Page 47 of Puma's Pride

“You and Trouble, huh?” I ask, trying hard to keep the smile off my face. And failing miserably.

She grins back. “Me and Trouble.” She agrees, covering her face with her hands. “What am I doing?”

“What?” Showtime asks as she slides the gear into reverse. “What are you talking about?”

“The tongue lashing Trouble just gave Corinne.” I say with a laugh as Corinne's face turns a deeper shade of red.

“He did what? Why?” she asks, turning around to look at Corinne. She glances between us and then laughs, turning back around and slamming into drive. “Oh, that kind of tongue lashing. Good on you, Corinne. Trouble’s hot.”

“Are you…?” Corinne asks, but Showtime just laughs.

“Not interested.” Showtime assures her. “I can still think he’s hot.” She looks at Corinne in the mirror. “You two would make a good-looking couple. Can you imagine what your kids would look like?”

I study the ice blonde beauty next to me and think about her with the gorgeous dark-haired man we left behind. Any kid with her coloring and his deep green eyes would be stunning. Same if they had his coloring and her pale blue irises. “You would have nice looking kids. Guaranteed. I mean, look at Mal. He’s going to be a stunner when he grows up.”

Corinne smiles but shakes her head. “Too soon! We’re just getting to know each other. Although, I’ve never been this attracted to a man so quickly. I mean, I thought Puma was hot when we met, but there’s something about Trouble that makes me…” She trails off.

“Want to strip naked and climb him like a tree?” I ask.

Corinne gasps, then laughs, and finally just agrees. “Yeah. Exactly. The man is gorgeous. I didn’t think men really looked that hot in real life. Then you add in his confidence and damn, he’s irresistible.”

“That is one thing these guys have an abundance of: confidence.” I say. “Or arrogance.” I think about that for a minute, then adjust my comment. “No. Confidence. Arrogance is believing you’re better than everyone else, even when you aren’t. Confidence is being better than everyone else and able to prove it.”

“Another thing I like is how he looks at me.” Corinne continues. “No one has ever looked at me the way he does.”

“Like you’re the only one in the room?” I ask.

“Exactly.” She agrees. “When Puma was telling his story today, every time I looked at Trouble, he was watching me. As if he couldn’t stop looking at me. And when he gives me that smirk. I swear my panties disintegrate.”

“Ok, you guys need to stop. I haven’t gotten laid in months and I have no chance of finding a guy who looks at me like that.” Showtime complains.

I want to laugh, but I see the sadness in her eyes as I study them in the rearview mirror. “Why do you think you have no chance?” I ask her. “You’re one of the most beautiful women I’ve ever met!”

Showtime shrugs. “Most guys can’t handle my height. Then you add in the whole MC prospecting thing and they can’t run away fast enough. I don’t really want to hook up with someone from the club, because then it’s just a slippery slope into becoming a kutte bunny instead of a member.” She glances at us. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to butt in. Go on. You were grilling Corinne about Trouble.”

Corinne and I glance at each other, and then Corinne smiles. “I have an idea.”

Showtime groans. “You aren’t setting me up. No blind dates.” She states.

Corinne laughs. “No, I wasn’t thinking that.”

“No Internet dating either.” She persists. “I’ve tried that. Most men believe I lied about my measurements, so they’re stunned when I show up. Or they think they’re man enough to handle a woman taller than most men, but they crumble under the reality.”

“Losers.” Both Corinne and I say together.

“I wasn’t talking about Internet dating either.” Corinne says. “I actually see two potential sources of dating material for you. One is Puma.” She shakes her head when both Showtime and I gasp. “Not dating him. Jeez. But he’s a former professional basketball player. He has to know other players who would love to date you.”

Showtime frowns. “I don’t think Puma has much to do with his former life.”

“Ok then.” Corinne continues. “Why don’t you come with me to a party at the Shadow Borns? I saw several desirable men there who wouldn’t find you intimidating at all. Do the clubs ever mingle?”

Showtime frowns. “Huh. I didn’t think about hooking up with someone from another club. They might not like that I’m prospecting for the Demon Dawgs, but it would be better than hooking up with someone from my club.”

“Good. Trouble mentioned inviting me to a party sometime. You can come with me. You can scope out the guys with no one knowing that’s what you’re doing.”

“Yeah. I like that…” Showtime starts, but then shouts. “Hold on. God damn it, son of a bitch, what the fuck is he doing?” She slams on the brakes and the SUV fishtails until we come to a stop. I hear the doors lock. “Stay in the car. Don’t open the door.” Showtime snaps. “Call Puma and tell him where we are and to send the calvary.”

I pull out my phone as I shift to see out the front window. Blocking off the road is an older model sedan, but that isn’t what captures my attention. Standing between us and the car is a man. Holding a gun. Pointed directly at Showtime’s head.

---