Page 32 of Bedding the Biker Next Door

She smiled and glanced at Cole. Feeling bold, she said, “That’s been my pleasure.” She giggled when Cole actually blushed a little.

Luke burst out laughing. “I see what you mean, Cole. Sweet and wild. Now come on, Gabe’s waiting inside.

As they started to make their way through the crowd, Jill turned to Cole. “Sweet and wild huh?” She was teasing him, but it was a huge compliment that he’d described her that way to Luke. If there was one thing she was afraid of, it was that she was a little too boring for a guy like Cole. But he obviously recognized that he brought out her wild side, and just as obviously, he liked it.

Cole loosely wrapped his arms around her from behind even as they kept walking. He put his mouth to her ear and growled, “That’s right. That’s how you give it to me, Jill. And that’s how I’ll always want it from you. Day and night. In bed and out.”

She stumbled slightly, both because of the intensely good feeling his words filled her with, but also at the way he’d referred to them having an “always.”

* * *

Cole seriously considered turning around and guiding Jill toward the exit. He loved his friends, and he’d been excited for them to meet Jill, but all of a sudden he wanted it to be just the two of them again, the way it had been last night.

Too late.

Gabe was already headed their way.

While an outside observer might see Cole and Luke as opposites on a spectrum, Gabe would fall somewhere in the middle. Luke almost always wore formal clothes. Cole almost always dressed down. Gabe liked to straddle both styles; he wore a tux like he’d been born in one but looked just as suave wearing dark fitted jeans and a light sweater the way he was now. Few people would guess that Gabe had survived a tough childhood, that he’d virtually grown up on the streets and had to fight for everything he had. It was a testament to his intelligence and strength that he was now a corporate mogul with a powerhouse chain of outdoor recreation stores that was big with extreme sports enthusiasts.

For the next hour, Cole watched Jill charm his college buddies just like she’d charmed Smash and the other bikers. It didn’t seem to matter who she was talking to; Jill showed a genuine interest in people no matter their backgrounds. She was open and friendly, asking a lot of questions but also willing to share her own experiences. She even explained how she’d learned to play darts in college, and how that had come in handy when she’d met a sexy biker in a bar recently.

Both Gabe and Luke laughed as if that was the funniest thing they’d ever heard.

“Well, it’s too bad Cole didn’t meet you a week earlier,” Luke said. “You could have joined us in Coronado for the wedding.”

“What wedding?” Jill asked.

In his peripheral vision, Cole saw Gabe stiffen and sighed. Gabe was Eric’s best friend and he’d been assigned the role of Best Man at Eric’s should-have-happened wedding. Eric leaving Brianne at the altar without any warning or explanation was affecting Gabe the hardest.

Luke’s expression grew serious. “I shouldn’t have brought that up.”

“Damn right you shouldn’t have brought it up,” Gabe growled. He looked at Jill. “I like you, Jill, but Luke here should know better than to casually share something so personal. Now if you’ll excuse me for a moment, I have to make a phone call.” With a final pissed off look at Luke, Gabe stood and walked away.

“Shit,” Luke muttered. Then glanced at Jill. “Excuse me, Jill.”

“No problem,” she said softly.

Cole clamped Luke on the shoulder. “You didn’t do anything wrong. The only person who’s in the wrong here is Eric.” Noting how quiet Jill had gotten, Cole explained, “Our friend Eric, Gabe’s best friend, was supposed to get married last week, but he ended up leaving his fiancée Brianne, another friend of ours, at the altar with no explanation other than a text that Brianne hasn’t shared with us. The only thing she’ll say is that Eric was obviously having doubts so it’s better they didn’t go through with their vows.”

“He texted her right before the wedding to call things off?” Jill’s tone was horrified.

“Yes.” Cole searched the room for Gabe, but couldn’t see him. “Except for an initial email letting us know he’s okay and will be in touch soon, Eric’s been MIA. As Eric’s best friend, Gabe’s taking it the hardest. I mean, we’d just thrown him a bachelor party in Vegas and everything seemed fine. We’re supposed to be friends. Why wouldn’t he have said anything? It doesn’t make sense.”

Jill didn’t respond and Cole frowned at her downcast eyes. “Jill?”

She shot him a smile, though it was obviously strained.

“I’m sorry,” Luke said. “I didn’t mean to bring everyone down.”

Jill shook her head. “No, no. It’s fine. I just…I always try to look at things from everyone’s point of view. And if Eric’s a good friend, I imagine he has to be a pretty good guy. Sometimes people don’t share their secrets with those that mean the most to them because they’re afraid of what they’ll think. Afraid something precious will be lost.”

Jill sounded so sad. As if she had some deep dark secret that she was afraid to share. It didn’t sit right with him. But he’d only known her a few days. And she’d been reluctant to talk about her father. Maybe there was a story there. Cole reached out and took Jill’s hand, relieved when she squeezed and her expression cleared.

A minute later, Gabe returned, and though he was still a little tense, he did his best to make Jill comfortable again. While they were talking about Gabe’s chain of outdoor adventure stores, Luke asked if he could talk to Cole about business.

“Sure,” Cole said. “Excuse me for a second, Jill?”

“Of course,” she said, smiling sweetly before turning back to Gabe.

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