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KNIGHT

T here’s a unique thrill that comes from hearing my bike purr while riding down the streets of Boulder. And the smell of burning gas as she warms up and starts to let loose. Whoever said do what you love as a career and you’ll never work a day in your life couldn’t be more right.

It’s a quiet night. Not unusual with how hard the Knight Riders and I have been pushing to keep this town out of trouble. That doesn’t mean it’s time for a night off. In fact, the opposite. My motorcycle roaring through the night is a warning to anyone who thinks they can fuck around.

I make my usual route through the neighborhood, keeping my ever-vigilant eyes on the sidewalks as I go.

A few folks make their way home from work, most walking along the sidewalk with only a few in cars driving at a snail’s pace.

The pleasure of living in a small town is how easy it is to get around.

Most of these people are a few blocks away from their houses at best, and don’t need to litter my streets with their cars.

I get a few waves as I pass by some, others hail me as if they want me to stop and have a chat. But early evening is when the devil’s idle-handed fools look for their victims, so I keep riding.

After an hour, give or take, with the streets cleared up and no sign of trouble, I pull my bike into a gas station. I stop in front of a pump and jump off my motorcycle to head inside and grab a drink, a snack, and whatever else might catch my eye.

With a basket stacked with goodies for the rest of my night on the road, I start making my way to the front of the store.

“James?” Only one person calls me by that name, and hearing her voice brings a smile to my face.

“Mrs. Winthrop.” I greet with the charming smile I tend to put on display when caught off guard and trapped in a conversation. “How’s Bertrum doing? Recovering well after his surgery, I hope.”

A beaming smile stretches over her wrinkled cheeks.

“Thanks to you, he’s on the mend, if not a tad grumpier than usual.

” She sets her basket on the floor and opens her arms up for a hug.

I awkwardly lean forward and give her three pats on the back with my free hand.

“I think his tumble finally made him realize he isn’t as invincible as he once believed. ”

She chuckles. Following her cue, I do the same, even if I don’t get it.

“I’m happy to hear it.” And I truly am. We have to protect our elders. They are the weakest members of society, and without a helping hand, they’re prone to the worst injustices of this life.

My blood boils at the thought alone. None of us would be here if it weren’t for them, and so many are too keen on preying on the weak.

“Let me get that for you.” I grab Mrs. Winthrop’s basket off the floor and carry it to the counter.

“You really don’t hav?—”

“I insist.” Her pleasantries will fall on deaf ears, so I might as well stop them early.

We head over to the checkout, and I start packing Mrs. Winthrop’s things onto the counter.

“Two bags,” I say to Jerry, and he scans the items.

Mrs. Winthrop starts scratching through her handbag for her purse, while I pack my things. Jerry, who understands how I operate, adds her things to mine without so much as a smile.

It’s a small gesture, but it brings a warm smile to Mrs. Winthrop’s face. Not like a loaf of bread, carton of eggs, and some milk will dent my wallet, but to her, it’s money better spent on her husband’s recovery.

“Will that be all?” Jerry asks, looking over his shoulder at a box of Lucky Strikes.

“That’s all.” I release a heavy sigh. Quitting cigarettes has been the hardest thing I’ve ever put myself through, but I have to stay strong. Can’t be coughing up a lung every time I get off my bike. It doesn’t send the right kind of message.

I pay for the goods, grab both bags, and we leave.

“Thank you, James.” Mrs. Winthrop rests a wrinkled hand on my shoulder.

“You're most welcome.” The thing is, my kindness doesn’t come from a place of wanting applause. I do it because it’s the least I can do for those who need it. Once we’re at her car and I’m packing her goods away, I continue, “Besides, you can take Bertrum out for a steak dinner on me.”

She chuckles. “With his cholesterol, a steak dinner might be the reason for another call to you.”

But it’s while she’s talking, I see something from the corner of my eye that puts me on high alert—a young woman talking to an older guy. Could be nothing, but body language is important in my line of work, and even from a side eye glance, I can see how she’s recoiling away from him.

“Sorry, Mrs. Winthrop, I hate to be rude, but?—”

She cuts me off, raising a hand to still my apology.

“No need, James. I understand.” The same hand moves to my forearm, as her eyes hone in on the young woman and her unwanted companion.

If she noticed it as well, then there’s definitely something screwy going on with the balding nerd and the brunette trying to run away from him. “Go do what you do best.”

I pass my bike on the way to them and chuck my things onto it. Slipping a hand behind my back, I feel my pistol nestled in its holster. I don’t expect I’ll need to draw it, but better safe than sorry is a saying for a reason.

My eyes are focused on the brunette as I approach the pair. Mostly to gauge her reaction, read her body, and see if I need to speed up my walk. The longer I look, the more I realize I want to keep on gawking for a completely different reason.

She’s gorgeous. I haven’t even gotten a chance at her face, and I’m on the verge of drooling.

Long flowing hair cascades down her back and comes to a stop about a foot above her plump, round ass.

Milky white, long, slender legs poke out of the bottom of her skirt and come to an end in designer platform sneakers.

“Mr. Callahan, I don’t think it would be appropriate.” Close enough to hear her speak now, my feelings are only amplified. It’s like heaven's gates opened up, and the very angels up above started singing straight into my brain.

“It’s dinner. Drinks. Nothing serious,” Callahan replies, killing the vibe.

“You’re my professor. It’ll send the wrong message.” She’s using every trick she can to get out of this. A flat-out no might piss him off, but appealing to his career might do the trick.

Very clever.

She flicks her brunette hair over one shoulder and turns to him, with it comes my first glimpse of her face. A side view portrait of a walking goddess. Dripping sexy, sultry perfection. Awestruck and dazed, I nearly stop dead in my tracks.

Had I seen her under different circumstances, I might have too. But I’m close enough to them now that I can intervene if necessary. It seems neither knows I’m here, with their backs turned to me. Probably for the best, since the element of surprise can go a long way in coming out on top.

“No one has to find out,” he says.

Creepy professor and sexy student? A tale as old as time.

I guess Boulder breeds this depravity. It’s a small town in the middle of nowhere, with the highlight being Winchester University.

If it isn’t students, it’s older couples like the Winthrops.

So, I can hardly blame Callahan for approaching someone this stunning.

Still, no means no. Even if it is veiled by niceties to spare his feelings.

“Mr. Callahan?—“

He reaches a hand to her.

“Lora—”

“She said no.” My time to strike before his decrepit fingers get anywhere near her. Lora . The stunning beauty who will no doubt plague my dreams this evening, and many more to come, I’m sure. “So you better drop that hand.”

“Jesus.” Callahan jumps to the side, putting distance between himself and Lora. “You scared the piss out of me.”

“And if you’re not careful, I’ll beat it out of you next,” I snarl.

Rake thin, gaunt features, and bulging eyes, he doesn’t look like much of a threat. But I’m too smart to go on the maybes and what-ifs .

All it takes is a stray bullet to find yourself six feet under.

The brunette bombshell skips back at my sudden intrusion, and her hand instantly shoots up to her chest, just above her heart. She stares up at me with two powder blue saucers for eyes, slack-jawed as she drinks in the sheer size of me.

If I thought I saw a goddess from behind, the front of her can’t be quantified in words.

She’s perfect. Perfect . Flawless elegance from crown to toe.

Delicate face, pearly white smile, ample bosom, and slender hips.

Everything I look at invites me to explore further.

Uncover the secrets of her magnificence and never look away.

“Is he giving you trouble, miss?” I clear my throat, trying to catch myself from falling too far.

“No.” Her soft, calm voice trickles down my ear like honey. “There’s no trouble at all.”

I turn my attention back to the professor before my gawking becomes a problem. She’s already had one creep lusting after her tonight, and I don’t want to become the second.

“Yeah, no trouble.” Callahan starts recoiling away from me when my attention falls back on him. “No trouble at all.”

Guess I’ll have to be the judge of that, and after seeing her, I might be a little biased.