Page 4 of Burly Biker of Misty Mountain

I grimaced at how awkward that sounded. But it had worked so far, and I didn’t know what else to do.

The biker’s gaze slid over me slowly.

“That won’t be too difficult. What’s your name, sweetheart?”

Damn it, why did the grit in his voice make my stomach all…bubbly…like that?

“Katie,” I whispered.

The biker cupped my chin lightly and tilted my head up until I met his eyes.

…wow.

“My friends call me Maverick.” He tapped me on the tip of my nose. “If you were really my girl, I’d have you sitting in my lap right now, and I’d be kissing that pretty little neck.”

The air punched out of me in a rush. White static filled my brain. My face felt hot enough that I could have sworn it would burst into flames at any moment.

Maverick chuckled, deep and sinful.

“Only good girls blush that shade of red.”

I bit my lip with a strained noise and pulled away from his grasp. He was making me so tongue-tied with every word out of his mouth that I couldn’t think straight.

A flash of movement drew my attention to the other side of the bar. Bristol emerged from the restroom. When she noticed me sitting with Maverick, she screeched to a stop. A moment later, she arched her eyebrow with a knowing grin.

Then Bristol sank onto a nearby bar stool, showing no inclination to interrupt what she clearly thought was the flirtation I needed.

“I—I should probably go,” I said.

Maverick hummed and shook his head.

“No need to make a run for it. I don’t taste or touch without permission.”

I blinked at that, feeling my face grow even hotter at the thought of him…tasting…and touching.

Straightening in his seat, Maverick removed his leather vest and draped it over my shoulders. The fabric was heavy, still pleasantly warm from his body heat. In the middle of summer, a jacket would have been suffocating and unbearable. But his vest was perfect, providing a comforting weight like a hug.

On the other side of the room, Bristol gave an enthusiastic smile and pretended to fan herself. She ducked her head and a moment later, my phone pinged with a text from the depths of my purse.

“Boyfriend calling?” Maverick asked.

Was that a hint of frostiness in his tone? Or was I imagining things?

I fished my phone out and glanced at the screen to see Bristol’s text.

You better ride that biker into the sunset, sweetie, or I’ll never forgive you!!!

My face must have been a nuclear level of red by now. I shoved my phone back in my purse. Bristol was clearly not going to return to our table any time soon.

“No boyfriend,” I said. “But I’ve intruded on your time enough already. I think I’ll be okay now.”

Maverick brushed me off with a lazy flick of his wrist.

“No need to apologize, sweetheart. You’ve been a breath of fresh air to my otherwise very dull day. And for the record, I’m a selfish bastard. I hope your friend stays over there at the bar. As I said before, I don’t like to share.”

He winked with a smirk. The warm timbre of his voice flooded through my body like molten lava. A pleased little smile tugged at the corner of my mouth.

Was this…flirting?

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