Page 9 of Ace

“Nope.You’re safe on that score.”

For a moment, she looked surprised, then got unsteadily to her feet.“Thanks.I’m exhausted.A shower would be great but…” She gestured at the bandage on her side.

“Yeah.You need to wrap that in plastic if you really want a shower, but I’m pretty sure I don’t have any.We’ll get you over to the clubhouse in the morning, and you can shower there.”

“Sounds like you’ve done this before.”

“Once or twice.”Or more.Active duty didn’t come without risk, and I had enough scars to prove it.Luckily, they were hidden under my shirt.Didn’t want to scare her off too fast.

Chapter Three

Emma

I woke up feeling tired and cranky and sore.

“Rise and shine, sleepyhead!”Ace’s voice sounded from the other side of the door.“Coffee’s on but I might just drink it all if you don’t hurry up.”

“Yeah.Yeah.I’m up,” I mumbled.Not a brilliant comeback, but then I hadn’t had any coffee yet.There might be another murder committed if it was all gone before I managed to get dressed.

Right.No shirt.Just the ragged bits left after Ace cut it off me.

I found the bottle of painkillers and downed two with a glass of water from the ensuite bathroom.Handy, but not exactly the setup you’d expect from a biker.Then again, what did I know about bikers?Hollywood clichés and rumors.

Gritting my teeth against the pain caused by moving, I rinsed my face and hands in the sink before pulling on my pants.I still had Ace’s T-shirt on, and as suspected it fell almost to my knees.Much too long to wear out in public.Unfortunately, the alternative was to go topless, and I wasn’t feeling that adventurous this morning.

Compromising, I rolled the shirt up to my waist and tied the front in a knot to hold it in place.Not exactly high fashion but it would do until I could get something of my own to wear.As a bonus, it didn’t put any pressure on the bullet wound.

I gave my teeth a cursory brush with my finger and wandered out to the kitchen.

“Where’s the coffee?”The heavenly aroma teased my nostrils.

Ace slid off the barstool and walked over to a chrome appliance that bore no resemblance to any coffee maker I’d ever owned.“Made to order.How do you like yours?”

“Strong, with cream.No sugar.”

He rolled his eyes.“Cappuccino?Latte?Americano?“

“Seriously?You can make all those?”

“I wouldn’t offer if I couldn’t deliver.”He waggled his eyebrows suggestively.“I’m more than just a pretty face.”

I wouldn’t call the face pretty, more ruggedly handsome.The nose was off center a bit, hinting at a break sometime in the past.His dark hair had the slightly shaggy look of needing a trim, and that damn five o’clock shadow added a macho charm.The whole package was enough to send shivers of want down my spine.

“Cappuccino.With lots of foam.”

I watched him fiddle with the shiny contraption on the counter, then pivot with a flourish to present me with the perfect cup of cappuccino, complete with a foaming cap.

I took the cup, inhaling the delightful scent.“What’s that on top of the foam?”

He grinned.“My secret concoction of sugar and spices.Try it.”

I lifted the cup to my lips and took a sip.Pure heaven.“Not bad.”

He lifted one brow.“Not bad?”

I took another sip.“Okay.Quite good.”

“It’s perfect, and you know it.”

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