Page 31 of Keys

“It’s fine. I knew, after our last date, that it was a long shot.”

We talked, had a few drinks, and while she wasn’t necessarily a woman who I thought I could go the distance with, she wasn’t all bad either. Aubrey had a killer sense of humor, and we found ourselves laughing about the simplest things. Her humor tended to land on just this side of mean when she pointed it at others, something I wasn’t sure I liked. Then again, as with the clothes, I thought maybe she might be doing it to try to fit her idea of what I’d be attracted to.

“Don’t suppose I could convince you to come back to my place this time?”

Just as Aubrey asked the question, I glanced up to see Tash and Legs grabbing a seat at the bar in the back. Tash nodded her head in my direction and Legs looked up in time to catch my eye before hers settled on the woman beside me. Her nose wrinkled in obvious distaste. I knew word would get back to Keys that I was out with someone.

For a moment, I was plagued by that punch in the gut feeling, as though I were doing something wrong and had just been busted. The problem was, Keys had beat me to the punch with the dating other people thing, so there was no need for me to feel guilt. Still, it dampened the mood, and I knew there was no way I could go home with Aubrey.

“Can’t tonight. We really do have to stop making such short notice plans. It’s tough to clear my schedule.”

“Who knew bikers stayed so busy that they can’t even enjoy a round of rough and dirty sex after a date?” While she played it off as teasing, there was a bite to the words she spoke. “Just do me a favor and don’t go back to the clubhouse and crawl on the first whore you guys have lying around. If I find out that’s your thing and the reason we can’t ever move onto the physical side of things, all bets will be off.”

“That’s understandable. I don’t mess around with the girls when I’m seeing people. I rarely do when I’m not, so it isn’t a worry.”

She seemed to bristle a bit about that, but what could she really say? We weren’t exclusive or anything, and what I did in my past wasn’t for her judgment. “Anyway, I better get going. You want me to walk you to your car?”

Aubrey shook her head. “I got dropped off by my roommate.”

I glanced around, knowing I brought the bike and that I couldn’t take her home. “How did you plan on getting back?”

She sighed. “I was hoping you would be taking me.”

“You know I can’t do that. I asked to meet you here for a reason.”

“Yeah, I get it. You’re not ready for that type of commitment. I’ll find a ride.”

I pulled my phone out. “I’ll have a prospect come get you. It’s the least I can do.”

“Fine.” She agreed, but again, there was a venomous little bite to her tone.

“I can wait with you until he gets here.”

“No need,” she told me. Then a killer smile spread across her face, transforming it. “Let me know when you’re not busy so we can do this properly next time. Third time is the charm, after all.”

I knocked my knuckles against the table as I stood. “I’ll do that.” I didn’t bother to lean in for a kiss, to look back at her, or the two women who basically had me running with my tail between my legs. Not that I was afraid of Tash or Legs, or even what they would tell Keys. No. I was running from my own fuckup and the fact that the woman I wanted to be with wasn’t the one that had been willingly sitting at that table with me in public and begging to ride my bike and my cock. I fucking missed Keys and trying to move on hurt like hell.

Chapter 10

“I might need you to come over to the Aces High Clubhouse with me later.” Even though Angel Girl attempted to make it sound as though it wasn’t a forgone conclusion, I knew better. There would be no excusing my way out of going. She must have sensed my realization. “You need to rip the Band-Aid off now before this becomes a problem. Our clubs are not only geographically close, but I think joint ventures with them are inevitable at this point.”

“Got it.” I nodded my head and turned my back on her, putting my eyes back on the screen in front of me.

“What are you doing?”

“Looking for some information for Legs.”

“Did she get another lead on the asshole?”

I shook my head. “I’m running my own search. I used a picture of her daughter to run through a program that ages your features. It’s probably a shot in the dark, but I’m hoping I can use to it to trigger facial recognition somewhere.”

Angel Girl clasped me on the shoulder. “Long shots have worked before. Doesn’t mean it’s going to get you out of coming with me though.”

“I already said I’d go.”

“This is why I didn’t want any of you dating the men over there.” Angel Girl huffed out her complaint as she sat down in the chair beside me.

I turned toward her and threw her bullshit back in her face. “Okay, Pot, I’ll bite. How are you any better than the kettle? You’re dating one of their men.”

---