Free The Last Riders - First Four Votes by Jamie Begley

B eth , Pastor Dean is here!” Beth grimaced at Lily’s manners. She had come home for the Christmas holiday and would be going back in two weeks.
    Picking up her sweater, she went downstairs to meet Dean.
    “Wow, you look great,” Evie exclaimed as she looked up from the groceries she was organizing into boxes to be delivered the next day. Her car had broken down outside Beth’s home when she had dropped the groceries off, so she had set to work while waiting for one of the members from the club to pick her up.
    “Thanks.” Beth was wearing a new royal-blue, tight skirt that ended above the knees with a matching sweater that had horizontal blue and black stripes that emphasized her breasts and small waist as it clung snugly to her curves. Every time she moved, the bare expanse of her stomach teased the eye. The large, black belt and sky-high heels that touched off the outfit had her feeling sexy and provocative. Not the best two combinations when her date was with the local pastor.
    Beth saw Dean standing by the door.
    “Hi.” Giving him a welcoming smile, she walked across the room to greet him. As Beth’s arms slid seductively around his shoulders to brush his mouth with hers, Dean’s lips returned the light pressure. His arms then came around her, pulling her body close.
    “I’ve finished with the groceries, so I’ll be going since my ride is here,” Evie said, closing the last box.
    Beth turned in Dean’s arms to see Razer sitting in the chair. This wasn’t the first time she had seen him since that embarrassing night; she had become adept at dealing with the occasions. Thankfully, he was out of town frequently and Evie had kept to her word to never mention him.
    Carefully hiding her reaction, she greeted him before turning back to Evie. “Thanks, Evie, let me know if your car can’t be repaired by tomorrow and I’ll reschedule your clients.”
    “Shouldn’t be a problem. Razer is a genius with machinery,” Evie said.
    “Then I will see you tomorrow. Lily, I’ll be back in a few hours.” Lily waved them away, engrossed in a book as she sat at the table. Dean and Beth left with Razer, Evie following closely behind.
    As they came up to Dean’s car, he held the door open as she slid inside the modest car.
    “It’s working out well? Her working for you?” he asked when he was sitting behind the wheel.
    Dean drew her attention away from watching Razer raising the hood of Evie’s car.
    “Yes. It couldn’t have worked out better,” Beth answered honestly.
    “It doesn’t bother you that she lives with a large group of men in a motorcycle club. Some of your clients are fairly well-off.”
    “I trust Evie, and I think of her as a good friend. Besides, just because they’re a motorcycle club doesn’t automatically mean they are criminals,” Beth defended Evie heatedly, unconsciously including The Last Riders.
    “I wasn’t criticizing. I like her, too." Dean raised a hand in surrender.
    “You do?”
    “Yes.”
    “Good. Now where are we eating? I’m starved.”
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    D ean looked up from his practically completed sermon when Razer walked in his open office door.
    “I guess miracles do happen,” Dean said, leaning back in his chair.
    Razer put his hands in his pockets as he headed over to the window beside the desk to stare outside. “How have you been doing?” Razer asked without responding to Dean’s comment.
    “Very well. I’ve got a good church, a good woman and good friends. What more could a man ask for?” Dean noticed Razer’s stiffened body, yet he didn’t bring it up.
    “You’ve been here a while Razer and you’re just now stopping by. Is there a reason?”
    “Thought I’d stop by for a chat.”
    Dean sighed and brought up the subject that Razer was dancing around. “I saw you two together. I was at a parishioner’s home in the neighborhood and saw her on your bike. That was the same weekend she asked me out.” Dean glanced down to see Razer’s hands clenching