Page 41 of Ravish

“Why would I?”

“They’re bikers.”

“They’re people. It doesn’t matter if they’re bikers or businessmen or students.”

“And that’s why they left you a big tip.”

Lara sighed, emptied the tip jar and put it back. “So you sketch?” She pointed to the book in his hand.

“It’s the best when someone wants a custom piece.”

“Will you show me your sketches?”

“Dinner tomorrow night and I’ll show you all my sketches.”

“Including the naughty ones?” Her eyes twinkled with mischief.

“They’re all naughty.” He leaned over and brushed a kiss over her lips, then left the café before he decided on more than just a chaste kiss.

* * * *

Lara grinned as she watched Colby leave the café. His brief kiss sent tingles through her body.

Two-thirty in the afternoon arrived faster than Lara expected. The café had been filled with a steady stream of customers. A half an hour before closing, she started cleaning up the café. She’d already sent Eve home.

When the door opened, she turned and saw her brother. “Damn,” she whispered under her breath. “I’m getting ready to close up, Keith.”

“This will only take a minute.” He stood in front of the door.

Lara sighed. “Fine. What do you want?” There would never be warm fuzzy feelings between her and her family.

“To talk.”

“We have nothing to talk about.” Wasn’t that the truth?

“We do, and you will listen.” He crossed his arms over his chest.

Lara ignored him and continued to clean up.

“I want you to know that we’re watching you, and you need to walk the straight and narrow.”

“What?” She whirled around and glared at her brother. What the hell did he mean by that? Why the hell did she care? “Get out.” She’d had enough of her family.

“Stay calm. I wanted you to know so you can clean up your act. Father isn’t happy.”

“I don’t care. This is my life and my business. I’m tired of myfamilytrying to decide what is best for me.” She marched over to him and pushed the door open. “Get out, and don’t come back. And tell Father, if he keeps this crap up, he’ll never see me again.” She shoved him out the door and locked it once he was outside.

“We’re watching,” Keith said once again before walking away.

Lara sagged against the door. What the hell was that about? Her family was watching her? Unease settled in the pit of her stomach, but she pushed it away as she finished cleaning up and closing down the café for the day.

Her family could go to hell as far as she was concerned. She wasn’t so much worried about herself, but what about Colby, or the club and her new friends there. Damn it. Leaving the café, she set the alarm and locked the back door.

Out of habit, she looked around before moving to her car, but after she got in and locked the doors, she glanced in her rear-view mirror. Nothing.Paranoid, are we?

Lara blew out a breath and started her car and drove home. Aunt Tammy was sitting outside when Lara pulled up.

“Everything okay, Aunt Tammy?” she asked as she climbed out of her vehicle.

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