Page 5 of The Biker Alien

“I did. Here is the rest of your money.”

“You didn’t have to,” she protests. “Not the paying upfront or the food.”

“I like to reward those who work for me, especially if they do a good job.”

“I haven’t done anything for you yet,” she protests.

“And sometimes I do it as incentive.” I wink at her.

“I’m plenty incentivized,” she says dryly. “One week.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

* * *

I’m thrilledto receive that text a week later. I do not prefer to ride other people’s bikes to get around. My baby is mine.

And when I arrive, my baby is a beaut. Teri did an amazing job of it, and I couldn’t be happier.

“What do you think?” she asks nervously.

“It’s stunning.” I stare at her, amazed at her creativity. She took the lines on my back and created a piece of art from them.

“I’m glad.”

“I…” I hesitate.

I could pay her more, but there’s been something about her that I can’t get out of my head. She’s dealt with so much already in her life, and she’s risen above it all, and I want to get to know her more.

Even though I know so much about her compared to her knowing anything about me.

“Do you need something?” Teri asks. “Besides the receipt, which is in my office.”

“Not something I need so much as something I want,” I say slowly.

“Let me get the receipt for you, and we can work out what you want.”

She hurries over to the office. I love everything about the shape of her body. I know some would say she’s overweight, but damn, is she fine.

Thankfully, she seems oblivious to my gawking. “Here you are. Now, what do you want?”

“I would like to take you out for dinner.”

“Oh, Alec, you don’t—”

“Not as a bonus for an amazing job. Which you did. The bike is so impressive I’m sure everyone else in the club will want you to paint theirs.”

“I’m more than happy to, but…”

“I want to take you out to dinner for a date,” I say.

For a moment, I think she’s going to say no, but then she laughs. “You’re that impressed with my work that you want to ask me out?”

“That and I think you’re an amazing woman, a strong woman, and a woman I want to share a meal with.”

“Then let’s go share that meal,” she says, grinning.

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