Page 19 of Hard Ride

A low murmur from the direction of their friends made Van sure their liaison was news to some of them.Yet everyone seemed supportive instead of acting like they had screwed up by crossing some invisible professional line.Hell, Kason—even though he was technically their boss—had encouraged him to take Kyra out to dinner, promising to stay in with Jordan nearly every night the past two weeks.

So why had Van still hesitated?Why was it so hard to tell her that he wanted a hell of a lot more than a bunk-breaking quickie, no matter how phenomenal that had been?

Oh, right.Because of their jobs and how messy it would be to spend every waking, and sleeping, moment together in a confined space if things fell apart.

As much as Van hated to hear Kyra say that the best sex of his life had triggered her anxiety, he sort of knew where she was coming from.Then again, things were pretty screwed up anyway.More so now that he realized she didn’t trust him enough to care for her even if she’d let him inside her that one fateful afternoon.

“You were afraid so you called Ollie instead of tellingmeabout it?”Van tried not to let that sting, but he’d take another knee to the nuts instead of her lack of confidence in him.He’d always had her best interests in mind, even when it meant denying himself something he craved desperately: her.

“No.”Kyra shook her head.“Look, I went out for some fresh air and to clear my mind.”

“Next time you need to do that, you take someone from my staff with you.It doesn’t have to be me.”Van tried not to seem petulant.

Without arguing, she gave a curt nod, which only made him sure she really had been frightened.

Damn it.Kyra didn’t scare easily.Something was up.

“On the way back to the bus, I had a weird feeling.Like something was off.Or someone was watching me.I thought it was the guys playing one of their stupid pranks.”She paused to clear her throat.

“Always trust your gut, Kyra,” Jordan said quietly.“I’ve learned that the hard way.If you think something’s up, it probably is.There’s no harm in being cautious.”

“Seriously, it wasn’t a code red or anything.I came around a corner and—”

“Someone was there?”Van leaned in.

“Nah.”Kyra shook her head.“There were flowers with a card addressed to me.And a balloon.”

“Ever notice how fucking creepy balloons are?”Wren shuddered.“No, thanks.”

“Good to know.”Kason flashed a half-smile and tucked her close to his side.

“Hold up,” Van locked in on Kyra.“That means someonewasthere.You just didn’t see who it was.”

“Oh, I know who it was.”She couldn’t have surprised him more.

“Who?”Had Ollie had the gifts delivered?Was that why she’d called him about them?

“Nobody important.I mean, just a fan.He’s sent me stuff before and I’m pretty sure I’ve talked to him at some of our meet-and-greets.”She brushed past that.“Anyway, Ollie happened to text me right when I got weirded out and it gave me the idea to call Hot Rods.You know, as a precaution, to talk to someone for a minute while I got the rest of the way back to the bus.I didn’t know Ollie was in the garage or that he was going to answer the phone.And it’s not my fault he’s so damn good at reading people.”

“It was pretty obvious you were freaking out,” Ollie said.

“Not helping,” she growled through clenched teeth before returning her focus to Van.“So settle your testosterone right down.I didn’t specifically reach out to Ollie.In fact, if I’d had my way I…well, I wouldn’t have told anyone.Okay?”

“Son of a bitch.That doesnotmake me feel better.”Van clasped her wrists in one of his hands.Although she seemed larger than life on stage and even off it, she wouldn’t put up much of a fight against some crazed fan intent on overpowering her.Especially if she was caught off guard, away from him.

“What else aren’t you telling anyone about?”Ollie wondered as he approached.He stood to the side of Van and Kyra and reached out, cupping her chin so he could tilt her face toward him and look her directly in the eye.

Van caught the raised brows and interested glances from the rest of the Hot Rides.Only then did he realize what it looked like, with Kyra trapped between him and Ollie.And he couldn’t say the idea didn’t pique his curiosity.At least his dick perked up at the thought.

What would it be like to share a partner like that?To give them so much more than you could alone?What if…

He stopped short of imagining himself in bed with Ollie, or any other guy, for that matter.

Van dialed back in to the conversation in time to catch Kyra giving Ollie shit.“Nothing.I mean, I spilled my guts to you.Even about Van, although you took that a lot better than I expected, Mr.If-You’re-Happy-I’m-Happy.”She shot Ollie some serious side eye.

“Wait.What’s that supposed to mean?”Ollie tipped his head.“Is it so bad to want the best for you, even if that’s not me?”

“Not exactly.Though it would be nice to be wanted for once.”Kyra shrugged one shoulder as if she hated to say so.She couldn’t possibly be serious, could she?

---