Page 18 of Biker's Temptation
“Mornin’,” I called out in the friendliest tone I could manage.I lifted my coffee cup in their direction and walked down the steps.Instead of taking the sidewalk, I angled my way over to my truck first.
“Good morning,” the man answered with a fake smile and big wave.As I opened the driver’s side door of my work truck, he said, “Don’t think I’ve seen you around here before.”
“You’ll be seeing a lot more of me.”I intended to make myself fully known on this street to ensure Melissa’s neighbors left her alone.I grabbed my cut from the front seat and carelessly slung it over my arm, letting the patches speak for themselves as I shut the door and joined her neighbors at the library post.
While her husband’s gaze zeroed in on my vest and patches, his sour-faced wife gestured toward the metal post.“You’re responsible for this?”
“Looks good, don’t it?”I dared her to say one goddamn word against it.“Once I get the library repaired and mounted, it will be prettier.”I motioned to an empty space near the corner of Melissa’s lot.“I think a second library would look good right about there.Maybe one of those pink ones for giving away things ladies and babies need.”
“I really don’t think that’s the kind of attention we want to draw to our neighborhood,” the old woman said with a haughty sniff.“It’s bad enough we have all those kids riding their bikes up and down the road to go through this one—.”
“I think that would be really nice,” her husband cut-in with a sharp glance in his wife’s direction.She frowned at him, but he narrowed his eyes in a way that seemed to get the message across to her.
“I’ve already installed some new cameras for the house, too,” I said, lying through my teeth.I fully intended to do that later today.“As much as Melissa loves and gives to this community, I won’t abide by anyone causing trouble for her.If you happen to know who destroyed her library, I’d like to know so I can give them a visit, have a little chat.”
“No idea,” the man said too quickly.“Probably kids.You know how bored they get in the summer.”
“Kids, huh?”I pretended to think it over.“Would have to be kids with a powerful vehicle.Maybe a Jeep with a winch?”
As soon as I said it, they both paled.I didn’t need them to verbally confess to the crime.Their reactions told me everything.
I heard the front door of the house open behind me.Their gazes shifted to the porch and then back to me.Before Melissa could even say a single word, they were mumbling their farewells and hurrying along down the sidewalk.I watched them go, waiting until they were back inside their house to return to Melissa’s side.
“Everything okay?”she asked uncertainly.She rubbed the neckline of her simple blue cotton nightgown between her fingers in obvious worry.
“Everything’s fine.”I placed a tender kiss on her temple and ushered her back into the house.“Just a friendly chat with your neighbors.”
“Didn’t look all that friendly.”She nodded at my cut.“Especially not with you flashing your biker badges at them.”
I snorted.“They’re patches, darlin’, and I didn’t flash anything.I was simply advertising that you have friends in very low and questionable places who won’t blink twice at making trouble for anyone who bothers you.”
“I appreciate you looking out for me.”
“But?”
“That lady is not easily cowed,” she warned.“You should have seen her at the last school board meeting.She had half of us in tears over the accusations she was making.”
Fury raged through me like a wildfire.“Let her try that shit again.I’ll make sure she—.”
“Shane!”Melissa put a soothing hand on my chest.“You’ve walked the line for ten years.Let’s not deviate and end up back in trouble because of some miserable old twat who hates books.”
I blew out a noisy breath.“I wouldn’t get caught.”
“Shane!”she shouted with a mix of frustration and amusement.“Stop!You’re being ridiculous.”She rose on tiptoes and kissed me hard.“But I like it.”
“You know that I won’t let anyone hurt you?”I searched her face.“I won’t let anyone disrespect you.”
“Why?”she asked, obviously needing me to spell it out for her.
“Because you’re mine,” I stated matter-of-factly.“You’re my girl, my woman.”I set aside my cup of coffee and tossed my cut onto the dining table behind her.I slid my arms around her waist and hauled her in tight.“You were mine the moment our eyes met across that bar, Melissa.”
Her eyes went liquid soft, and she smiled up at me so sweetly.“You’re really good at romance.”
I wasn’t used to compliments.My chest tightened unnaturally, and I felt the urge to make a joke to lighten the mood a bit.“Is it still romantic if I ask what you’ve got on under that nightgown?”
She blushed, and I grinned at how modest she could be even after all the wicked things we had done together.
“Don’t tell me.”My hands rode the curves of her hips and outer thighs before sliding under the short nightgown.“I’ll find out for myself.”
