Page 99 of Smokey's Distraction
“Don’t shut down on me. I’m happy you want to spend time with me.” Leaning into him, she rested her hand on his arm and nuzzled against his shoulder.
Cupping her cheek, he raised her face up to his. “It’s nothing between us. Just got some club stuff on my mind.” His lips came down on hers. As the kiss grew deeper, more intense, she reveled in the sensation of his mouth devouring hers.
A horn honking in the parking lot interrupted them, and they broke apart.
Smokey burst out laughing. “Fucking Eric. He always has bad timing.”
A slender man with sandy brown hair got out of a flashy red convertible and waved at them. Lifting his chin, Smokey rocked back on his heels as Eric approached.
“Hey,” Eric greeted, taking in Ashley’s face.
“Hey,” Smokey replied, putting his arm around her shoulders. “Eric, this is Ashley. Ashley, this is Eric. Why don’t we all head inside?”
Once they entered, Ashley waited for her eyes to adjust to the dim light of the bar.
“Grab a table. I’ll be back in a few,” Smokey said before moving away.
Seeing Whitney setting down a drink in front of a patron, Ashley made her way to the bar.
“Hi, Whitney.”
“Hiya. What brings you in so early on a Saturday?”
“I came with Smokey. He has to talk to Eric about something.”
Whitney leaned over the counter, her brown eyes twinkling. “Smokey?You’ve gotta tell me what’s going on there.”
“We work together.”
“I knowthat.So why are you here with your boss?”
Scanning the room for any sign of Smokey, she moved in closer to Whitney’s ear. “I bumped into him at the Twisted Spoke last night.”
“And?”
“We’re here today.”
Whitney’s eyes widened. “Because you spent the night together, right?”
Ashley’s lips twitched as she tried to fight the grin threatening to spread across her face. “Right.”
“Shit, girl!” Whitney yelped, smacking Ashley’s forearm. “He’s a sweet, cool dude, but he has a terrible weakness for the ladies. I love him as a friend, but I don’t want to see you get hurt.”
“We’re just hanging out, that’s all.” She played it cool, not letting on how he affected her.
“As long as you’re in it for the short-term, and your eyes are wide open, it should be fine. And what the hell were you doing at a biker baralone? I’ll only go there with Bruiser, and even then, it can get dicey when the guys get real shit-faced.”
“I forgot your boyfriend is a biker. Is he with a club?”
“No—he just likes to ride. He works sometimes with Smokey’s company doing construction. So tell me, what were you doing there?”
“I went to talk to Toque about working with some teens from the shelter. I didn’t know it was a biker bar until I got there. If I had, I wouldn’t have gone.”
“I’m kind of slammed here, Whitney.” Irritation laced Jared’s voice.
“Oh, shit—I’m sorry. There was only one person here five minutes ago, I swear.”
“Whatever,” he mumbled, staring at Ashley.
