Page 21 of Ace

“Consider it a gift.”I shrugged and put the truck in gear.“I want to know you can call for help if you need it, so it’s really more for me than for you.”

Emma rolled her eyes.She was doing that a lot these days.I took it to mean the discussion was over.

She played with the phone for a few minutes, then shot me a puzzled look.“It says I’m on the Riptide network.You have your own telecom system?”

“Sort of.The detailed answer falls under club business, so we’ll just go with yes for now.”

She frowned, shaking her head.“Mom said you use the phrase ‘club business’ when you don’t want to have to explain something.”

I chuckled.“Mom’s been doing a lot of talking, but she’s partly right.In this case, the details really do fall under the heading of things you’re better off not knowing.Can we leave it at that for now?You needed a phone.Now you have one.”

“Thank you, then.”She smiled wryly.“I guess I’d better call my boss and let her know I’m out for more than just one night.”

“No need.Joker called as your medical practitioner and informed her.Sounds more official that way, and he used his Navy credentials, so no one can trace that back to club.”

“You really are paranoid, aren’t you?”

“You say that like it’s a bad thing.”I slid one hand over to rest it on her thigh.“You’ll get used to it.”

She snorted.“You think so, do you?”

But she didn’t move my hand.

Chapter Six

Emma

“I have a meeting to get to, so Tiny is going to be your shadow while I’m gone.”Ace stopped the truck in front of the clubhouse to let me out.

Tiny, who was anything but, was waiting for me on the wraparound porch, and saluted Ace.It looked a bit corny between two bikers, but made sense after learning about their military background.

“You mean he’s my bodyguard?”

“‘Shadow’ sounds so much nicer.”

“At least you didn’t say he was my jailer.”

“That would be silly.You’re not under house arrest.”

“No, but I can’t leave without permission.Or a keeper.Or possibly both.”

Ace grinned that infuriating grin.“Exactly.For your own good.”

I wrinkled my nose.“Makes me sound like a difficult-to-control toddler.”

Heat infused his eyes as they swept over me.“Possibly difficult, but definitely not a toddler.”

I sighed.I wasn’t going to win this one, and he did have a point.I’d asked for protection, and he was providing it.“Who are you meeting?”

“Club business.”He reached over and opened the door for me.“Should be back within an hour.Two at the most.Tiny can carry your crap up to my room so you can get it sorted.Beast is going to drop me off at my place after to pick up my bike.”

I rolled my eyes as Tiny obediently grabbed the suitcase and garbage bag out of the back of the truck.I noticed he waited for me at the door, until Tigger came out and replaced him.They took this bodyguard stuff seriously.

I slid out of the truck.I didn’t consider myself to be short, but the ground was a good two feet below my toes.Just as I regained my balance, Beast rounded the side of the house and headed for the truck.He nodded at me and grunted, waiting for me to get out of the way before climbing into my just vacated seat.

“Hi to you too,” I grumbled.I swear I saw the tiniest ghost of a smile cross his face.

I waved at Ace.“Have fun at your meeting.”

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