“I’ll bet you are,” Mav chuckled as they headed for the path. “Nothing a hot bath and some rest can’t cure, right?”
“You know it.” She grinned.
As they made their way down to the bikes, Clea’s mind went back to Asher. She hadn’t even told him her real name. The omission hadn’t been because she was trying to play him, either. She hadn’t even known about his jewelry collection until he’d started draping her in the stuff.
Now that was a kink she could totally get behind.
And even with all that bling available, the man was what she wanted.
Asher.
There was something about that man.
Though they were a one-time thing, she couldn’t help wondering what would have happened if she’d stayed. Sure, they’d just met, but it felt like she’d known him much longer. Like he was a part of her somehow. And yes, technically she’d stolen from him, but she’d only taken his bracelet and watch as mementos of their time together and she had zero plans of offloading either one. Ever.
As she started her bike, Clea glanced at Asher’s watch, loving the way it glinted in the sunlight. Time was a funny thing, wasn’t it? A continuum that everyone experienced differently. Some moments seemed to drag, others to zip by in a blink. Some days felt like forever and others happened in fits and spurts, and all the while, time simply was.
She hadn’t had enough of it with Asher.
Clea fell in with the pack, grateful Mav had put Duke and Rex on tail gunner. Even though she knew she was safe with the club, she couldn’t shake the sense that they were being followed.
Man, she was tired. From the bust of a treasure hunt earlier to that run in with Kluge, today had not gone to plan. And what had begun as the delicious aches from a night of passion had turned into a kind of bone-deep weariness in her body, making her want to curl up and let the world pass her by for a little while.
As they drove on, Clea fought the urge to break away from the pack and turn around. She glanced at Asher’s watch again, that strange sense of urgency riding her hard the closer they got to Durango. She couldn’t say exactly why she felt that way, but she knew it had something to do with Asher. Which was ridiculous. They’d had one night together.
And yet, she felt drawn to him in a way she couldn’t explain, as though they were connected somehow. And the further she got from Pine Haven, the more tenuous that connection seemed to become, like a rubber band stretched too tight, about to break.
Clea sighed heavily, giving her head a little shake. She needed to get her shit together. Pining after Asher was infinitely foolish, he’d made himself abundantly clear from the outset. She wasn’t going to see him again.
And yet, as she cruised along with the MC, she couldn’t shake the feelings, the knowing in her core.
She was going the wrong way.
11
Ashercloakedhimselfashe flew lower, scanning the roads for any sign of Duchess as he hit Durango. Damn, there were a lot of bikers. He knew the rally was a big deal, but shit. This was needle and haystack territory if he’d ever seen it.
Taking a deep breath, he surveyed the area, identifying a suitable spot to touch down. Not only did he need space in his dragon form, he needed shelter nearby to get dressed. At home, it didn’t matter if he was buck-ass naked when he changed forms. Shifters didn’t really get worked up about that kind of thing.
Not that people actually walked around town naked or anything.
Pine Haven had laws just like any other place, and public indecency wasn’t something he was keen to have on his record. Asher made quick work of things, donning jeans and a rally tee and slinging his bag over his shoulder before heading around the building and joining the throng of bikers and enthusiasts.
God, how was he ever going to find her in this?
Cursing himself for not having exchanged contact information with Duchess, he snagged an event map and made his way to the poker run booth. She had to hit it at some point this weekend.
He hoped he hadn’t already missed her.
Asher checked out the scene, impressed with the event. The lineup looked awesome, the vendors seemed cool, and everywhere he looked, someone was smiling. He wondered idly if he could pull something like this off back home. The town itself wasn’t the right venue, but the fairgrounds in Pineberry Springs might work nicely, leaving Pine Haven available for lodging. The idea had merit, but he’d have to be careful with the execution if it were to happen.
While the cash from seasonal traffic was good, no one wanted Pine Haven to make a name for itself in the mainstream. Which was why half the town had been against participating in the poker run. He’d won them over though, and the local commerce had benefitted big time. Every restaurant, bar, and B&B had been nonstop action, from what he could tell.
The thought of lodging made him wonder what hotel Duchess was staying in. Knowing her, it’d probably be the resort and casino one town over, but he doubted the rest of her club would go for that. Too far away from the rally, although none of them seemed to mind riding.
Frustration plagued him as he waited for Duchess. What if she wasn’t going to show? What if they were heading to Utah today or something? What if she’d already come for her last card and played her hand? Or what if she’d decided not to complete the poker run?
Shit. He was so screwed.
