Page 38 of Jack of Hearts
“Something like that.” He stood. “Let’s go.”
“Yeah, it’s been a long day, and I’m tired.” She grabbed her helmet and followed him out.
At the bike, he brushed a finger down her arm. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. We’ll go to my place, have some dinner ... just chill a little.”
Goose bumps rose under his touch, but she refused to let him see the effect he had on her. “Thanks. I had a great time today, but I really am tired, so I’m going to pass.” If only he had told her the truth, but she couldn’t deal with lies. If he’d tell one, he’d tell a dozen.
“Madison—”
“Ready to go?” She moved to the back of the bike as she put on her helmet. When he tried to help her buckle the strap, she brushed his hands away. “I can do it.”
He pinched the bridge of his nose, then lifted his face, meeting her eyes. “We were being followed.”
“How do you know? I didn’t see anyone following us.” If someone had been—and she still wasn’t sure she believed him—she sure hadn’t noticed, so why would he have? Because he was already suspicious? Was that his life, always watching his back? She’d thought she liked the air of danger surrounding him, but maybe not so much.
“I just knew.” He swung a leg over his bike. “Get on.”
“Okay, say there was. Who and why?”
“Don’t know and don’t know. Couldn’t catch up with him. You gonna get on?”
Testy are we? He was definitely on edge, and he was making her nervous. She slid onto the back, but instead of wrapping her arms around his waist, locking her hands at the front of his stomach, and leaning against his back, she grasped his hips. Obviously, that didn’t work for him because he took her hands and pulled them around his waist.
The ride home was uneventful, and when he pulled up next to her door, she jumped off. “I had a nice day ... well, until the last part.” She kicked at the sidewalk with her new motorcycle boots. Turned out she’d wasted her money since she’d never be on the back of his bike again. “The thing is, Alex, I don’t think we should see each other anymore. There’s just too much excitement in your life for me. I’m sorry.”
His only response was a nod as he stared straight ahead. The lump in her throat hurt, and she willed herself not to cry as she turned away. She went into the bookstore, to the front display window, and watched him ride away, feeling like she had just let go of something special.
On the ride home, she’d almost leaned against him and told him to take her to his place, but the smart part of her mind had kept her mouth shut. She had no problem with him owning a biker bar, but what she couldn’t get past was his involvement with Ramon.
What if it had been a cop, a vice detective following them? Alex had sworn that he didn’t use or deal drugs, and she’d believed him until today. Now she didn’t know what to think. Better to end it now than to get caught up in her cousin’s world.
“I wish I could trust you,” she whispered as the taillights of Alex’s bike disappeared when he turned the corner.
After dropping off Madison, Alex headed straight for Ramon’s. Temper still boiling, he followed the housekeeper to the back deck. The target of his rage floated in the pool, a beer bottle in one hand and a cigar in the other. Two well-endowed blondes wearing bikinis no bigger than postage stamps sat on the edge of the pool, kicking their feet in the water.
“What have we here?” one said at seeing him. Her cherry-red lips lifted in a sultry smile.
The second woman pulled her sunglasses down her nose, checking him out over the rim. “Nice. Veeery nice. I’m Misty.” She arched her back, lifting her breasts.
“I’m Carlotta,” the other one said. “Why don’t you come sit with us?” She patted the space between them.
Not in the mood for their shenanigans, he ignored them. “Ramon, a private word.”
“Dude, I’m not moving. What’s up?”
“I need to talk to you.” When he didn’t respond, Alex considered shooting the bastard. Since that would be messy, he managed to refrain. “Now, Ramon!”
“This better be good.” He paddled over to the shallow end.
Oh, it was going to be good all right. Alex walked around the corner of the house, stopping when he was out of sight of the Barbie twins. When Ramon finally appeared, he rammed his forearm under Ramon’s neck, pushing him back against the wall.
“The hell’s wrong with you?” Ramon gasped.
“Why are you having someone follow me?” He pushed his arm harder.
“Ca-can’t talk.”
Alex eased the pressure on Ramon’s neck. “Start talking.”
