Winter grinned and nodded.“I loved those rides.They weren’t often but they were time with just me and him.”Her smile fell and she turned her attention to something in the distance, or maybe that’s just where her eyes focused while her attention was actually inside her head.
Bishop wanted to put her on the back of his bike and take her for a ride.He could imagine what she’d feel like pressed against his back, the heat between her thighs nestled against his ass.
“So, this guy following you, any idea who he is?”
“A guy I dated.”She glanced around as if looking to see if they were being overheard.They probably were, but the only ones close enough to hear her, or more than bits and pieces, were Bishop, Blade, and Viper.Warlock was across the intersection dealing with the drink vendor.
“Here we are,” Blade’s voice cut into his daydreaming as his brother approached the other side of the table, a pair of paper trays in his hands.He slid the two trays onto the table, then sat.
“This one is yours.”Blade slid one tray in front of Winter.
“Oh, thank you.How much was it?I’ll pay you back.”She dug into her purse, probably looking for her wallet.Blade looked at Bishop, who shook his head almost imperceptibly.If Blade wanted the cash back, Bishop would cover it.They wouldn’t be taking money from the girl.Woman, he reminded himself.She was sweet, but she was definitely all woman.
“Don’t worry about it.I got it.”
“No, I can’t let you do that,” she said.“I just attached myself to you, I can’t let you buy my food too.”
“Too bad.I don’t remember how much it was and there’s no receipt.”Blade acted like he didn’t care, he picked up the large piece of fry bread spread with beans, meat, and more, and took a bite off the edge.
“Eat up before it gets cold.”Bishop motioned toward her plate.
“But what about everyone else?Wouldn’t it be rude not to wait?”
Bishop shook his head.“Eat while it’s hot.No one will care, Mama.Eat.”
She frowned at him for a moment then turned her attention back to Blade, who was working on devouring his food as if there wasn’t anyone else to think about.
Before she gave in and picked up her food, Warlock showed up.
“Dude.You sent one person for five drinks.You’re lucky they had a carrier.”He set the cardboard tray on the table in front of the seat beside Blade and started sorting them out, putting things in front of people.
“You got a tray.I have three plates of food and it’s just me,” Viper bitched as he approached, the rest of his food balanced in his arms.Bishop took pity on him and took the one that looked the most precarious and set it on the table.He’d let them sort out what belonged to who.
“So, run from crazy stalker exes often?”Viper said as he snagged a chair from a nearby table, brought it to theirs and sat down.He glanced at Winter as he picked up one plate and handed it to Bishop, then gave another to Warlock before putting the last in front of him.
“Unfortunately, it seems to be more frequent lately.”
“What do you mean?”Warlock asked, frowning.“Is he staking out your house and following you around, or does he keep showing up where you are?”
“I haven’t seen him around my apartment.”Winter tilted her head to one side.“I’ve looked.I can’t figure out how he knows where I’m going to be.”
“Did you tell anyone you were coming here today?Is it possible someone is telling him?”
Winter shook her head.I hadn’t even thought about it until I saw an ad for it while I was doomscrolling last night.Coming out today was kind of a spur-of-the-moment decision, and still he managed to find me.”She shrugged, looking defeated.
“How often does this happen?”Bishop asked.It sounded like the little fucker was tracking her somehow.The question was how and convincing him to leave her alone.
“Two or three times a week.”She picked at her food, breaking off a piece of the bread and putting it in her mouth.“He shows up pretty much any time I’m not at work or the grocery store, though I’ve seen him there a couple of times too.”
“Sounds like he’s tracking you somehow and shows up when you’re not where he thinks you should be,” Viper put in, echoing what Bishop had been thinking.“The question is how.The most obvious answers are your car, your purse, or your phone.Do you ever go anywhere without them and has he shown up when you left them behind?”
“I-I don’t usually carry a purse, so that’s out.Usually, I just have my phone.And I almost never go anywhere without my car.”She frowned again.“How else would I get anywhere?”
“Hop on the back of my bike, I’ll show you how,” Warlock quipped.“I’ll take you for a ride you’ll never forget.”
Bishop fought the need to growl and let his brother know to keep his hands, and the rest of him, to himself.He had no claims on Winter, other than he was the one she chose when she needed help.Did he want one?Fuck, yes.But he had to convince her to take the chance and he suspected with one ex showing his ass and scaring the fuck out of her, that wouldn’t be as easy as he hoped.
