Page 25 of Prince Charming

Not much was known about Tag, other than he was stubborn and pushed his way into her life uninvited. He was so damnpushy! And while that should scare her to know he had that kind of tenacity in him, she was unconcerned.

Knowing he checked in with her became a habit she looked forward to.

The flutter in her belly didn’t mean attraction, Marianna asserted, while she eyed deliciously cut slices of crusted meats.

She was beyond attraction.

Her hormones were switched off to that basic need.

While she’d tried to keep him at arm’s length, it appeared she’d failed miserably. Here he was, in her tiny kitchenette, feeding her again.

“You didn’t have to leave your party, Tag. I feel bad now.”

“You should.” He winked. “Nah, I saw the boys, got attacked by monster kids and then I came here. You like steak, yeah?”

“Yes, very much. I prefer savory food to sweet.”

“So noted.”

“It looks incredible.”

“Dig in.” He held out a chair for her and Marianna slid on.

His woodsy cologne reached out to her like two arms. He propped himself against the kitchen counter, legs crossed at the ankle and his arms braced behind him, making the black t-shirt, already stretched to capacity over his wide chest, impossibly tighter.

She gulped, tore her eyes away and speared a piece of garlic chicken. It practically melted in her mouth. Next to that was creamy macaroni and potato salad. She tasted all the morsels before she looked up and found him smiling.

“Do I have food on my face?”

“No, darlin’. I like to see a woman eating properly and not sucking on a sesame seed.”

“You should get a fork. I can’t eat all this to myself. I’ll become greedy.”

“You should be greedy.” He rasped. Did he still mean food? “But I’m not taking your food.”

What a complex man Tag was.

She ate as much as she could and still her plate overflowed, packing the leftovers away in the fridge for tomorrow.

Then caught his gaze on her when she turned around.

Her stomach knotted, as it always did when she felt his eyes.

“Why are you here, Luke?” His Adam’s apple jumped then. He shook like she’d shot him, and she realized it was because she’d used his name. “I mean it, why are you here? I appreciate the food, I do. And your company. But I don’t want to take you away from anything. Your party.”

Women, too.

Weren’t bikers notorious for sleeping around?

Didn’t every biker book she’d ever read say they liked sex and often with every meal?

She’d seen with her own two eyes how women only came into his gym to see him. Like groupies flocking around their favorite singer.

His face dropped all sense of mirth as it tightened. His eyes darkened and when he stepped forward, Marianna had the urge to step back.

This gentle giant before her with his eyes so stormy, she trusted him.

“I’m glad you brought it up, Marianna. Let’s have it out finally.”

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