Page 26 of Snared Rider

We’re just wrapping up our business when Dean’s mobile rings. He fishes it out of his jeans pocket and swipes the screen before putting the handset to his ear.

“Yeah?”

I roll my eyes. What’s wrong with hello? These boys are so bloody rude.

“Oh.” His hand goes to the back of his neck as he leans back in his chair. “I’m at the garage. Swing by.”

He listens for a moment, then adds, “Sure.” Then he ends the call. No ‘goodbye’, no ‘see you later’, no ‘kiss my arse’.

I must be glaring at him because he does a double-take before muttering, “What?”

“That’s how you talk on the phone?”

His brow knits together as my words sink in. “Unlike you, princess, I don’t have ten hours for small talk. I just want to hear the details of what I need to hear, then get the hell off the phone.”

I despair, I really do. Do they not teach them manners at Biker School?

I shake my head and return my attention to the laptop screen. “I really hope that was not a customer, Dean.” If it was I will have to teach him telephone etiquette.

“No, it wasn’t a customer, smart arse. It was Lo. He’s on his way here, which is why I didn’t draw out a long-winded conversation, since I’m going to speak to him face-to-face in ten minutes’ time.”

He says it casually, as if Logan coming here is a non-event. In his mind, it is. In mine, it’s a calamity. My heart staggers, seems to stop for a moment then restarts at breakneck speed. I steel my expression and try to loosen my now coiled tight shoulders as I stare at Dean.

“Logan’s coming here?” Does my voice sound panicked? I think I sound panicked.

He nods, scratching at his beard as he glances down at the notes he made during our idea mapping session. As usual, he’s oblivious to my inner turmoil. “I just said he was, didn’t I?”

Panic. Yep, I’m definitely panicking. It’s followed by something worse: fear. I’m not ready to see him. Not yet. I’m not prepared. I can’t do this. Not here, not with Dean watching. If I must see Logan it has to be just the two of us. Mainly so when I kick him in the balls no one witnesses it and asks why I’d commit such an act of seemingly unprovoked violence.

“Well,” I reach for my laptop, shutting the lid so abruptly Dean jumps. “I should get out of your hair.”

Excellent job being discreet, Beth.

I don’t have time to berate myself further because Logan is on his way. If he’s at the clubhouse it’s a five-minute ride, if that. From his flat on the other side of town I have fifteen minutes, depending on traffic. I cross everything, hoping that traffic is horrendous.

However, the common denominator in both scenarios is time, and this is something I don’t have a lot of. I snatch my rucksack from the floor and shove the laptop in it. “I said I’d have tea with Dad and you know what Jack’s like about tardiness.”

Dad doesn’t like lateness, but that is not why I’m fleeing like a coward. I will literally hyperventilate if I’m here when Logan shows up. I need to escape. Now.

“Lo won’t be here long. I’ll give you a lift back once he’s done. Just text Jack and tell him you’ll be late.”

I wave a hand at him, going for calm, but I’m sure I hit frantic. “No, no, don’t be silly. I can make my own way home, Dean. I’m not a child. Besides, I have no idea how long you pair will be, and I want to spend some time with my father.”

He stares at me, leaning back in the chair and for a moment I’m sure he sees through my lies. I swallow hard and try to keep my easy smile locked in place.

“I never said you were a child, B, but I’m not keen on you traipsing around town alone.”

Uh, what?

I forget about Logan, focusing on Dean’s words instead.

“You don’t want me traipsing around town alone?” I demand.

“No, I don’t. Shit can happen.”

My brow arches. “Shit can happen?”

He tosses his pen onto the desk. “Why the fuck are you repeating everything I’m saying?”

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