I could hear the excitement growing in my voice, but I couldn't help it. My ideas tumbled forth from my lips and Tanner listened intently. As different as the brothers all seemed, they at least had that in common. They listened, really listened. It was a trait I found very attractive.
“And the loft space above the shop is going to be my apartment someday.”
“Someday?” Tanner asked. “Why someday?”
“Eh, it’ll take time to make it livable is all. I’ll stay with a friend of mine until then or something,” I said.
“Okay. What are you holding back?” he asked.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean there’s an underlying tone to your excitement that says more than what you’re actually saying out loud,” Tanner said.
I sighed as I began kicking at a rock in the ground.
“I’ll need to take out a loan for 110,000 dollars to purchase the rest of the building, and that doesn’t include the work that’ll have to go into the loft space. I’ll have to raise the rest of that money on my own, but it’ll easily be another seventy grand to get that space up and running like it needs to be. You know, checking the plumbing and making sure the electrical wiring is up to code,” I said.
“So, you need 180,000 dollars that you don’t have,” Tanner said.
“Yep. And that’s if we don’t run into any snags. Take into account shit that always goes wrong with stuff like this, and I’m looking at just under three hundred grand to make myself feel comfortable. And that’s money I still don’t have. Even after two years of Lindy and I saving our asses off.”
Tanner turned his head back toward the building and seemed to be deep in thought. His eyes narrowed as they danced along the horizon, and I wanted to know what he was thinking. I looked up at him as he crossed his broad arms over his chest, which accentuated his rock-solid bicep muscles. I took a deep breath to try and calm the heat pooling in my pelvis. This was not the time or the place to be fantasizing about his body.
“Anyway, it’s just a silly little dream,” I said.
“It isn’t. Especially since you’re chasing it. Don’t belittle what you’re doing. You’re better than that,” Tanner said.
I heard something vibrate, and Tanner reached into his back pocket. His eyes scanned his phone as his face morphed into worry, and I gave him the space he needed to send off a message. He shoved his phone back into his pocket and pushed off my car, then made his way for his motorcycle.
“Is everything okay?” I asked.
“Yep. Just some club stuff,” he said. “Nothing you need to worry your pretty little head about. But I do have to go.”
“I understand. Ride safely, okay?”
His crisp blue eyes connected with mine, and I held my breath. He was studying me, something else that all his brothers shared. His eyes raked down my body, taking me in as he revved his motorcycle to life. My nipples were standing at attention behind my bra as he straddled his motorcycle. I thought about what it would be like to take him right there on his bike. To suck on his cock until he came down my throat as his legs hummed with the engine underneath his body.
I shook the thought away, and my eyes found his again, but this time I saw that he was smirking.
Shit, I’d been caught again.
“Keep chasing that dream,” he said as he kicked up his stand.
Then, he rode off down the road as dust flew behind his bike.
I found myself wondering what happened to the club. Was everything okay? For someone who did not outwardly emote like Tanner and Tyler, he sure as hell looked worried. I took one last look at the building before I slipped into the car, and as my ass hit the seat, my phone rang on the passenger side.
“Lindy?” I asked.
“Nope. Booker. Sorry. Can you work tonight?”
I bit back a sigh as I looked at the clock. It was five in the afternoon. Three hours until openi
ng.
“Yeah, Booker. I can work,” I said. I had been looking forward to a day off, but the $180,000 price tag that hung in my head forced me to agree.
“Good. Get in here as soon as you can. You think Lindy will come in tonight, too?” he asked.