Page 16 of Seeking Vengeance
Nicki peeked cautiously out of the club’s back entrance. Club security kept things pretty tight, but there were usually a few losers out there, hoping to get lucky. It looked strangely empty though. With a sigh, she pulled down her baseball cap and slowly pushed the door open, her senses on high alert, half-expecting someone to appear out of the shadows. She gripped her keys between her fingers in one hand and fisted a small roll of solid steel in the other, just in case, and walked quickly across the lot.
She saw him by her bike, leaning against the gleaming black-and-chrome Harley parked next to it. She ignored him, mounting her quasi-Ducati as if he wasn’t even there, glad beyond measure when her badly shaking legs didn’t give out on her. As far as she was concerned, they were even. She’d invaded his space; he’d invaded hers. Tit for tat. End of story.
“Aren’t you going to acknowledge me, Nicki?” His deep male voice caressed her as tangibly as if he’d reached out and touched her and made her tingle in all the right places. It evoked a small but potent echo of the sensations that had rippled through her body only an hour ago.
It pissed her off.
“It meant nothing,” she bit out, cursing herself for saying anything, for even feeling the need to.
She heard his soft chuckle, hating how it made her nipples so goddamn hard.
“Somehow, I don’t believe that. Or do you come for every man you give a lap dance to?”
“Get over yourself!”
Fury and embarrassment burned through her so hot that she half-expected to burn to ash right where she stood, taking him with her. No such luck. Sean remained where he was, blue eyes glowing, radiating that sexy, arrogant manner that oozed dominance and made her crazy. She’d never met a man she felt was strong enough—or worthy enough—for her to even consider voluntary submission. And, goddammit, she wasn’t about to start now.
Nicki kicked the bike hard and took off like a bat out of hell. Visions of his intense blue eyes raking over her possessively followed her all the way home.
CHAPTER FIVE
“So, you’re on babysitting duty today, huh?” Maggie carried a big plate of warm cookies over to the table along with a quart of whole milk. She slid carefully in the seat adjacent to his, her expression tight.
“Yeah, kind of,” he said with a sheepish grin. “But you know I love you, right?”
“You love mycookies,” she corrected on an exhale, but her smile was genuine.
As an only child, it had been quite a culture shock for Maggie to find herself as part of a big family when she hooked up with his brother Michael, but she was adjusting nicely. One of them was almost always with her now whenever Michael got called into the hospital. He didn’t like leaving her alone at their farm when she was already three days past her due date, especially when he worried that her irrational fear of doctors and medical procedures in general might keep her from getting to the hospital on time.
“Hey, you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m awesome,” she answered, sounding slightly winded. “I think your nephew’s going to be a linebacker, for sure.” She grimaced as she rubbed her belly and blew out measured breaths.
Sean grinned boyishly. “Can I?”
“Knock yourself out.”
Sean gently placed his hand over Maggie’s distended belly. She guided him to the side. His hand visibly jumped.
“Holy shit, Mags. That kid’s strong!”
“Yeah, tell me about it,” she said, wincing. “I think I might need my ribs taped after the delivery though. Ever since he turned, he’s been doing a number on them.”
Within a few minutes, she exhaled and gave him a grateful glance. “Thanks, Sean. I think he recognizes your voice already. He does that whenever he hears one of you and refuses to calm down until you acknowledge him.”
“My pleasure. These cookies are awesome, by the way.”
“Thanks. This waiting is driving me crazy, so I’ve been baking up a storm. So, are you going to tell me about her, or do I have to wait to get the dirt from Taryn?”
He should have known Maggie would sense something was up. She didn’t miss anything. She was also the only one Sean could talk to. She never laughed or made jokes at his expense, always listened, always had time for him. Her farmhouse in the country had become the place to go when any of them needed to get away from the rest of the family for a little while. Helping out Michael was just a bonus; Sean would have found himself here regardless. Plus, her cookies rocked.
Sean grinned. “Not even Taryn knows about this yet.”
“Ooh,” said Maggie excitedly, her eyes sparkling. “An exclusive. I’m honored.”
“You should be. But … I’m not sure there’s that much to tell.”
“Start with the basics. What’s her name?” Maggie rubbed her belly, both hands making large circles, her breaths deep and even.
