Page 13 of Cutter's Hope

I laughed, then stated dryly, “Not really,” when what I really meant to say was,incredibly well, please continue.Guess Cutter had some ESP going for him, because he pressed another kiss to my knee, then above my knee and I think I stopped breathing because the playfulness was bleeding out of his eyes and the heat index in them was rising, turning them molten.

“What ‘cha thinking, Sweetheart?” he asked and his voice was low and as sultry as the air around us.

I opened my mouth to speak but was cut off by a nearby shout, “Cutter! You comin’ man!?”

I tipped my face in the direction of the shout slightly but something flashed in Cutter’s gaze and I couldn’t tear mine away from his if I wanted to. My heart rate had picked up some time ago and thrummed in my chest and the side of my neck. I was turned on, I was riding that fine edge of adrenaline and it felt pretty good, I’m not even going to lie.

“Come with us,” Cutter said and the grin was back.

“Where?” I asked, realizing quickly that the only way to what I sought was through the MC and the best way to them was through the man kneeling in the soft sand by my hip.

“Bowling,” he said with that dazzling smile of his.

“Bowling?”I asked incredulous. Somehow I did not picture a bunch of badass bikers bowling. I thought about it and nope, never not once ever crossed my mind.

“Bowling,” he stood in one fluid movement and it clicked, why I thought he was so fucking hot. Cutter moved with purpose in everything that he did. He was a trained Marine. Cutter wasdangerousbut his affable personality let you forget that. I gave him a calculating look.

“Have to change unless bikini bowling is in these days, in which case, I don’t care I’m still changing.”

“Seriously, dude? What’s the hold up?” A woman trudged across the sand towards us, shorts and a silver bikini top, she was spectacularly tattooed across her chest and down one arm. The other arm appearing to be a work in progress, her leg also a work in progress, the flowers and butterflies climbing to her knee.

“Hossler, meet Hope. We’re waiting on her to grab a change of clothes and she’s coming with us,” Cutter said.

“Really?” Hoss said dryly and looked me over as if she were assessing a new threat to her territory that she hadn’t realized existed until just right then.

“Really,” I said standing up and gathering my towel and beach tote.

Hossler rolled her pretty blue eyes, “Whatever, just hurry the fuck up already!” she said and turned to walk back towards the boulevard and the line of bikes there.

“Peace offering, Sweetheart,” Cutter said, drawing my attention from the curious woman.

“What?” I asked and he held up my heels.

“Not sure what it was I said to offend, but I apologize.” The charm was back and I smirked.

“Dial it down a notch, Casanova. It wasn’t you, it was me,” I said and took the proffered heels.

Cutter put both hands over his heart and looked pained before saying, “Damn, not even on the second date and I’m getting the ‘it’s me’ speech? That’s got to be some kind of record!” I laughed softly and smiled. I bit my lower lip and nodded slowly.

“Place I’m staying at is two blocks up, where you want to meet me?” I asked.

“Meet you right out front, Darlin’,” he winked at me and I rolled my eyes and shook my head and moved in that direction. Quick rinse, change of clothes and let my hair down and I would be ready to go inside ten minutes. I began walking in that direction.

“Mm mm mm,” I heard from beside me and I glanced over, “Mighty fine ass you got there, Baby.”

I raised an eyebrow at the older biker and I gave him a slight once over, “Nothing to see here, so I’m moving on,” I stated dryly and I knew it came out unfriendly. I meant it to. He was the same guy that’d reluctantly let me into The Plank my second day here, the day I’d met Cutter. He spit on the ground.

“You’d never have it so good,” he said and grabbed his crotch.

“Tiny! That’s enough man, Hope here is our guest and we don’t treat our guests like that. You picking up what I’m putting down?” Cutter called from up the sidewalk.

“Yes, Captain!” Tiny grated. I gave Tiny my most winning smile.

“Nice to meet you too, Tiny,” I said and made my way up to my B&B, an odd mixture of pleased and put out that Cutter had come to my defense. I mean shit, I could take care of myself! I didn’t need anyone looking out for me, but I had to admit, it was nice all the same. Maybe I was just getting tired. My mood was decidedly dejected at having reached yet another dead end in Faith’s case, but I had to admit to a certain amount of lift going on here. Cutter wasn’t pissed, he was providing me an in and I was going to take it. If I had to sleep with him to get him to tell me, then I’d do it. If I did and he still wouldn’t well,thenI would beat his ass… or try to.

I cleaned up and slipped on a white summer dress with black accents along the top. Really, the straps were black along with the top along where my breasts would be if I had more of them. A thin black bow made of satin ribbon as thin as the spaghetti straps holding the dress up completed the look. I shrugged my feet into my white flip flops and hung my white concealed weapons purse off my shoulder. I whipped through a refresher on my makeup, threw on some clear lip gloss, smiled at myself in the mirror and let down my hair. Whipping a quick brush through it, it fell around my face and shoulders in beach waves. Fitting.

I swiped my bangs across my forehead and tucked them behind my ear before throwing on my sunglasses and locking up. I tossed my keys in the top of my bag and went out front. Stopping short at the smiling Kraken President on the back of a glossy orange and white Indian. He smiled broadly at me.

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