Her CEO Stalker and Her Second Chance Mate Chapter 55

Carter

Briar’s hold wasn’t too tight; she moved with me and the bike, like an experienced rider. Her cheek occasionally rested against my back as the woods passed by us and we curved around the country roads. Riding was like running through the woods for me, I suppose it was like that for a lot of us. Riding as a pack was an even more exhilarating feeling. Briar seemed at home here, in the silence of words, as the road and scenery passed by.

When we got to the shop, I pulled around Colten as he was unloading the truck. Knox, Tod, and Byron stepped outside to see what Colten had dragged in. They were quiet, knowing just whose truck had just been dragged in. I watched their eyes raise as I approached. Boy, did I have a thing or two to tell them. I couldn’t wait to see their faces when I told them Briar would be taking over.

When I killed the engine, Briar kissed my cheek before getting off. I think my boxer briefs melted. Who would have thought?

“Thanks for the ride,” she said, as she got off the bike, she grinned at me before her eyes roved over the shop. Four bays, one lift, and the office we were parked in front of, were all surrounded by thick trees. Jake wasn’t the biggest people person, he didn’t give a shit if people had easy access to his business. He didn’t want to be in town like the other shop was, with the tourists and the visiting caravans of motorcycle wannabes. If you wanted your shit fixed just right, the locals knew where to come, and by the full bays and the several rides off to the side, his absence hadn’t taken a hit to the business. His boys knew what they were doing and were respected here. They didn’t just service our pack but others who preferred their capable expertise, as well.

I got off the bike and guided Briar by the small of her back over to her unsuspecting employees. They eyed me and Tod stepped forward

“Hey, Carter, what’s this all about?” he asked, as I shifted my hand to Briar’s hip.

“Seems Jake’s old truck is in need of repair, and I wanted to introduce you to your new boss,” I said, looking at Briar with a grin. Her eyes went wide not expecting this kind of introduction. Knox and Byron snorted, and Todd full out let out a belly laugh.

“Stop fucking with us, Carter, you can’t be serious.” Todd said, when he regained his composure, as he suppressed his laughter.

“I’m not joking, Tod. This is Briar. Jake left the shop and everything to her, I’ve seen the paperwork. Don’t let her pretty face fool you, she knows her way around a few things. The first time I met her she was cursing out the alternator. She was beating the hell out of it trying to get this thing running,” I informed them. They all went quiet, all eyes on Briar. Assessing, curious, perpetually dumbfounded.

“This has got to be a joke,” Knox finally broke the silence.

“Sorry, guys, no joke. Jake left it to me, but rest assured, I don’t mean to come in here and fuck with the management. I just want to make sure the paperwork is in order, cuz I don’t want the IRS breathing down my neck when taxes are due. I’m sure Jake trusted you all to do the job, but he was lousy at keeping things in order. So I’ll keep my nose out of as much as I can, and just clean up what’s necessary.”

Byron chuckled. “Jake was a lousy bookkeeper. Sounds like you knew him personally,’ he pointed out.

“I’ve known Jake all my life. How about ya’ll show me around so I know what I’m dealing with before I stick my nose in the office and never come out,” she joked, and the men all couldn’t suppress their smirks. They knew all too well what she would encounter there. So did I. She would have her work cut out for her.

“Well, I guess at least our new boss is easier on the eyes than Jake was,” Knox pointed out, as we all trailed into the garage. He never met a filter in his life.

“Hey, watch it,” I growled. They all got quiet, and Briar let out a nervous laugh. 

“Show the new boss around so she knows what she’s dealing with, remember she’s the one who's gonna make sure you're being paid in the future. I suggest you show a little respect,” I nipped out. I was being too tense about it, and the guys knew I was one step away from biting someone’s head off.

It was Byron who chose to ease the tension. “Don’t mind Knox, sometimes he doesn't know which head he’s thinking out of, but he knows his bikes.” Knox glared at him as we followed Byron into the farthest bay.

“Right now, we have 15 services and 29 refabs on the books. I stopped taking anything from out of town months ago because we can’t keep up, but they keep calling, and I’m sure the voicemail is full, cuz I don’t have time to play secretary,” he pointed out. Briar eyed the bike up on the stand, her calculating eyes seeing things I couldn’t fathom.

“What’s happening with this one?” she asked.

Todd stepped forward. “It’s for a female, 5’ 3”, everything has to be modified to size,” he went off, listing everything done and to be done to the bike and lost me at the first sentence. Briar just nodded.

“So are we paying the bills with services or with mods?” she asked, the three men looked from one to the other not knowing the answer.

“Your silence tells me where I need to start. I’ll take over the bookings, but I need a gauge on how long what’s already booked will take you three to get stuff done.”

“At least three months,” Byron said, honestly. Briar shook her head, not happy with the answer.

“How many of these services can a novice handle?” she asked.

“About a quarter,” Byron let her know.

“How do you know these things and these two don't?" she asked.

“Cuz I actually pay attention to the invoices coming in. Since Jake left I’ve been secretary,” he let her know.

“Not anymore. And I’ll compensate you for the work you’ve done to keep things rolling once I get things manageable,” she let him know. Byron let out a long breath. I knew he needed it with six kids and a pregnant wife at home. Briar had just made this man’s day.

“What’s that?” Briar asked, pointing to a bike covered in canvas on stands in the back.

“Jake’s special project, none of us know who it was for, but he only worked on it in the dead of night when the rest of us went home. He always kept it covered and didn’t want us peeking,” Knox admitted.

Briar stepped away from me and yanked the canvas off.