Jules stroked his chin. Either he wasn’t hungry or wasn’t interested in the food, but at least Ari was eating. He shoved the linguine into his mouth with passion. I supposed psychopaths had to eat, too.
“Why the interest?” Jules’s eyes glinted knowingly. No, he wasn’t aware of who the person was to me, but he knew something was up.
“Just curious,” I shot back.
Eddie coughed and laid his hand on my shoulder, giving it a small smack of warning. No fucking way was I conceding defeat. If there was anyone we could talk to or relate to about this stuff,it was Jules and Ari. And I had to make sure Eddie stayed safe. Out of prison.
Jules stuck his tongue against the inside of his cheek. “Aaron Newland is dead, if that’s what you’re asking. Very dead. Can’t talk and tell anyone what happened, that’s for sure. He had an online following of gearheads. Riot Page, a local murder nut, noted the horrible wreck, but he didn’t do a full episode on it, so I don’t think anyone suspects foul play. He’s always a good barometer of murders in and around the city.”
“Interesting.” I dragged out the word purposely. “No foul play?”
Jules grinned at Ari, who sent him one back. Oh, they knew.
“Not that anyone is aware of. Do you have something to share?” Jules asked casually.
I offered him an overly polite smile my grandma taught me as a kid when she wanted to get rid of someone. “Nothing at all.”
Ari snorted and nudged Jules with his elbow. “We need to keep an eye on this one, Master. He’s sneaky.”
I winked. “Just taking care of my man, the way you and Jules do.” Then, I turned to Eddie and grabbed his face, bringing him in for a hard kiss. He groaned into my mouth, melting, and I forgot Jules and Ari were there, taking what I wanted. Eddie’s tongue flicked against my lips, and I opened them, allowing him entrance so he could deepen our connection. Everything about him turned me warm inside. He never tried to use his power over me and gave me what I needed without being overbearing. He was perfect. My Eddie.
Ari cleared his throat. “Point made.”
I broke the kiss and blinked as reality wrapped around my brain, reminding me of where we were and who we were with.
Eddie smiled, swollen lips parted as he looked toward Jules and Ari. “Don’t worry about my father. I’ll handle him. Let’s eat before the saucy goodness gets cold?”
Everyone agreed.
14
EDDIE
I held my leather messenger bag close to my side as a strong gust of wind tried to rip it away. My green suit jacket flapped open and my nipples nearly froze off. Not for the first time, I regretted leaving my winter coat in the car. Why did I never think I would need it? I moaned in relief as I reached the glass door of Grounds and Gears, my favorite local coffee shop, then hustled inside. I took a second to tug my jacket straight.
The hum of people talking and laughing mixed with the low melody of a jazz song I didn’t know that filtered through the speakers. The red globes of the light fixtures that dangled from the ceiling swayed a bit in the wind as someone opened the door behind me, forcing me to step aside. There were normally framed photos of motorcycles on the light gray walls, but someone had wrapped them up in shiny red-and-green plaid paper and stuck bows on them. It was all very cheerful.
My four o’clock meeting had opted for something casual. He was a representative from the New Gothenburg mall, and as the person with least seniority on the team, I’d been sent out into the cold to meet him. I was getting ready to hand off mycompany’s bid for some supersized solar panels that would cover the parking lot, providing shade to the cars below in the summer and taking the electricity bill for the complex to a nice, round zero. Hell, they’d even be able to sell the extra energy back to the local power grid, making the complex owner a tidy profit.
But the mall office had switched who I was supposed to meet a few times, and now I was left scanning the round stainless-steel tables for someone who might be looking for me. It didn’t help that suits made up half the crowd.
Shrugging, I got a mug of coffee, and when I had it in hand, I turned to the room and asked, “Anyone waiting for Eddison Wheelright?”
“Are you meeting an online date?” a man dressed head to toe in black leather asked. He grinned at me. With that outfit, he should be riding a motorcycle, but with the snow, that couldn’t be possible.
Embarrassed heat tingled in my cheeks. “No, it’s business.”
“Too bad! You’re cute.”
Laughter raced around the room, and I hung my head, grinning.
A huge blond man raised his hand and smirked in my direction. He could’ve been an offensive tackle on a football team. Hell, perhaps he was one. His hair flew everywhere, just a little too long, but he had a pleasant square face and earnest eyes that immediately put me at ease as he stood from the table and extended his massive hand.
I sloshed coffee on the floor as we shook and groaned before setting the mug on the table and shaking off the mess.
“Thatistoo bad,” he said in a cheerful booming voice while staring at the red mark from the hot coffee spreading on the back of my hand. The volume of his comment had nearly everyone in the café looking our way with interest.
Heat drifted upward and downward from my cheeks and I tugged on my collar. “Ah, well, there’s still some bean juice in the mug.” I flicked the rim, choosing to misinterpret our conversation for the sake of my dwindling sanity. How did I get in these situations?
