Page 5 of Cuckoo (Devil’s Murder MC #7)

I grabbed my purse and headed outside, removing my name tag and stuffing it inside my purse before I walked toward my car. As luck would have it, I didn’t get far. Only a few yards away from the library entrance and into the parking lot, I felt my phone vibrating inside my pocket.

Snatching it free, I noticed my supervisor’s name. “Darlene,” I answered, slowing my steps. “I’m just heading out to lunch.”

“I know, sweetie, but I wanted to ask you about that literacy program for the homeless we talked about last week. It’s been so busy today, and I’m leaving soon for a meeting downtown.”

Shit. I forgot to type up a proposal for that. “I’m working on it. All the information is stored on my laptop, but I left it at home today.”

“Oh! That’s fine. Maybe you could bring it on Friday? I won’t be back until then.”

Whew. “Yes, that’s fine. I’ll have it ready.”

“Thanks! You’re a gem!”

She hung up, and I stuffed my phone into my purse, not paying attention to the crowded parking lot or the sudden high-pitched screeching sound that made my head snap up in time to catch the motorcycle grinding to a halt a few inches from where I stood.

I sucked in a breath as my eyes widened, backing up a few steps and nearly stumbling in my haste. Pissed and fueled by adrenaline, I opened my mouth to yell at the stranger to slow down when I locked onto a set of stormy gray eyes that were as familiar as my heartbeat.

My jaw dropped. I didn’t expect this. I didn’t anticipate seeing my foster brother again after twelve years.

Blinking, I closed my mouth, staring as he watched me, not at all bothered by the fact that he nearly ran me over. Oh, God. He was here. Right in front of me. No longer existing in my dreams or memories of the past.

Rain. In the flesh.

He straddled his bike, tall and intimidating, as he gripped the handlebars of his motorcycle with black leather gloves. I saw the vest he wore and noticed the tight black shirt underneath. Dark denim over thick, muscular thighs. Shitkicker boots. Colorful ink on his bare arms.

And, wow, that smirk that haunted me since I was a little girl.

“Rain,” I breathed.

He didn’t blink. Didn’t move. “Hop on.”

What?

I shook my head, backing up a step. I wasn’t getting on this death machine!

“Angel, hop on the back of my bike. We need to talk.”

His angel. I never forgot the nickname he gave me.

“No.” I wasn’t sure he could hear me over the engine.

“Katrina,” he growled, sounding more vicious than the iron beast he rode. “Get on. Now.”

Shit. I slung my purse across my torso and ignored the people glancing our way. My gaze briefly slid over the pavement, and I noted the black skid marks from his tires. He really did almost hit me.

Disgruntled by that knowledge, I shot him a dirty look before I hiked my leg and ungracefully climbed on, nearly colliding with him. I was out of practice, awkward, and embarrassed. I’d only ridden with Rain when we were teens, which was reckless enough. I shouldn’t be doing this now.

His chest vibrated with laughter as I slid my arms around his waist, tucking my body close to his because this scared the shit out of me. I remembered how fast his Harley could go on the open road. Rain loved the speed and freedom. At one time, I did too.

“Hold on tight,” he ordered before pulling back on the throttle. We lurched forward, rumbling through the parking lot of the library and merging onto the street.

I had no idea where he was taking me. I tried to ask, but he acted like he couldn’t hear me. I tapped his shoulder, but he shook his head, grabbed my hands, and held them against his stomach.

Sighing, I knew what he meant. Don’t ever let go. Rule number one. He taught me that many years ago. My safety relied on my ability to keep my bottom on the seat and my hands on his body. Wow, that has so many meanings now.

It wasn’t until he rode through my neighborhood that I began to realize our destination.

When he pulled onto my driveway, I dropped my hands as he parked.

The shock of the truth took hold as I realized he knew where I lived.

The engine shut off, and silence engulfed us.

I didn’t move as he stood, lifted off his helmet, and hung it on the handlebars.

“Katrina.”

I lifted my chin, meeting his gray eyes that felt more like quicksilver now as they swept over me, heating with something I couldn’t begin to understand.

“Come on, angel. I’ve got lunch.”

Lunch?

He moved behind me and opened his saddlebags, pulling out paper bags with a sub logo on them. “You need to eat.”

I did. Somehow, it didn’t seem important. “You’re here.”

Wow, that sounds lame.

“Katrina, I know this is a shock. Just come inside, eat, and we’ll talk. Okay?”

Finally, my head and body got it figured out. I climbed off the bike as he held out his hand. Placing my palm against his, I didn’t say a word as he slid his fingers through mine and led me toward my front door.

“I’ll just get the alarm.”

He nodded.

Since he didn’t release my hand, I used the other to reach into my purse for my keys, open the front door, and step inside. I punched in my code, wondering if he saw it.

Rain gestured toward my kitchen. “Have a seat. I know you’re tired.”

I didn’t ask how he knew. Did he come into the library?

Exhausted, I dropped onto one of the stools at my kitchen island and set my purse on the couch on the way. “We need drinks.” I pushed off the seat to stand, but Rain shook his head.

“No. You stay there. I’ll grab it.”

Sighing, I listened. “Thanks,” I mumbled as he slid a cold Diet Coke my way. I popped the top and took a drink, setting it aside as I watched him chug a water bottle, belch, and then grab a Coke for himself.

“It’s hot out today,” he explained as he joined me, taking the seat on my immediate left. “Here, I got you a salad and a club sandwich.” He opened one of the bags and slid them to me.

I noticed my favorite dressing, a raspberry vinegarette. The club sandwich was also one of my preferences. “How did you know?”

He shrugged. “Eat.”

I took a modest bite as he watched me, feeling like I was being studied under a microscope as I chewed. After another bite, he seemed satisfied and opened the other bag.

Rain had a footlong sub, two bags of chips, an apple, and three cookies. He ate it all as I sat there, slowly chewing as he devoured his food. It wasn’t gross. Some people chew with their mouths open, but he seemed to make an effort for me. I was just a slow eater. Always had been.

When we both had our fill, he turned toward me and dragged my stool closer until I sat between his thighs, facing him.

“I waited a long time to find you.”

Wow. Really? I wasn’t sure he would ever care.

Just because I had a crush on him at thirteen didn’t mean he remembered me as anything more than an annoying younger foster sibling.

Sure, we had moments where we clicked. I would be lying if I said we weren’t each other’s lifeline during those dark days, but he owed me nothing.

“Tell me what that look means,” he ordered gruffly.

“What look?’ I asked, a little too sassy.

“The one where you scrunch that adorable little nose and look wounded.”

Wounded? I looked away, too exposed to remain in his direct sight.

“I didn’t leave you.”

“I know that.” I was adopted.

“I never forgot you, either. I swear it, angel.”

I dared to finally meet his gunmetal eyes. “Why are you telling me this?” Shaking my head, I wanted to know why he tried to locate me. Or was this all a coincidence?

“Because I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere.”

“And that means what?” This didn’t make sense.

“You want to know what I want from you,” he discerned. “That’s not complicated. I just want to be in your life, Katrina.”

“Why?”

He lifted his hand and brushed his thumb over my jaw. “Because.”

“That’s not an answer. It’s too vague and noncommittal.”

His lips twitched. “Yeah, I suppose it is.”

“You’re not going to say more, are you?”

He shook his head. “Not yet.”

I pouted, sticking out my lower lip because I felt ridiculous, left in the dark, and like a child being denied dessert or something sparkly and pretty. He dangled it like a scrumptious morsel and denied me the pleasure of experiencing it. “You’re mean.”

A dark chuckle escaped as he held my chin, refusing to let me turn away. “No. I’m delaying my response for a time when it will make better sense.”

I snorted. “Why? Are you stalking me or something?”

His grin widened.

Oh. My. God. He was! “Rain!”

“As much as I love to hear you say my name, I don’t go by Rain anymore.” He tapped a spot of the leather vest on his chest. “See? My road name is Cuckoo.”

Cuckoo. Huh. It worked for him.

“So, I can’t call you Rain?”

“Well, that’s just for when we’re alone.”

“Like now,” I pointed out.

Those gray eyes of his nearly glistened with silver. “Yeah, angel, we are.”

Outside, I heard a crow cawing. It grew louder, hopping outside the kitchen window. How odd. I didn’t notice many crows before today.

“Are you a biker or something?”

“Yeah, I am. I’m a member of the Devil’s Murder MC.”

That sounded ominous. And dangerous. “Oh.”

“Don’t worry. You’ve got my protection. Always. Me and my club.”

Wait. I frowned. “Why do I need protection?”

He shrugged. “You don’t. Right?”

No, of course not. “Why would I?”

“Exactly. Why would you need it, angel?” He hung on my answer, wondering if I was hiding something.

“I’m not hiding anything, Cuckoo.”

His lips thinned, losing the playful smile. “I believe you, Katrina.”

It didn’t look like it. “I’m a librarian, Rain, err Cuckoo. I’ve never even gotten a speeding ticket. I always obey the law.”

He released my chin and sat back, folding his arms across his chest. “Yeah, I thought so.”

Okay. Not weird at all.

“Well, thanks for lunch.” I moved to slide from the stool when he dropped his arms and placed his palms on my knees, forcing me to remain in place.

“We’re not done.”

With what? Our conversation? “I think so since you have nothing else to say.”

“Baby, you need to watch that sexy little mouth.”

I rolled my eyes. “You going all alpha biker on me?”

“I seem to remember you liking it the last night we spent together.”

I gasped. “Cuckoo.”

I was thirteen. He was my first kiss. My first crush. The guy who convinced me I was worth loving after the worst years of my life. Did he ever cross a line? No.

We were so young. It was innocent. But had we remained in the same household through our teen years, I couldn’t say it would have stayed that way. He had a pull I couldn’t resist. A magnetism I still found hard to deny.

“Yeah, angel?”

I couldn’t indulge in this conversation, especially when he’d given me so little. I had no idea why he was here or what he wanted from me. “I need to go back to work. My lunch break is almost over.”

“I’ll take you.”

I nodded as he leaned back and watched me stand.

“You’re wearing a helmet this time.”

“Agreed.”

“And in the future, too.”

No problem. Safety was a big issue for me.

Wait. “Are you saying we’ll be seeing each other again?”

His wicked grin was the only reply.