Page 1 of Bandit's Bounty

Prologue

Sloane - Two years ago

“Where on earth is he?” I wondered, looking at my phone for the hundredth time. “I know we had a date tonight.”

For the past six or so months, I’ve been seeing a member of the Spiked Raiders MC, Dane. He’s a good-looking man, with a full, lush beard, kissable lips, and the prettiest hazel eyes I’d ever seen. While I don’t think it’ll ever be more than it is, the fact that I finally have a boyfriend is a miracle in and of itself.

Why? Because I’m a bit of a homebody, preferring my herb garden and my books to going out and partying. Yet, the day I met him, something clicked. My mind drifts back to that fateful day, and a small smile plays on my lips.

“You seem to have a bit of a predicament, darlin’,” a smooth, sexy voice said, startling me from where I was crouched down next to my back tire where a nail was sticking out.

“Oh! You startled me,” I exclaimed, quickly standing and then looking up, then up again, to see a dazzling white smile set against the backdrop of a beard that probably made many a pair of panties dissolve. I knew mine were definitely dampening, especially when I caught the flare of interest in his beautiful eyes. “Yeah, I drove through my apartment complex and apparently, the construction crew doing some renovations must’ve dropped a few boxes of nails. I don’t have time for this, either, I’m going to be late for class!”

I couldn’t be late again; my professor was a stickler for timeliness, which was why I now left an hour earlier than I needed to, because he would lock the door when it was time for the class to start, mark the offender as absent, then start his lesson. After so many absences, the school withdrew the student. I needed this particular class for my degree in horticulture so I could eventually open up my store featuring products that were natural and not full of all the crap that most used these days. I had my grandmother’s recipes, and had been tinkering with a few of my own, but this class was paramount in me finishing my degree.

“Let’s see if I can help you out with that,” he replied. “Got a spare?”

“Yes, and it’s not one of those crappy donuts they usually give you either. It’s a full-sized tire.”

“Pop the trunk, gorgeous, and let’s get you back on your way, then,” he stated, moving to the trunk.

I hit the key fob for the trunk and less than twenty minutes later, he had the bad tire off and the good one on, while I stood there, stupefied. I knew how hard it was to turn those lug nuts, yet he made it look like he was twisting the cap off of a soda.As he stood and brushed his dusty hands off on his jeans, I saw he was wearing a leather cut and the only reason I knew what it was called was because I was a huge fan of motorcycle club romances. It showed he was the club’s Road Captain, and his name was Dane.

Fitting name for someone who looked as good as he did, that’s for damn sure!

“Make sure you get that other tire fixed as soon as you can, especially if there’s construction going on in your complex,” he warned. Holding out his hand, he said, “Name’s Dane. Want to go out to dinner with me?”

I blushed as my hand was clasped in his much larger, calloused one. “I’m Sloane. Um, I should probably take you to dinner to thank you for helping me,” I admitted, “but yes, I’d like that.”

He handed over his phone and said, “Put your number in, I’ll text it then you’ll have mine. I’ll text you later to see when a time will work for you.”

I did as he instructed then glanced down at my phone and shrieked. “I need to go, or I’ll be late!”

He chuckled then opened my door for me. “Best you get on then, Sloane. We’ll talk later.”

“Bye, Dane,” I murmured before closing my door and starting my car.

True to his word, he had reached out and we made plans for that following weekend, since I was busy most of the week with school. While I wasn’t easy by a long shot, having had one serious relationship before Dane, we started sleeping together after the second date.

My face flushed as I thought of how he could make my body sing. I still wasn’t sure what he saw in me; I mean, I wasn’t ugly or anything, but I’d seen some of the women who hung out at the clubhouse around town. Most were drop dead gorgeous, with long flowing hair, makeup done just so, and banging bodies. Hell, I was straight, and I would ‘do them’ as the younger generation liked to say. I was on the petite side, with an hourglass figure that boasted perky breasts and hips that made it challenging to find jeans that fit well.

“Why are you late?” I murmured, as I slipped my shoes back on and grabbed my purse and keys. “Maybe he got held up at the clubhouse. I’ll just run by and check.”

It didn’t take me long to get to the clubhouse, and I pulled through the gate once the prospect opened it. I wasn’t sure how to take his expression but shrugged as I parked my car off to the side and got out, pocketing my keys.

The music, always somewhat loud, was pounding as I pushed through the doors, automatically squinting at the change in lighting. When I saw Dane, my heart dropped to my toes, because he didn’t look like he was ready for a date with me at all. No, he was fucking a club whore against the wall, his pants down around his ankles as he pounded away. As I moved closer, my heart pounding a mile a minute, I wondered what I was going to say to him. While I knew what we had wasn’t going to be a forever kind of thing, I honestly would’ve thought he respected me enough to break things off.

“Dane?” I asked, my voice shaky sounding.

Dammit, I wanted to appear strong and unruffled, but right now it was hard as hell, especially when he smirked at me from over his shoulder, his brow raised.

“What the fuck are you doing here?” he questioned, his hand palming the club girl’s ass.

“We… uh, we had a date tonight,” I managed to stammer out, my eyes never leaving his.

“Guess that’s not gonna happen now,” I heard someone whisper from behind me. Of course, it was loud enough that I couldn’t miss what was said, but right now, my heart was shattering inside of me as I fought back tears.

“Well, darlin’, that’s not happening,” Dane sneered at me as he turned, the club girl standing upright to allow her miniskirt to fall back into place. “See, it’s been real and fun, but I’m done, Sloane. Go on now, I’m busy.”

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