“I know. I won’t tell him. I can be cool. I’m a cool biker babe.” Cam looked at her sideways. There was on odd expression carved in Diesel’s features. “On the bright side, it doesn’t look like he expected to be seen here either,” she said.
“Itisan out-of-town biker bar,” he said under his breath.
“I know,” she said, exuberance radiating from both words. She was so happy. Was it the beer? “And it’s awesome.”
Cam watched their unwanted companion approach with a loud sigh. “I wish you weren’t so gleeful about it. Don’t forget, you must pretend you are human. And you absolutely do not know him, right?”
“I know, Cam.” She was fairly jumping up and down with excitement. The beer had definitely given her a warm, happy feeling inside.
“I knew I shouldn’t have brought you here.”
A giggle escaped. “Oh, don’t be such an old fuddy-duddy, Cam. It will be fine.” She pressed a kiss to his cheek. “And also, in case I forget to tell you later on, I want you to know that this has been the best day of my life.”
“Even better than last night?” he said with an amused grin and a wink.
Her face went totally hot with the memory of all the lack of sleep they’d gotten the night before. “You’re absolutely right. It’s thesecond-bestday of my life.”
“Cam?” The Fearless Leader stopped in front of them. “What are you doing here?”
“Oh no. You first,” Cam said. “I didn’t know you were fond of biker bars.”
“I’m meeting someone here.” Diesel quickly scanned the room, then turned his gaze back to them.
Cam smiled. “Juliana?”
“No. Wyatt.”
Does he mean Sheriff Wyatt Campbell?
“You’re meeting Wyatt? Why?”
“I don’t know yet. He was the one who called the meeting and set the location.”
“Why didn’t you invite me?”
“Because you took the next several days off for your first vacation in…forever,” he said with what sounded like a hint of exasperation. He took a long look at Ria, staring at her hair for an extra beat. She slapped a big grin in place. Did she look human? Did the blue streaks work as part of her Earther disguise?Why am I grinning so hard?“But now I can see why.”
“Thanks,” Ria said brightly. Diesel nodded then put his focus back on Cam.
“Do you want me to sit in on the meeting with you?” Cam’s serious security hat seemed to slide into place without warning. She was impressed, but then she wondered what she’d do while Cam left her to own devices to take care of business.
She would be the first to admit she was easily distracted by all the fun and interesting delights Earth had to offer. She would start out trying to be good, but what if another man grabbed her? What if someone else recognized her from the karaoke bar? She needed Cam and he needed her to stay by his side.
Thankfully, his brother turned down his offer. “Nope. You’re on an extended vacation now, remember?” Diesel glanced at Ria and grinned. “So for once, enjoy your time off. I’ll brief you when you return, if it’s anything vitally important.”
To Ria, he said, “Hi there, I’m Diesel.” She would have known him even if he hadn’t greeted the cruise liner’s passengers in person. He was sort of famous on Alpha-Prime even for those who’d never studied Earth like she had. Almost everyone knew Diesel Grey was the newest Fearless Leader of the Earth colony.
Cam Grey was listed as the chief of security, but there was no picture of him. If there was, she might have realized who he was at the karaoke bar right away instead of believing he was an earthling named Cam.
The two blackberry martinis she had downed to give herself the courage to get up on stage and sing had obviously clouded her judgment. Side by side, the family resemblance between Diesel and Cam was unmistakable. Would she have made the connection if she was sober?
Maybe. Maybe not. Knowing Cam was an Alpha wouldn’t have made her less attracted to him. She noticed him the moment he entered the bar. If she’d known he was an Alpha up front, she couldn’t say it would have changed a single thing.
“Hi, I’m Ria. Pleased to meet you, Diesel.”
“Likewise. Apparently my brother wants to hog you all to himself, so he hasn’t bothered to introduce us. Which is fine. I get it. I even find it difficult to blame him, but the thing is, I already have a soon-to-be wife at home. And I’m madly in love with her, which he well knows, so he shouldn’t be so difficult.”
“I’m not being difficult,” Cam said. “I wasaboutto introduce you.”
