Page 26 of Mace

“So a bunny jumping in front of us won’t scare you.”

Mace shook his head. “I think I can handle that, babe.”

Monk started his bike and backed up until he was pointed out the driveway.

“Just hold tight, and everything will be okay, Imogen.” He cranked up the bike and backed up.

Monk took off first, and we followed close behind.

“How come Monk is leading?” I called over the wind.

“Rank, babe. He’s my VP.”

“And what are you?” I asked.

“Just a member. Barracuda and Monk call the shots when it comes to the club.”

We pulled up to Monk at a stoplight.

“So he’s your boss?” I asked loudly.

Monk glanced over and let out a bark of laughter. “She ask you why you’re bringing up the rear?” he called over the roar of the engines.

Mace flipped off Monk and nodded.

That seemed dangerous. If I were to flip off Mr. Brooks, I would be fired instantly.

“I like bringing up the rear,” I shouted. “It’s nice.”

Mace reached his left arm back and squeezed my thigh. He glanced back at me with a huge smile on his face.

“I’m his VP, doll, but no one's boss. If anything, Mitzy is my boss.” The light turned green, and Monk rocketed off.

Mace followed closely behind but put his hand back on my thigh as we drove through town.

It was nice.

Really nice.

I could totally handle riding on the back of Mace’s bike for an hour.

I just wished we were driving somewhere else and not to a lawyer’s office to try to clear him of murder.

We drove for half an hour before I realized we hadn’t driven through Sutter Creek. “You took the long way,” I called into his ear.

“The scenic route, doll.”

I sighed and relaxed my arms around his waist.

Without me even realizing it, Mace was keeping me safe. Whether it was physically safe or mentally safe, he did it without thought.

I didn’t know how today would go, but I hoped that whatever happened, this wouldn’t be the last day I got to spend with Mace.

For fifteen years, I missed out on talking and being with him, and I wasn’t going to let that happen again.

Having Mace back in my life was something I didn’t realize I was missing.

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