Page 28 of Reaper & the Lioness
His bike roared to life as I settled behind him.
“Because I … uhh … I don’t particularly like parking garages.”
His jaw tensed, the muscle popping a few times before he moved his gaze to the road ahead. “Hold tighter. Unless you wanna become roadkill.”
The bike lurched, and I gripped his waist. I’d never ridden on the back of a motorcycle before, and my heart jumped in my throat at the fear of falling off the back.
Within minutes, he stopped in front of the restaurant’s black awnings and hanging lights, with Rhetta stepping out to greet us. I used Reaper’s shoulder to balance as I dismounted from the bike, wobbling in my heels.
“Thanks for looking out for her,” she said over my shoulder at Reaper, pulling me into a hug.
He nodded curtly. “Text Thane when you pay the bill so we can wait for you outside.” He revved the bike, whipping it around in the middle of the street.
Rhetta peered over me, concerned. “Are you okay?”
I shook my head. “I need a drink. I don’t know what those men wanted from me, but they immediately turned around when Reaper and the other guy pulled up. Please thank Thane for me.”
“You can tell him yourself when he picks me up after dinner. Thane’s really happy with your work so far. I know he didn’t mind sending a few guys after your stalkers.”
I cringed at the idea of being stalked again. “Part of me wonders if I overreacted. But I can’t shake the feeling that they were coming for me, especially since they ran as soon as the bikes pulled up.”
I did my best to hide my shaking hands as I read the menu. A shot of tequila and two smoky palomas later, a soothing warmth spread through me, easing the anxious dread. By the time the waitress served dinner, I had a good buzz.
Rhetta cocked an eyebrow as she stabbed another bite of enchilada. “So, when will I get you to go on a date with a real man?”
I rolled my eyes. “Just because my boyfriends haven’t been bikers, doesn’t mean they aren’t real men.”
“Please. Let’s look at your history. The tech bro organized his socks by color and theme. The senator’s son insisted you quit working after your hypothetical first child. The think tank analyst cheated on you at a gala. And the lawyer was married. Married!”
“To be fair, I didn’t know. Did I tell you what I did right before I confronted him?”
Rhetta’s eyes sparkled with anticipation. “Please tell me it was epic.”
I laughed. “More devious. I poured a half gallon of milk into his golf bag because I knew he had an important golf meeting that weekend with some clients. And then I slipped my pantiesjust barely under the pillow on her side of the bed. She must have found them because I heard they split right after that.”
“Good for her. Have you gone on a date since moving here?”
I shook my head. “I gave a guy my number a few weeks ago. The first thing he sent me was a dick pic. I told him I'd just check my bank account if I wanted to see something that disappointing.”
Rhetta cackled and caught me up on her dating misadventures before meeting Thane. Since I’d need to call an Uber anyway, I ordered a fourth drink with dessert. When the check arrived, my cheeks burned, and the world before me blurred slightly.
Rhetta insisted on paying, a thank you for a job well done, and we stepped out into the quiet downtown street as the waitstaff wrapped up for the night. Most restaurants had closed, and the only people milling about moved from bar to bar.
Thane and Reaper leaned against their bikes outside the restaurant. Rhetta’s lips brushed Thane’s cheek, leaving behind a faint berry-colored lipstick smudge. I tried thanking the men for their help earlier, but my words slurred together. The haze of the tequila coursing through my system made it challenging for me to form sentences.
“You’re drunk.”
Reaper’s voice sounded flat and annoyed.
“S’fine. I’ll Uber.”
He shook his head. “I’ll drive you home. Get on.”
My eyes narrowed. “You’re kind of bossy, y’know? You better be nicer, or I’ll give this Uber-cycle a two-star review.”
“Get the fuck on the bike.”
My heart raced as Reaper guided me onto the back of his Harley. The world blurred as Rhetta’s laughter and Thane’s knowing smirk faded into the background.
