Total pages in book: 41
Estimated words: 39421 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 197(@200wpm)___ 158(@250wpm)___ 131(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 39421 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 197(@200wpm)___ 158(@250wpm)___ 131(@300wpm)
Her lips parted, and her breath caught. “What…what do you mean?”
Lowering my head, I slid my hand to her waist.
“I don’t share,” I said, my voice a raspy whisper.
She didn’t say a word. Just stared up at me, eyes wide, lips soft and parted, as though she was frozen on the edge of something dangerous and didn’t know whether to jump or run.
Running wasn’t a fucking option. Clarity slammed into me. I was never gonna let her go.
My eyes dropped to her lips, and I took hold of her chin, lifting her face so I could kiss her. Devour her. Fucking ruin her for anyone else and brand her mouth with mine. I was gonna give her a kiss she’d never forget.
“Racer.” Edge’s voice snapped around the corner, sharp and mocking. “Kane’s headed this way. If you wanna keep your balls, maybe don’t be caught making out with the girl he sees as a baby sister.”
I rolled my eyes, but Emily tensed and immediately tried to pull away.
“Nope.” I caught her wrist before she could flee and yanked her back against my chest.
She let out a tiny squeak, her eyes darting toward the open lane. “Kane’ll see!”
I raised an eyebrow and reached around to hook my fingers into the back belt loop of her coveralls, holding her flush to me with a smirk.
“So?”
Before she could speak, Kane came around the corner, and I reluctantly let her step to the side, keeping a hold of her belt loop so she couldn’t get away.
He stopped and looked us over with concern. “You two good?”
“Peachy,” I said, voice smooth and relaxed.
He frowned and jerked a thumb over his shoulder. “Saw those two assholes leaving the pit a few minutes ago. You run into them?”
I bobbed my head once. “Been handled.”
Edge didn’t say a word, bless his twisted little heart.
Kane lifted his chin in acknowledgment. “Took me a minute, but I recognized them.”
My brow lifted.
“They work for Dez Franklin.”
“The small-time bookie that killed his way to the top and runs a crew now?” Edge asked with a deep scowl. “You think he’s behind the betting syndicate?”
Kane nodded, but his attention had shifted to Emily. “You okay?”
“All good. But I should go. I have stuff to do back at the garage.” She tried to take a step forward, but my fingers tightened around the loop, foiling her escape attempt. I just smiled when she tossed me a cute, disgruntled frown.
“I’ll give you a ride,” Kane offered, already pulling out his keys.
I cut in, not giving her a chance to answer. “She’s riding with me.”
Kane paused. Then blinked before slowly looking at me, as though he wasn’t sure he’d heard that right.
“You’re letting her on your bike?” he asked, clearly surprised.
“She’s like your family,” I replied easily, though in my head, I was muttering about how she was not his fucking family…she was mine.
Kane hesitated, then nodded, accepting the logic. “Appreciate it. Gives me time to talk to some of the other owners.”
He walked off, tossing a wave over his shoulder.
Edge waited until he was gone before whistling low. “You are so fucked, brother.”
“Fuck off,” I muttered, but my hand didn’t move from Emily’s hip.
Edge’s grin widened. “I mean, fuck, next thing we know she’ll be driving your bike and wearin’ your balls on a chain.”
“You done?” I glared at him.
He kept laughing.
Ignoring him, I took Emily’s hand and tugged her toward the lot. My hog was waiting, the seat shining under the low floodlights.
She was silent, her gaze locked on my bike.
I smiled. “Pass your muster?”
She nodded slowly as she continued to inspect the Harley, a smile playing at her lips. “I’m a little jealous.”
I laughed. “You should see my ’79 Triumph Bonneville back in Old Bridge. Restored her myself.”
Emily lit up and smiled. “I love vintage motorcycles. There’s just something especially sexy about them.”
Slipping my arm around her waist, I pulled her up against my body. “Yeah, but they can’t compare to you.”
“Me?” She looked up at me with a shocked expression that made me wonder just how often she’d been told how beautiful and womanly she was. I kind of wanted to beat the shit out of her brother, and even Kane and Edge, for treating her “like one of the guys.” Even if she’d acted as if that was what she wanted.
I let her go—grudgingly—and grabbed the extra helmet, holding it out. “You’re sexy as fuck, angel. Now, get on. I’ll take you back to the garage.”
Her cheeks flushed adorably. And even though she didn’t say a word, her eyes held mine just a moment longer than necessary.
And that was enough to confirm that I wasn’t the only one feeling this chemistry.
Whatever this was, it was complicated and about to get messy.
And I didn’t give a single fuck.
6
EMILY
The Harley’s engine vibrated through me as I held on to Jude. Riding on the back of his hog wasn’t anything like I expected. Completely different from being on my brother’s motorcycle, which was the only thing I could compare this to.