Dirty Secret Baby Read online

  DIRTY SECRET BABY

  By Alycia Taylor

  This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places and incidents are products of the writer's imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental.

  Copyright © 2018 Alycia Taylor

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  Chapter One

  Axel

  I still remember the first time I’d been to a drag race, or ‘street race’ as I should probably stick to calling it. I was only ten years old, and a friend of mine had a brother who was into the sport. We’d begged him to take us with him one night. He kept telling us that we were too young, and he was worried that we would tell his parents. But we’d finally convinced him to let us go along, as long as we promised not to breathe a word to anyone.

  “I swear, if word gets out that you have snitched, I will make sure that your life is a misery for as long as you both live.”

  I’d gulped. “Uh, I won’t say anything,” I had said to him. “But, why is drag racing illegal?” I’d dared to ask. It had been a burning question of mine for a long time, but when I asked my friend Turk, he had no idea. Turk was just as frightened of his brother as I was. Frightened, but also awestruck. He was this big guy, with tattoos all over his arms, and a string of women hanging all over him. Whenever he spoke, everyone listened. The only time I’d ever seen him act differently was in front of his parents. Around them, he was the sweetest kid around.

  “Drag racing is not illegal. But street racing is. Not everyone can be in this profession. Also, some of us like the adrenaline that doing it illegally gives us.”

  “Will you go to jail if you get caught?” I asked.

  “Yes. Which is why I don’t want you to tell a soul. You hear me?”

  “I won’t say a thing,” I’d said.

  We’d gone along that night and watched the whole thing in amazement. Turk’s brother was so fast that his car drove past in a blur when I watched. He raced a few people that night and won each time. He had a fancy car, which he’d actually won through one of his races. The fact that he had actually won a car just by driving fast had intrigued me from the start. That night, I knew that I was going to one day become a racer myself. I sometimes wondered what had happened to Turk and his brother, but I’d lost contact with them a long time ago. One day, I hoped to meet him again. First, to thank him for introducing me to the game. Second, to race him. It was my lifelong dream—even though nobody knew it but me—to one day beat him and to win one of his cars. A dream I thought about it every single time I went out there. I’d asked about him before, but nobody seemed to know who he was. Perhaps he’d been caught, someone had said to me once, but I battled to believe it. He’d been too good, too careful, to be caught.

  “Yeah, but don’t underestimate the power of the cops around here,” my friend had said to me. “They hate us. We go against everything they believe in. We are lawless rule breakers, and there is nothing in the world that they hate more. Especially since we manage to get away with it so much.”

  Perhaps it was true. Maybe he was in jail. I hoped not. Even though I wanted to beat him in a race, I still didn’t want him to be doing time. I’d been so scared of him, but I’d also promised myself that I would one day be like him.

  I was looking forward to the race. It had been a busy week, as it always was working at the shop. I was a mechanic, and a damn fine one at that, and people were always referring me to their friends and family. It meant that I hardly ever got a break at work. Not that I was complaining. It was good to be sought after, and I enjoyed my job. But I loved having the release of a race after a long week. Some people liked to go home and read a book in bed. Some liked to drink a glass of wine and put their feet up. I liked to race. Fast, hard and crazy—it was what I was known for.

  I saw Spike and walked over to greet him. Spike worked with me at the shop and loved coming to see me at a race. He was tall and lanky, with a mop of blond hair that was constantly falling over his face. I’d been sure I wouldn’t like him when I met him. I wanted a man’s man to work at the shop with me. Someone who looked a bit more like me. But, as it turned out, Spike was a lot of fun to be around and loved bikes and adrenaline more than any guy I’d ever met. He wasn’t much of a drag racer himself, but he was one of my biggest supporters.

  “Yo, Spike,” I said as I got near him.

  He grinned. “Ready? You better win. I have money on you.”

  “You do?”

  “Of course I do. I always have money on you. Why do you think I always have extra cash these days?”

  I chuckled. “Well, it’s good to know you’re confident.”

  “Aren’t you?”

  “Oh, I’m always confident.”

  “Good to hear it.”

  “Thanks for helping out today,” I said. I needed Spike at these events. He was there to be on the lookout for the police. Without him, I would be too nervous about them showing up without warning. We were always so careful at these events. We planned them sporadically and made sure that we never had them at the same place, but one could never be sure. Word sometimes got out, or police happened to be driving past. It had happened in the past, and we’d always managed to scatter before getting into trouble.

  “Pleasure. You know I’ve got your back,” he said.

  “I know you do.”

  “Give ‘em hell,” he said as I walked off.

  As I made my way to the car, my heart pounded in my chest. No matter how many times I did this, I always felt a mixture of nerves and excitement before a race. I wasn’t sure if that feeling would ever leave me. I hoped not. I lived for this moment, and I used my nerves to help me in the race. It fueled me and propelled me forward. As I got to the start line, I looked around at my opponents, and I smiled as my gaze settled on a tall woman. I had never seen her before, and she was definitely the sort of woman that I would’ve remembered if I had met her. It wasn’t just her height that was so unusual. She just had something about her that was different from the women I’d seen before. She reminded me of a Greek goddess, and the more I looked at her, the more intrigued I was by her. I wondered if I would get the chance to race her.

  I didn’t have to think much longer because she caught me looking and came my way.

  “So, you’re the great Axel I’ve heard so much about,” she said. Her voice, sweet and smooth was in direct contrast to her outward appearance. The contrast sent shivers down my spine. This was the most interesting looking woman I had ever seen. Up close, she was even more unique: a small button nose, a strong jawline, deep brown eyes, and long dark hair.

  “Great Axel, eh? I won’t deny it,” I said and laughed. “How about you? I haven’t seen you around.”

  “I’m Savannah; it’s good to meet you,” she said and held her hand out. Her grasp was strong, and she looked me in the eyes when she shook my hand. I liked her confidence.

  “So, are we going to race?” I asked. “Or are you too afraid of the great Axel?” I said. I inwardly grimaced at my words. I was trying to flirt with her, but I was coming across too much like the sort of cocky guys I’d always hated.

  “Oh, I’m not afraid at all. And yes, let’s do it.” I wish we could do it, I thought and smiled at her. We shook hands again, and she walked off to her ve
hicle.

  Just because I was racing a girl didn’t mean that I was going to go easy on her. I had no intention of losing to her just because she was pretty. In fact, quite the opposite. I found myself wanting to do better than ever before. We raced, and I beat her, although I was surprised to find that she had been hot on my heels. We’d been playing for pink slips, and even though I felt excited to beat her, I still felt bad about taking her car. I’d never been in it for the cars, but rather for the adrenaline and the win. It had never been about what I won, but rather just the pure enjoyment of winning itself. I watched her walk over to me, a slight swagger in her hips as she handed me the pink slip.

  “You deserve it,” she said.

  I shook my head. “I don’t want your car.”

  She frowned. “Why not? Anyway, I’m used to racing motorcycles. I just like to vary it up with the car sometimes.”

  I grinned. This woman had stepped out from one of my dreams. I was sure of it. She was beautiful and fierce with a passion for motorcycles and cars. I had to pinch myself to make sure it was real.

  “I prefer bikes too,” I said. “I actually have mine here,” I said.

  She laughed. “Same here. But seriously, you won the car fair and square. That’s what we signed up for, remember? I hope you’re not doing this because I’m a girl. The fact that I’m into things like this means I’m not an ordinary woman, you know.”

  I grinned. “I like my woman extraordinary. And no, I’m not declining the slip because you’re a girl. If I was worried about you being a girl, I wouldn’t have tried to beat you. But how about we swap the slip for something else instead.”

  She narrowed her eyes at me. “Oh yeah? And what would that be?”

  “How about a date instead?”

  She laughed. She had one of those big belly laughs, where she threw her head back at the same time. I liked it. I could feel that she meant that laugh. She looked at me, and I saw a gleam in her dark brown eyes.

  “A date, huh? Oh hell, why not. You’re pretty cute.”

  “Cute and great. Wow, I should hang out with you more often,” I teased. I liked this woman. No other woman had ever complimented me like that so early. She just said things as they were and there was something so very refreshing about that.

  She laughed. “Let’s go to McB’s. I’ll race you there.”

  “You’re on.”

  We took the back roads to the bar, and no matter how many times I tried to beat her, she kept getting in front of me. When we arrived at the bar, I climbed off the bike and looked at her.

  “Okay, you were right. You’re better on the bike.”

  She laughed. “I am. Oh, and I forgot to tell you. The winner of this race has to buy the first round of drinks.”

  I grinned as I followed her in. I didn’t mind at all. In fact, I was happy that she’d said I was going to have to buy the first round. That sounded to me like there was going to be more than one. I had been looking forward to my Friday night and knew it was going to be a good one, but I had no idea it was going to be this good.

  Chapter Two

  Savannah

  I was glad that Axel didn’t know who I was. As the daughter of the head of an outlaw motorcycle club, my name was often thrown around. It didn’t help that I was a woman that didn’t blend well into a crowd. I was too tall, and too broad, to do so. Some men had likened me to a goddess, but I sometimes wished I was smaller. Not because I didn’t like who I was, but because it was sometimes nice to lay low. But, I liked the way that Axel was looking at me. I’d noticed it from the moment our eyes locked at the race. I liked that he wasn’t good at hiding his feelings and that his desire was clearly written on his face. It made me feel good about myself, and it made me want him as much as he wanted me.

  I’d heard about Axel before. He was a great racer, and his name was often mentioned around. I got the sense that he didn’t know it though. For all his charades and big talk, he actually seemed very modest and down to earth. I wasn’t planning on hanging around for much longer, so spending a night with Axel before I left town was just the thing for me.

  He ordered us a round of beers, and we took a seat at the corner of the bar. McB’s had always been a favorite bar of mine to frequent. It was small enough to feel intimate but large enough to not feel too exposed.

  “I found it weird that we hadn’t met before,” I said. “Do you come here often?”

  He looked around and smiled. He had a nice smile. A genuine one. “Yeah, I come here often. Well, not every week or anything, but often enough. I’ve never seen you before.”

  “Maybe you just weren’t looking,” I said.

  He laughed. “Trust me; I would’ve noticed you.”

  I frowned. “Oh yeah? Are you making fun of my height?”

  He seemed taken aback by my comment. “Your height? Why would I make fun of your height? I would’ve noticed you because you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. I know that sounds a little lame, but it’s true. You’re gorgeous, Savannah. I would’ve remembered someone like you. Trust me.”

  I blushed despite myself, and I was glad for the darkened room. I was not a blusher. I was surprised that someone that I had just met could make me feel so flustered already.

  “Thank you. Compliment accepted.”

  He grinned. “Good. I’m glad. We were obviously just not meant to meet each other before.”

  I raised my eyebrows at him. “So we were meant to meet each other now?”

  “Yeah, maybe.”

  I chuckled. “Do you really believe in things like that?”

  He shook his head. “Not at all.”

  I laughed. “You’re funny; you know that?”

  “So I’ve been told. So, well done on your race today. You were incredible.”

  “You do realize that you’ve just told me that you were incredible. You beat me. So if I was incredible then that means you were even more incredible,” I said. I sat back in my chair, sipping my beer. I was enjoying myself. I hadn’t expected to end up at the bar with a good-looking man. Especially not a man I’d heard so much about.

  “Well, naturally. I’m incredible, you’re incredible, we’re all incredible,” he said. Somehow, he said all that and still managed to come off as a nice guy.

  “Here’s to incredible people,” I said and raised my beer to his. “Okay, let me get us another one.”

  He grinned. “Wow, you finished yours already?” he said. I wasn’t sure if he was surprised or impressed, or a little bit of both.

  “Yeah, well, you finished yours too,” I said and pointed to his empty glass.

  “Yeah, I know, but—"

  “Don’t you dare say that you didn’t expect a woman to drink so fast,” I warned. “I already told you that I’m not like other women.”

  He laughed and nodded appreciatively at me. “So you said. I’m starting to see what you mean now. But I’ll get the next round,” he said and stood up.

  I shook my head. “Nope, it’s my turn. Fair and square.”

  I walked over to the bar and ordered two more beers. The man behind the counter was new and began to flirt with me. He asked me for my number a few times until I pointed out that I was with Axel.

  “With that guy? You on a date?” he said. He already sounded put off that I had turned him down.

  “Yep, I’m on a date,” I said. I took the beers and returned to Axel. “Hey, if anyone asks, we’re on a date.”

  He frowned. “Okay. But what’s going on?”

  “The barman tried to hit on me. So I told him I was on a date with you.”

  “You do realize I’m going to take you at face value here. If you say that we’re on a date, then we are on a date. And that means I’m treating you to the next round.”

  I laughed. “Wow, I take it we’re in here for the night then.”

  “Up to you. I can walk away and leave you with the barman. I can see him looking at you right now. Or, you can take your chances and stay with me all nig
ht.”

  I laughed. I liked Axel. This was just the sort of night I needed to forget about my problems. “I think I’ll take the chance with you then,” I said.

  He grinned. “Good answer.”

  True to our word, we stayed the night. Axel got the rest of the drinks to save me from going up to talk to the barman again and laughed every time he got back. Apparently, the barman was not happy with him.

  “I stole his woman,” he said and grinned at me.

  I smiled. “You did. I mean, how could I turn you down? It was either a date with you, or I lose my car.”

  “Tell me this, Savannah. If I were to have taken your car and still asked you out on a date, would you have said yes?”

  I looked him up and down, considering the question. My mind was a little hazy, and so was my vision. I wasn’t drunk, but I was tipsy, and it was a feeling I enjoyed. I nodded.

  “I’d have said yes,” I decided.

  “Great answer.”

  I was actually a very sweet and gentle person. Most people were surprised to find out about my compassion for animals and for my desperate desire to be loved. It frustrated me when people voiced their surprise. Just because I was a tall woman didn’t mean I couldn’t be loveable. That was why, when Axel looked at me and said, “You’re very sweet; you know that?” I almost melted in my chair. I knew he wasn’t just trying to flirt with me. I could tell by the way he said it and the look in his eyes, that he meant every word of that. He thought I was sweet. I am sweet, I said in my head.

  I looked at him and smiled. “Would you like to come back to my place?”

  He grinned. It had been the right thing to say. “I’d like nothing better.”

  We hopped on our bikes, and he followed me home. And, even though I liked to be sweet, and I liked to be gentle, I also knew when to turn it off. And right then, standing in the middle of my living room, I wanted nothing more than for Axel to rip my clothes off and make wild and passionate love to me. Which, to his credit, was exactly what he did.