Free Wanted: County Knights MC by Ellen Harper

someone who would do everything for her but not have the shit past I did. Someone who could love her openly and honestly. Fucking Anna would be a mistake. No matter how much my dick ached to be inside of her, I wouldn’t do that to her.
     
                  “Take me home, Jackson.” She turned and walked out the door, not even glancing back to see if I was following. Her princess act didn’t fool me. She was putting space between us, not wanting me to see how much she really wanted from me. Poor girl didn’t realize I already knew.
     
     
     

 
    CHAPTER SEVEN
Anna
     
                  Working at the shelter meant more to me than just a pay check. Considering how small the check was, it was more about my desire to help others than earn a decent wage. I made enough to cover my rent and toss Maris money for groceries, but other bills and luxuries like clothes were harder to come by. 
     
                  In order to make those ends meet, I took a second job cleaning offices. I only had to take on a few shifts a week, so it rarely interfered with school or my work at the shelter, but sometimes when I had to fill in for someone who called in sick, I’d be stuck cleaning until well after midnight. 
     
                  Jill called in. Again. The third time that month. I didn’t mind taking her office, but I was tired and my shoulder throbbed. Painkillers only worked if you took them, and since they made me sleepy I declined the afternoon dose.
     
                  After Jackson dropped me back off at home, and by dropped off I mean pushed his way into my apartment and didn’t leave until I had fallen asleep, I slept for nearly five hours. I barely caught my bus to get to the shelter in time. 
     
                  The throbbing in my shoulder made the cleaning take twice as long. Vowing to slap Jill the next time we crossed paths, I pushed way through the last hallway of vacuuming and put away my supplies. I didn’t need to look at my watch to know the midnight mark had passed. The cars in the parking lots surrounding the businesses on the street were gone. The third shifters of the small plastics factory across the street sat outside on their smoke break.
     
                  The bus ride home didn’t take long at that time of night. The only passengers were myself and one sleeping old man. I’d seen him plenty of times before. He used the bus as his personal RV, catching a nap in the air-conditioned bus before heading off back to the streets. The driver never seemed to mind letting him take his nap, and he didn’t bother me any.
     
                  “Working late tonight,” the driver commented as I stood on the steps by him, waiting for my stop.
     
                  “Yeah. Later than usual.” We didn’t speak often, but we recognized each other enough to have small talk now and then. I nodded toward the sleeping man. “He have his fair tonight?”
     
                  “Barely, but yeah.” The bus pulled to the curb. Before I stepped off, I handed the driver a five dollar bill.
     
                  “That should take care of him for the week, right?” 
     
                  The driver nodded and gave me a toothy smile. “It should. Thanks.”
     
                  “See you in few days.” Stepping onto the curb, I waited until I heard the whoosh of the doors close before I started heading down the street. It was a two-block walk to my building, and the street lights were dimmed, the city hadn’t come by for any maintenance in a while. 
     
                  The skin on the back of my neck started tingling. I glanced over my shoulder but didn’t see anyone. I picked up my pace and held my bag closer to my body, ignoring the pain it caused in my shoulder. 
     
                  Footsteps sounded behind me, and I chanced another look. A