“Yup. It should totally be a turn off. I know that. But damn. He’s so fucking hot and I want to keep him and make cute little biker babies. But he avoids me and I avoid him and we both pretend we don’t want to rip each other’s clothes off.”
I laughed. “Plus, babies. What man isn’t terrified of a woman hungry for seed?”
“Do you really have to put it that way? You make me sound like a desperate woman.”
“Sorry.” I grinned.
“What about you?”
“What about me?”
“Do you want to make cute little biker babies with my brother?”
If I’d been drinking something I would’ve spit it out all over her. “You’re insane. I barely know him.”
“Uh huh.”
“I’m leaving town.”
“Okay,” she said like she didn’t believe me.
“I am.”
She snorted into her coffee.
“You’re cute,” she repeated, “but so oblivious.”
There had been no word from Colt all afternoon. Not that I expected any word from him.
Okay, that was a lie.
I had hoped he would want to check in with me, see how my afternoon with Joni was going or ask if I was taking good care of Cheese.
Joni cooked dinner and refused my help. She left early because she had a morning shift at the hospital. I waved goodbye from the porch and then turned to go back inside. Cheese was in the same spot. He hadn’t moved in hours except for one quick bathroom break.
“Thanks, Cheese,” I said.
“For what?”
“For keeping watch. Sorry it’s so boring.”
He flashed me a cute grin. “I’m glad it’s boring. It means you’re safe.”
“Do you guys really expect trouble?”
“Gotta be prepared for anything. The Iron Horsemen…”
“What?” I demanded.
He scratched his jaw with his thumb. “I shouldn’t say anything.”
I held my tongue but kept my eyes on him. Cheese caved. “Rawlins scares the shit out of most grown men. And the ones who aren’t scared of him are just too stupid to know they should be. It’s good you’re here and we can look out for you.”
A pang of emotion hit my throat. “Thanks.”
I went back inside and settled onto the couch, the cell phone Colt had given me by my side. I kept glancing at it, willing it to buzz. Turning on the TV, I listened to some asinine show playing in the background as I picked up the cell. Debating all of five seconds, I scrolled through the three numbers in the phone and shot off a text to Colt.
Hey.