“I got us something to eat,” Ryker commented. “Cheeseburger plain, large fry.”

After a moment, she nodded. “I’m starving.”

He tossed the empty drink into the trashcan next to him. “Get on.”

Ella looped her bag over her head so that it went across her body. Then she climbed onto the back of his bike with his help. He drove the bike the short distance to her apartment. After grabbing the food, he followed her up the stairs and waited while she undid all five locks on her door. Once the door opened, he stepped inside and set the food on her table.

“Let me change my clothes. It’s the first thing I always do when I get home. Then we can eat.”

Ryker didn’t say anything as he made himself at home. He went to her small kitchen and poured them something to drink. She came back in a pair of short shorts and a tank top that gave him a pretty damn good outline of her braless breasts.

“So is this to make up for your father coming to see me?”

He set her glass down and took a seat at the end of the table. “Among other things.”

“You never did tell me why I’m a problem. Is it because he thinks I got you arrested?”

“No. He wanted me arrested that night.”

“Why on earth would he want you arrested?”

“Club business on the inside.” Ryker rubbed his forehead. “I don’t want to talk about that bullshit with you. Not tonight.”

“What do you want to talk about?” she asked, making herself comfortable as she ate her cheeseburger.

“I don’t know.” He lifted his glass. “Anything but that.”

“I was attacked twice today.” She held her wrist out to him. “Junkies wanting drugs.”

He reached for her hand and smoothed his thumb over the back of her wrist. “Did they bite you?”

“One did, yes. They come in wanting narcotics and sometimes they get violent. The first one was a mother. I had to wrestle with her to get her off me, then turn around and called social services for her kid. The bite was from a kid, though. Thirteen, maybe. It didn’t draw blood, but it hurt like hell. I bathed it in alcohol and that hurt like hell too.”

He frowned at her. “Your job is dangerous.”

She smiled. “Yeah, well, I’m tough. I also had to give a lecture to a teenager about sex and STDs. Then I had to call social services on another teen whose mother hadn’t been home in three days. They came to the clinic because they thought their mom may have been put in the hospital.”

Ryker let her hand go. “I don’t know why you’re at the free clinic. You should be doing something great like trauma surgery or something.”

She smiled. “A doctor wears many hats if they are a good one. It’s not always a glamorous life. Besides, I am doing something great. I’m helping people whether they realize it or not.”

Ryker shrugged. “Those punks are in good hands, I’ll give you that.”

She snorted. “What about you? What exciting things did you do today?”

“I don’t want to talk about me.”

“Why not?” Ella pushed her chair back and turned toward him.

“Because what I did today has to do with the club, and we’re not talking about the club tonight. Plus, I can’t tell you most of it anyway.” Ryker sat back in his chair, staring at her. “Drop it.”

Ella stood. “Yes, sir.” She saluted him. “Excuse little ole me for asking little ole you a question.”

He reached for her and dragged her over to him. She didn’t fight him as he pulled her onto his lap. Instead of saying something, he kissed her. She felt perfect in his arms. He gripped her wrists and held her to him while his tongue dipped inside her mouth. She kissed him back for a moment before pulling away. Her nipples beaded to tight little points beneath her tank top and he couldn’t resist the urge to brush his thumbs against them. She let out a soft gasp.

“You can talk to me about anything. Just not the club.”

“Fine.” She cupped the back of his head. “When’s the last time you had sex?”