My Kind Of Bad

Chapter 4

“Want another burger, Neera?”

Neera looked around. Billy stood by the huge barbecue, an apron around his middle and a spatula in his hand. He gestured towards the grill, upon which were huge steaks and burgers Neera didn’t think existed.

Neera bit her lip and glanced towards Kurt, who was standing a short way off talking to two other bikers, beers in hand. She had already had two burgers and nobody had batted an eyelid that she was hovering near the barbecue while conversing with the other party goers in the hope that Billy would offer her another burger.

The man knew how to cook on the grill.

“If you’re okay with me stuffing my face.”

“Of course not.” Billy grinned and scooped up another burger, which he placed into a bun. “I’m glad to finally see a girl with a good appetite. Most ladies here pick at their food or have a liquid lunch.”

Neera laughed and watched as Billy squirted mayonnaise onto the burger before adding lettuce and a couple of sliced tomatoes.

“They’re not that bad, surely?”

“They’re good girls.” Billy placed the burger on Neera’s outstretched plate. “But I wish they would just eat.”

“Well, who could resist your food?” Neera bit into the burger and moaned as the juices and flavors exploded in her mouth. “Those burgers are delicious and I loved your steak.”

Billy looked pleased. He laughed and shouted over at Kurt.

“Hey, Kurt, have you got any more like this girl?”

Kurt grinned and held up his beer.

“I’ll let you know, Billy.”

Neera laughed, aware that Kurt’s gaze stayed on her a moment longer before he turned back to his friends. They had been at Billy’s place for nearly two and a half hours and Neera was enjoying herself. Billy and his wife were warm, kind people and the people she had spoken to were a little rough around the edges at times but Neera liked them. Everyone was friendly towards her and Neera felt as though she had been accepted.

It was rare that Neera felt accepted into anything. Not even with family as a child. One thing she was learning about biker groups was the sense of family. It was infectious.

A tall woman with long blonde hair nearly down to her waist wearing a black jumpsuit that left her shoulders and arms bare and high heels that looked almost painful came up onto the terrace. She nudged Billy and slid an arm around his waist.

“Are you chatting up Kurt’s girl?” She teased.

Billy laughed and put an arm around her shoulders.

“There’s no harm here.” He pressed a kiss to his wife’s head. “She’s just enjoying the food.”

Taylor DuJour grinned at Neera.

“My husband’s food is to die for, isn’t it?”

“It sure is.”

Neera had liked Taylor on sight. Only ten years older than her, Taylor exuded a grace and sensuality that had all the men looking at her when she passed. With the exception of Kurt, Neera noticed. His eyes only seemed to be on her, which gave Neera more confidence. Her self-esteem got a massive boost from that.

Taylor was friendly and full of warmth. They had instantly clicked. Neera did feel underdressed in a simple white vest and jeans next to the boss’ wife but Taylor had assured her the outfit was great. Nice and simple, which she said was what worked best. Neera felt better after that.

She munched on her burger and sat on one of the sun loungers. Kurt had been drawn into a game of volleyball in the huge backyard, joining up with four other bikers. The net had been set up and now they were knocking the ball back and forth, the competitive edge getting more and more intense. Neera liked it here. She sighed.

“I haven’t been to a barbecue in a long time.”

Taylor chuckled and sat on the lounger next to her, propping her feet up as she sipped at her drink through her straw.

“I take it you’re enjoying yourself, then?”

“Yes.” Neera gave her a sidelong glance. “I must admit, I haven’t had much experience with biker gangs and what I have heard isn’t great. But you guys are cool. You’ve made me feel welcome.”

“We do our best. As I’m sure you know, there are always problems with any group or family, whether it’s in the group or externally, but we do stick together.”

“I’ve noticed.” Neera sat back and sighed wistfully. “I’ve got a big family but it’s not great. We’re scattered all over the place and barely anyone talks to each other. I haven’t spoken to my mom and my siblings in years.”

Half of it was not by choice, such as not talking to her three brothers since two were in the army and one was in the coastguard in Alaska. Falling out of touch when you were busy and so far away they had expected. But her mother and sister were by choice after her sister used her children to buy drugs and was arrested. Their mother had stood by her and turned on Neera when she pointed out that her favorite daughter was in the wrong.

Neither woman had talked to Neera in nearly three years. Neera wasn’t sorry.

“What about your dad?” Taylor asked.

“Died before I was born. He worked construction and fell from the top of a building he was working on.” Neera gulped. “Death was instantaneous.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be.” Neera shrugged. “I haven’t spoken to my brothers in a while but we’re close when we do. And I’ve got Elizabeth and Petra.”

“And now Kurt.” Taylor said meaningfully.

Neera found herself look at Kurt again. He had taken his shirt off and his washboard stomach and broad chest made her mouth water. She coughed and looked away.

“If he wants.” Then she remembered what Kurt had said the other night and turned to Taylor. “He said the other day that he wasn’t the best person to get involved with and I should pretty much run the other way. What did he mean by that?”

“He’s had problems with lovers in the past.” Taylor shrugged. “I can’t say exactly what it was because I don’t really know. But he couldn’t settle.” She grinned. “I can tell, though, that you’ll be good for him.”

Neera felt better hearing that. She liked to know she could be good for someone. Hopefully it would be the same with Kurt.

A young girl’s laugh reached their ears and Neera found herself looking towards the laugh. She saw a young girl with blonde hair and wearing a short blue skirt with a white blouse appear around the side of the house. She went up to a group of female bikers and started talking to them, holding onto the hand of her date.

It was the date that had Neera freezing. Tall, blond with a surfer’s tan and a body like Adonis, it was someone she had hoped never to see again.

“Oh, God.”

“What is it?”