HarleyOn Sundays, I didn’t set an alarm to wake me up in the morning.It was the one day of the week where I let myself sleep in and didn’t have anything on my agenda. It was a day for self-care. For indulgence. For eating whatever the hell I wanted and spending the entire day, from start to finish, in loungewear.When I opened my eyes, my room was awash in sunlight. The powder-blue walls were soothing, and I let myself snuggle deeper into the blankets for another five minutes before I rolled onto my back, stretched my arms over my head, and indulged in a full-body stretch that cracked my spine and curled my toes.I inhaled deeply and held the breath, feeling the strain in my chest, and then exhaled and let my muscles relax. I sank deeper into the mattress and stared up at my ceiling.It had been six months to the day that Rick Thomas packed up and moved to Los Angeles.Six months.It felt like so much longer. Like it was a lifetime ago. I draped my forearm across my eyes and let out
RickI still hadn’t gotten used to the view from my high-rise condo.Well, it wasn’t mine, per se. It was a rental place. But damn, it was fine, and it was a hell of a lot fancier than my house back in New York that had been sitting empty for six months. It was a good thing Mason was back home to check up on the place for me.With the money I’d won at the race on Saturday, I could easily afford something even nicer if I wanted. But I liked this place. I’d moved into it about four months ago after crashing at hotels while I got my foot in the door of the racing scene out here. Then, when the money started coming in and my name got bigger, I opted to really settle in and find a place that was mine.I never dreamed I’d live in a place with floor-to-ceiling windows so high above the city I wouldn’t need curtains. Or have a fireplace in my bedroom that was also part of the bathroom. I knew it was a little much, but I had come to learn that life in LA was like that.A little much.After wak
HarleyThe Wolf was the definition of an average bar.From the outside, it didn’t look like much. In fact, when I stepped out of the cab and looked up at the wooden doors set with iron hinges, my first thought was, this hardly looks like the right setting for a first date.I adjusted my purse strap on my shoulder, lifted my chin, and stepped up onto the curb. I walked toward the doors and a middle-aged man coming out held it open for me. I thanked him, and as soon as I stepped inside, I was hit by the greasy aroma deep-fried food.The bar had a small-town tavern vibe. The furniture was all heavy-looking wood in dark cherry that matched the bar sprawled across the back wall. A giant mural of a wolf’s head hung in the middle of the bar and was flanked by shelves on either side loaded down with bottles of liquor.It was busy as hell.Almost every table was taken, and every stool at the bar was occupied, save one at the very end.I looked around for the man I was supposed to meet.I’d onl
HarleyJim smirked. “Damn. All right. Now I’m worried. Are you in the FBI or something?”I laughed and shook my head. “No. Definitely not.”“Why definitely?”“I’m a thorn in the side of law enforcement.”His brows drew together. “You’re a pimp, aren’t you?”I burst out laughing.He collapsed into his chair. “I should have known a chick so hot wouldn’t have a traditional nine to five.”“Who says a pimp can’t schedule themselves to work nine to five?”He studied me, amusement dancing in his eyes. “Okay. In all seriousness, what do you do, Harriet?”I considered toying with him. It would be so easy. He was looking at me the way I looked at ice cream, and I knew without a doubt that he would believe whatever words came out of my mouth next.But that seemed like a foolish game to play.“I organize and host the underground street racing scene here in New York.”He blinked. “Whoa. Wait, what?”That was the reaction I was used to getting from non-race-car-driving men. “Yep. Have you heard of
RickThe Saleen looked more than a little out of place outside the motel in Greenwood, Indiana. All the other vehicles were either crossovers driven by young families, sedans owned by business people, or pickup trucks.My car caught more than a few eyes from the people lounging near the swimming pool on the right side of the motel when I got out and crossed the parking lot to duck into the lobby to book a room.A young man, probably twenty-four or so with curly red hair and trendy black-framed glasses, looked up from his phone screen, took his feet down from the desk, and pulled his headphones off.“Good evening,” he said a little hurriedly, realizing he’d been caught in the act of slacking off while getting paid.“Evening. I’d like a room, please.”“For one?”I nodded.“Name?”“Benjamin Harris,” I lied.Torq had been on my tail ever since I’d left LA three months ago, but over the last few weeks, I’d managed to shake him, and I was fairly certain that this time, he wasn’t going to ca
RickI waved over my shoulder before hooking a right and making my way down the length of the hotel as he had instructed. When I walked by the pool, I felt a lot of eyes on me, but I didn’t turn toward them. Instead, I kept my head down, made it to my room, slid the key in the slot, and let myself in.The place was standard. Nothing fancy. But it was clean and smelled like lemons and eucalyptus. The sheets were soft, and the bed was firm.“This will do,” I said. My tense muscles and aching body were already singing sweet hallelujahs just at the thought of lying down in that bed.But first, food.I ended up ordering in from a pizza place not far from the hotel to avoid having to get back in my car. They delivered within half an hour, and I gorged myself on cheese bread and pizza while watching garbage television on a tiny screen. After I cleaned up my mess, I could barely keep my eyes open and decided that nine o’clock was not too early to go to bed.Then I remembered that I should pro
HarleyCharlie was in the passenger seat holding Benji’s hand while he drove, and try as I might, I couldn’t bury the feelings of jealousy that rose up inside me. I wanted that. I wanted all of that.Laina glanced over her shoulder at me and grinned. “So, are you excited?”I nodded. “And a bit nervous.”“There’s nothing to be nervous about,” she assured me. “Right, Benji? It’s just Rick. He’ll be the same guy he was when he left, and I’m sure everything will go back to how it was in no time.”“Definitely,” Benji agreed.I licked my lips.That was part of the problem. I didn’t want it to go back to how it was. I wanted it to be different. I wanted it to be me and him. But that was a pipe dream. He’d left me behind, and that sent a very clear message that he was no longer interested in what I had to offer.I couldn’t blame him. I’d turned him down more than enough times to earn myself a seat on the bench.“I’m excited to see the bastard,” Benji said, taking a right on Mason and Laina’s
HarleyWe poked fun at Rick in his absence while we waited for him to arrive. After receiving a text message, Mason informed us that Rick was running a little bit behind and got caught up in traffic, so Laina went into the kitchen and reduced the heat on the curry to let it simmer and stay hot until he arrived.I joined her in the kitchen and topped up my sangria from the massive punch bowl filled with fruit and ice floating around in the cherry-purple concoction. “Want some?” I offered.Laina lifted her cup from where it was on the counter. “I already topped off my drink. Thanks, though.” She turned to face me, leaned against the counter, and crossed her arms under her breasts. “So?”“So what?”“How are you feeling? Are you nervous about seeing him?”I gave her a flat look. “Babe, I don’t get nervous. This is Rick we’re talking about. It will be great to see him.”She arched a skeptical eyebrow. “Right.”“I mean it. I’m moving on. I can’t stay hung up on him when I know he’s probably