Hammer's Pride by E.C. Land (brene brown rising strong TXT) 📕

slowly make my way down the hall and into the main room. I have a visual memory, so I followed the way Hammer brought me in. Heading for the door, I ignore the moans of women, not wanting to know where they’re coming from. But I don’t miss the groaning or the screaming of Hammer’s name as I walk past the room.

My heart clinches at the sound of the woman calling out Hammer’s name. Why? I don’t know, but I do know I need to get the hell out of there quickly.

Walking double time, I step through the doors leading outside and take a deep breath of the night’s air. Now I understand why he didn’t come back to his room. I’d invaded his space, so he’d had to go somewhere else to get what he needed rather than attempting it with me.

No, don’t go there. It’s not worth it.

Holding my head up, I make quick work of putting space between me and the clubhouse. As well as Hammer. It’s bad enough to know he’d left the way he did storming out of his room, but to hear his name on another woman’s lips through a closed door is gut-wrenching. And a blow to a woman’s pride.

With fast paces, I make my way into town. I’d decided with needing to leave so early in the morning, I’d left at two something to give me time to make it in time to open on time. The cool, crisp air prickles my skin, and by the time I get to my shop, I’m chilled and wanting nothing more than to get warm again. It might be warming up in the daytime, but at night it’s still cool, and I don’t need to get sick. It’s the last thing I need.

Finding my spare key, I open the back door and step inside. Heaviness sets in my chest as something dawns on me. This is the only thing I’m meant to have. I mean a man like Hammer, even if I wanted him and he took me to his bed, which wouldn’t happen, I’d never be enough. Who wants a woman who doesn’t have curves. My ass is small, and my breasts are barely B cups.

I let out a shaky breath, hit the lights in the kitchen area, and head to my office; first things first, change and get out of Hammer’s shirt. The sounds of his name still ring in my ears, and I don’t need or want to have anything of his touching me right now.

Changing out of my clothes, I also make another decision. The place I go to for restock, they deliver, it costs more, but it’d be worth it. I could have them bring me my order if I put one in now. I can put my order in while getting everything ready for opening. This way, I won’t have to leave considering I don’t have my car. It’s at my house, and I don’t want to go anywhere near the place right now. I might have said I needed to go by there, but Hammer was right about me not needing to be there. Especially when he said it was animal blood coating my walls.

I mean, who does that? It’s just plain gross for anyone to use blood but freakier to use animal blood. Okay, well, any type of blood.

My mind wanders over everything that happened last night, from the moment I got home to the moment I left the clubhouse to come here. I’m surprised no one saw me leave. Then again, I did leave in the middle of the night, and if anyone were awake such as Hammer, who’d been getting his rocks off, they were probably doing the same.

God knows I need to stop thinking of Hammer. I don’t understand how in such a short amount of time, a man like him could take up so much space in my head.

By the time it’s time for me to open the front doors, I’ve put in my order for the stock I need and set the delivery for this afternoon right after closing, baked what needed to be baked and put out, started the brewing of coffees and got everything switched on for the day. Flipping the sign next to the door over to open, I unlock the door and head back behind the counter. Doesn’t take thirty minutes before the customers start to trickle in.

I stay focused on my customers, losing track of time. By the time I’m through rush hour, I’m even more exhausted and ready to pass the hell out. Grabbing a cup of coffee, I lift it to my mouth and pour the contents down my throat needing the jolt to stay awake.

Sighing, I get back to work as more customers come in. I’m busy taking care of them, and though I hear the sounds of the bikes going by, I don’t pay attention as they stop directly in front of the shop. Handing the cup to the person standing in front of the counter, I lift my head to the door as it opens, and my eyes widen at the man followed by his men into the shop. All of them glowering at me with hits of frustration, but it’s the man in front of them that confuses me more, along with gutting me with the fury pouring off him.

“You have got to be fuckin’ kidding me,” he snarls, stepping around the customers still waiting in line.

“Um, I’m sorry; if you can give me a few minutes to help my customers, I’ll get you some coffee,” I mutter and switch my attention to the woman standing in front of the counter.

“Uh, holy crap, is that your boyfriend,” the woman murmurs quietly before I can ask her for her order.

“No,” I say just as quietly, not missing the air in the room becoming more stifling. None of the men say anything as I finish dealing with the last of my customers.

Lifting my