Music hammered out of a setup that must’ve cost them a hell of a lot more than the rent on the rough building.
Conversations stacked on top of each other, laughter cutting across in sharp, easy bursts.
I walked the bike to the corner Hawk pointed at and dropped the kickstand while killing the engine.
Exit behind me. Door across the room that looked like it led to a hallway.
Might be another exit.
Might be a deadend.
Another door to my right that overlooked the road.
I took in the space, sketching the layout in my head and marking the spaces to avoid getting trapped.
Diesel stood at the bar. I’d worked near him twice in the last few weeks, and the broad expanse of his back ran into long legs.
He kept his dark hair cut close, and when he looked over the room, he didn’t blink.
Not once.
A faint scar cut the edge of his lower lip, and he wore a dark hoodie with the sleeves pushed up to his elbows, showing off the sleeve of mechanical schematics and gear tattoos done blueprint style up his arm.
A glass sat next to his elbow, and he tracked me the instant I turned.
Hawk moved through the room without urgency, and the crowd shifted to accommodate him.
It happened automatically, like they sensed him and just…moved.
He stopped to speak to one man, clapped another on the shoulder, then turned and gestured toward me. “This is Callie.” He flicked his finger in my direction, prompting me to move toward him. “She’s cleared.”
Notshe’s with usorshe’s a friendor anything that softened my presence here. Hawk delivered my approval with that same nod from the bay.
Reactions around the room ranged from nods to a flat, assessing look from a man who went back to his drink with a shake of his head.
A woman near the pool table looked me over carefully.
No doubt she’d worked for her place in this room and wanted to make sure I didn’t uproot her.
I met her eyes and kept my chin up until she gave me a grin and resumed her game.
I could work with that.
“Make yourself at home.” Hawk’s voice carried, and I couldn’t help but think it was intentional. “It’s good to have you here, Callie. We’ve needed someone of your caliber for a long time.”
“Happy to help.” I managed to smile and not fall over at the compliment.
Diesel stared at me. Every step I took, the weight of that gaze settled on the nape of my neck.
I made my way over and hopped onto the nearest barstool. “Am I allowed to grab whatever?”
Diesel picked up his drink and tossed it back, his throat working in a deep swallow. “If you can reach it, you can have it.”
“Is that a short joke, because I’m not that short, and I’m not above climbing to get what I want.” Was Iflirtingwith him? I hadn’t meant to. Sometimes my brain, my mouth, and my libido didn’t quite match up. This was one of those times.
His lips twitched. “I’d like to see that.”
I bet he would. I reached over the bar and grabbed a beer, cracking the cap with a quick twist and taking a sip and willing my nerves to settle. I’d done it.
