Page 17 of The Biker's Forbidden Craving

“Seriously?”

“Yeah. I know some biker dudes, but they’re all kind of weird. I don’t know if I’d even be messing with Hank if I hadn’t known him forever, but now that I am, I don’t know how I’m going to stop. He’s addicting.”

“Addicting how?” Nicole presses. “Like… he’s really good at his job?”

“Yeah.” I wipe my hands on a towel and grab a stack of records off the inventory shelf behind me, talking as I work. “He’ssogood with his hands. Like, all that practice loosening up bolts was good for him… ya know what I mean?”

She grins and narrows her brows. “Why do you think I wouldn’t want a man like that? These other bikers, they good with bolts too?”

I laugh. “I imagine. I met one last night, but I don’t know him very well. I can get more info for you, though. Hank and I are going to lunch today.”

“Come back with pictures and a full work up,” she says with a laugh. “Not that any one of those guys would be interested in me. I mean, I spend all my time running this business, playing with my cat, and shuffling tarot cards. Which reminds me, you’re due for a reading.”

My stomach tightens at the thought of the tarot cards knowing the future for the first time ever. Usually, I love the things. It’s fun to ask silly questions and get silly responses. Now though, everything feels so real.

“Yeah.” I swallow hard and walk toward the counter where she’s shuffling. I’m not sure there’s another boss on Earth as great as Nicole. I mean, who else’s employer gives them complimentary tarot readings over coffee and donuts?

“Okay.” Nicole smiles gently, showing off her gorgeously bright smile. The girl is beautiful, and I know she’d be a great catch to so many people in town. I can’t figure out why she hasn’t had her pick of whomever she wanted. “What’s the question today?”

“Umm… give me a second.” I mull over the hundred questions rattling through my mind. She’s looking for a yes or no type of thing, nothing complex. I can’t ask if we’ll find Maci, or if the guys who took her are still nearby. I have to ask something light. “Okay… will Hank and I end up together?”

Not exactly light, girl.

She giggles and shuffles through the cards as the music playing over the speakers shuffles to the next song. We try to play local artists as much as possible. There’s so much talent up here, but every now then we’ll play a record that’s more mainstream. Right now, Morgan Waylon is playing. I haven’t listened to the whole record yet, but so far it’s not too bad. “Okay… will you and Hank end up together?” She lands the cards out flat on the counter, flipping them over one at a time.

The Fool, the High Priestess, and the Tower.

“Hmm… they’re all facing you, which means good things, but the last card, the Tower, says that you’ll see some chaos,” she grins, “which is kind of fitting, all things considered.”

The doorbell over the front door rings and a man steps inside as though the tarot has sent an omen of chaos straight through the universe. It’s my brother, and he doesn’t look happy, though what else is new?

I consider calling Hank, but it’s quarter to twelve and he should be walking in any minute. I can handle fifteen minutes of Duke, right?

Nicole nods toward me, picks up her cards, and heads toward her back office, leaving my brother and I at the front of the store. God, this is embarrassing, and I’m really dreading whatever this is about to be.

“What’s up?” I swallow hard, holding the coffee cup in my hand for warmth and comfort.

He glances down at the ground and up again. “We haven’t talked in almost a year.”

My eyes widen. “Because you’re insane. Anything else?”

“I’m insane, but Hank isn’t?” He laughs. “You don’t even know the kind of shit that dude has done.”

I probably don’t, and I don’t want to either.

“Hank is helping me.”

“I’d have helped you, if you called.”

“Well, I’m sorry I didn’t call. I didn’t think you’d be interested. Besides, last night you sounded against the whole thing.”

“What’s going on with you and Hank? I know the noises I heard last night weren’t cards.”

I shrug, my stomach tied in knots. I know my brother. I know who he’s become. He’s not the guy I thought he was. He’s different. Rougher and more judgmental. “We were watching a movie while we played cards. Maybe you heard that.”

His jaw clenches tight. “Why are you lying to me? You really think I’m that dumb?”

“Dumb? No one said you were dumb. Are you okay? You’re acting so weird. Please tell me you haven’t gotten yourself messed up in something crazy. You’ve got the ranch, this biker thing, and the whole killing people for money schtick. You can’tbe messing around with the law too. What would Dad think? You used to care what he thought about you.”

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