Page 33 of Seeking Vengeance
“Sean, man, been too long.” The biker dude and Sean clasped hands in greeting before the man turned to her. “And you must be Nicki,” he said in a voice that rumbled like a Harley and a grin that showed perfect white teeth. “I’m—”
“Kyle McCullough,” Nicki whispered, her eyes huge.
“Sean tells me you know something about bikes. Says you built a custom that rivals a Ducati. That true?”
She nodded mutely.
“Sick. You’ll probably appreciate this then …” Kyle led her over to where he was working on a new custom.
She looked to Sean, but he just smiled and waved her on. Within minutes, she regained her speech and was talking with Kyle as if they’d been friends forever.
“She’s awesome,” Lina said to Sean, offering him a Coke. The two of them stayed back, watching. “She’s the one, huh?”
Sean nodded. “Yeah, I think so.”
Lina laughed at this. “You think so? Sean, if you could only see the way you look at her. There’s no doubt. Does she know yet?”
“No.” He ran his hand through his short hair. “She’s going to fight it—I can feel it.”
Lina put her hand on his arm. “That’s probably one of the reasons you find her so irresistible. None of us like to do things the easy way, do we? But don’t worry. If she’s yourcroie, she won’t be able to help but feel the same, even if it does take her a bit longer to realize it.”
Sean sincerely hoped she was right.
CHAPTER TEN
Working evenings with Nicki was easier after their trip to Birch Falls. She even smiled occasionally. The effect was nothing short of dazzling. Lina had called to tell him that Kyle was impressed with her and said he’d be willing to offer her an apprenticeship at Mo’s if she was interested. That was a first, Lina confided. Kyle had never done that for anyone, but Nicki had demonstrated a lot of raw, natural talent.
Sean hadn’t shared that with Nicki yet. He would, when the time was right, but for now, he enjoyed having her all to himself. It was just the two of them in the bays. He didn’t have to worry about the other mechanics or a constant stream of customers. The radio played in the background while they worked together in companionable silence. He loved to be able to glance up and watch her whenever he wanted without having to limit himself.
True to his word, he kept his distance. Nicki showed no indication that she would ask him to do otherwise, which was expected but disappointing all the same. They spoke little.
The tension was there though. He could feel her eyes on him when she thought he wasn’t looking. After so many years in ops, he knew the feeling of being in someone’s sights all too well. Too many times, the back of his neck tingled, his mind cleared, and his adrenaline levels surged in preparation for fight or flight. He knew it was Nicki and not a sniper because along with the tingles and adrenaline, his cock would swell and harden until it throbbed painfully. Thank Godthathad never happened out in the field.
Despite that though, being close to Nicki brought a peace to Sean that he didn’t quite understand. Yes, he wanted a hell of a lot more—if he didn’t bury himself in her body soon, he was quite sure several parts of him might spontaneously ignite and turn to ash—but being in the same physical space at the same time, listening to music, hearing her hum along occasionally, was comforting. Seeing her, being close to her for those few hours each day, was something Sean looked forward to.
Nick appeared one night, his face sober. He came in from the softly falling snow, his black hair plastered over equally soaked clothes, as if he had walked the whole way from his apartment, and stood just inside the door.
“Nicki,” he said. From the look on his face, it was easy to guess what had happened.
Charlene Milligan had finally succumbed.
Under Sean’s watchful eye, Nicki pulled herself from the car she had been working on and met her brother at the door. Nick quietly spoke a few words to her, and Sean’s suspicions were confirmed.
She shook her head. Nodded. Shook again.
With a kiss to the top of her head, Nick left. For several long moments, Nicki didn’t move.
Unable to stay away any longer, Sean crossed the distance between them. “I’m sorry, Nicki.”
Nicki turned into him without a word, buried her face in his chest, and cried silently. He held her, wishing he could do more, knowing he couldn’t.
“I have to go,” she said.
“I know. Take all the time you need. If there’s anything I can do, you let me know.”
She nodded and sniffed, mumbling her thanks before leaving. It was all Sean could do to let her. She didn’t realize it yet, but she was his, and he was going to be there for her even if that meant giving her space.
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