There wasn’t much to Killcreek. But the backroads were scenic during certain times of the year. When he took a sharp turn, Cleo tightened her hold. She loved riding on the motorcycle, but she wasn’t immune to her tummy flipping on some turns. Wraith dropped his hand to her leg, and his thumb caressed her calf in a circular motion. What the… Since her brother’s death, she’d only rode with Wraith. He’d never, not once, done that before.But I like it. A lot.Cleo pressed her lips together, ignoring the butterflies swarming her belly.
They rode another fifteen minutes until Wraith slowed down. She leaned past his shoulder, eyeing the sign. The bar was halfway between Killcreek and the neighboring town. She’d driven past it hundreds of times but had never gone inside. She knew the main section was a bar that served food and the back half was a strip club. Cleo had heard the guys mention it a few times.
Wraith parked in the front, a few spots away from the only two other trucks in the lot.
She got off the bike, tucked her helmet under her arm, and shook out her hair. Wraith shut down the engine, kicked up the stand, and swung his leg over the seat. This view would never get old. He was incredibly sexy and handsome in a harsh and brutish way, but Wraith on his bike with his vest strapped over his wide chest was next level. She bowed her head slightly, letting her hair fall forward to conceal her blush.Stop staring.
“Come on.”
Cleo glanced around the lot. “Where are the others?”
“Just us.” Wraith opened the door, glancing back as a deep scowl set in. “Let’s go.”
Just the two of them? That was a first.
“Cleo.” Wraith’s jaw squared. “Hungry, right? So get your ass inside.”
This was beyond awkward. She’d been out before with members, including him. But never just with Wraith. She slipped past him and walked through the door. It was pretty much what she’d expect from the outside. There was a large wraparound bar with stools on either side. There were a bunch of tables scattered around the room with mismatched chairs. The room had no semblance of order. Everything was wooded, including half the walls. The décor consisted of mostly bar signs. Everything was so dated. It was as if it had been built inthe seventies, and not one renovation had happened since then.
“Well, she’s way better looking than the usual bastards you bring in here.”
Cleo jerked her head, looking across the room. The bartender was staring at her with a small smile playing on his lips. He was older, probably in his late-fifties, with thin gray hair slicked back and a dark brown beard. The contrast was odd. He braced his arms on the counter and lifted his chin.
“Prospective talent?”
Cleo raised her brows and turned, looking up at Wraith. He hadn’t said a word since they walked in. Cleo knew the back end of the bar was where the strip club was located. Was that what the bartender meant when he said prospective talent?
“You wanna fucking ask that again?” Wraith’s tone sent a tremble down her spine.
The bartender pushed off the bar, held up his hands, and took a step back. “My mistake.”
Wraith grabbed her hand and led her to the bar. She slowly lifted onto the stool and hooked her pocketbook over the back.
The bartender eyed her and placed a cocktail napkin down in front of her. “Since I know Wraith isn’t gonna do it, I’ll introduce myself. I’m Barry.
“It’s nice to meet you. I’m Cleo.”
He smiled and glanced down at her wrist then furrowed his brows.
“Beer and—” Wraith glanced at her and she straightened her back. The last thing she needed was anymore alcohol.
“Can I have a cola? No ice, please.”
Barry nodded. “Anything to eat?”
“Tell him what you want.” Wraith said.
Oh.She widened her eyes and searched the bar for a menu but found none in sight.
“Well, um—” She paused, nervously smiling at Wraith. “What do they have?”
“Bar food.”
Cleo drew in a breath and laughed. “Technically, this is the first time I’ve been to a bar, so I don’t know what that really means.”
Wraith stared back at her with a bewildered glaze in his eyes. His brows dipped in a tight scowl.
Here he was taking her out to lunch, and she was making everything a spectacle. Embarrassed, she waved her hand. “I’ll just get whatever you’re having.”
