Page 10 of Ryder's War

“Thinking I’m some easy fuck to mess with.”

Rubbing his jaw, Ryder stammered, “I-I didn’t think that…exactly.”

“Shut the fuck up. You do not have my permission to speak for the rest of the drive.”

Moving his lower jaw back and forth, Ryder canned the chitchat. He wished he could say this was out of character for his president. Unfortunately, the man hadn't earned his road name for enjoying romantic evenings under the stars. There was a darkness lurking in his soul that made him unpredictableand dangerous as a heart attack. And lately, those shadows seemed to be growing deeper, spreading like ink through water. When he was in this kind of mood, even Ryder knew better than to wade in too deep.

Some demons were better left unfed.

~ Tiffany ~

Shifting uncomfortably on the barstool, Tiffany sucked on her daiquiri, still adjusting to how casually violence and romance mixed in MC life. Only here could a gunshot wound lead to a love story—assuming that's what was actually happening with Ace and his mysterious doctor.

Slinging his bar towel over his shoulder, Ace frowned before saying in a thoroughly annoyed tone, “Well, maybe she does, and maybe she doesn’t. How the hell am I supposed to know if she’s really into me or if she just blows all her patients?”

“Get real, Ace. Doctors never do things like that with their patients.” The words came out automatically, her nurse's training warring with what she'd learned about MC life—sometimes the craziest stories were the true ones. After all, hadn't she gone from ER nurse to outlaw's woman in the span of a single gunfight?

Grinning, he shrugged. “Maybe that’s why the place was packed.”

Nearly spitting out her drink, Tiffany jerked in her seat, laughing. That would be a great way to get new patients and all, but she just couldn’t bring herself tobelieve a doctor would give a guy with a gaping leg wound a blow job. It literally didn’t make any sense.

Pulling herself together, she tried to explain the situation again, her investigative instincts—the ones that had kept her alive while running—kicking into high gear. Something about this doctor story wasn't adding up, and in her experience, inconsistencies usually meant trouble. “It’s against the law for doctors to date their own patients. They could get sued or maybe even have their license pulled.”

“Well, just between you and me, I’m starting to wonder if she even was a doctor.”

Suddenly interested, Tiffany leaned over the bar. “What do you mean? She did a really good job on your leg.”

“She had this other lady helping her. Her assistant was the one who worked on my leg. Dr. Reynolds just kind of held my hand and talked to me. Well, she fuckin’ flirted her pretty little ass off, if you know what I mean.”

Tilting her head, Tiffany took his measure, then said, “Some ladies like bikers, and you’re pretty hot. I can easily believe it.” Thinking about what he’d said, she asked, “What makes you think the other woman was her assistant?”

“‘Cause she shut the fuck up and worked on my leg.”

“If she was a physician’s assistant who specialized in surgery, then her performing minor surgical procedures wouldn’t be out of the question. They can even prescribe medications.”

Ace shrugged. “That little lady was plain as fuck, but she knew what in the hell she was doing with my leg.”

Frowning, Tiffany wanted to bring him up short about judging women by their looks but decided against it in favor of learning more about the situation with Dr. Reynolds. “It’s unusual for a physician to defer such treatment to a PA when they’re right there in the room. Plus, you had more damage than PAs normally deal with.”

“She wasn’t there when I went for my checkup the following week. I got some dude with a sour face and shitty attitude. What do you think that means?”

“How am I supposed to know? I can’t believe you didn’t call her.”

Sighing, Ace’s eyes slid away. “I’m not really her type, now, am I?”

Tiffany didn’t know how to deliver what she was thinking with any finesse, so she just said it. “I don’t want to insinuate you’re slow or anything, but clearly you are if she had sex withyou right there in her office in front of her assistant.”

Shock slid onto the man’s face. “After the other chick left, that’s when things got hot.”

Lifting one shoulder, she said, “It sounds like she’s really into you.”

Turning away, Ace sighed. “Lots of chicks want to have sex with me. I can guarantee most of them don’t consider me their type. Can you see me hooking up with a real doctor?”

Okay, now she felt bad. Reaching across the bar, Tiffany grabbed his arm. “I sure as hell can. I’m going to call the office and find out what her deal is.”

“Don’t.”

He could deny it all he wanted, but the man needed closure. Jerking out her phone, Tiffany mumbled, “Too late. What’s the name of the medical practice?”

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