Ride with the Wind [The Ghost Riders 1] (4 page)

“We’ll talk about it later.”

“Later.” Reece edged closer to her.

Raven quickly slid into the bed to keep from touching him. Stupid, since she was going to be very up close and personal in a matter of seconds. Sure enough, he eased a hip on the bed before reaching over to the nightstand and cutting off the lamp. The only light in the room came through the window’s thin lace curtains. She could barely make out his silhouette as he scooted down in the bed.

“Relax, baby. I don’t bite—hard.”

Dominic chuckled on the other side of her. She wasn’t going to sleep a wink tonight. She felt the heat of Reece’s body as he settled next to her. She contemplated turning on her side to make a smaller target but vetoed that idea. She would have to put her hands somewhere, and Dominic was much too close to resist.

She stared up into the dark and attempted to think about her present work in progress. So far the plot was working out like she wanted and the book was half-finished. All she needed was to…

“Don’t knee me in the nuts, but I sleep on my side. You’re on that side.”

She all but yelped when Reece’s arm hugged across her waist just below her breasts. Great. How was she going to keep her vow not to initiate sex now?

* * * *

Reece groaned as the water from the shower pelted down on his stiff muscles.
Too many fucking days on the bike in a row. I’m getting too old to pull the long runs.

The bathroom door opened and Dominic walked in. “Better hurry or you’re going to miss breakfast. She cooked.”

“Is that why she was up so fucking early?”

“Guess Jugs got to her before we got to Jugs.”

“I’m on my way.” He shut off the water and mourned the loss of the heat on his aching shoulders.

The door closed as he pushed open the shower curtain. Stepping out, he grabbed a towel and made short work of drying off. He pulled on jeans and padded back to the bedroom to put on his boots. He might walk half-naked around the back part of the house, but he wore boots when he crossed to the public side of the place. He could never be sure if the floors had gotten cleaned recently.

Sure enough, when he walked into the kitchen it was to find Raven serving up pancakes and bacon. He grinned. They even looked edible. Jugs walked in from the living area with a scowl on her face. She had obviously hoped the newbie would screw up so she could read her the riot act. He made a mental note to talk to her later.

“Hey, babe. Smells good.” He settled on a vacated stool at the bar.

“Morning. Wait your turn. Irish is next.”

Reece frowned at the other man. “How did you get to be next when I’m VP?”

“I cleaned the questionable mess out of the sink for her this morning.”

“Guess that puts you first then.” Reece grinned and shook his head.

Dominic walked back in from the den and zeroed in on Reece. He jerked his head toward the sanctuary. Reece gave a heartfelt sigh at missing breakfast and slammed his hand on the bar. Then he followed the other man and locked the door behind them once they were inside.

“What gives?”

“Chaz just left to go home. He got a call before he left. Someone attacked their place last night. No one was seriously injured, but they don’t have a clue who’s behind it. Nothing was taken, so they ruled out burglary.”

“Fuck! Why would someone attack a fucking leather shop and blacksmith if not for money?” Reece leaned against the table with both hands.

“He says he doesn’t have a clue. He didn’t look antsy, like he had anything to hide, but you never know. He said he wondered if the mess between Raven and Monica was connected to this.”

“If it is, there’s something major going on out there. Do we need to ride up?”

“I’m thinking we’ll hold off and see if he asks for help or what he finds out. It may all be coincidence. Let’s not jump in until we know more.”

Reece nodded and stood up. He started to unlock the door but stopped. “You going to talk to Jugs, or do I need to?”

Dominic winced. “I’ll handle her. You don’t have the diplomacy right now to handle anything. What’s gotten into you?”

“Nothing. What do you mean?” Reece shoved his hands in his pockets and realized he hadn’t bothered to button his jeans.

“You’ve been downright surly the last couple of weeks until last night. Then you baited Raven until I thought you were going to jump on her.”

“I’m fine. All the runs back to back got to me.”

“Well at least you slept well last night. Don’t push her, Reece.”

“I’m not. It’ll happen when it happens.” He unlocked the door and walked back toward the kitchen.

Most everyone had cleared out except for Butch and Cindy. Raven was washing dishes. Jugs had a cup of coffee and was sitting at the table. He sauntered over to the sink and leaned against the counter.

“Any breakfast left over for me?”

She looked up and grinned. “Nope.”

“Think I could convince you to whip something up for me?”

She looked down at his crotch and winked. “If you need help with that, we don’t have much to say to each other.”

Reece snorted and turned to cage her in against the sink. He breathed in her scent and all but groaned out loud. She smelled like mint and vanilla. It was a strange combination but fit her somehow. He leaned in and ground his crotch against her ass.

“I don’t need that kind of help, thanks. Maybe putting it to bed later, but right now, I was thinking along the lines of breakfast, baby.”

“You missed breakfast. Maybe you can make it in time for lunch.”

Reece smiled and laid the side of his face next to hers. He nosed aside her hair and blew warm air along her ear and the side of her neck. He closed his eyes at her indrawn breath and slight shiver. Damn if he didn’t have it bad for her. He took a step back and let her move from between him and the sink.

She turned and looked up at him. “There’s pancake batter in the fridge. Feel free to borrow the stove. Just clean up after yourself.” She dried her hands and dropped the towel on the bar before walking off.

Reece grinned and shook his head. He couldn’t cook if his life depended on it. He looked over at Jugs. She shot him the bird and walked off. Shaking his head, he headed for his bike. There was always the diner in town.

As he walked through the den, he heard Dominic call Jugs into the front part of the house that was attached to the garage. Yep, time for a ride into town.

Raven retrieved the remainder of her things that Chaz had left for her from behind the bar, where Turk said he had stashed it for her. She carried the laundry bag back to the room she’d slept in the night before and dropped it next to her backpack. Looking around the room, she realized there was nowhere for her to set up with her computer. She would have to talk to Dominic. Forget talking to Reece. He only had one thing on his mind at the moment, and it centered around her pussy.

Shrugging, she made up the bed and settled with two pillows behind her back and her laptop on her crossed legs. She could make do temporarily. All that mattered was that she had a place to plug her laptop in for now. She checked for Internet and smiled. They had Wi-Fi. Hot damn.

She checked her e-mail and found one from her publisher about an upcoming anthology she might be interested in. It was about cowboys, her specialty. She read through the details and thought about it. She really wanted to do it, but she wasn’t sure how things were going to go around here yet. She had a week to decide. Maybe she would know more about the lay of the land by then.

Face it, Raven. You’re going to give in and screw them six ways to Sunday before the week is out.

Yeah, she would know by the end of the next week. She shot a quick note to the publisher that she would think about it and let her know. Then she settled down to write. After reading through and editing the last thing that she’d written, Raven dove into the story.

“Hey!”

Raven jumped and nearly lost the computer. She hadn’t heard the door open or close. Dominic stood next to the bed with an amused expression on his face.

“Damn! You scared me.” She righted the computer and quickly saved her work.

“You were so busy typing that you didn’t notice when I came in. Did you know your mouth moves while you’re typing?”

“Does not.” She grimaced at him.

“Does, too. I can film you and prove it.”

“What are you, ten?”

He chuckled and sat on the edge of the bed. “I talked to Jugs and got your duties straight. Since you’re contributing monetarily to the club, you’re relieved of other duties.”

“You’re kidding.” Raven couldn’t believe he had managed to get her out of everything. She felt kind of guilty now. Besides, she liked to cook occasionally.

“Your only duties are to take care of Reece and I and to write. If we have guests, you can lend a general hand, but for the most part, you’re free to write.”

“I appreciate it, but I’m going to talk to Jugs about doing a little anyway. I can’t sit all day or I’ll get fat and lose my muse.”

Dominic burst out laughing. “What in the hell is a muse?”

She rolled her eyes and shut her computer down. She wasn’t going to get any more writing done today.

“It’s like my inspiration. Sitting around all day sucks the intelligence right out of your head.” She set the laptop aside and stretched out her legs. They were beginning to get stiff.

“You could spend all your spare time that you’re not writing seeing about me.” He crawled up the bed and straddled her legs.

“What about Reece?” She leaned back as far as the pillows would let her go.

“You can divide your time between us. I’ll share. You won’t have to worry about getting fat, either.”

She licked her lower lip and could have cursed when he followed her tongue with his eyes. She struggled not to lean into him as his scent teased her nose. The aroma of burning wood singed its way into her memory forever now. Reece had smelled of forest and pine. She would know them anywhere, even blindfolded now.

“I think I better get my exercise working around the house some. I have to live with Jugs and the others when you’re not around.” She swallowed hard to wet her throat.

He smiled and backed off of her. “Offer stands.”

“Thanks.”

“You missed lunch. Want to ride to town and get something to eat?”

She sighed and shook her head. “I can fix myself a sandwich or something. Thanks anyway.”

“I missed lunch, too. Had a meeting that lasted longer than I had planned. Come on. You need to eat. Jugs said you didn’t eat breakfast either. She was worried you might have poisoned the guys.” He winked at her.

Raven rolled her eyes. “Right, that would endear me to the gang. Really, you don’t have to take me to get something to eat.”

“I’m not. I’m offering you a ride. I’m going to get something to eat.”

Her stomach growled, and they both burst out laughing. She guessed she was going to get something to eat. Nodding her head, she climbed off the bed and pulled on her boots. Dominic waited on her by the door. Then he opened the door for her. They ran into Reece on the way out of the house.

“Hey, I was just coming to get you. Are you hungry?” Reece’s eyes never left hers as he spoke to Dominic.

“Yeah, we’re on our way to grab something.”

Reece fell in step with them as they headed for the bikes. Dominic stopped next to an impressive set of Harleys. He handed her a helmet and climbed on the nearest one. She pulled on her helmet and fastened it then stepped up behind him. She wasn’t surprised to look over and see Reece grinning in the direction of her ass as he shoved his helmet on his head.

Dominic revved the engine then walked the bike forward a few steps before pulling out. She held on at his waist and looked around as they drove toward town. It had been impossible to tell where they were in the dark the night before. Now she could see that they were probably eight miles or so from the city limits. Close enough for convenience but far enough away to keep nosey neighbors to a minimum. Security would be a lot easier to maintain as well.

The little town of Reo looked quaint and quiet. No doubt Dominic and Reece had a lot to do with that. Keeping under the cops’ radar meant making sure there was little or no crime in a small town. Since they weren’t in the city limits, that meant they were under the county sheriff department’s jurisdiction.

She noticed the various storefronts as they drove through town. There was a clothing store she wouldn’t mind checking out sometime when she was in town without the guys. She would need some new clothes before long. Hers were getting on the threadbare side.

Dominic pulled up in front of a diner that promised the juiciest hamburgers and the coldest beer. She started to climb off and was surprised when Reece caught her by the waist to help her down. She pulled off her helmet and nodded at him.

“Thanks.”

He just shrugged and started toward the diner doors. He opened the door and waved her inside. She squeezed past him then waited for them to lead the way. No doubt they had regular tables there.

Sure enough, they headed right to the back. Dominic pulled out the chair that would have her back to the door but their eyes on it. She knew the drill. She sat down and pulled one of the menus out of the holder on the table. Not that it would make any difference, she knew she would just get a burger, but it would be nice to see what all they offered.

“Anything you get here is good.” Reece waved at the waitress behind the counter.

“I’m sure you’ve tried it all.”

He winked at her. “I don’t eat just anything, babe.”

She shook her head and continued to read through the selections. The waitress swished over carrying two beers and set them on the table in front of the guys.

“What do you want to drink, Raven?” Dominic asked.

“Beer is fine.”

“Do you know what you want yet?” Reece took a swig of his beer and sighed.

“I’ll have a burger, well done.”

“Usual for us,” Dominic told the waitress.

She smiled at them and twitched her ass back to the counter. Raven figured it would be a while before she got her beer. She doubted it would be ice cold either.