Page 13 of Single Mom's Biker Brigade
“Direct. Sharp.” I angled my head to the side and gave her a measured look. “Mysterious people make you guess. You don’t bother.”
“Wow.” She snorted and tossed her head, sending her braid over her shoulder with a flick of her wrist. “Maybe you’re just not worth the effort.”
“Ouch.” I palmed my chest and grinned. “Let’s add spicy to the list.”
“If you’re keeping a list, you can add not interested.”
She said it, but her eyes lingered on me, her gaze traveling down my body and back up in a slow perusal.
“Liar.” I tapped the end of her nose.
“Oh, you’re definitely that one. And you can stop fishing. I’m not about to get hooked.”
The laugh came out bold and rich enough to turn Diesel’s head from across the room. I ignored him, and the way Hawk kept shooting glances my way, and concentrated on the only thing that mattered.
Callie’s head tipped a tiny bit to the side, and her lips twitched.
Not interested, huh? I’d bet my bike she knew how to have a good time, and I planned on showing her I could too.
It usually didn’t take me this long to get a read on someone. Forty-five seconds or less on most days.
But not Callie. Maybe she’d been right from the beginning and she really was an enigma. I liked that thought more than I wanted to.
She reached past me, grabbing another beer.
Her arm crossed mine, putting us skin to skin as her forearm slid forward and back until the bite of the cold bottle dripped onto my arm and she retreated.
Once she cracked the cap and took a drink, she gave me one of those close-lipped smiles that made her cheeks pinch. “What do you actually do around here besides sit at bars?”
“I’m the road lieutenant.”
“I know your title.” She rolled her eyes. “What does that mean?”
“It means I ride first. I scout the route, read the ground, and get the crew out before a situation turns deadly.” I leaned forward just enough to box her in, testing her statement about not being interested.
Her pupils dilated, and she licked her lower lip.
Busted.
I smiled slowly, letting it spread wide enough to show my teeth. “Hawk decides where we’re going. I figure out how to get there and back in one piece.”
She nodded, her gaze shooting to the corner where Hawk stood. “What happens when you can’t get out?”
“Never had it happen.” My shrug wasn’t nearly as careless as hers. “Had some close calls, but there hasn’t been a situation yet that I haven’t seen and moved us around.” I held up a finger as her lips parted. “It’s not luck.”
She bit her bottom lip and kept quiet.
Hawk glanced our way again, this time with an intent behind the look that warned me to back off.
Nah. I liked where I was sitting, and I’d seen Callie in action. She could get me to move or leave at any time.
Ricky cut across the room, his macho grin in place and his chest puffed out. He swaggered over and dropped a hand onto the bar behind Callie. “So you’re the new wrench, huh?”
“That’s what Hawk says.” She kept her back to him, which surprised me. I expected her to fling and run, or look at me to intercede.
I would if I needed to, but a quick look at the way her eyes transformed into cold pits stopped me.
“Pretty small for a mechanic.” Ricky’s fingertips trailed over her shoulder and across to the back of her neck.
