Total pages in book: 28
Estimated words: 26287 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 131(@200wpm)___ 105(@250wpm)___ 88(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26287 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 131(@200wpm)___ 105(@250wpm)___ 88(@300wpm)
“I’m surprised you’d want to miss your sister’s pregnancy. What if there are complications and she needs you?”
Dahlia’s mouth fell open, and she gasped. “Molly is pregnant?” she squealed as she clapped her hands and bounced on her toes. If any other chick had done that, I would have rolled my eyes and kept my distance. But Dahlia was cute as fuck when she was giddy. I liked seeing her so carefree and happy, I wanted more of it.
“I didn’t think you’d take the chance of missing the birth of your first niece or nephew,” I drawled, driving my point home.
“I was only going to be gone for a few months,” she objected.
“Unless you got stuck over there for some reason.”
The comment caught her off guard, and she contemplated the point I’d made for a minute. “I suppose you’re right. I don’t want to take the chance, but…” Her gaze shifted over my shoulder toward the airport entrance. “My dad will probably keep me locked up in a tower until I turn thirty, so I’d miss everything anyway.”
I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms over my chest, looking down into her gorgeous green pools. “Told you, babe. I’ll take care of it.”
Her expression was skeptical, and she raised an eyebrow, waiting for me to explain more.
“We’ll leave your car here, and my man will make sure you’re checked in for your flight. He’ll even make the system think they scanned your boarding pass at the gate. We’ll leave a trail that will eventually lead right back to the airport.” If we let it go cold, Mac would lose his fucking mind and wreak havoc until his little girl was found. “It’ll buy you a couple of weeks, at least. Then I’ll help you figure out something else.”
Dahlia chewed on that for a few seconds, then propped her hand on her hip and asked, “Why would you do this for me?”
Again, I swallowed the impulse to inform her that I take care of what's mine. “Mav’s my brother.” It was a simple explanation, and I knew it would be enough for Dahlia because she’d grown up in a world where oaths made people more loyal than blood.
I uncrossed my arms and held out my hand.
She bit her bottom lip, and I couldn’t stop pulling the plump pink flesh from between her teeth—though I didn’t tell her that no one was allowed to bite that lip except me. The touch sent a spark of desire streaking from the spot where our skin met. I watched it flare in her pretty green eyes and smirked when she immediately slid her palm against mine.
Grabbing her suitcase with the other hand, I lifted my chin in the direction of my bike before leading her away from the terminal doors.
I was impressed with how light she’d packed and grateful because her backpack duffel fit into the large tail bag hanging off the back of my bike. The rain had made the spring air muggy, so I hated to make her wear the leathers I’d grabbed before I left the compound. But I would never fuck with her safety. It would be windy once we were on the road, and the protective wear would keep her drier.
Before I could hand her a helmet, she snatched it from my other saddle bag and began to put it on. Chuckling, I batted her hands away and adjusted it before buckling it beneath her chin. So damn adorable. Then I grasped her waist, lifted her, and settled her on my ride.
It was a good thing I’d contacted Mav about the safe house. By the time we reached it, the rains were torrential, and I could barely see where I was going. We crossed a bridge over a rapidly rising river—the only entrance to the town—and drove for a few more minutes until we reached a small, plain building. It was intentionally nondescript and easily forgettable.
I parked in a shed at the rear and helped Dahlia off the bike before grabbing her bag. Then we made a run for it.
We were soaked to the bone and would both need a hot shower to warm up so we wouldn’t get sick. I intended to take full advantage of the opportunity to try to talk Dahlia into sharing the steamy water.
Conserving water and all that shit.
3
DAHLIA
Riding with Fox was a hell of an experience, and not just because we were racing against the storm after it turned in our direction. I had only ever been on the back of my dad’s bike before because it was a big deal for a Silver Saint to put a woman on their motorcycle. The feelings being wrapped around Fox’s muscular body evoked in me were unfamiliar…and exhilarating.
I hated to give it up, but we couldn’t stay on his bike forever with the rain pouring down on us. I didn’t ask any questions when he’d pulled off the highway and we drove into a small town. I was just relieved that he had a plan to get us out of the storm. But now that we were safely inside, it struck me that we would be alone for who knew how long. Just the two of us and our intense chemistry.