Chapter 14: Chapter 14

Score! That had been her first thought after Tucker extended the invitation. Right up until she’d been sat down among a rowdy crew of bikers from near and far and left behind to fend for herself.

She felt like a fish in a tank full of sharks, and she was praying like a nun in a whorehouse that she’d somehow manage to fly under their radar and come out the other side unscathed at the end of the night.

Now, Talia sat at a picnic table surrounded by members of the Spartan Riders and their “friends,” also known as bunnies. And the absurd thing was, she actually felt overdressed for the occasion, because nothing screamed outsider quite like a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. Clearly, she’d missed the memo on the dress code, not that she’d have run out to outfit herself in the latest line of slutty sheik.

Talia growled when she reflected on her one stipulation for coming to the party: don’t leave her alone for a second. But the moment they’d arrived, Tucker had run off to get them both drinks from the keg—the bastard. She had a good mind to kick him in the family jewels later. Didn’t he know that she was a nervous wreck? All that aside, though, she’d have preferred a Fuzzy Navel instead of a cup full of beer, but nooo. He claimed they didn’t serve “girly” drinks. Shame, since a good shot of liquor would have calmed her raging nerves. So there she was, impatiently-patient while awaiting his return.

It wasn’t all bad, though. She’d been shocked but relieved—and a touch thrilled—that he’d asked her to go to the party. In fact, it was a major stepping stone for the case. Exactly what she needed to wiggle deeper into the club’s world. Frank’s advice had been spot on and effective, much to her chagrin, but she’d promised herself that the next time she saw him, she’d choke down her pride and thank him. After all, she had been ready to walk away, but with his help, she’d gotten the results they all wanted. Now, all she had to do was keep getting them.

As much as she wanted to credit all her internal excitement to getting another foothold on the case, though, she had to admit that a healthy dose of it was pure womanly desire.

Tucker had exceeded expectations and given her a night to remember. A night she’d gladly rinse and repeat many times over if given half a chance. And judging by how he kept looking at her and orbiting her space all evening, she thought he might be thinking the same.

“So, you’re with Country?”

A petite woman, beautiful with long, straight hair and a wide smile sat down beside her and held out a hand.

Talia shook it—the polite thing to do. “Yes, I guess I am,” she said, unsure if it was the right answer, but not knowing of another.

A strange look crossed her face, soon to be replaced by another disarming smile. “He’s never brought a woman to a barbeque before…that I know of,” she added quickly. “Blake, my boyfriend, says he’s a bit of a loaner.”

“Really?” Talia asked, surprised. “He doesn’t strike me as the type.” In fact, he was the complete opposite from what she could tell. Now, Talia, on the other hand? She was a loaner. Normally, a gathering as large as this would have had her crawling beneath a blanket and hiding out in bed all day with a book. But she had other more pressing matters that forced her to sit right where she was and be—gulp—social.

Good thing she knew how to compartmentalize. There was Working Talia and Homebody Talia. The two rarely met.

“I should clarify that. Country is a loaner in the sense that he actively avoids human interaction when it comes to intimate relationships, unless of course, that human happens to have boobs and is completely naked.” Her soft brown eyes skated over Talia. “You seem to possess at least one of those pertinent qualities.”

Feeling mischievous, Talia cupped her boobs and gave them a little fluff. “Oh, these old things?”

The woman spluttered then erupted in a full-blown laugh. “I think I like you already. I’m Gabby Morgan.”

“Talia Bruce,” she introduced herself, using the false last name she’d been assigned. The agency preferred a complete identity overhaul, but she refused. She’d screwed up once, forgetting who she was supposed to be, and things hadn’t gone too pretty after that. Ever since, she played everything a little closer to the truth in hopes of avoiding any unnecessary missteps that could cost her not only the case but her life. “Nice to meet you.”

“Likewise.” She stared, bemused, as Gabby started picking at a plate of ribs that looked and smelled absolutely mouthwatering. “So, Talia, what do you do?”

The sound of crickets filled her headspace. Shit! For a brief moment, Talia’s mind blanked. Just like that time in Guatemala…She swallowed, forcing the memories back down. A thread of anxiety whirled in her belly, and she searched the yard, hunting for Tucker and praying like a sinner on Sunday that he would magically appear and save her.

Then, like a strong wind sweeping away morning fog, she remembered her go-to story. “I’m a writer.”

“Of books?” Gabby sounded surprised.

“Yep.” Yes, indeedy, she thought, mentally swinging her legs to and fro. On the outside, she was the calm and collected person her FBI training had taught her to be, but on the inside…That was a totally different story.

Seemingly interested, Gabby popped a couple flakes of meat into her mouth, her eyes rolling back into her head before continuing. “What kind of books do you write?”

Now here was the tricky part. She had to be sparing on the details so as not to create a backstory that could be easily perforated, but she had to give enough to avoid arousing suspicion.

“I’m a fiction writer, specifically crime-slash-thriller.”

“Oh, that sounds exciting. I don’t get to read as often as I’d like, especially after gaining Blake and Ash, his son, hopefully my soon-to-be stepson. I’m hoping the man will get off his duff and get down on one knee sometime soon. You know, before the gray hairs he’s giving me start showing,” she rambled on. “Anyway. What are some of the titles? Maybe I’ve read some of your work.”

Talia blinked, filing away everything she’d just said for later analysis, and waved the question away. “Oh, you haven’t. I’m just getting started. Working on my first book, actually.”

Gabby’s face lit up, which worried Talia. “Really? What’s it’s about?”

Holy hell. Where was Tucker when she needed him? Convinced the man was taking his sweet time on purpose, she fumbled for words. “Um, well…let’s see…” How to summarize an entire book that didn’t even exist. “There’s a man. A nice guy, but kind of aloof. Uses his confidence and swagger to draw in his victims. Eventually, he falls for one of them,” she added, thinking of Tucker and his…everything. “But he doesn’t know that she knows all about him or that she’s law enforcement.”

“Ooh, twist!”

Yes, it was. Too bad it wasn’t fiction. “Yeah, I just hope it works out.”

“Oh, I’m sure it will. The plot sounds amazing. When you’re done, I’d love to read it. Maybe I can even help you with the editing process. English has always been my favorite subject.”

“Yeah, maybe.”

“There you are, woman. I’ve been looking for you everywhere.”

At first, Talia thought the voice belonged to Blake, who was apparently Gabby’s boyfriend. She planned to ferret that lead out a bit more later. Who better than to gain valuable intel from than one of the member’s significant others.

Looking up and over her shoulder, she found herself staring into Tucker’s amazing brown eyes. “I’ve been here the whole time,” she deadpanned.

“Really? Could have sworn I left you somewhere else.”

“Nope. Been here the whole time.”

“Huh, well, here ya go. Thought you might be hungry.”

His long arm reached in front of her and dropped down a sweaty bottle of beer followed by a paper plate stacked high with what looked to be potato salad, chips, coleslaw, and a giant rack of ribs slathered in sticky sweet barbeque sauce.

She. Was. Salivating.

“You got all this for me?”

Shooing one of his biker buddies who’d been sitting beside her away, Tucker dropped down onto the wooden seat next to her. His hypnotizing eyes danced with mirth. “Well, I mighta nibbled a bit here and there on my trek over. Like I said, had a hard time finding ya.”

Riiiiight. Well, she wasn’t about to look a gift horse in the mouth. “Well, it’s not as if we haven’t shared enough germs already.”

Beside her, Gabby choked on a chunk of rib meat. Tucker grinned unabashedly.

“Woman, you’re lucky we’re in public,” was all he said before hooking the back of her neck with a firm hand and yanking her mouth to his.

She’d had less than a quarter second to realize what was happening before his tongue was buried deep inside her mouth, dueling for domination over hers, and giving her vivid flashbacks of just how dominant he could be when they weren’t in public.

Talia was so turned on, her thighs felt as if they’d erupted into flames. Forgetting where she was and who was around, she moaned into his mouth and tightened the seal, wrapping her arms around his neck and flattened her chest to his. He tasted wonderful, a tantalizing mix of fruit and citrus combined with the warmth and slickness of his lips and tongue creating an erotic experience that Talia was eager to explore further.

Unfortunately, and with a smug laugh, Tucker pulled away. Wiping her slobber from around his mouth with his fingertips, he winked and nodded to her plate.

“Eat up, sugar. After that kiss, I have a feeling you’re gonna need to stock up on all the energy you can get for later.”

If later involved taking off all her clothes and getting horizontal with him, then he was right, she needed to chow down in preparation for the main event.

***

“Seriously, just try it!” Talia shoved her drink in his face—turns out, Ginger, the ridiculously beautiful bartender and apparently HBIC knew exactly how to make a fuzzy navel.

“I told you, no girly drinks.” Tucker shoved her hand away, laughing as he twisted his head to the side to avoid the straw she was attempting to jam down his throat.

Talia pursed her lips. “Fine. Whatever. But you are missing out. This thing is delicious. Heaven. Mmm,” she moaned around her straw, sucking the fruity drink right up. She didn’t stop until it slurped the bottom of the cup, indicating she’d drank it all. Bummer.

Looked like it was time for another!

“Just where do you think you’re going?” Tucker asked as she tried to stand and failed. Tried again and failed just as badly.

“I need a refill.” If only her damn legs would get with the program. For crying out loud, who’d attached weights to her ankles. It wasn’t leg day! Or was it…Nope, she had two days until the dreaded squats and burning and holy mother! started.

“Oh, no you don’t.” Tucker flattened a palm on her chest, holding her down. Not that he needed to, considering her entire body was a loose noodle incapable of holding her up. “I think you’ve had more than enough for one night, sugar.”

“Excuse you, buster. I know when I’ve had enough, and I’m at least…I’m…” She scowled at the ground. “What was I saying?”

Tucker chuckled. Removed the empty plastic cup from her hands and pitched it into a nearby trashcan, looking all NBA pro and shit. Show-off.

“You were sayin’ goodnight.”

“But I’m not even tired,” she whined as he bent down and looped his arms under her, lifting her up out of her seat.

“Oh, sugar, you don’t need to be tired to go to bed.”

She frowned again, not understanding him at all. Maybe it was the accent. That southern drawl was smooth as molasses on a hot summer day.

On the way across the expanse of lawn and concrete, Talia waved at everyone, shouting goodnights and farewells to all her new friends. Everyone was so nice, so accepting. For a time, she’d wondered if they would be so friendly if they knew who she really was. A handful of drinks fixed that right up. Now she didn’t have a care in the world. Nope. Everything she needed she had right in front of her.

“You have nice eyes,” she said, staring up at Tucker, who wasn’t even winded, which she also loved. It made her feel small, like a tiny China doll, all fragile and pretty and most importantly, lightweight.

“Thank you, sugar. I like your eyes too.”

“And your smile. I like that a lot too. Oh, there it is!” she shouted, grabbing his cheeks between her fingers and smooshing them together until the smile turned into a fish face. “You have such nice lips. They’re not even chapped. What kind of lip balm do you use?”

Gently extricating his face from her grip, Tucker continued smiling as he said, “You, sugar, are drunk as a skunk. Which is a cryin’ shame, because I had plans for you tonight.”

“Plans? What kind of plans?” She gave him her sultry stare. “Naughty plans? Because I like being naughty, especially with you. You’re a naughty boy,” she cooed, walking her fingers between his flexing pecs to the hollow of his neck then lightly tracing his collarbone.

“It’s practically my middle name. Hey, Blake, hold the door!” he shouted in her ear.

Talia closed her eyes, brows reaching her hairline. Opening her mouth, she plugged her ear with her finger and gave it a wiggle. “Holy cow, tone it down would ya? That’s my ear you’re yelling into.”

“Sorry, sugar. But fyi, it was the other ear.”

With a sheepish smile, she realized that she was rubbing the wrong one.

Assuming it wasn’t just in her imagination, Tucker’s gaze warmed and he held her a little closer as they entered the clubhouse walls.

The giant man with the dark facial hair and eyes full of sin followed in behind them, his gaze fixed on her. Probably because she was staring like a love-struck buffoon.

“You’re beautiful,” she breathed.

A smirk filled out his face, creating tiny wrinkles around his eyes.

“Again, thank you,” Tucker responded.

“Not you, cowpoke. She was talking to me,” Blake corrected him.

Tucker whirled around, making Talia’s world spin with him. “Weee!”

“You hittin’ on my lady?”

“Not on your life. Then again, you don’t have a lady, so that goes double.”

Tucker stiffened against her, and a muscle in his jaw pulsed. Talia watched the standoff like it was a live taping of the Jerry Springer Show. Where was the popcorn when you needed it?

“You know what I meant.”

“Hmm, do I? Because I don’t think I do. You might have to spell it out for me.”

Talia’s new best friend, Gabby, appeared at Blake’s side, placing a hand on his arm. “Everything okay here, honey?”

“Just peachy, teach. Tucker was just telling me all about his lady here. Talia, right? Have you two met?”

A knowing look lit her eyes as Gabby appraised Tucker and Talia and how closely he was holding her to his chest as if he was afraid someone might steal her away at any moment. “We got acquainted earlier, no thanks to either of you,” she admonished the men. “Country, where have you been hiding this gem? I just love her. You two definitely need to come by sometime for dinner and hang out. Lord knows we don’t get out too often anymore, what with work and Ash and trying for another baby.”

“Dude, I thought you said—”

“And that’s our cue!” Blake slapped his hands together, his eyes wide and frantic. Wrapping his arm around Gabby, he said, “Goodnight, you two. Have fun. And don’t forget to take a bucket, Tuck. I have a feeling that one’s gonna need it later.”

Talia scowled. She didn’t feel the least bit sick. Men. Never trusted a woman to know how to hold her liquor.

“Bye, guys,” Gabby waved.

Talia grinned and waved back. What a sweet woman. “We are so going to hang out. She’s amazing. Your friends are amazing.” She caught Tucker’s eye and her insides instantly turned to mush. “You are amazing.”

His answering smile said it all. Leaning in for another kiss, she grasped the back of his neck and leveraged herself closer…and that’s when the night went straight to hell.