Page 23 of Deuce

I grimaced.“And exactly how do you know so much about motorcycle clubs?”

“Remember Jarred?That guy I dated for a while last summer?”

I nodded.

“Turns out his father was in a one-percenter club, and he got caught running drugs over the Mexican border.Jarred asked if I wanted to go with him to visit, and that was the end of that relationship.”

I remembered Jarred, only because at almost two months it was the longest relationship Janet had been in for years.She’d never told me what went wrong, putting it down to lack of interest on her part.“That’s tough, but Jarred wasn’t part of it, was he?”

She shook her head.“No, he didn’t even own a bike, but it scared the heck out of me anyway.Those guys are ruthless.What if they came after Jarred to get to his dad?Or used Jarred’s girlfriend to send a lesson?No thanks.”

“Oh.”I didn’t know what else to say.

“Hey.Cheer up!Sounds like your new boy toy isn’t one of the bad guys.”

“Right.”I made a mental note to see that concealed carry permit.Not that I doubted Deuce, but anyone can claim they have something without it being true.

“So about having a gun in the house…”

“No!”I glared at Janet.“And don’t you dare tell my dad what happened.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it.So, tell me more about this guy who’s hung like a horse.”

I shook my head.“Not sure he’s quite up to horse standards, but he’s big, and he knows how to use it.”

“Do tell!”Janet put her coffee mug down and leaned forward, chin resting on her hands.

I blushed, just as the doorbell rang.I took the opportunity to dodge answering the question.I checked the doorbell app and saw Deuce standing on the front deck with a grocery bag in his hands.I unlocked the door, confused.

“I didn’t expect you back until tonight.”

He held the bag out to me.“I looked in your fridge last night.There’s barely enough food in there to keep a mouse happy so I picked a few things up to tide you over.”

I automatically took the bag, almost dropping it.“This weighs a ton.What did you get?”

He grinned.“Food.If I’m going to be spending time here you need real food, not just snacks.”

I stared wordlessly as he headed to his bike.He paused and turned back to me.“I’ll be back around 5:30.Do you have a barbecue?”

“Yes.Why?”

He gestured at the bag in my hand.“Steaks.We’re having steak for dinner.I can grill them.”

“We are?”I felt like I was floundering out of my depth.

“You’re not a vegetarian, are you?”

I shook my head.

“Good.Steak and baked potato with all the fixings.I’ll see you tonight.”Fastening his helmet on, he slung a leg over the bike and took off down the street.

I watched as he disappeared around the corner.

“Not quite hung like a horse, and he cooks.”Janet peered over my shoulder.“If you don’t want him, you can send him my way.”

I turned to my BFF, looking her straight in the eye.“Not a chance.”

Janet laughed.“Thought so.You’re smitten with that biker dude.”

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