Page 3

TALON

I straddle my motorcycle like the black stallion it is, ready to ride into the night and disappear from this place. For good this time, I tell myself and strap on my outlaw ten-gallon, staring off into the black, dusty trail outward.

It’s a nice delusion, isn’t it? Dropping everything and running away from your problems. Vanishing in the cover of night, starting a new life somewhere far away where no one knows your name.

Maybe there, in this idyllic escape, Gracie’s right.

I could find someone else, a woman all for me, with curled golden hair and a smile that melts my heart into my guts.

But I know the truth. No one will ever compare. Not to her. My Gracie.

I start my engine and begin to move. Slower now than what I did to get her here.

And though it brings me no pride to admit that I did it to rush this thing along, I couldn’t go slow.

My regrets set in the second we left her house, and they grew like a pit in my chest until I was fully consumed by aching despair.

If I gave myself an extra second to think, I’d never let her go through with this. Not with Ezra Green, not with some other handsome prick in a ten-thousand-dollar suit, no one. The thought of losing her, and no matter how you slice it, this will be losing her, is suffering I can’t endure.

This is how it starts, isn’t it? A casual date, testing the waters, we’ll still hang out all the time . . .

Until we don’t. Until she finds someone who consumes her fully. Passion, love, and lust, a perfect melting pot to fall headlong into. We’ll see each other less at first, make excuses as to how busy we’ve been, and pretend that everything’s still the way it once was.

And then, nothing. She’ll be happy, living a life with a man who should be me while I ponder the past and drink myself to slumber.

Christ, you big baby. If you’re going to cry about it all night, go back there and do something.

Logic and reason, two of my stronger skills when it comes to work, often fail me when I’m supposed to be a civilian.

Cracking skulls and slinging dope come naturally, but being a friend and a shoulder to lean on?

Fucking forget it. But that little niggling voice in the back of my mind, scolding me for being so damn foolish, always manages to steer me right eventually.

Now is no different. With its ridicule and reprimands, at the first light I can make a turn, I spin around and roar my engine back to the swanky restaurant.

Sure, barging in and swooping her off her feet away from Ezra Green might piss him off, but it’s like the boss keeps on saying—the Knight Riders need to show these newcomers who runs this town.

I pull back into the Casa Bella’s parking lot, but I don’t have time to waste looking for a spot. I stop my bike in front of the entrance, turning heads in my direction as I dismount and head for the door.

“Sir, you can’t park—” the doorman taking names says, but I silence him with a single raised finger, hovering dangerously close to his mouth.

“Won’t be long, so keep an eye on her. Got it?” My narrowed eyes meet his gormless expression dead on. No way he’s going to cause any problems for me. Doubt he gets paid enough to tussle with a man double his size and three times as mean.

“Understood.” He nods and steps aside to let me in.

I storm through the entryway, barroom, and into the main floor of the restaurant.

Heads crane to stare at the mad monster barreling through the restaurant, my flaring nostrils a sign of the trouble I bring.

Silence falls over the room, almost like you’d see in a movie, as they all gawk at me, fumbling nervously with whatever they can get their hands on. Waiting for the trouble to start.

But it comes to a quick end, with folks returning to their conversations.

I’m certain most of them are centered around me.

I don’t belong here, that much is certain, in my raggedy t-shirt and dark blue jeans.

Had I known I’d be making a public appearance, I’d have at least pulled my jacket on before I left Gracie’s place.

Oh well, not much I can do about it now.

“Over here.” Her angelic voice cuts through the low murmuring of the crowd.

And when I see her again, unencumbered by the weight of Ezra Green’s company, a relieved sigh barrels out of my lips. Time seems to slow as her bright pink cheeks and wide smile filter through my vision.

My heart starts to race as I take my first few steps toward her. Every inch inspiring an overeagerness that makes me want to gallop forward to be at her side again. To hell with friends ‘till the bitter end. Wouldn’t lovers be a better start to the end of our old lives as we step into the new?

“Are you okay?” Her smile fades as I reach her table, and panic washes over her face. “Did something happen?”

Tongue tied, mind twisted, I struggle to answer. My heart’s slamming haphazardly against my ribcage, and the pit in my gut traps my words tightly in its grip.

Gracie’s increasing dismay forces me to speak. Husky words that have no place leaving my mouth, but I need to bring that smile back. “I’m fine. Everything’s fine.” Both the truth and a lie, wrapped up neatly.

“Then why are you back here?” She eases back into her chair, inadvertently pressing her chest out.

Fuck, where’s that fluffy pink pillow when I need it?

I take a moment to scan the restaurant. Glances in various directions to ensure Ezra’s not around, watching me steal his date away. Not that he could do much to stop me, but I’d rather avoid unnecessary drama.

“I’m here for you.” I gulp, feeling like I’m making a massive ass of myself.

“For me?” Gracie tilts her neck down, gazing up at me from beneath her lashes. Once more, those pearly whites sink into her lower lip, and my manhood aches against the inseam of my boxers.

“You can’t do this.”

“I know you don’t like him, bu?—”

“No.” I shake my head, cutting her off. “Not him. You can’t do this. With anyone.” Good start. Flawed execution, but I’m bringing the point across. At least I hope so.

“It’s a bit of fun.” She raises a brow, but the devious smile forming on her lips is enough to tell me exactly what I want. She’s screwing with me. “I’m not gonna marry the guy or anything.”

“Yeah, sure, but what if I want to have this bit of fun instead?” Expressing feelings shouldn’t be this hard, and yet, my throat feels like it’s about to tighten shut and choke me out.

“Then I’d ask why you didn’t tell me sooner.” She kicks her chair back and gets to her feet, gathering her handbag.

“How am I supposed to answer that?” Maybe under different circumstances, with more thought and planning, I’d be able to. At this moment, I’m at a loss for words, slipping further and further into embarrassment, even knowing she’s toying with me.

“By saying, ‘I’m a big dummy.’” She winks, and I nearly fall flat on my ass.

“Fine, you’re a big dummy.” I try to keep it light, pull back control where it’s slipped so far out of my grasp.

And she laughs. Glorious, sincere laughter that resonates through the main floor and once more calls all attention to us.

“Well then, you’ve come this far.” Gracie circles the table slowly, dragging a finger across the top as she approaches me. “What’s next?”

“We get the hell out of here, and I give you exactly what you were looking for.”

“And what, pray tell, do you think that is?” The finger sliding over the table shifts to my arm, starting at the wrist before it travels all the way up to my shoulder.

Choosing to answer with actions instead of words, I slide my hand around her waist and pull her tightly against my body. To hell with the onlookers.

I fling my head forward and lock our lips in an explosive kiss. Tongues mashing together, my mind racing to a thousand places yet fully focused on her and her alone. Her perfume tickling my nose, the softness of her lips, the vicious hunger from her tongue trying to devour my own.

“Not what I was thinking, but it’s so much better,” she whispers as our mouths part. “So, let’s do it. Get that pizza and have some real fun back at my place.”

“To hell with the pizza.” I grab her hand in mine and move through the tables faster than I’ve ever moved before. “Only thing I’m eating tonight is you.”

Gracie snickers behind me, and if I weren’t in such a hurry to leave Casa Bella for good, I’d steal a look. See those white cheeks darken and feel my heart jump into my throat. But if this goes as well as I hope it will, we’ll have the rest of our lives to indulge in how adorable she is.

“Gracie?” A timid voice catches my ear as we step into the cool night air. Shifting my gaze toward the speaker, I see Ezra Green staring at us wide-eyed and slack-jawed. “What’s going on here?”

Gracie’s hand tightens around mine at the sight of him. Poor thing’s probably all sorts of uncomfortable now, and if we stick around too long, it’s only going to get worse.

“Shouldn’t have been late.” I do the talking, taking a natural defensive stance in front of Gracie. Ezra doesn’t pose much of a threat, but his beady eyes falling on my woman is enough to drive me crazy.

“Late?” He checks his watch. “I’m perfectly on time.”

Every muscle in my body tenses as I stare him down. I’m sure he’s confused. I would be, too, but getting in my way is a big mistake. Take the loss and fuck off like a good bitch. Don’t make this harder than it has to be.

“We’re leaving, so you better go inside or go back home.” I brush past Ezra without another word, and Gracie remains close behind.

However, Ezra’s intrusion before we could make our grand escape doesn’t seem to have had much of an impact on her.

In the few short steps to my bike parked in front of the entrance, Gracie’s hands have moved halfway around my body, clawing and tugging at my belt as if she wants to rip my pants off and have her way with me right here.

Lord knows, I’d give it to her too. She could do any damn thing she wants to me as long as it makes her happy.

And as we speed off away from Casa Bella, Ezra hasn’t moved. He remains glued in place, staring at us from the entrance, a hand clasped over his mouth in disbelief.

It feels good to deliver him his first loss of many on a night that can’t get much better if it tried.