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I wrap up my workout and jog home, grabbing a bottle of water from a nearby store. My stomach is growling by the time I reach my doorstep, and I make a split second decision to head to the Carmel store. It might piss Alana off, but I don’t care. I need to see she’s safe. I won’t be able to relax here at home.
“Fuck,” I mutter when I see the four slashed tires on my car sitting in the driveway. “That’s not gonna do me any good.”
Annoyed and anxious, I walk into the garage and push my motorcycle into the driveway. I pull the keys from my pocket and slide them into the ignition, and the engine roars to life.
Once I’m on the road, the wind whips around my face as I speed up, the familiar exhilaration from the power of the motorcycle underneath me. The sun has already set, but the streetlights illuminate the drive for me.
It doesn’t take long before I’m in the parking lot of Hometown Wings and Beer, so I park and head inside the bar. Alana is pouring a beer behind the rail, and I enjoy watching her before she notices me. She’s pulled her purple hair back into a tight bun, and she’s wearing those black jeans that look painted on, highlighting the heart shape of her ass. The overhead lights make the silver hoop on the left side of her nose sparkle. Goddamn, she’s stunning.
I clear my throat to announce my presence, and she spins around, eyes wide with surprise.
“What the hell are you doing here?”
I chuckle darkly and say, “I own this place, remember?”
Pulling out a high-top bar chair, I plop down and look at her expectantly. A small smile plays on her lips, and she rolls her eyes and turns away from me.
“Aren’t you going to ask me what I want to drink?” I say as I watch her pour me a beer and slide it across the counter, her fingers grazing mine as she does so.
“Nope. You get what you get, and you don’t throw a fit. Don’t be weird. I don’t want my coworkers to know I’m fucking the boss,” she warns me.
I take a long swig of the cold liquid, savoring the crisp taste, before setting the glass down and leaning forward. “I just came to see you. I can’t stay away,” I say, my voice low and husky.
She rolls her eyes again and wipes the counter where a guy with a computer just left. “No, you’re here to keep tabs on me. Don’t pretend. You haven’t been here to eat more than once the whole time I’ve worked here. And the first time was only to do recon on the store.”
I chuckle at her observation and shoot her a wink. “Okay, maybe you’re right. But can you blame me?”
I lean even further across the rail, my eyes never leaving hers. She laughs in my face and says, “Save it for later, boss man. I’m still working right now.”
I nod and take another swig of my beer, watching her move with grace and precision as she tends to the other patrons. I can’t help but feel a pang of jealousy as I watch her interact with the other men at the bar. But I know that’s just the possessive side of me, so I try to brush it off.
As the night wears on, the bar empties, and Alana finally makes her way over to me. “You’ve gotta get the hell out of here so I can clean the place up.”
She’s smiling, but I can see the dark circles under her eyes. “Ride home with me? I’ll wait for you out front.”
She gives me an annoyed look, and I brace myself for an argument.
“I knew that’s why you came. You just wanted to drive me home since I told you no earlier.”
I grin at her, knowing she’s right. “Alright, you caught me. But we’re going to the same place, and I’ll feel a lot better if you just let me drive you. Please?”
Alana rolls her eyes once more and sighs in defeat. “Whatever. But get out so I can get my closing shit done. I’ll be ready in thirty minutes.”
I wink at her and grab my helmet, hurrying toward the door before she changes her mind. I stand next to my motorcycle while I wait and look around the empty parking lot. Carmel is quiet at night, only a few cars passing by now and again. The moon hangs low in the sky, and the cool breeze blowing through my hair brings the promise of fall on.
After what feels like forever, Alana steps outside of the bar with a yawn. She eyes my motorcycle suspiciously, then says, “I hate riding things with two wheels. Don’t drive like an idiot.”
I throw my head back and laugh as I toss her my helmet. She puts it on, climbs on the back of the bike, and presses herself against me. The engine revs to life, and we’re lost in the moment.
40
Chapter Forty
Alana
Andreas leans into a sharp turn, and my arms constrict around him. Instead of taking the quick route, he took us out of the city limits to show off his driving skills. I tried to tell him I was terrified of motorcycles, but that didn’t dissuade him from trying to make me piss my pants. Jokes on him, I’ll pee all over his motorcycle without a second thought.
The stars shine brilliantly, twinkling like diamonds in a sea of inky black sky. The wind whips through the helmet Andreas gave me and brings with it the scent of freshly cut grass and wildflowers.
