When she comes back, setting the cup down, her fingers brush mine. It’s only for a second, but it’s enough to make my body react. She sucks in an audible breath, and I can’t help but grin. Oh yeah, she definitely remembers.
For a second, I let myself take her in…every curve. I want to tell her I’m not sorry for that night. Not even a little.
She fidgets. “So, what brings you to Crystal Falls? We’re not exactly a tourist hotspot.”
I give her the line I’ve been using for months. “Just looking for some peace and quiet.”
She doesn’t buy it, not for a second. Smart girl. But I also don’t want her digging into my life, asking questions I can’t answer…or rather, refuse. I can feel the curiosity, nerves, and some other energy rolling off of her. Something hungry.
I take a slow sip of coffee, keeping my gaze locked on hers. “You work here every day?”
“Pretty much, family business. Someone’s gotta keep the lights on.”
I let my gaze roam over her, to her mouth, throat, the swell of her tits under that too-tight shirt she’s wearing. She shifts under my stare, color tinting her cheeks. That’s right. I remember every inch of you, Aubrey.
Fuck, I shouldn’t be thinking about that. I shouldn’t even be here.
A bell rings, and she snaps out of it, takes a step back, almost tripping over her own feet. “Let me know if you need anything else,” she says quickly, already turning away.
I watch her go. How can I not?
The way those jeans hug her round ass, her hips, reminding me of her legs wrapped around my waist. I could lose myself in her all over again. And I just might.
The diner starts to fill with what I’m assuming is the usual morning crowd. I people-watch, just like always, scanning the crowd for faces I don’t know, listening for anything suspicious. I like the vibe here. It’s easy. Nobody is looking for trouble, even when they act like they are.
Some asshole at the counter starts mouthing off, giving Aubrey a hard time about his eggs. She tries to defuse the situation, but he’s the kind of guy who gets off on making pretty girls squirm.
I slide out of my booth and walk up behind her. “Is there a problem here?” My tone is flat, but it cuts through the bullshit, and he knows I mean business.
The guy looks me up and down, sizing me up. I hold his gaze, unblinking. He might be bigger, but I’ve been in more fights than I care to think about. He doesn’t want it. He grumbles, grabs his toast, and shuts the fuck up.
Aubrey glances at me, everything written plain in her eyes—gratitude, annoyance, something else. “Thanks,” she says, voice barely above a whisper.
I nod, stepping back. “You don’t have to take shit from guys like that.”
She huffs out a laugh, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “It’s Crystal Falls. If I started throwing out every asshole with an attitude, we wouldn’t have any customers.”
I crack a rare smile. “Maybe I should be in charge, then.”
She rolls her eyes, but there’s softness in it, a glimpse of the girl I remember from that night. Brave and confident, but desperate for something real.
I head back to my seat, my mind racing with thoughts about Aubrey. The way those warm brown eyes turned hot when she looked at me, the way her body molded to mine as I pressed it up against the wall in her apartment, her head falling back in ecstasy as she moaned my name. I’ll never forget it. I don’t want to.
I finish my coffee, leaving a generous tip. Before I go, I catch her eye, nodding once. She watches me leave, and I know she’s thinking the same damn thing I am.
Back at the Mountain View Inn, the fiery redhead is still behind the desk, feet up, reading.
She eyes the cinnamon roll box in my hand. “You’re a saint, biker boy.”
“Saint is not the word I would use to describe myself,” I mutter, dropping the box in front of her.
She pops the lid, grinning. “Don’t sell yourself short. Even the devil has to take a day off every now and then. Are you planning on sticking around for a while, or is this a pit stop?”
“I’m not sure yet.” I plop down on the couch in the lobby, stretching.
She bites into the roll, icing smearing across her lips. “You’ve got that vibe. The ‘I might bolt any minute’ look going on.”
I snort. “Is it that obvious?”
