Betrayed Read Free Page A

scandalous accusation.
    “Oh – no, Ginger. I’m just kidding around. Ricky’s a great guy, as far as I know. But there are a lot of just plain bad restaurants around here.”
    That seemed to make her feel a little better. Ginger looked at her watch and was surprised it was already noon. “I didn’t realize it was time for lunch already. Time flies … ” …when you’re working around a handsome hunk. “I am a little hungry, so sure, I’d love to get lunch,” Ginger said as she put her clipboard back into her work satchel.
    “How about I drive us to the café on the edge of town?”
    “Not on your Harley, I hope.”
    “No, I wouldn’t do that to you in this weather. We’ll take the SUV.”
    The boys gave Justin a smartass salute as he looked for the keys on the rack. “It’s already running and warm for you,” Merlin said with a wink.
    “Take care of Dad when he gets back.”
    “We always do,” Trick, one of the club members, answered. “Hey, is Connor coming back today? He’s been out all morning.”
    “Ask Lily; she should know,” Justin answered as he put on his coat and escorted Ginger to his black SUV.”
    “He better be!” Lily said sternly.
     
    *****
     
    They made small talk on the way. Justin started.
    “So, are you from around here?”
    “Born and raised in Trinity.”
    “Let me guess…Golden Acres, the gated community on the east side of town…?”
    Ginger blushed. “Is it that obvious?” Damn, she thought, now he won’t be interested. “But I went to public school.” Stupid! Shut up, Ginger!
    Justin smiled. “Well, it’s obvious because you’re a classy and smart lady. I got in two years of community college before trade school…Well that probably just makes you think I’m a bonehead.” Now it was Justin’s turn to blush and shake his head.
    “Not at all.” Ginger put her silky fingers with perfectly groomed dark red nails on Justin’s sleeve. “I’m really tired of being around a bunch of pencil necks at work whose idea of adventure is playing fantasy football or throwing snowballs down my blouse. I’d love to hear more about some of the things you’ve done.”
    Their eyes met, and all of their trepidations and skepticism evaporated in that moment. From then on, there was an instant and natural rapport that came easily to both of them. Ginger’s smile and sincere words put Justin at ease. He felt like he could be himself without having to put on airs. And she didn’t seem put-off or afraid of him like most business women. She liked his humor and his edginess, something that was missing on most of her recent dating escapades. She craved a little adventure and reckless abandon in her all-too normal and scheduled life.
    They laughed and talked like old friends as they ate their lunch at Gabe’s Deli and lingered over coffee, not wanting the experience to end. Ginger knew she should get back to the office, but she’d rather stay and continue her conversation with Justin about how the Wicked Warriors Motorcycle Club evolved into a legitimate social community since its criminal days. She found it captivating how Big Red had turned the club into a positive force for the community and how he and Justin built their business around a family of miscreants and misfits into a new generation of productive families.
    Justin was happy to talk about it too. Most women he dated didn’t want to talk or have the intellectual ability to hold down a conversation.
    “People are still afraid of us, but the truth is, unless you’re a Warrior, you have nothing to fear from us.” Justin realized that he may have said too much for a girl like Ginger to be comfortable with.
    “What do you mean? Why would the members be afraid of the group they belong to?”
    Justin knew he had to be careful. “We take a blood oath to have each other’s back. If one Warrior wrongs a brother or anyone in our family, well…we handle it. We better get going.”
    It was a refreshing change to