Page 50 of Tangled Threats on the Nomad Highway
Einstein let his hand drift from thehandlebar to where Marian gripped his belt and wrapped his fingersaround hers. He squeezed, leaning into the wind when her thighsresponded, tightening around his hips.
Scar’s message had been clear. He believedEinstein had latched on to someone and was building a life beyondthe broken one the man’s actions had left him. It didn’t take muchthought to realize the only person who could fit that bill wasMarian. Even if Einstein had just realized it this morning forhimself, in retrospect, it probably had been apparent to anyone whowitnessed how they were together. Given the number of people whocame to Bane’s mini-rallies, the tales back to Scar could havestarted with anyone. Which meant even if he left and neverreturned—the notion of which made his stomach flip in uncomfortableways—she might still be in danger.
He needed to attack the rumor at the base,but knowing the potential for hurt, had wanted to talk to Marianfirst. Then he’d walked into the florist shop and caught Noah’sknowing look towards the door to the workroom. Rejecting theemotions she stirred in him was one thing, but rejecting her? Hecouldn’t imagine intentionally hurting her like that.
The idea of the late lunch had come over himin an instant, and he’d rolled with it, because for the life ofhim, Einstein couldn’t imagine riding away from Marian. The sweet,caring ways she brought to everyone in her life had grown toinclude him from their first meeting.I can’t give her up.He rolled the throttle a little more, picking up a bit of speed atthe idea.If I can’t give her up, then maybe I can figure out ifI can take what’s in front of me.The concept of pretending tobe a couple was a flash of genius.I hope.Test driving thisfeeling while telling her it was just pretend.
What can go wrong?
Chapter Thirteen
Marian
“I’m sorry. What?” She scooted a littlefarther into the corner of the booth and away from Einstein’s body.Normally if they shared a meal out, they took opposite sides of thetable. Today he’d steered her onto the bench farthest from the doorof the diner, then followed her in an unexpected move. She hadn’tquestioned it at the time, just took a pair of menus from wherethey were tucked behind the napkin holder and passed one over.
Then he’d blown her mind with a request,something she would never have expected. Not from him.
“I need you to go along with a pretext thatwe’re together.” One corner of his mouth lifted as he repeated hisprevious words. “There are good reasons.”
“Together-together? I at least want to hearyour motives.” The approaching waitress looked like salvation. Theinteraction would give her time to catch up with the conversation,because even though the words were simple, the meaning behind themwasn’t. “I’d like a coffee, black.” Marian toned back thedesperation in her tone. “Um. Please?”
That curl of Einstein’s lips spread until hewas smiling broadly at her. Without looking away, he told thewaitress, “Make that two. And go ahead and bring some cream.” Hereached past Marian to nudge the container of sugar packets closerto her. “She wants the grilled cheese with cheddar, not American.Throw some bacon on a burger for me. Fries with both.” He angledhis face towards her, and one eye swooped closed in a slow blinkMarian cataloged for later. “That’ll do it for us. Thanks.”
Marian shifted and stared up at thewaitress, hoping if she stopped looking at Einstein, things wouldreturn to normal between them. His smiles were usually full ofmischief and affection, not whatever his expression a moment agomight mean. And he didn’t wink at her. Ever.
The waitress gave her a grin, pen scratchingat the pad in her hand. “You got it.” Then the waitress also winkedat her before walking away.
“Marian.”
She scanned the diner, not seeing any facesshe recognized. Working in the back of the flower shop meant sheoccasionally interacted with customers, but not often enough to getto know many of the folks, especially not from out of town. Thediner he’d brought her to was two towns away from Baker, andsomething about that settled her nerves. Whatever it was he wanted,Einstein didn’t need anyone who knew them to see them together. Notright now.Not yet.
“Baby.”
The tender way he said the word had her headjerking his direction, and she took in his features. He wasintelligent; she knew that from their many conversations, and fromhearing the people she trusted talk about him. Smart and handsome,and if Einstein had decided he needed her to play a part inwhatever scheme he was cooking up, she was inclined to go alongwith it. But the sweet names? That felt dangerous.To myheart.
“It’s nothing bad, promise.”
“Tell me why.” Marian pressed her tremblinghands against her thighs. She wanted to cover her mouth, tug at anearlobe, or fiddle with her hair, but any of those would expose thenervousness in her belly that had swamped her at his request.Hecan’t know what I’ve been fighting.She’d been around bikersenough to know they were people like any others. Einstein, though?The way he and Retro observed their surroundings and the peoplearound them was different. Like they could just look at someone andknow what was in their heads. “I don’t understand why you’d needme.”
“We’re friends, right?”
Marian nodded slowly, then drew back so theapproaching waitress could deposit coffee cups and glasses of icewater on the table.
“Thanks,” Einstein responded to thewaitress, then reached past Marian again to drag the sugar closer.It was the work of moments for him to doctor one of the cups, andMarian didn’t miss how he’d gotten it exactly right.Asalways.He even dipped a spoon into the water and retrieved acouple of ice cubes, stirring them into the cup. “Here you go,baby.”
Marian closed her mouth and stared at him.That damn grin came her direction again, and the fluttering in herbelly got worse than before.
“Is it okay?” He nudged the cup closer toher. “Did I do okay?”
“Yeah.” Never taking her gaze off his face,she reached for the cup and lifted it, sipping slowly. “It’s good.”Licking her lips, she set the cup back into the saucer with a tinyclatter. “Wearefriends.”
“Yeah, we are.” He leaned closer, hisshoulder bumping against hers before she could dodge away. “You’remy best friend. Did you know that?”
She blinked, unsure how to answer him.
“Retro even called me on it a while back,said he didn’t exist when you were around. Claimed to be hurt andpained by the jealousy his realization caused.” Einstein’s grinsplit his face, showing white teeth that moved to clamp on hisbottom lip. “Told him he was a damn fool, but I see it now. Thismorning, I finally understood what he meant. I think we’re alwaysgoing to be friends, Marian. More than friends. And that’s why thismakes so much sense.”
“Nothing about this makes sense yet.” Sheshifted and looked out the window to where his bike sat in theparking lot.He’s in a club, and that holds every bit of hisloyalty. This is something to do with the BBMC, I bet.“Justexplain what you need, and I’ll tell you honestly if I think I cando it.”
