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He saw my scarred underbelly, my heavy, beat-up baggage, and hadn’t been scared off. If anything, he’d drawn himself closer to me, making really lovely promises.
Moving forward with him terrified me down to my core.
But I’d been brought up with the confidence to face difficult situations and survive in boardrooms filled with men who would always look down on me because I was a woman.
If I could do that—with style, might I add—I could crack open my heart, just a little, and allow Jake inside. Being closed off and alone wasn’t a good example to set for Nellie. I had to take this chance.
If it blew up in my face…well, at least I could say I tried.
Chapter Twenty-three
Jake
If I couldn’t have Clara wrapped around me on the back of my bike, I was content to eat her dust as she flew past me on hers. Nothing sexier than a woman who knew how to handle the powerful machine between her legs and wasn’t afraid to show off.
Since the first time I met her for lunch at her office, we’d gone riding together once and had had a few more lunches when our schedules allowed. Mine was a hell of a lot more flexible than hers, but it was by design. I didn’t thrive under rigid routines, but I understood Clara lived and died by her calendar. No one worked their way as high as she had, family business or not, by not being dedicated.
Now, it was Sunday, and after having Sage home for a week, she’d gone back to her mom’s. Clara and I had the rest of the day and night to play on the road and whatever else we decided to get into.
This wasn’t a date, though. She hadn’t planned it, so I wasn’t counting it.
It was just a day out with my girl, letting the fresh air and sunshine soak into my bones while drinking my fill of her. The sips I’d gotten over the past two weeks had been delicious, but they hadn’t been enough to sustain a man.
We rode on back roads, twisting and winding until we found the biker bar we’d been aiming for. I pulled into the spot beside Clara and paused to watch her climb off her bike.
The helmet came first. She tugged it off and tousled her hair like she was in a shampoo commercial, letting it swish around her shoulders. Then she shrugged off her leather jacket and raised her arms over her head, giving her back a long, thorough stretch. A swath of soft ivory belly peeked from between her jeans and top, and her tits strained the thin cotton fabric. Once she was done, she turned toward me, finding me watching. A grin as wide as a mile stretched across her pretty face.
“Are you going to get off or stare at me all day?” she teased.
“I was hoping to do both.”
She circled around her bike and sidled up beside mine, taking my hand in hers. “Get your ass off that bike and flirt with me then. We’ll see what happens.”
I climbed off and wound my arms around her waist, pulling her against me. “I’ve been watching that glorious ass of yours all spread out on your seat for the last hour and a half, mama. I’m barely standing. If you think I have enough brain cells left to flirt smoothly, you obviously haven’t taken a look at your ass lately.”
“You’re right, I haven’t. But I must say, that was very smooth, Jake Hayes.” She tapped my chest and flashed a sassy little grin. “Keep it up. For now, I’m parched and could use a drink.”
“Then by all means, lead the way. Can’t have my girl going thirsty.”
The bar was little more than a shack with three open sides. All types of bikers, from grizzled and old to fresh hobby riders, were scattered around, having a drink and shooting the shit with like-minded folks. Most of their heads would probably explode if they knew they were now in the company of motorcycle royalty.
Clara leaned her middle against the bar, and I lowered my mouth to her ear. “The queen of Rossi is in their presence, and they have no idea.”
She tipped her head back and lowered her lashes. “The queen, huh? I think I prefer being the king’s advisor. We both know they have the real power.”
“Are you saying you have power over Luca?”
She chuffed. “Not quite. But he respects what I have to say and is always open to listening to me.”
“Love that for you, sweetness.”
The bartender slid two cold ones in front of Clara, and she turned around to pass me mine.
“Jeremy doesn’t listen to you?”
I clinked my bottle against hers. “We don’t have the kind of relationship you and Luca do. I’m at MZ to pick up the pieces Jer can’t juggle and support him when he needs another voice on his side. Make no mistake, one person is the head of MZ—and it’s not me.”
“Hmmm.” She sipped her beer and said nothing else, even though it was obvious there were a hundred things on the tip of her tongue.
