Page 36 of Lethal Attraction

“Um,” he clears his throat. “Maybe I should give you and your husband a minute to talk about it?”

“He isn’t my husband—”

“Thank you. One moment,” Reed interjects, sending the employee back to his office. My date turns to face me, scowling. “No. You’re not getting this.”

“Oh, come on!” I plead. “Don’t I look sexy?”

“Ravishing,” he says as he crosses his arms. “But I want you to make it there in one piece.”

“I want the bike,” I mope.

Reed steps closer, leaning down. “I will buy you a car if you get off that thing.” There’s so much promise and desperation in his eyes that it makes my mirth fade. “I’m just…worried.”

I cross my arms over the handlebars as I lean closer to him. “You’re so hot when you get protective.”

He points a finger in my face. “Don’t do that. Don’t deflect.”

I smile before nipping at him. “Please, Dr. Dreamy.” I bat my eyelashes, really laying on the charm.

Reed draws back, scrubbing a hand through his hair messily as he mutters to himself. “Why can’t I tell you no? Fine! But you need a helmet, knee pads, gloves, and a suit. I won’t take any argument on that.”

He helps me pick out everything, testing to make sure my helmet is the right size and my gloves fit snugly. As he dotes on me, it warms my chest in a way I’ve never experienced before. This whole afternoon has been a dream, and I find myself not wanting to leave…

I wish Brooks would just fuck right off. Why did he have to choose now, of all times, to exact his revenge?

“You’re all set,” the salesman smiles as he sends us off.

I walk the bike outside and Reed checks everything before I get on. As the engine purrs to life beneath me, it doesn’t give me as much excitement as I thought it would.

Reed reaches over, slapping my visor up before grabbing the inside of my helmet and making me look at him. “You have my number. Text me as soon as you make it back. Do you understand?”

I nod. “Yes, sir.”

He closes his eyes. “Fuck, don’t say that to me.”

I lean up further, silently asking for a kiss. I don’t know what I’m doing, but my heart won’t let me leave here without something.

“No,” Reed says quietly as he brushes a thumb over my cheek. “That feels too much like a goodbye, and I want another date.”

Fractals explode in me, dancing around as my stomach flutters. I stare at him in quiet wonder as he releases me.

“Drive safe. Text me,” he says, stepping back.

As I pull away from the car lot, it feels like something tugs deep in my chest—a tether that’s connected to the man I left behind. The night is as empty as I feel, and the hollowness only grows the further I get from New York.

“Where the fuck have you been?” Rowan snaps as soon as I walk into the living room of his home.

Everyone is already waiting, and about twenty sets of eyes stray to me. Alana is one of them, giving me a silent thumbs-up as I set my motorcycle helmet down on the kitchen island.

“I got a motorcycle,” I beam.

Bailey stands across the room in her white tank top that highlights her perfect tits as her long, blonde curls softly fall over her shoulders. Flanking her are a few of the higher-ranking assassins from the South branch, and Theo sits near her as he posts up on the coffee table. Dom is behind her, using the wall as support as he waits for our meeting to start.

Atlas is seated on the sofa, his very pregnant wife beside him and his arm flung around her shoulder. “What kind?”

“Kawasaki,” I answer before joining them.

Addison pinches Rowan’s lips together when he opens his mouth to fuss at me. “That’s awesome! You’ve been wanting a new bike.”