Page 19 of Riding Hard

“You already finished everything?” he asks.

I’m standing with a mop in my hand. I’ve cleaned bedrooms, changed sheets, and have bags of trash at the end of the hallway. Now I’m wondering if I missed something, because judging by the way he’s looking at me, I’ve fucked up… big time.

I open my mouth to apologize, although I’m not sure what for. I followed all his directions, and I tried really hard to get the job done well. He takes a step toward me, then shifts so he looks around me, down the hall.

“You changed the sheets?” he asks

“I did.”

“Cleaned, dusted, disinfected?”

“Yes, yes, and yes.”

Alex chuckles. “You’re ambitious. I would have taken at least five breaks, especially after that bathroom,” he mutters.

I open my mouth to apologize, but then he winks. “I get it,” he says. “You want the job.”

He’s right. I do—desperately. Not only is this so freaking awesome, but it’s the best gig I could ever have dreamed of. I couldn’t imagine a better job than this. The cleaning is just one part, but there’s being with Alex and Elodie. I’ve never really had friends before, but I feel like that’s what they are.

Friends.

CHAPTER

SIXTEEN

LOOT

Leaning my shoulder against the doorjamb, I watch as she moves around the clubhouse. She’s gathering her shit, likely getting ready to leave for the day. Her duties here complete. I should be glad for it, mainly because I don’t need to get tangled up in any woman right now, especially not one who I might want to actually keep.

Not sure how I know I’d want to keep her, but there’s something about her. She’s definitely not a clubwhore. There’s something special about her. I can tell just from watching her move around the room, but it’s more than that.

It’s the look in her eyes.

No, not in her eyes—behind them.

I can’t take my gaze off her. I don’t know what’s better, her moving around the clubhouse or her bent over in front of me. That sounds stupid, even to myself. Any woman bent over in front of me is always better.

Will always be.

Especially her—whoever she is.

Alex stops at the door, and he looks over his shoulder before his eyes find mine. I watch as they widen, and my lips twitch into a smirk before I jerk my chin in his direction. He shakes his head a couple of times, then looks at the girl and murmurs something.

She doesn’t look over to me, but I have a feeling that she’s trying not to. Her spine straightens, and her muscles tighten. He’s said something about me, that I’m watching her. I don’t care.

I’m glad he did.

I dare her to look back at me, hoping she will, but she doesn’t. At least those are the signals I’m sending her way. Look at me. I want her to see me staring at her. Look at me.

Fucking beautiful, that’s what she is. But she doesn’t steal a glance in my direction, even if that’s exactly what I want her to do.

“You good, Loot?” a voice calls out.

I don’t look away from the cleaner girl—I can’t. I still want her to look at me, to see the way I watch her. I want her to know that I’m going to have her. I don’t know when, but I’m going to know what she feels like… from the inside out. I am mesmerized by everything that is her.

“I’m good,” I lie.

Rocky stands a few feet away from me, though she’s not looking at me. I can tell. No doubt she’s looking exactly where I am. At her. Probably trying to figure out why I’m watching her. Why I’m staring so intently.