Small Town Payback: Sons of Iron MC Book 3

By Reghan Ross

Arlene Alston, small town realtor, is stunned when the new biker in town wants to buy a huge, neglected farm. She can’t help but question her sudden good fortune or why these bikers are moving into Pine Peak, a town without a night life and a rural way of life that is drying up.

But her long dormant hormones roar to life and she can’t stop thinking about the new town resident.
Dane Wells is younger than her by ten years and she’s certainly not looking for a man. As a widow and single parent, her focus has been raising her three daughters.
But then she discovers why the bikers are there. Revenge against her family.
Arlene should be angry at Dane for his part in the planned payback against a defenseless family. It was her alcoholic husband who killed the Lucans, the Sons of Iron MC prez and his eldest son. Not her. When her daughter tells her why the bikers are in town for a meeting about the Alstons, she crashes the meeting and gives the current prez, Hawke Lucan, a piece of her mind. What the bikers took away from her, they were now determined to give back, but she doesn’t need their charity.
If only Dane would stay away so she could get on with her life. But he makes her feel like a woman and it’s been so long since a man was interested in her.

Arlene’s boss is getting suspicious of her success with her current sales and accuses her of sleeping with her clients and he decides if she’s giving her body away, he wants some of it. Forced to quit her much needed job, Arlene focuses on getting her life back on track and that includes putting Dane out of her mind.

Arlene is the most stubborn woman Dane has ever met. He doesn’t care that she’s older. When she doesn’t say no to the explosive heat between them, he mistakenly thinks she must feel what he feels. The lonely years he spent in foster homes and later as a runaway, reminds him he needs no one. He has his MC brothers and they are the only family he needs.

But he can’t forget Arlene or the fact she comes as a package deal. Her daughters have wormed their way into his heart, even though the youngest one has the means to break him, hating his guts.
If Arlene’s youngest daughter doesn’t open her heart to let him in, he doesn’t see a way he can ever be with Arlene.

Payback is the 3rd book in the Sons of Iron series. It can be read as a stand-alone. This story contains steamy scenes with a single mom and hot biker.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Reghan Ross
• Release date: Nov 3, 2022
• ISBN: 9781005611828

Reghan Ross

Reghan Ross writes steamy contemporary romance. She had two full-length erotic romances published with the former Loose ID LLC online publishers and is now self-publishing her work.Her current work in progress is her MC series Sons of Iron. Visit the fictional town of Pine Peak in Books 1 thru 3, and meet Hawke, Jax, and Dane...total softies and not your typical hard ass bikers. Book 4 is in progress.Reghan loves faded jeans, boots, and sandals. She also enjoys hiking and tries to get to the beach every other year. After her sister passed at age 49, it hit home that life was short. Soon after, she had her 2 erotic titles published with Loose Id, and then had a tiny part in the movie Carol, in which you can see her sitting in the aisle of a cafe scene, but only from the check back...totally incognito. She lives in the Midwest with her husband and loves visiting with her daughters, grandchildren and siblings, and writes under the pen name of Reghan Ross.

Book preview

The kitchen door stood open and Arlene heard two deep male voices inside. One she recognized as Jaxon. The other was unfamiliar, but no less masculine. She hesitantly stepped inside the door and saw the two men at the sink with the water running.

Hold still. You big baby.

You’re squeezing the hell out of my finger!

How else am I supposed to get this fucking sliver of wood out?

Aargh.

Geez. You’ve think you’d never had a splinter before.

Arlene grinned, watching the two. Then she set her purse down on the kitchen island and pushed between them. Let me see, Jaxon. You’re hurting the poor man.

Both men jerked their heads to look down at her, obviously not having heard her come into the building and she was now wedged between them.

Jaxon laughed. Be my guest, he said and stepped aside. But be careful. He is the biggest baby when it comes to blood and gore.

The guy to her left stood still, looking down at her, the top of her head barely coming up to his shoulder. He might have been horsing around with Jax a few minutes ago, but now his face went blank. He stared at her like he was wondering where she came from and Jaxon cleared his throat roughly behind them.

Having studied the man whose hair was up in some kind of messy man bun, his shoulders broad and strong, Arlene ignored his stunned expression and looked down at his red middle forefinger with just the tip of wood showing. She took his arm, tucked it under hers, to rest against her lower ribs, picked up the tweezers, and said, You may have to hold him down, Jaxon.

What the fuck? No one is holding me down… Aargh.

That fast, Arlene dove in with the tweezers, grabbed the sliver and yanked it out.

Damn it, woman. What the hell?

She held up the half inch long razor sharp piece for both men to see. The man’s eyes rolled back in his head and he went down like a felled tree. Arlene gasped, dropping the tweezers to the counter as she dropped to her knees next to him.

As she patted his cheek, he opened one eye and winked at her. She pursed her lips and exhaled.

Jaxon hunkered down next to her. Damn. I was just joking with him. Is he okay?

You’re asking me? You should probably call an ambulance.

Ambulance? You’re shitting me?

She grinned. Jaxon, we just pulled a huge, painful splinter out of this guy’s finger. This could be serious.

Jaxon paled when she’d mentioned the emergency vehicle, but now he frowned, and looked between her and his friend. His brow arched. Then the man on the ground opened both eyes, looked at Jaxon with a little smirk, both brows raised.

You asshole, Jax snapped and pushed to his feet. I can see I’m going to have to watch you two when you’re in the room together.

Wearing a dress and boots, Arlene pushed to her feet and stood. The man on the ground sat up and jumped to his feet. Arlene laughed lightly and turned back to the sink. She washed her hands. Dried them. Then motioned the man back near her side so she could finish. She saw the alcohol swap and band-aids nearby and finished cleaning his finger.

When you two are done holding hands, I guess I should introduce you. Jaxon sure was in a good mood today. He ought to be. He was living with Arlene’s oldest daughter, Rae. He was lucky she didn’t belt him one right in the head.

Turning back to Jax, waiting for the introduction, she crossed her arms. Well?

Now the man at her side smirked. He was enjoying this.

But Jax’s smile faded and he looked resigned to introducing her. This is my friend and business partner, Dane Wells. Dane, Arlene Alston. She’s Rae mom but was also my realtor.

There was no need for the two of them to shake hands as Arlene already had a close encounter with the man, but when she looked at him, the man’s eyes were narrowed. As if she wasn’t who he’d expected. Nor was he pleased.

The pleasant smile on her own face faded.

She turned back to Jax and the reason she’d stopped by—to pick up her two younger daughters who could be heard listening to music and giggling upstairs. Well. Could you please call my daughters down? I’ve got to get going.

* * *

Leaning against the counter with one boot crossed over the other, Dane raised his hand and looked down at the finger Arlene cleaned and bandaged. He’d been working next door all afternoon with Jax in the old barbershop which would be her daughter’s new salon after the remodeling was finished.

Dane didn’t need to look at the woman to know she resembled the three young ladies upstairs, but as the silence ticked uncomfortably, he belatedly realized he should have said something in response to the introduction. Instead, he was tongue-tied and thinking fast.

His gaze lifted and swept over her auburn hair and creamy skin. His gut clenched.

Her skin grew rosy and she tugged at the collar of her coat.

Dane knew who this lady was. He’d caught a glimpse of her a few times, but never met her until now. Arlene Alston. The woman who the Sons of Iron MC fucked up financially for seven long years due to the fact she’d been married to the lowlife who killed two good men. The prez and his older son. The fact her husband died in the accident as well, didn’t matter to Hawke, who lost his father and brother to a drunk driver. They’d all been filled with grief and they’d wanted someone to pay for those deaths.

She frowned uncertainly at him as he stood lost in the past and looked back to Jax. Well. Could you please call my daughters down? I’ve got to get going, she said.

Her smoky voice slithered down his spine.

Clearing his throat, Jax strode across the room to the base of the old-fashioned wood staircase and yelled, Arden! Hailey! Your mom’s here.

Arlene’s shiny auburn hair curled softly around her jaw and fell to her shoulders. Unable to stop studying her, Dane’s gaze fell to the freckled pale skin in the V of her shirt and lower. Damn. Despite her slenderness, her curves got his attention. The word MILF entered his head and his blood flowed hot.

With regret, he crossed the kitchen to head back outside and back to work in the shop. As the girls began climbing down the stairs, still chatting and giggling, Dane turned back at the last second and found Arlene’s eyes on him. It was nice to meet you, he said, and he cursed beneath his breath as Jax’s soft chuckle followed him.

Chapter 1

Bleary-eyed, Arlene stared at herself in the bathroom mirror. Wiping away the condensation on the glass, she stared at her morning face, trying to see what Dane saw when he’d checked her out so thoroughly yesterday.

When Jax introduced her to Dane, Dane looked at her as if she just crawled out of a gutter—his eyes so pale a gray they almost looked silver—and her spine went rigid at his frank appraisal.

With the tat on his neck, and wild brown hair pulled into a messy bun, he looked as out of place in this town as Hawke and Jax when they first moved here. Now Dane was here, working in Jax’s building and living somewhere in town.

Intensely male, serious as all hell, and built were her first impressions of him. Tongue-tied as they appraised each other, Arlene stood still, not used to a man giving her such a frank scrutiny. Remembering how she’d blushed, embarrassed her all over again. Men didn’t usually bother her. It was a small town and she’d been busy raising her daughters. She didn’t date. She kept to herself. She worked hard and never seemed to get ahead. All the more reason why she should stay focused and not think about a biker who was obviously much younger than her.

But Dane’s eyes burned into her yesterday, leaving his mark and it warmed Arlene deep inside, from head to toe. Still, she swore she saw anger in his face before he strode out of the room, all three of her daughters noticing the tense atmosphere as well.

The vivid glitter in his eyes swept sheer confusion through her.

She and Dane barely exchanged a word, but his gaze sent her into a near tailspin and she’d almost texted her daughters to come down so she could get the hell out of there.

Rehashing the meeting, her breasts grew heavy and she pressed her thighs together. The thought of dating someone hadn’t crossed her mind in so long and thinking about Dane made her hormones scramble for safety.

All through the night, the look on Dane’s face stayed with her. Who was he and what was he doing in Pine Peak?

A lot of years passed since Arlene thought of herself as a woman with needs. She raised her daughters, put a roof over their heads, and made sure they all had enough to eat. But a day was coming when her daughters would grow up and not need her anymore. She knew it and thought about it often. Recently, Rae moved out and in with Jax.

The image of herself as a single, aging woman was a dismal picture.

Put Dane out of your mind before you go crazy.

Later in her office at Sharp Realty, Arlene checked her email for messages. Her phone pinged and she saw a text from Rae.

Hi Mom. Jax’s business partner just moved to town and is looking for some land. You met him yesterday. Dane Wells. I mentioned the McGilvery property to him. Thought he might be interested. Can you show him the place today? I gave him your number.

While Arlene never turned down a client, she doubted Dane wanted to work with her. For some reason, when Jax moved here, he asked Arlene to be his realtor. He’d never explained how he got her name. Now Dane moved here. Weird. This town never saw strangers moving in. Young people moving out was the norm, eager to move to the big cities where there were more opportunities for higher education and work.

Gee thanks, Arlene texted back, thinking of the surprising tingles in her body when she’d met Dane.

The McGilvery Farm? That was one piece of land Arlene hoped never sold. She loved it. Her daughters loved it. But most importantly, old man McGilvery left under upsetting circumstances, his grown children forcing him into a nursing facility. Arlene hoped the place always remained a farm and that a construction company didn’t get hands on it. To sell it though would net another nice commission and boost her reputation as a serious business woman.

As a realtor, it was a constant challenge to find new clients and sell anything in this small town. Recently, she’d sold that old monster of a building in town to Jax, which netted her a nice commission and would pad her bank account for months to come. Maybe things were finally looking up for her and her girls.

Her thoughts returned to the McGilvery property.

Farm property was costly and quite expensive but since the buildings on that land needed some work, the orchards a mess, the place had not interested any buyers. Still, what would a single guy want with a farm?

Why were these bikers moving to Pine Peak? Just to be close to their friend Hawke, who’d moved here years ago? This town was lonely, quiet, with a few small business owners, farmers, horse breeders, and families. No nightlife. No excitement.

Arlene wondered how these rough looking men could possibly be satisfied living in this town and guessed they wouldn’t stay long.

* * * *

Wind blew across the empty, overgrown fields where corn stood a few summers ago, and teased the edge of Arlene’s dress as she slid from her car. She shivered, promising herself her daughters would have warmer boots and coats by next winter.

She heard an engine coming. A motorcycle roared up the driveway behind her and she turned to watch its approach. The old tracks of the drive lost its gravel a long time ago and proved no problem for the man zooming up the drive through tall weeds and an old faint tire track.

As she watched Dane handle the bike, her heart pounded and her mouth ran dry.

The black and chrome machine slid to a stop and the rider swung a leg over the seat. He yanked off his leather gloves and, lifting his hands to tug off his black helmet, his long hair flowed out, over his shoulders and down his back. So much longer than she would have guessed.

Her blood warmed and she licked her dry lips.

Dane turned and his eyes met hers. After strapping the helmet to the bike seat, he raked back a blowing strand of hair and sauntered toward her, all attitude, hard expression—like he didn’t trust people much—and leather jacket. He didn’t smile.

But his eyes burned with incredible heat.

Arlene cleared her throat and held out her hand. They’d already met and she didn’t need to greet him, but whether she’d stretched out her arm out of habit or it was because something about him called out to her, she wasn’t sure.

Staring down into her eyes, Dane hesitated and then took her slim fingers in his, his hand warm and calloused. He held her chilled fingers in his for what seemed longer than necessary. Thanks for meeting me at short notice, he said, his voice deep and rough just like she remembered.

It’s not a problem. Well, let’s get started.

Just as she took half a step to move away, he pulled her in hard, and her hands landed on his chest.

With a serious expression he studied her for a moment and then he dipped his head and planted his mouth on hers. OMG.

His kiss enflamed all her senses, swirling deep down inside like a tidal wave. No man had touched her in so long. She felt like a cold fish in his arms.

Kiss me back, he told her.

She blinked and then leaned in a fraction, and he kissed her again. His lips were full and dry, his rough whiskers abrading the skin of her chin and jaw. Swallowing hard, she opened and touched his tongue with hers. He deepened the kiss and Arlene snapped out of the haze of lust she’d quickly fallen into.

Pulling back, she looked up at him and said, What was that?

You said, let’s get started.

She gasped. Dane, I didn’t mean you and me… I meant get started looking around. Start walking the property.

He held her by her upper arms and a slow grin came to his face. Why Mrs. Alston, are you flustered?

A blush warmed her cheeks. Please call me Arlene. I haven’t been a misses for a long time. And of course she was flustered. The way she caught him looking at her and especially now. He’d kissed her! What did he expect?

He didn’t say anything and seemed to be sizing her up, almost like he couldn’t take his eyes off her. But the grin left his face. He jerked his head in a nod and gestured for her to proceed with the showing.

How old was he? Mid-thirties? Younger?

Arlene cleared her throat and started walking, her knee high boots helping to keep her legs warm. After a moment, he fell into place beside her, and she caught his eyes glancing at the fluttering edge of her dress. She brushed it down and drew her jacket closer.

Warmth infused her entire body.

Isn’t it too cold to ride a bike in these temps?

He shrugged. Mid-forties? With the sun out? Nah. I’m hot blooded.

His words made her nipples pinch tight. A little alarmed, she looked away. Would you like to look inside the house first? she asked, feeling nervous and out of her depth. When he didn’t answer right away, she turned back to him.

He raised a brow as he studied the white two-story farmhouse. No. Doesn’t look safe. You’re not stepping a foot in there. If I bought this place, I’d tear it down.

Arlene gasped. Tear it down? It’s gorgeous. You need to see the woodwork and details inside before you make a final decision.

Looks like it needs a lot of work.

I’m sure whoever falls in love with this place would want to fix it up.

Still staring at the sagging front corner of the house, he didn’t glance her way. The house is bigger than I imagined.

Arlene’s mind turned to dirty thoughts. With broad shoulders, chest, and ripped gut, he looked big and strong. Probably proportionate in all areas. Swallowing back a choke, her eyes wide, she took a breath. This man was having the weirdest effect on her. Focus, Arlene. "This farm has a lot of acreage. Maybe you’d be interested