Page 3 of Beast

“You need some way to recognize each other.Code phrases work just fine for that.”

“Okay.I got it.Yes, I like the ocean, but the riptides are dangerous.”I paused.“Dad?”

“Yeah, Piper?”

“I appreciate this.I’ll make it up to you somehow.”

“Don’t sweat it.I’m glad I can help.”He made a sound halfway between a chuckle and cough.“Not like I have a ton of kids running around, and we’re just getting to know each other.”

“Thanks anyway.”I stood up and brushed the dried grass and dirt off my backside.

“Call me when you’re safe with Beast.”

“Beast?”That didn’t sound comforting.

“Just what the guys call him.He looks like someone you’d cross the street to avoid.Might look scary if you don’t know him, so Beast.He’s an ex-SEAL and they tend to come with muscles.”

“Okay.A Beast on a bike.”I tried to sound cheerful.“Talk to you soon.”Disconnecting the call, I slung my purse across my shoulder.I tucked the phone into my hip pocket so I’d feel it if it vibrated.It occurred to me that Drake had this number.Once I was safely out of California, I’d have to do something about that.Right now, I needed it.

The burger joint was packed, but I managed to squeeze into a booth toward the back.I had a good view of the parking lot out the window, and anyone looking for me would have a hard time seeing me through the crowd at the front.

I ordered fries and a coke.Having someone take shots at me had killed my appetite, but I needed to order something to justify taking up a table.I was pushing the food around on the plate when the sound of a motorcycle penetrated the chatter of the dinner time crowd.

The biker pulled his machine up to the front of the building and dismounted.Dad was right.That guy was huge.Tossing his helmet onto the seat, he raked his hands through his hair and grabbed a duffel bag from under a cargo net on the back seat before heading inside.The door hadn’t closed behind him before his gaze rested on me, pinning me in place.

Picking up a toothpick from the counter, he stuck it in his mouth like a cigar.A grumpy frown marred his rugged features as he strode between the tables to where I was sitting.

Shit.I knew that face.And that body as well, although there were a lot fewer clothes on it the last time I saw it.

And the last time I’d seen him, his name was Johnny, not Beast.

He slid into the seat across from me, his gaze pinning me in place.“So, how do like the ocean, Piper?”he asked.

* * *

Beast

I almost laughed when Piper rolled her eyes.“This can’t be happening!You said your name was Johnny.”

I inclined my head.“As in John Doe.Anonymous enough for anything.I use it when I’m just out for some fun.No point in using my real name.”It might be a formality, but I needed her to give me the code phrase.“You like the ocean?”

“Yes, but the riptides can be dangerous.”She wrinkled her nose.“And so can guys you’re never supposed to see again.Especially ones who give you a false name.”

“And yet here I am, with a real name.Funny how things turn out, isn’t it.The food any good here?”

You could have knocked me over with a feather when Ace had sent me the picture of the woman needing an escort back to my side of the country.She’d been a whole lot more naked the last time I’d seen her.Who would have thought an FBI agent’s daughter would turn out to be the Las Vegas stripper I’d had a one-night stand with a few months back?

Piper and I had spent an explosive night together.She’d been in Vegas then, working the pole at a strip club.She told me she didn’t do that as a regular thing -- she was a dealer at Merlin’s Casino, but she needed some fast cash and stripping in a club was an easy way to get it.It was supposed to be a no-strings-attached night.One and done.No personal connections, never see each other again.Fuck, we lived on opposite sides of the country.

I was in town on business and looking for an easy fuck before I headed back to Georgia.With two teenage daughters to raise, I had to behave myself when I was home, so I liked to get a little action whenever I was out of town.Using a false name wasn’t a big deal, and I thought John Doe was amusing.Setting a good example and all that really put a crimp in my sex life.

Piper told me she was just getting out of a relationship that went sour and wanted some fun without any consequences.Sounded perfect.

Problem was, I hadn’t been able to get Piper out of my mind since I’d gone home.I tried.With two teenage daughters to consider.I can’t just do whatever the hell feels good.

And it did -- it felt so damn good I wanted more.

A few days ago, I finally gave in and went back to look her up.I had this vague idea that if I fucked her a few more times, I could get her out of my system and move on with my life.Luck wasn’t on my side there.Turns out the reason she needed fast cash was to leave Las Vegas, and she did just that.Disappeared without a trace.No forwarding address.No one knew where she was or how to get in touch.We hadn’t talked all that much so it’s not like I could call up her friends or anything.The manager at the casino she mentioned working at said they’d mailed her final pay to San Diego.It wasn’t much, just a day’s pay, but it had come back as undeliverable.I took it from him and promised I’d give it to her if I found her.At least it had an address on it, a place to start.

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