Ryker's POV:

We settled into Danny's after a long ride. While some of the others planned to see who they could get on the back of their motorcycles and in their bed, I just wanted a damn drink. Danny didn't bother asking me what I wanted, he knew what I wanted. I'd been coming here for years, a couple years before Danny even took over. His father was a good man and good to us. He didn't assume the worst when we walked in like other places did.

The motorcycles, the leather, the tattoos, it tended to unnerve the faint of heart but Danny and his father were anything but. We came regularly but tonight was different. Danny was all smiles. He often had a bit of sadness in him but tonight, he had anything but. Not even his resting grumpy scowl came. I had a guess as to why.

"Your girl finally here?" I asked, taking a drink.

"Yes. Made it in a couple nights ago," he answered with a grin as he poured another drink.

"Bet it's nice to have her around," I commented, glancing over my shoulder to make sure no one was getting into too much trouble.

"It is. She's been very busy. She has an art show this weekend so it's been taking up all her time. That and settling in. But," he said, waving his cloth around before wiping down the bar. "She has lunch with me every day anyway."

"That's great, Danny," I said, taking the last bit of scotch from my glass.

He'd been talking this girl up for weeks since he found out she was coming to stay. He talked about both mother and daughter before but he had a new kind of excitement when the daughter told him she was moving here and agreed to take the room over the bar. I'd never seen him so happy. Couldn't for the life of me remember her name.

Danny didn't talk much usually, he more listened to everyone else. Put a couple whiskeys in him and it was a different story. That's when he talked about her and her mother. About how they saved his life, gave him something to live for without even knowing it. He apparently was going to kill himself, too exhausted suffering from PTSD and the loss of his whole life when his girls died, then he looked out the window to find a little toddler getting into his yard and picking his flowers. Things changed then. Since I was also a few drinks deep when Danny got to this point, I couldn't remember all the stories or the girls' names. Just that they meant the world to him.

There was a thud that had Danny jerking his head back to the stairs with a concerned frown. "You all right, Scar? Need help?"

"No I don't need help, I'm good!" Came the response.

Damn, she had a sweet voice. Even yelling down the stairs it was sweet as sugar. Smooth and musical.

"She's taken to not wanting my help with anything," Danny grumbled, cleaning a glass. "Every time I offer to help her it's 'no thank you, Dan, I can take care of myself'."

"Sounds like you helped raise her right," I said, holding up my glass for a refill.

"I know," Danny sighed, grabbing the scotch and pouring two more shots into my glass. "But it's nice to be needed. Isn't it? I almost miss the days she was a little girl, coming to me with every problem she had, knowing I'd take care of it for her. Now I just sit back and hear about everything afterwards. She's not so little anymore, Ryker. She's grown up a lot. What am I supposed to do about that?"

"Let her be," I shrugged. "She still needs you, Danny. She's here, isn't she?"

"I suppose. But she didn't call me when that cunt put her in the hospital. You know what she did? She went and took self-defense classes and the next time he tried to hit her, she hit him harder. I don't know whether to be proud or annoyed she didn't let me come take care of it," he chuckled.

I remembered him telling me about that asshole. I offered to drive down with him to take care of it but he refused. She was taking after him, not wanting anybody's help.

"A little of both seems fair," I said, taking another drink.

Danny chuckled again and a bell in the kitchen went off. He tucked his rag into his belt and went back through the double doors just as a girl came down the stairs, easing down a box bigger than she was.

No, not a girl. A woman. Goddamn.

I decided I wasn't going to go after anyone tonight and yet, my jeans tightened at the sight of that ass. The jeans themselves weren't too tight, but damn they were tight around her ass. Her dark hair fell in loose curls down her back, landing just above her jeans. Fuck, I'd like to smack that ass.

Shit. What was wrong with me? I shook my head to clear my thoughts as she struggled with the box, ending up on the other side before I could even see her face. I hoped it was ugly to make up for the perfect ass. God help me if this was Danny's girl. But it had to be. She came from the stairs and unless she had a friend, it was her. The box shifted a few times and I heard a huff of frustration. I was surprised she got it as far as she did, seeing how much bigger it was than her.

"Do you need help with that?" I asked.

She peeked around the box and all hope of something being wrong with her to turn me off vanished. Big, dark eyes. Nice, plump lips. My eyes drifted down her body, taking her in. And fuck, was there something to take in. Her tits were just as generous as her ass, her shirt stretching over them. Her waist was smaller, pinching in at the sides before her hips flared out, giving her that perfect hourglass figure. Curvy and fucking gorgeous.

I forced my eyes back up to hers and found her staring, biting her lip. So I wasn't the only one affected. Good to know.

"I'm good," she said, her voice squeaking a little.

Oh yeah, she was affected. Her eyes darted down my body again before coming back up to my eyes, a blush starting on her cheeks. Shit. I was in trouble.

"You sure?" I asked, surveying her situation.

She'd have to lift it over the bar if her destination was the hallway. There was no way it would make that angle any other way.

"Yeah, I got it," she said, ducking behind the box.

I leaned over the bar and watched as the box didn't move, not one bit. It was just like Danny said. She could take care of herself. She didn't want any help. I watched the box lift up, clearing the bar. It wasn't going to clear the tap, though. She paused for a moment and I decided to hell with it and walked over, grabbing the box and lifting it above the tap, setting down in front of the hallway.

"Thanks," she said quietly. "I would've had it."

I had no doubt she would've had it so I shrugged and leaned to the side, glancing down the hallway. She must be headed to the back lot.

"Where's it going?" I asked, bringing my eyes back to her, finding her biting her lip again, her eyes going down my body.

Well damn, if she was going to be blatant about it, I might as well, too.

"Just out back to my car but I can get i-"

"Are there more?" I interrupted.

"Yes," she frowned, setting her hands on her hips. Damn, that was hot. "But like I said, I can ge-"

"I know you can get it. I just don't think you should have to do it all by yourself. Nothing wrong with accepting a little help, is there?" I asked, sliding the box down the hallway.

I didn't get a protest right away but soon enough she came past me, her arm just barely brushing against mine but long enough to feel how soft that skin was. Fuck, I bet she was soft all over.

"Fine but be careful with it," she clipped.

She was even sexier when she was annoyed with me. I got the box out and she opened Danny's van. I slid it in carefully, remembering what he said about her art show. She closed the trunk and didn't say a thing before walking back in. I followed after her, all the way back to the stairs.

"You don't have to help me," she said, stopping and turning towards me.

"How many more boxes you got?" I asked, crossing my arms.

I couldn't help the smirk that spread on my face because she didn't answer. Her eyes went to my arms and her tongue came out, wetting her lips. Shit. This girl was anything but as innocent as Danny claimed she was.

"Well?" I asked.

Her eyes widened and she swallowed hard, her blush intensifying as she darted her eyes away quickly. "Um, just... Well... Four."

I nodded and whistled for the guys, specifying I only needed three before telling her to lead the way. She looked confused then curious when I called on the men but didn't ask, just went up the stairs. I had the distinct pleasure of following right behind her, watching that perfect ass sway back and forth as she ascended the stairs.

We reached the top and she let us inside. My boys grabbed the boxes and I told them where to go before setting my hand on the last one, glancing around the room.

"That all, sugar?" I asked, bringing my eyes back to her.

"Don't call me that," she snapped, setting her hands on her hips again. "I can't stand pet names like that."

Yeah, she definitely got sexier when she was annoyed or angry. That would be fun to play with. I stepped towards her, enjoying the way she swallowed, unable to maintain eye contact with me. Instead, her eyes slid down my body again. Yeah, not so innocent after all.

"No? What should I call you then?" I asked, stopping just a little ways away from her.

"Scarlett... Scarlett's my name," she answered, her eyes snapping back up to mine.

Scarlett. Shit, even her name was sexy. It was obvious she knew I caught her staring again, her blush intensifying, her confidence faltering just a little.

"Scarlett," I said, testing the name on my lips. "Mmm," I hummed, I could see myself saying that name while she was underneath me. I gave her a half-smile, raising my eyebrows. "I like it."

She seemed frozen by my comment. I left her to process and went down the stairs with the box. I got outside and the boys were waiting with their boxes, looking at me curiously. I shrugged and she finally made it out, not looking at me once though she offered shy smiles to the other guys as she rushed over, opening up the trunk. They loaded the boxes in and she thanked them. I loaded the last one and leaned back against the brick wall, watching as her shirt road up when she reached for the trunk to close it.

Shit. That skin. I'd like to see more of that skin. Touch it. Taste it.

"Thank you. It was unnecessary but thank you," she said, wringing her hands together.

I nodded and kept looking. There wasn't a bad thing to look at and she certainly didn't try to hide it in the bar. She grew increasingly nervous and hurried inside. I chuckled and followed after her, half tempted to stop her and push her up against the wall, see how she reacted to me then. I'm glad I didn't because we rounded the corner and Danny was there.

"Hey. You all right? You look a little flush," Danny said, checking her temperature like a nervous mother.

Oh, Danny. Her flushed expression has nothing to do with being sick. Your little girl is definitely not so little.

"No, no. I'm fine," she said, her blush increasing.

"You sure?" He asked, his brows knitting in concern.

"I'm sure," she nodded.

I couldn't help the smile as I sat back on my bar stool and picked up my drink.

"All right, honey. Got all your things?"

She nodded as if she wasn't listening before her eyes widened. "Shit, I forgot my suitcase. And my dress," she said, taking off up the stairs.

Danny chuckled and went back through the double doors as another bell rang. Scarlett wasn't gone long. She came bounding down the stairs with a suitcase and hanger holding a dress. Her eyes scanned the bar when she didn't see Danny right away but those beautiful eyes landed on me.

I shouldn't mess with her. Danny wouldn't like it and after their interaction, there was no doubt she was the girl he'd been raving about. But shit... I couldn't help myself.

"Thought you didn't like pet names, Scarlett," I said, taking a drink.

"I don't," she said, rolling her eyes.

"Danny just called you honey," I pointed out, enjoying the look on her face as I said it.

' "That's different," she argued, shaking her head.

"How?" I challenged.

She did it again. Her eyes darted down to what of me she could see, her little pink tongue going along her bottom lip. Fuck. Was she even aware she was doing that? She had to be.

"It..." she started to speak but stopped as I took another drink, licking the remains off my lips and watching her get even more red. "It just is."

"Hmm," I grunted, not believing a word of it.

"How would you like it if I called you... Baby?" She said, feigning confidence.

Well now she was just baiting me.

"I think I'd like that quite a bit, Scarlett," I answered, a smile tugging at my lips.

I didn't think her cheeks could get any redder but man, did they. I couldn't help the smirk as she looked away from me, embarrassed.

"You're annoying..." she snapped. "What's your name?"

I could be annoying. Especially if it was going to bring out a feisty side in her.

"Ryker, sugar. The name's Ryker," I teased, sending her a wink before taking another drink.

"I said not to call me that," she scowled.

"Scarlett, I thought we agreed you'd call me baby and I'd call you sugar? Or is it that you'd rather we call each other baby? I can work with that," I said, unable to stop myself from checking her out once again.

Damn, she was just my type. I had to compose myself when Danny came back in.

"All ready, honey?" He asked, glancing over at Scarlett.

I hid my amusement behind my glass so Danny wouldn't see. She gave me a glare before leaning over to Danny, pressing a kiss to his cheek.

"All ready. I'll be back in two days. Don't work too hard," she scolded.

"You be safe driving all that way alone. You call me when you get in?" Danny asked.

"I promise," she agreed, giving him a warm smile.

Ah, fuck. Even her smile was perfect. Shit.

"Bye," she said, hugging Danny before bolting out of there, not sparing me a second glance.

"Isn't she a sweetheart?" Danny beamed, staring after the door.

Sweetheart. Not necessarily the word I'd use. Danny moved on to other customers, chatting more animatedly than he ever had before.

Goddammit. Scarlett was off-limits. Danny would kill me. He may like me but I could only imagine what he'd think if I made a pass at his little sweetheart and she took it. Damn, would she take it. I'd been around plenty of women and I could see it in her eyes, she wanted me just as much as I wanted her.

But she was off-limits. And knowing that just made me want her even more.

A/N:

Hi! I don't usually do a chapter with one scene from both perspectives but I wanted you to be able to see their first meeting from both perspectives.

Thanks for reading and let me know what you think!