The probie and his biker chick (Iron vipers book 3)

Getting jiggy with it

*Tommy*

I lean against the wooden railing, a cold beer in my hand, and watch the scene unfold before me. Dylan’s laughter rings out over the music, a sound that could light up the darkest of nights. She’s dancing with her mom, twirling around in a way that makes it clear she’s got all the confidence in the world. It’s charming, infectious even, and I can’t help but feel a little envious of the bond they share… I was never really close with my parents.

But damn it, why didn’t she tell me who she was? The whole ‘mysterious stranger’ act is fun and all, but it feels like I’m standing on the edge of a cliff, peering into the unknown. I can’t shake the feeling that I’ve stumbled into something way over my head. I mean, she’s the daughter of the president of the club, and here I am, the probie just trying to find his footing.

I watch as she spins, her hair catching the light, and I see her mother’s proud smile. There’s something about that moment that stirs something inside of me. I admire how effortlessly she owns the floor, moving to the beat like she was born to do it. If only she knew how much I wanted to join her, to lose myself in the rhythm, but the anxiety of being judged keeps me glued to my spot.

Then, she drags a couple of younger kids onto the dance floor, and I can’t help but chuckle at the sight. They’re all bouncing around, trying to keep up with her energy. It’s downright adorable the way she bends down to their level, encouraging them to let loose. I can see why everyone is drawn to her… she’s got a light that pulls people in, makes them feel seen.

But what’s eating at me is how she left me hanging, caught up in some playful game while I’m left to figure out how to approach her. I sip my beer, the coolness doing nothing to quell the heat in my cheeks from our earlier encounter. I never thought I’d be so flustered by a woman, but here I am, a total mess.

“Hey, Tommy!” A voice pulls me from my thoughts. It’s LZ, giving me a knowing grin. “You should go ask her to dance.”

I scoff, trying to play it cool. “Yeah, right. She’s busy being the life of the party while I’m over here nursing my beer.”

“Just go for it," he nudges. “You might regret it if you don’t. Plus, she’s been stealing glances your way.”

“Stealing glances?” I say, feigning disbelief. “You sure you are not imagining that?”

“Trust me, man. Just don’t mess this up.” There is an edge of warning. “cause I would have to kick your ass if you hurt her.”

I take a deep breath, the idea of approaching her like this, here in front of everyone, is both thrilling and terrifying. What do I even say? But then again, what do I have to lose?

I push off the railing and make my way toward the dance floor, my heart racing. Dylan is still dancing, now with a couple of kids, a big grin plastered on her face. She catches my eye and gives me a playful wink, and I swear my stomach flips. Maybe this won’t be so bad after all.

“Hey, Dylan!” I call out, trying to keep my voice steady. It comes out a little louder than I intended, and I can feel several heads turn our way.

She stops dancing and turns to me, her expression says she is actually happy I am here. “Tommy! I feared you had left.!” she teases, a twinkle in her eye.

“Yeah, Nah, I figured I’d come check out the entertainment,” I reply as I nod toward the kids attempting to keep up with her. “And it looks like I’ve found it.”

“Flattery will get you nowhere,” she quips back, but there’s a smile tugging at her lips. “You’re just jealous you didn’t get to join in.”

“Maybe I am.” I lean closer, lowering my voice conspiratorially. “So, how about you show me some moves, like one on one? I could use a lesson from the star of the show.”

“Is that a challenge?” she asks, raising an eyebrow.

“Absolutely.” I extend my hand, grinning as I feel a surge of confidence. “Let’s show them how it’s done.”

She bites her lip, considering the offer. “Alright, but don’t blame me when you end up with People laughing at your two left feet.”

“Trust me, I’ll blame only myself if that happens,” I say, mirroring her playful tone as I pull her into the fray.

As we get out on the floor the music changes to some kinda weird country like ballrooms music, and I want to trottle whoever put that on,

I still feel her energy wrap around me like a warm hug as we sway together, but this is so not my jam. “You know,” I say, leaning in closer to her, “you clearly had dancing lessons, and I did not. You are much better at this than me.”

“Oh, you think so?” she teases, spinning on her heel and then stopping abruptly, causing me to nearly bump into her. “What do you know about dancing, Mr. ‘I-just-want-to-lean-against-the-railing’?”

“Hey, I may not be a ballrooms dancer, but I’m a good judge of talent,” I retort, my heart racing as I take her hand and guide her into a twirl. “And you, my dear, are a natural.”

She laughs, her eyes sparkling as she spins back into my arms. “Flattery and a twirl? You really are trying to win me over, aren’t you?”

“Can you blame me?” I reply, biting back a grin. “You’re a bit of a handful, but I think I’m up for the challenge.”

“Just be careful, Tommy,” she says, her voice playful yet with an underlying sincerity. “I’m not the fragile type and I am not one of the hang arounds.”

“Oh, I gathered that much,” I chuckle, our banter flowing effortlessly. “But I’m not exactly fragile either. I can handle a bit of unpredictability.”

“Good to know,” she shoots back, her smile widening. “Because you’re in for a wild ride if you plan on sticking around.”

“Bring it on,” I say, feeling the thrill of her words. We continue to dance, and I just kinda wing it, probably failing big time.

Finally the music changes back to something modern and I send her a cheeky grin, see this I know how to do, and I am ready to try and impress her.