent
Copyright © 2016
Chapter One
One year later from Master
“Everyone is fine at the club. It has been three years since we stopped Gash’s brother, Andrew. That guy was sick and twisted. I’ve never known anything like that before. You’d have hated it, Katie. He hurt a lot of people at the club. Not just The Skulls but Chaos Bleeds. We’re healing though. Everyone heals, right?” Baker glanced down at his wedding band, and the pain that had once gripped him, no longer did. Baker, his name, the man he was now. Jaxson Jones, or JJ as many friends had called him, died when he buried his wife and kid. “A lot has happened, a lot has changed. The club doesn’t do any more drug runs, and we have a lot of legit businesses in Fort Wills. There’s the gym, the bakery, and the mechanic shop.”
He stared at the gravestone marking his wife’s resting place. “I’ve changed, Katie. I’m not the same man that got up at three in the morning to bake bread and cookies. I can’t keep looking back. There’s a woman. A beautiful, charming, loving woman. Her name is Millie Levy, and I’ve let her down, Katie. We discussed this, didn’t we, babe? If either of us died unexpectedly, we had to move on. When we were talking about it, kind of joking around, I never thought I’d actually have to live through it.”
He stared up at the sky with dark clouds chasing away the sunlight filled ones.
“I love you, Katie. You and our baby. You’ll always be in my heart, and I’ll always love you, but it’s time for me to move on. I want Millie more than I ever thought possible. I can’t just sit and watch her anymore. I need to claim her, and that means it’s time for me to go.” Removing his ring, Baker pressed a final kiss to the ring, and pulled back a little of the earth. “Rest in peace, baby.”
There was no pain, only acceptance, and love.
Taking a deep breath, he turned away from the gravestone to see Fighter standing there waiting. They were both brothers at The Skulls. Fully patched in members.
Fighter had offered to go with him, which Baker was happy about.
“You good?” Fighter asked.
“I’m good.”
Baker frowned as Fighter kept looking at him.
“You got a crush on me or something?”
Fighter burst out laughing. “You fucking wish. Nah, I’m good. I just expected tears, or some other girly shit.”
Baker shrugged. Five years ago he’d have broken down sobbing for the love that had been taken from him. “Shit happens in life, you know. There’s nothing I can do about it.” He blew out a breath. “Time to move on, get our shit together.”
“Tell me about it. Three years, and we’re fucking all alive.”
“Kids are growing up. Club is expanding all the time.” Baker rubbed the back of his head. One of the reasons he’d prospected for The Skulls was because of how big and bad it was. He’d needed the distraction, to be completely away from everything else he once knew. The only way to do that was to do something completely out of character. He’d always been good at fighting. Strong and big, and always ready for a fight. Of course that anger and aggression had been thrust into baking. Katie had helped him through his anger. With her gone, he’d been lost. The Skulls, Tiny and Lash, they’d helped him to find that focus again.
“I think something is going on with Steven and Sally,” Fighter said. They both headed back to their bikes.
Baker frowned. “Nah, she’s away at college, and Steven’s fucking everything in sight.”
“So. Haven’t you seen the way he looks at her? It’s like she’s the only woman in the world.”
“Kind of like Simon with Tabitha?” Baker asked, laughing.
Those two kids cracked him up. Simon was the son of Devil, who also happened to be Prez of the Chaos Bleeds crew out in Piston County. Tabitha, she was Tiny’s daughter, and Tiny was once Prez of The Skulls until he handed the title over to Lash.
“Please, that boy is going to grow up, and when he realizes he’s got to travel to get any action, that will be the end of that romance,” Fighter said.
“I doubt it. Once you find that woman, you’ll do anything. Even travel miles to get a kiss.”
“Speaking of special women, you heard the news about Millie?”
Baker tensed up. “What news?”
“She’s got a date.”
“Who the fuck with?” Baker had not heard of any date. Millie never went out with anyone. She kept to herself, and only visited the club when she was invited.
“Some doctor who works at the hospital with Sandy. They were having dinner, and the next thing you know, he’s asking her out on a date.”
“Doctor? Sandy works with old guys.”
“Not Doctor Banks. He transferred to Fort Wills, and guess what, he’s got an eye out for your girl. Wait, can we really call her your girl? She dumped your ass.”
“We were never going out.”
“Oh, that’s right. You fucked it up.”
“I thought you were here to be supportive?”
“I am being supportive. I’m telling you how big of an ass you’ve been letting Millie get away.”
“I didn’t let her get away.”
“You didn’t claim her ass, did you?”
Baker glared. “Fuck you.”
Fighter burst out laughing. “I think you did what you wanted to do.”
“What’s that?”
“Closure. You’re ready to move on.”
Baker didn’t argue. He couldn’t. This was either going to make or break him. Before leaving to go to the graveyard where his wife and baby rested, he’d made himself a promise. If he couldn’t handle saying goodbye one final time, he wouldn’t leave. He’d hand in his patch, and cut Fort Wills out of his life.
The pull of Millie was too great. He couldn’t be without her anymore. There was a time when he’d felt guilty for the feelings she inspired. No more.
He wanted her all to himself. Now he just had to find a way to prove it to her. If a fucking doctor was sniffing after her, he had to find a way to prove to Millie he was ready.
She was right. She deserved a man who’d love her for her. Not some guy who was still mourning his dead wife.
“Time to go home,” Baker said. Time to get back to Fort Wills, and to win over the woman that had belonged to him.
****
“I didn’t know if you’d like Italian or not. I’ve not been in Fort Wills long, and I wanted to impress you.”
“It’s fine,” Millie said, smiling across the table at her date. It was nice being asked on a date, something out of the ordinary for her. Being a toy shop owner, she wasn’t exactly popular. Guys tried to avoid her because of the whole toy shop persona, and especially with her being a woman. It was like they assumed she wanted kids, lots of them. “I was surprised you asked me out, D
octor Banks.”
“Please, call me Jack.”
“Jack.”
“I’m Doctor Banks every other day. Tonight I just want to be Jack, and you Millie.”
“I can appreciate that. Did you always want to be a doctor?”
“I come from a family of them. I’m an only child. Both of my parents are doctors, and of course my grandparents are as well.”
“So you had a lot of responsibility to follow in their footsteps?”
“More like curiosity. At the dinner table they were always talking about a surgery, or a disease, or something. I was a curious kid, and I wanted to know everything. It didn’t take me long to find the medical journals, and I was hooked. Anyway, enough about me. What about you? Sandy told me you own the toy shop.”
“Yes. If you want modern or vintage toys, I’m your gal.”
“Are you an only child?”
“Erm, no, I’m actually the youngest. I have a sister.”
“What’s she doing?”
Millie stared down at the table. “I don’t know. I’ve not been back home in over nine years, and I have no intention of going back.”
Jack held his hands up. “I asked too much?”
“No, of course not. I just, there’s nothing to say. Why did you come to Fort Wills?” she asked, avoiding the subject.
“Why not? It’s a nice little town, and I love it here. Of course the resident MC intrigued me.”
“The Skulls?”
“Yeah, I’d heard about them. They had a lot of reputation. I also know that Sandy is married to one.”
“Stink. I like the club. They’re good guys.”
“They’re a bunch of criminals, right?”
She shook her head. “No. They’re not. Everything I’ve seen, they’re good guys. They’ve just had some hard times.” Millie wasn’t overly close with any of The Skulls. She loved the old ladies that came into her shop, but they weren’t really close. Millie had never been able to get close to anyone.
“I’ve touched a nerve again.”
“I know they’ve lost a lot, and I don’t believe you should be judging them. You don’t know them.” She looked around the restaurant, suddenly wishing for the date to end.
“I’m so sorry. I know Sandy is one of them. I really shouldn’t have said anything.”
“You really shouldn’t. I’m a believer in not judging a book by its cover. The Skulls are a book.”
“You’re very passionate about that.”
She thought about Baker. He wasn’t a bad person, and even though there was never going to be anything between them, she didn’t want anyone bad-mouthing him.
“I am.” She was just about to put an end to their date when her name was called.
“Millie, it’s great to see you.”
She turned to see Angel approaching.
Feeling saved a little, Millie smiled and stood. “Angel, how are you?”
“I’m doing good. It’s date night, and I’ve been asking Lash to bring me here for ages. I wanted to find out if the food is as good as Eva’s been bragging about. Have you tried it?”
“We have yet to order. This is my, erm, date, Jack.”
“You’re the doctor,” Lash said, finally drawing attention to himself.
Millie was surprised to see Lash dressed in a business suit.
“I’m the doctor. Your name is Lash?”
“I’m the Prez of The Skulls. Sandy’s told me all about you.”
Turning to Angel, Millie forced a smile.
“I’ve been meaning to talk to you for the past few days,” Angel said.
“I’ve been at the shop.”
“Anthony has been a little bit of a handful, and Chloe’s walking around now, and she’s into everything.”
“I think it’s time for us to order,” Jack said, interrupting them.
Millie cringed. “We’ll talk soon.”
Giving Angel a quick hug, she sat back down, and waited for whatever Jack was about to say. He nodded at the waiter, and Millie started to get uncomfortable. He was really rude, which was a shock. Shouldn’t doctors be nice and patient?
“I guess a life of crime pays,” Jack said, muttering.
Staring at her menu, and then across the table, she just couldn’t do it. She’d accepted the dinner invite because she imagined it would have been fun. This was not fun. This was far from fun.
“You know what, this was a mistake.” She closed the menu. Opening her purse, she left enough for the water, and the service she’d received. “I don’t see a point in either of us continuing this date. I’m sorry.” She got to her feet and left the table. Even when he called her name, she didn’t stop. Millie had made a vow to never be in uncomfortable situations, or to prolong something that was not going anywhere. She liked The Skulls. Fort Wills had thrived in recent years. Sure, there had been some hardships and death, but that was all in the past. Jack hadn’t even met the club, and he was judging them.
She was walking out of the restaurant, and turned a corner when she hit a large, firm, male chest.
“Oh, I’m so sorry,” she said, looking up to see that she’d just walked into Baker.
“You don’t need to apologize,” he said, holding onto her arms to steady her.
“I should have watched where I was going.”
“You were moving quite fast. I’m fine though. I like having you in my arms.” She stared at his arms, and couldn’t help but feel protected. Baker had done everything he could to protect her when the club had been under threat. He could have left her. He didn’t. “Do you mind me asking what you were running from?”
“A judgy date. What about you?”
“I’m heading in to speak to Lash.”
“Oh, well he’s just sat down to the—”
“That’s a lie.”
“Oh, it is?”
“Yeah, I wasn’t going to see Lash. Couldn’t give a shit about crashing his date.”
“Then why are you here?”
She stared at him, waiting, wondering.
“Millie,” Jack said, calling from behind her.
She couldn’t help but cringe as she felt her date coming toward them.
Crap, crap, crap.
Staring up at Baker, she saw he’d already clocked Jack.
Turning around, she stared at Jack as he came toward her. “You didn’t need to leave.”
“Actually, I did. This is not going to go anywhere, and we don’t see eye to eye, even on a first date.”
“Who is this?” Jack asked, looking at Baker.
“I’m Baker.” His hand came over her shoulder, and she saw the ring of his dragon tattoo around his wrist as his jacket pulled back a little.
“Hello,” Jack said.
She watched as the two men shook hands, and Baker squeezed his hand. She saw the whiteness of Baker’s knuckles. Jack looked in pain, and she winced, putting her hand over theirs. “That’s okay.”
Separating their hands, she released them, and stepped away.
“She doesn’t want to date you,” Baker said.
“We’re different people, Jack.”
“So you’re cutting this date short?”
“Yes.”
Jack stared at Baker’s patch. “Now I understand why you were sticking up for them.”
She tensed up, but didn’t say anything else.
“Oh well, it’s not a waste. You’re not really my type.” Jack walked away, and Millie wasn’t surprised. He wasn’t the first man to insult her, and he certainly wouldn’t be the last.
“Ignore that asshole,” Baker said.
“Don’t worry about it. I’m going to head home.”
“I came to the restaurant tonight because I heard about your date. I was going to crash it.”
She laughed. “You should know he hates the MC. I’d advise all the people at the club not to even bother visiting him, or using him at the hospital. He hates The Skulls, and he’s not even known you guys.”
“S
ounds like a total asshole to me.”
“He is.” Tucking some of her curls behind her ear, she found that she didn’t actually want to leave. “I better head home.”
“I can take you. Let me walk with you so I’m not tempted to go and ruin Lash and Angel’s date. It has been too long since the two of them have gotten anything done. I’d be the devil.”
“Sure. I’d like the company.”
He offered his arm, and she placed her arm through his, holding onto him. “So if he didn’t want to date you, why the hell did he invite you out for dinner?” he asked.
“I don’t know. I think he’s a bit of an asshole. He went on the defense. The moment he saw Lash and Angel, he was just saying some really horrible nasty stuff, and I couldn’t handle it. You once told me that I didn’t have to force myself to do something I didn’t want to do. I decided I didn’t want to be on a date with someone who was saying nasty stuff about my friends.”
“You finally see us as your friends?”
“That’s what you are, right?”
“Baby, we are. You don’t have to doubt it. Angel is always a little upset that she has to see you to invite you over. You never come over.”
“Oh, erm, I really don’t want to impose, or for you guys to think that I’m invading your space.”
“The clubhouse is huge, and we have a lot of people over. Not to mention the club whores. Their numbers are dwindling though. The Skulls is no longer a conventional club.”
“Conventional?”
“Club whores, drugs runs, that kind of stuff.”
“Wow, you really were a bad boy.”
“Exactly, I was a bad boy. I’m not anymore.”
She squeezed his arm, loving his company. “It’s getting cold.”
“Yes. Millie, I didn’t like you being on a date.” She didn’t say anything. What more was there to say? “I was coming to stop it. I don’t want you to date anyone else.”
“Anyone else?”
“We’ve danced around this for a few years, and I want us to date.”