Page 18 of Diesel

“That. What you just said.” I wasn’t looking for validation, but couldn’t deny how good the acknowledgement felt. A little recognition was worth more than gold when you thought your efforts were a poor contribution to someone else’s life.

“I’m just speaking the truth.” He leaned back as Millie appeared with two plates loaded with burgers big enough to choke on.

“Here you go, boys.” She smiled, setting our plates on the table with a soft clatter. “Anything else?”

“We’re good,” Diesel said while staring at me. Was he answering Millie or reassuring me?

I had a feeling I already knew the answer, so I didn’t bother asking for clarification. Instead, I bit into my juicy burger and enjoyed the rest of our date, snatching fries from Diesel’s plate as he stole some from mine.

Chapter Four

Diesel

Noodles ran past me, her floppy ears bouncing. She looked like she was making an escape but pivoted, stumbled on the hardwood floor, then was on her feet, racing past me again.

Someone had the zoomies.

“Noodles, get your butt back here,” Spencer hollered from somewhere in the clubhouse.

I chuckled and shook my head.

The German shepherd hurried past me again, this time sliding into the coffee table and sending a few magazines flying. The puppy scrambled to her feet and took off toward the kitchen like her tail was on fire.

“She’s gonna hurt herself,” Crowbar called out, appearing in the doorway. “Spencer, grab her!”

“I’m trying!” Spencer huffed as he ran right past me. “I can’t believe she’s outsmarting me. It’s like she turned into a ninja overnight. She needs a cowbell, or some orange stickers.”

“Those stickers are reserved for scary bikers.” Crowbar slowly strolled down the hallway. “You already used half the roll on Deadeye. And Reaper, who’s still peeling them off his cut. ‘Sup,” he said to me when he passed by. “Another day in the crazy clubhouse.”

“No shit.” I chuckled.

Watching the chaos was always the bright spot of my day, but there was a new bright spot my brain kept circling back to. Or more precisely, certain moments it was stuck on.

The overlook. Ollie’s mouth under mine. The way he’d leaned into the kiss like the male had been waiting for it as long as I had. Since the moment I’d laid eyes on him, I’d wanted him under me, squirming and begging for my cock. All I’d thought about at Millie’s was spreading Ollie on the table and feasting on his slim body.

Fucking great. Now my dick was hard. I pulled my phone from my back pocket, then scrolled to Ollie’s number.

My thumb hovered over the glass screen. We’d texted since our date, surface stuff that never went deep. But we hadn’t talked on the phone. Calling him felt different somehow, more intentional.

Fuck it. I hit the button before I could tuck away my phone and raid the kitchen instead.

After three rings Ollie’s breathless voice caressed my ear. “Hey.”

It wasn’t a sensual breathiness. Ollie actually sounded a bit winded. My brows furrowed. “Bad time?”

“Not really.” Something thumped in the background. “I’m currently herding seniors into the community center for bingo night. Irene’s trying to convince me she needs to stop at the liquor store first. She even tried to bribe me with two dollars and a pack of sugar-free gum.”

I grinned so wide my cheeks ached. “Let me guess. Medical emergency.”

“Spiritual emergency this time. She’s very committed. I’ll give her that.” He sounded amused despite the obvious chaos. “What’s up?”

“Never played bingo.” I couldn’t believe I was fishing for an invite to a senior bingo game, but I was just as committed as Irene was. We just had different goals. “Figured I should see what all the fuss is about.”

Smooth, jackass. Could you sound any needier? I most definitely could where Ollie was concerned. He was all of five-feet-three, maybe five-four, yet capable of twisting a six-feet-four biker into a fucking knot. It had only been three days since our date, but I was jonesing to see him again.

You are gone for him. Down bad. Nose wide open. My wolf growled in agreement.

Silence stretched a little too long, making me wonder if I’d freaked him out. Then Ollie softly laughed. “You seriously want to come to senior bingo?”