Marcus BOOK 5 of the RAZORBACK MC

9

Marcus' POV:

I heard my alarm going off and I sat up slowly. I cracked my neck, my shoulders, my hips as I stood up slowly and finally my knuckles. I knew the day was going to be a long one. It was my birthday after all. I poured my coffee, and looked around my little house and was glad that I moved in less than a week ago. I did not want to be woken up with silly string or confetti or whatever else Tara used on the other guys.

I got ready and thought about the past birthdays that other people had tried to celebrate with me. When I was in the army it was court mandated, I was to straighten up and 'hoo-rah' my ass off. That didn't work. I was discharged for sleeping with a female officer, and never regretted that for a second. However that was two days after I got my army tattoo. That... that I regretted.

I looked down at it now, it was faded but still recognizable, especially since Avery saw it. I scrubbed myself up and headed out to the diner. We were opening at 6 now, letting the hours of early birds rest since we didn't have any regulars.

I made sure to post new hours, to get to the diner on time every day. I didn't take days off, just like I didn't with the strip club. I made sure to be on time. There hasn't been a slip up or mess up, or anyone quitting since I took over.

Nor has there been any huge profits.

I made sure that Ryan knew that it was slow, and they were just over ordering. I got him to look into advertising for the place, and we would wait and see what he heard back from the sisters and Jackie knowing that they would be the free marketing first.

I got to the diner and let the people in the parking lot in. Ezzy worked almost everyday. The other two were the alternates, and both cooks worked everyday. It was going to be an easy day at work, and harder tonight. Tara had been teasing me about it a couple times a day all week, getting me to open up about what kind of dinner I would want. I tried pizza, but apparently that wasn't ok. So I went with lasagna.

Anything with sauce and noodles was a good choice. I made sure that we were set for the day and I started looking up things that could help out with a good profit. I got to the counter to order lunch and that was when... I saw Tara coming in. She was smiling wide and smirked as she came over to me.

"Hi birthday boy, having a good day?" She sat next to me and crossed her legs so her foot was resting against my calf and she leaned onto the counter.

"Fantastic." I told her and she tilted her head.

"Anyone wish you a happy birthday?" She asked and I took a little moment before looking right at her and shaking my head. "Well. Happy Birthday Marcus." She leaned in and kissed my cheek before pulling away. "You will come to the club house after you get off here, and smile and be happy when you see everyone there with a nice cake." She tapped my shoulder and I just sighed but kept my head up.

"As long as I get my lasagna and cake then I'll be happy." I told her and she giggled lightly and that was when Esmerelda came over. "Lunch?" I asked Tara and she nodded. "Can she have a menu please?" I asked Ezzy and she nodded and went towards the front to get the menu.

"What are you having?" Tara asked me and I got to order my own and we got our food in less than twenty minutes. We were busy for a little while, mostly to go, and I made sure to buy Tara's food and she followed me back into the office.

"So, you get off at 5, right?" She asked and I nodded. "Good, that means I can get my nails done, my hair done... and I can look like I am actually ready to have a good time." She turned, her hair flicking behind her and I just sat back and wondered what she meant by good time.

Her flirting and touching and the birthday kiss were all a bit confusing, but when she was around, it was only getting harder to deny myself a real taste with her. Tara was sweet, sassy and a f*****g knock out. If nothing happened between us tonight I would officially tell myself I was delusional in what she wanted with me. 

TARA'S POV:

I sat in the chair, got my toes and fingers done. A dark red that would match my dress later on, and I made sure to get my eyebrows done, and waxed... and I just thought over my plan for the night.

I would make sure that Marcus would have a good night. See if he wants some drinks and fun and when it came time to put him to bed... maybe I would go with him. I got to the end of the appointment and headed to the club house. I was putting the dress on when I heard a knock at my door. I made sure everything was covered and opened up.

"Look at you." I rolled my eyes at Sienna's whistle and I turned to go and finish getting ready. "You're going to go for him aren't you?"

"Sienna..." I warned and she sighed but waved her hand. "Everything is set up?"

"Streamers, names, cake and the four tins of lasagna with a side salad." She listed and I smiled and nodded as I moved to curl my hair.  "Going for a curl."

"Yes Sienna." I did a couple strands and she moved around for a couple seconds before looking around. "What?"

"You sure you want to start something with him? He's a brother."

"He's private, and he's not too out there."

"You wanted and had Avery before he was a brother... I just want to make sure you're going to be ok. Bell said that Ryan's punches are no joke."

"Who says we're going to be anything more than a couple night stands." I knew I was lying to her and myself about that. There was something about Marcus, the idea of being with him only a couple times didn't work right in my head. I haven't been with him yet but he was not going to be easy to forget, unless he was completely horrible in bed.

"Sissy, are you ever going to be in a real relationship?" She asked and I looked back at her, she was now laying across my bed and I had a freaky flash back to her being 12 asking me that same thing.

"I've had relationships." I told her and she huffed.

"You've had s*x flings. I've never seen you happy with a man." She explained and I just sighed. "You deserve to be happy like the rest of us."

"I am happy."

"Not like us. I smile almost all day every day. I see you looking sad when we're not around." She said and it was typical of her to think I was sad.

"Not everyone likes being in a relationship. Who wants the constant jealousy? The questions on 'where have you been, who were you with' that s**t gets annoying fast." I told her and she sighed but shook her head. "You know these guys, I bet Bell get's jealous so fast if you're late or he sees you talking to a brother or client."

"He doesn't T. He asks me if it was important or he doesn't ask at all. He trusts me. You were dating boys if that was what they were saying to you. Maybe you need a man who is secure and doesn't flip at the drop of a hat." She told me and I wasn't sure if I believed that. With all that went on with her relationship, him being a secret, him leaving and then coming back, he had to be a little jealous or over protective.

If I knew my sister, and I know that I did, she liked that in a man. Liked being told what to do to an extent. I watched her as I did the final touches on my hair and then started my makeup. "You're always going to be the pretty one." She came up behind me and set her hands on my shoulders before kissing the top of my head and then heading out. "I am going to go get ready, meet you at the party." She waved and I smiled and waited until she left before looking at myself in the mirror again.

I had flash backs of my assault come back in pieces, and being called pretty by one of the men as he stroked my face always replayed in my mind when someone described me that way. I remember what my face looked like when I got back to my dorm. I was purple and tender and my eye was all red because of a busted blood vessel. I started doing my makeup again, making it light and glittery and perfect as I tried to get those memories out of my head again.

I finished getting ready, knowing because of everything now in my head, I wouldn't be drinking. I got downstairs and finished setting up. The banner and food were already up and set up. I put table cloths out, plates, forks and knives, set up the bread butter ad went to go and check on cake.

The guys started arriving, hit he music, and we waited for the birthday boy to walk in. I was sitting with  Noelle and my sister when I heard someone say he was pulling up. I let the guys all sot and cheer and greet him  before I grabbed the 'sash' and went to go put it on him.

He looked like he was enjoying himself and when he saw me he sh9oo his head a it but still let me put the sash on him shoulders. He was the birthday boy.

I heard the guys tell him to start eating so they all could, and one of them even though a biker bunny at him who was all for feeling him up right in front of everyone even though he tried to stop her. "I'm good, find someone else." I heard him tell her and she shrugged before reaching up and taking his face and giving him a cheek kiss. His eyes landed on me the second her lips touched his skin and I knew deep down he was just being polite.

 It took two hours but we were able to make it all turn into a fun party. the brothers drinking made a show and asses of themselves, we go to sing him happy birthday and we were all having a good time. We ate, had cake, and then when guys were drunk and my brother had gone home, I got to dance with him.

Some slow, some fast, but it was all fun. I knew he was sober... so I made my move and took him to sit down and enjoy his cake. "So, good time?" I asked and he laughed  before looking around.

"It's a lot more mild than what my old chapter did for birthdays, so yeah, a good time?" He and I held eye contact for a while and I almost lost my nerve until he moved his hand up and pushed hair out of my face.

"When are we going to get out of here?" I asked and he smirked and grabbed his fork again.

"Maybe after you pack a bag."

"Plan on keeping me more than a night?" I asked and he was serious as he looked at me and nodded. 

"You're not a one night kind of girl. We both know that." He told me and I just smiled slightly, wondering if I could be more like what he was thinking I could be. 

We were going to see.

"Then I should go pack that bag." I winked and smiled and he got the rest of his cake in his mouth. "On your bike?" I asked and he nodded.

I got upstairs and set the one back pack I had out and started to pack regular clothes alone with shorts and a tank top to sleep in if I took a shower after we f****d. I got it al in there among with my phone charger, and tablet so I would be able to work if I needed it.

I kind of hopped my way downstairs and out the door, not really getting called out or noticed. He was on his bike and it was started. I headed to the little office outside where I kept my helmet and strapped it on before hiking my dress up and throwing my leg over his bike. His hand settled on my knee and we took off fast enough to make me laugh out loud.

We were at his place less than 10 minutes later, and he helped me off and let me lead us inside. I let myself relax with him, and I knew it was going to be fun.