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Ride or Die

Page 33

by Bronwyn Alexander

“Ohhh,” Kristi whispered, hand frozen in the chip bag. “Biker Man.”

Jesus-fucking-Christ.

Saint looked at Riley like he could see every thought as it flitted through her mind. Her entire body blushed.

“I told you he’d have tattoos,” Kristi said and popped another chip in her mouth.

“Pants! You should have pants!” Riley leapt forward and rushed to the bathroom door. She shoved the clothes at Saint, and he didn’t move, eyes fixed on Kristi over her shoulder.

“I’m fine with this, actually. More than fine,” Kristi announced as she lifted herself onto the counter. “We won’t even need Vietnamese.”

“Kristi! Shut! Up!”

Saint waved over Riley’s shoulder, and the towel slipped lower, exposing the cut line of his hip. Kristi wiggled her fingers at him and sighed in obnoxious appreciation. Riley was having trouble breathing.

“Hi, Kristi. I’m Saint.” He introduced himself like he wasn’t mostly naked and Kristi wasn’t blatantly enjoying it.

Riley ducked past him and pulled the bathroom door as Kristi called out, “I’ll bet you are.” The door closed and shut out the unholy snickering.

“Just kill me now,” Riley muttered, unable to get a deep breath in. “Maybe this is it. This is how it ends.”

Saint took up the entire bathroom, his clothes neatly folded on the counter even though they were damp. A folding knife lay next to his keys and wallet.

“Take a deep breath.” He smiled as he tightened the towel.

“I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself. I didn’t plan this.” Her chest was too tight.

“I can tell. Breathe.”

He was too close and too tall, and it was too hot— “I don’t think that’s going to help,” Riley squeaked, the vise around her chest tightening as she stared at him. Can you die from embarrassment?

“It’ll help,” he told her, the teasing edge gone from his voice. She drew in a shaky breath. Their reflections were two unresolved forms in the fogged mirror, and she stared for a moment.

“Again,” he murmured. Riley pulled in another breath of scented steam, and her shoulders settled.

“That’s it.”

Riley’s eyes fluttered closed, and that awareness of him expanded. She felt every breath he took. His eyes on her were a touch.

Exposed. She felt exposed. But it wasn’t horrible. In fact—

A cupboard closed in the other room, and she opened her eyes. Saint watched her with a darkly satisfied look, and her stomach turned over.

She thrust her clothes at him. “This is what I have while your clothes dry. I hope it fits.”

He took the clothes from her outstretched hands and set them down on the counter next to his. “Thank you.” The laugh lines around his eyes deepened, and Riley’s heartbeat slowed.

Something crashed from the kitchen. She blew out a breath and pushed her wet hair back.

“Now I have to go kick out Kristi,” she said. She picked up his clothes. “I’ll dry these too.”

“Thank you, and good luck,” Saint said.

She paused, hand on the door handle. “Please don’t come out naked again. She’ll never leave.”

“I wasn’t plan—you got it.”

The door shut behind her with a click. Kristi’s gaze sparkled with amusement.