Clea glanced across the room, where Blondie grinned at her, raising his pint glass in salute.
Mav leaned into her ear, “Looks like you’re not the only one admiring the scenery.”
“Indeed.” Clea lifted her own glass, giving Blondie what she hoped was a winning smile.
Something about him was incredibly compelling, but she couldn’t put her finger on exactly what or why. Still, handsome was handsome, and free food was free food.
She glanced down at her plate. “They cut the crusts off.” Clea glanced at Mav. “Did you order it that way for me? You’re so sweet.”
Talk about detail oriented. No wonder the guy was the president of the club.
“Not me.” He motioned with his chin. “Asher. He seems to have taken a liking to you, Duchess. It’s working out in our favor,” Mav focused on her again. “But you’ll let me know if that’s a problem.”
Not a question. But that’s how Mav rolled, and Clea had come to enjoy it over the past few days. He didn’t just do that with her, he did it with everyone. Commands, not questions, but always from a place of care and concern. Man, if she wasn’t on the run, she would totally go back to Colorado with them and become a patch in his club. They were good people.
“Sure thing, Mav.” She nodded. “I absolutely will.”
As they settled back into their food and drink, Clea let her eyes wander back toward the door, back to Asher Ford. He was shuffling the cards, talking and laughing with another group of bikers who’d just come in. As though he could sense her gaze, he shifted his focus, those gorgeous green eyes locking onto hers as he gave her a winsome smile.
And damn, what it did to her.
Clea broke the gaze first, reaching for her water and taking a long drink. There was something about that guy. Something she couldn’t name, but very much liked.
Something thrilling.
She glanced at Asher again. Maybe staying in town tonight wasn’t such a bad idea after all.
3
Duchess.
Asher chuckled to himself as she broke their eye contact. The name certainly suited her. Lean and refined, with a slight accent that made him think of the old country. There was something patrician about her. Even in her jeans and form-fitting t-shirt, surrounded by a group of burly bikers, it was clear she was some kind of royalty. If her gorgeous features hadn’t given that away, the bling she sported certainly did.
While it wasn’t uncommon for women to wear diamond stud earrings, Duchess’s were nearly three carats. And damn, the way they caught the light against the backdrop of her fair skin and dark hair was mesmerizing.
Not as mesmerizing as those blue eyes of hers, though. That hue with their mischievous sparkle rivaled every sapphire he’d ever seen. And he’d seen his fair share over the years.
She wore a variety or rings ranging from some kind of gold signet pinky ring to the stunning white gold and diamond two finger ring with a Fancy Yellow Radiant Diamond where the two bands united. And that was only on her left hand. Her right showcased a confection of crossing bands with shards of tourmaline and brown diamonds on her thumb, a brilliant orange cushion cut diamond ring on her forefinger, and some kind of coiling titanium serpent with diamond scales, sapphire eyes, and a freshwater pearl on her pinky.
And though the gold, titanium, and all those gems lit him up, it was the woman who wore them Asher couldn’t seem to get enough of. Even now, he was glancing across the room at her while he collected the cards and prepped for the next group of patrons.
Damn, she was something else.
“How you holding up, Ash?”
Asher shook himself, glancing around the room as he replied to his best friend through the pack link.
“Good. It’s steady here, but not unbearable. How about you?”
“Just peachy.” Cade chuckled. “Got a couple of guys in lock-up for brawling at the Hummingbird of all places.”
“Seriously?”
So far, the worst Asher had seen here at the bar was a loud disagreement, which had been quickly solved with another round.
“Yeah, they got twisted over some woman.”
“Huh.” Asher grunted, checking on Duchess while Cade laid out what had happened at the coffee shop.
