Page 20 of Diamonds in the Mud

I nodded since it was something I’d already figured out.

When Rayne and Aria had finally convinced Quincy to leave, the man pushed past me, shoving his shoulder into mine and trying to topple me over. I’d been ready for the move and didn’t budge.

“Are you okay?” Rayne asked as Tobias and Aria returned to the booth.

“Yeah, you?” I asked, running my eyes over her once more. Yeah, she would be worth fighting over. Any man who cheated on her deserved what she gave them.

“I’m good.” She sighed and glanced around. “Come on, let’s get some air.” She took my hand and pulled me towards the door.

When we stepped out into the muggy summer night, she stopped. “Which one is yours?” She motioned to the row of bikes still parked at the bar. I noticed all of the bikes owned by the Reapers were missing. Thankfully.

“What makes you think I own a bike?” I asked with a smile. “That could be my car.” I pointed to a Mini Cooper and she laughed.

“First off, that’s Aria’s. She bought it for herself for her twenty-fifth birthday.” She nudged my shoulder. “Second off, everyone in town knows one of the requirements to join the Reapers is you have to have a bike. So…” She moved a little closer to me until she was only a breath away. “I’ll ask again, which one is yours?”

Damn. Just the sexy scent of her had me pointing to my bike. Yeah, mine. All mine. Even if I didn’t have to pretend to be in a drug dealing, backwater gang, I’d ride her.

“Nice,” she said, walking over to the bike. Then, to my surprise, she pulled out her phone and snapped a picture of my plates.

“Cop move,” I joked and had her smiling. “Gonna run me?”

“You know it.” She put her phone back in the pocket of her jacket. “Now, how about a walk?” She motioned and, stupidly, I fell in step beside her. We made our way down the sidewalk to a small parking lot where a green bench sat under a very dim streetlight.

When she sat down, I sat next to her.

“I have a serious addiction,” she said softly, causing me to tense for a split second.

“Oh?” I asked, waiting, and counting my heartbeats.

She turned her face towards mine and I instantly got lost in exploring her face with my eyes.

“I tend to fall for guys like you,” she finished.

“Which is?” I asked.

She rolled her eyes. “Bad-boy types. Pretty on the outside and jerks on the inside.”

“Do you think I’m a jerk?” I asked with a smile.

She chuckled. “I don’t know you all that well. But, if you’re part of the Reapers, something tells me you don’t rescue kittens from trees in your spare time.”

“I like kittens,” I said, shifting closer to her while my gaze was locked on her lips. I couldn’t stop myself from wondering what she’d taste like. What she’d feel like.

“See, right there.” She narrowed her eyes at me. “At first, all men will say or do anything to get what they want.”

“And what is that?” I asked, falling for her bait.

“I’d wager the same thing I want at this point. To get into your pants.” She smiled.

I leaned in, totally prepared to take her lips but she leaned back and slapped a hand to my chest.

“Nice try, Yank.” She sighed and shook her head. “I don’t kiss until the plates come back clean.”

I chuckled. “They’re clean. I’m clean.”

“We’ll see about that.” She cocked her head slightly. “You’re not what you want everyone to think.” She narrowed her eyes. “You’re lying. That’s a fact.” When I opened my mouth to deny it, she added, “I’ll get to the bottom of it. One way or another.” She shifted and then stood up suddenly. “I’ll see you around town, Jameson Lorenzo.” She walked backward towards the bar.

Damn.