Page 22 of Bedding the Biker Next Door

“Hi,” she said, not meeting his gaze.

Cole sighed. Yup, she was still pissed. He should probably come back to talk to her when Stanley wasn’t there.

“See you later,” he said.

“Bye,” Stanley cried. Jill didn’t respond.

Cole walked up to join Smash and the other guys. Smash was staring at Jill, his eyes twinkling. “Pretty lady.”

“She is,” Cole agreed.

The door to Jill’s house opened and the blond girl he’d seen yesterday—Jill had called her a teacher’s aide—came out. She called Stanley, who took one last look at Cole before running inside. “You guys want to come in?” he asked Smash.

Smash shook his head. “Thanks, but we’ll let you get back to things. Catch up later.”

Cole nodded. “Be right back.” He went to the garage to retrieve the helmet for Smash. When he returned, Cole’s friends were standing on one side of Jill’s picket fence while she stood on the other. They all watched as Jill’s pretty aide walked to the street corner and began talking to a punky-looking guy in baggy low-slung jeans and a black baseball cap. The girl looked stiff at first but she quickly relaxed when the boy gave her a hug. Then she waved at Jill and she and the boy got into a beat up pick up truck and drove off.

Smash looked up and saw him. “Hey, Cole. We were just introducing ourselves to Jill.”

Cole slowly crossed the yard to join them. He got there just in time to hear a guy named Juicy call her “ma’am.”

Jill laughed softly, sending a shiver through Cole. “Oh, no way am I a ‘ma’am’ already. But yes, that’s Monica’s boyfriend. They were heading on a vacation today but they got into a fight. She was upset and asked to come by, but he called. I guess they made up.” Jill shrugged. “I don’t particularly like him, but she obviously sees something in him I don’t.”

Jill still didn’t look at Cole. The smile she gave the other men was dazzling, however. “I’m so pleased to meet you all. It’s a nice day for a ride, isn’t it?”

“Beautiful, ma’…uh, Jill,” Smash said, looking up. “Beautiful day. Do you ride?”

“No. I mean, I’ve been on a Harley…once.” She looked quickly at Cole before glancing away again.

“You should try it again,” Rod told her.

“Maybe I will,” she said with an indulgent smile. “Well, have a great day. Liz and the kids are waiting for me.” With a wave, she walked back into her house.

Smash glanced at Cole. “Pretty and sweet. The real deal.”

Cole couldn’t help but smile. “She and my mom got along well.”

Smash raised an eyebrow. “Oh yeah? Your mom was a good judge of character. She loved me, after all.”

Cole laughed and handed Smash the helmet for his son. He bullshitted with the guys for several more minutes before they got on their bikes to leave. They’d just pulled out when Jill came back outside and started gathering toys and art supplies.

Taking a deep breath, Cole crossed the yard once again, calling out just as she turned back to her front door. “Jill, can I talk to you for a minute?”

She hesitated and looked over her shoulder at him. Her expression was wistful but she shook her head. “I think you already said enough,” she said quietly. “Have a good day, Cole.” She stepped inside and softly closed the door behind her.

* * *

Jill knew Stanley was still thinking about Cole from the way the boy kept looking out the window toward Cole’s house. Jill understood perfectly. She had spent the day trying to stop herself from doing the same thing.

The biker next door was like the sun, a magnetic force that attracted her and made her want to stay in his orbit. A sun who sometimes said rude things as if it were a newborn, immature star. But despite that, he still drew her in. She knew, if she circled too closely, if she stayed too long, she would burn up and disintegrate. That was easy enough to remember when she was angry with him for saying asinine things. But since he’d apologized multiple times now, it was getting more difficult to fight her attraction. Because of that, she’d tried so hard to hold on to her anger from last night; it had been almost impossible given the way he’d asked Stanley about his drawing, smiled at the boy and given him compliments.

For a moment, she’d felt her heart swell. Cole’s warmth had swept through her, pulling her dangerously close to the sun once again. She had forced herself to pull back and reject his apology. If she didn’t let herself fall victim to his magnetic pull, she wouldn’t be devastated when he decided to insult her again. Or when he left, for that matter. Because he was leaving. She had to remember that. And that’s why she had to act, not with emotion and desire, but with the cool logic that told her to stay away. Simply put—it was in everyone’s best interest.

She was preparing lunch when Stanley tugged on her shirt. “Miss Jill? I think he’s sad.”

“Who’s sad, honey?”

“The giant next door.”

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