Page 23 of Dark, Forbidden, & Taboo

“So, what’s going on tonight, River?” Jazz asks after she hands Tanner his beer.

“Just showing myfriendthe ropes,” I reply, grinding the word to emphasize the fact that Tanner is indeednota friend of mine.

She chuckles as she looks at Tanner who’s rolling his eyes, and I click my tongue against my teeth to get her attention.

When Jazz turns her attention back to me, I use the bottle and make a circular motion on the bar top. She looks confused for a moment before it suddenly dawns on her, and she lets out a good-natured laugh.

Tire Boy in the flesh,I think with a chuckle as I take another swig of my beer.

“Zeni here tonight?” I ask Jazz after some minor chit-chatting.

She shakes her head, giving me a sympathetic smile, “Not tonight, honey.”

“Who’s Zeni?” Tanner asks me curiously.

“My favorite girl that works here,” I reply, glancing at him. I watch as his jaw squares and he looks me up and down for a moment. I think it’s finally starting to set in that I’m not interested in men.

Either that, or he’s trying to figure out a way to “fix” that about me.

“I guess that means you have nothing toshowme tonight?” he asks, his tone clipped.

I smile at him, “Not here, anyway.”

Tanner’s demeanor shifts almost immediately as he leans forward and gives me what I think he assumes is a sexy grin, “Oh?”

“Finish your beer and let’s go,” I instruct him with a nod before I slam back what’s left of mine.

“Yes, Mom,” he grumbles as he reaches for his bottle then chugs the rest.

“See ya, Jazz,” I say as I get to my feet and pull my jacket back on. She gives me an odd look but nods, “Oh, okay. Sure!”

I walk out ofEden’s Secretwith a chip on my shoulder. Had Zeni been here, I could have gotten him the pussy he wants and then my end of the bargain would have been kept.

Unfortunately, my favorite gal wasn’t working tonight and that mean that I was going to do the one thing I didn’t want to.

Fuck.

Chapter

Eight

“Follow me, rich boy,” I say to Tanner as I head toward my bike and climb on.

He lets out a low whistle while he watches me put my helmet on, then rev the engine to life. “You’re pretty wild, aren’t you, River?”

“The wildest,” I reply dryly with an eye roll as I lower the visor over my eyes, then take off.

I can barely make out Tanner’s laughter as I make my way out onto the road and haul ass down the street. It’s not like he doesn’t already know where I live, and if he’s smart, then he knows that’s where I’m heading.

As the light turns green, I twist the handle and shoot down the road, but he’s not far behind me.

I can tell he’s damn near close to catching up to me because of the annoying, incessant honking he’s doing.

I lean to the left as I turn, cutting off an oncoming car, and pick up speed.

But Tanner doesn’t seem to be one used to being left behind, because when I reach the next intersection, he pulls up next to me.

I turn to glance at him as I wait patiently for the light to turn green, and he grins as he rests an elbow on the windowsill, then leans out slightly toward me.

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