Page 2 of Ex-Military Biker’s Bride

“Yeah, that’s staff."

“They stay there too?”

“Shift change.” I try to sound bored. “You aren’t staying there?”

“No.”

“How come?” I shouldn’t be asking a guest, but I never could keep my mouth shut.

“I’m an executive assistant. They need me back in the city.”

“They work you hard?”

“Nothing I can’t handle.”

I want her so badly in that moment that I have to tell myself to loosen my grip on the yoke and fly the damn airplane.

The city strip’s beacon comes up out of the dark and I set us down. Shut off, tell her to sit tight, and do my walk-around with a flashlight. When I climb back up she's holding my clipboard.

“It slid.” She hands it over. “Uh… I was trying to keep it from going under the seat.”

“Appreciate it.”

I walk her across to her rental car.

She gets her keys out while I put a hand on the roof above her head, boxing her in a little. I don't move it, and she doesn't move away or try to duck out from under it. She looks up at me, a stray lock of hair escaping her ponytail. I ball my hands into fists, resisting the urge to stroke it back into place.

I’m meant to do and say nothing. Prez put me on that strip undercover to fly people in, get the intel and keep my mouth shut. I take a card out of my jacket and hold it out instead.

“This is the number for the charter line. Day or night, somebody will pick it up.”

She takes it, turning it over like there'll be something written on the back.

“Why?”

“Don't go up there on your own.”

Her face is blank. “To the Lodge?”

“Yep.”

“But it’s just a fancy hotel and spa?”

“Sure it is.”

She blinks twice, then gets in her car. Standing there, I watch her car drive away until her taillights disappear in the dark.

Later, once I’m back in High Vale, I drive back to the clubhouse, putting tonight's report in order in my head before I write it up.

Lily Torgan isn’t her real name.

I’d make a bet on it.

Chapter One

OLIVIA

Present day