The Importance of Family (and how it impacts the characters in Teaching Trey)

Riding a motorcycle is like being part of a huge, extended family. Bikers are some of the coolest people I’ve ever met – with the biggest hearts! And it doesn’t matter what you ride; if you’re on two wheels (or three!), you’re in.

The impact and meaning of “family” is a theme I explore in TEACHING TREY.

Amber’s mom died when she was young and her father never really got over it, slowly sliding into alcoholism. Although it happens before we meet her in TEACHING TREY, part of the allure of motorcycles (when her ex-boyfriend introduced her to them) was the camaraderie – and her biker chick friends (the other Lady Biker Series women) help keep her sane when everything is falling apart around her.

Trey is a single child who grew up with everything money could buy but without demonstrable love/touch. At one point in the story he realizes what he’s found in his biker friends: a whole different definition of “family” than what he’s experienced in his life…

Now available for PRE-ORDER! Kindle / Kobo / Apple / Nook (does not accept pre-orders)

TEACHING TREY EXCERPT © 2017

Amber took a step toward the two men rolling on the ground. Every fiber in her body screamed for her to jump on Doug’s back and scratch his eyes out. Anything to get him off Trey. But Trey needed more help than she could give.

She ran toward the bar.

“Bear!” She hollered as she stepped over the threshold. “Steve!”

The bar was loud and she continued to call their names as she crossed the room. Bear looked up as she reached the table.

“Amber?”

“It’s Trey! He’s in a fight! Outside!”

Amber ran, trusting that Bear and Steve were behind her. As they got closer, Trey landed a kick to Doug’s belly. Doug’s momentum caused him to keel backward, where he landed against Bear’s legs.

Bear clamped a hand onto Doug’s shoulder, bodily standing him up even as Doug twisted and swung a wild punch in Bear’s direction.

When his punch barely glanced off Bear’s abdomen, the man looked up—way up—into Bear’s face. Then his eyes travelled to Steve, who now stood next to Bear. Even in the dark, Amber could see the blood drain from Doug’s face.

Amber took a step toward Trey, who got to his feet, somewhat shaky, one hand pressed against his abdomen.

“Looks like someone’s been naughty,” Steve said.

Amber had never seen Trey’s face contorted in anger like it was now.

“Look here, asshole.” Trey straightened and pointed his finger at Doug. “I know you’re familiar with a little concept called a restraining order. Consider it in effect now. If you come anywhere near this woman—ever—your ass will be in jail so fast it’ll make the hair on your knuckles stand up.”

Bear rubbed his knuckles and stared the smaller man down. Doug stumbled as he backpedaled, frantically looking from one biker to the other.

Bear took a step forward. “Boo!”

Doug turned tail and ran.

“Coward,” muttered Steve.

“Jesus,” Amber breathed as Trey sagged into the bike behind him. She reached for him. “Trey…are you…”

“I’m okay.” He caught her hands in his, his eyes searching her face. “Are you?”

“Do I need to call the cops?” Sabrina’s voice floated over the murmurs of what was now a small crowd.

“No—” Trey said.

“Yes,” Amber said simultaneously.

Amber’s eyes narrowed. “You were… were… accosted! You could be hurt…”

Trey would have grinned at the use of the word accosted—a word he might have used himself if his jaw wasn’t on fire… and if it wasn’t a sobering reminder of what could have happened had he not followed Amber out here.

“You’re right.” He tried to stand straighter but winced when his ribs protested. “And we can start the process of the restraining order.”

“I’m more concerned about you,” she said. “You’re hurt. We should get you to—”

“I’m not going to the hospital,” he growled.

“But you could have a broken rib,” she protested.

“If I remember correctly from my football days, there’s nothing they can do for that,” he said.

She bit her lip. It was true, but just the same…

“You can at least let me look you over.” Sabrina stepped forward. “I’ve seen a lot of fights in twelve years of owning this bar.”

Trey opened his mouth—surely to protest—but whatever he saw on Amber’s face must have changed his mind, and he nodded to Sabrina.

Trey clenched his hand carefully. He knew his knuckles were bruised but he chose to use the only ice pack Sabrina had on his jaw instead.

Sabrina was wrapping a wide bandage around his middle. He thought it was overkill, but he didn’t say anything.

Being left-handed had come in handy for the first time in his life…outside the tennis court, that is. Doug hadn’t been looking for a left hook.

Probably the only reason the fight wasn’t more lopsided.

He could see Amber through the back door of the bar. He couldn’t hear her words but knew that she was telling the police officer her story.

He took an experimental breath, trying to calm the anger that still rolled around inside him.

It scared him a little, this anger. It was like nothing he’d ever felt before… anger that had made him hit a man…

“Fighting for a girl,” Sabrina mused. “I’d say you’ve got it bad.”

“It’s not like she’s my girl,” he said.

“But you’d like her to be,” Sabrina said. “Wouldn’t you?”

Trey’s eyes travelled to Amber again. Her red hair was backlit by the lights of the cop car, and she’d never looked more like a fire goddess.

Oh, he wanted her, all right. He wanted her in his bed and by his side on her motorcycle.

“She’ll be all right,” Sabrina said. “You, on the other hand, will be stiff and sore for a good week, I think.” He felt light pressure as she pinned the bandage to his side. “No crazy sex for you, honey.”

He gaped at her, but she just winked as she stepped aside.

The police officer behind her said, “Sir, we need to take your statement.”

*********************************

“Who’s taking care of Silver Bullet?” Trey glanced in the rearview mirror. He and Amber were in Sabrina’s car, and Steve was riding Trey’s motorcycle, following them to Trey’s home. What a mess.

“Sabrina will keep it in her shed until I can pick it up,” Amber said.

The adrenaline had definitely worn off. Trey’s side and knuckles throbbed. His jaw felt surprisingly decent, which he attributed to the ice.

“Have you ever punched a man before?” Amber glanced at him in the dark.

“Once,” he said. “My frat house had a party that was crashed…” He chuckled at the memory, then grimaced at the pain.

“What?” she said.

“It was crashed by bikers,” he said.

Her mouth formed an O. “You hit a biker?”

“Not bikers like you,” he said. “Young guys on crotch rockets. Thinking they were all the shit…” He shook his head. “Didn’t we all think we were the shit?”

“Bet you’re sorry you wanted to be a biker.” Amber bit her lip as if she wanted to say more.

“On the contrary.” Trey said. “It’s the best thing I’ve ever done.”

She frowned but kept her focus on the road.

He wanted to put it into words. “Those guys—Bear and Steve—they were there,” he said. “Really there. They didn’t even hesitate.”

“That’s what friends do,” she said softly.

He swallowed, trying to dislodge the lump in his throat. “I finally understand why you love it so much,” he said. “It’s not just the bikes or the lifestyle. You watch out for each other… you’ve got each other’s back… like an extended…” His voice faded.

“Family,” she whispered.

The word hit him like another punch to the gut. Is that what he’d been missing all these years? The feeling of belonging to a family? One that looked out for each other and supported each other, even when they argued or disagreed?

Want more? Join my VIP Reader Club!

Now available for PRE-ORDER! Kindle / Kobo / Apple / Nook (does not accept pre-orders)