Page 28 of Rough Return

But not for the woman who had a thousand responsibilities to a motorcycle club with shipments to deliver and money to collect. She threw off the blanket and stood, glad for once she’d gone back to pajama pants and old t-shirts for sleeping. The lingerie she’d bought for Grier sat dry-rotting in her underwear drawer since she’d woken up and bumped into Tyler Sedotal in the bathroom. His gaze, it had felt more like a leer, made her uncomfortable, and she hadn’t been looking for a repeat performance.

Coffee. She wanted some. Maybe because she smelled it brewing and knew she hadn’t set the timer last night. Because she’d wanted to sleep in this morning, and she liked the just brewed taste rather than the couple-hours-old bite. She opened the drawer next to the bed and slid the .22 her father had given her from the nightstand drawer.

She held it in her left hand and wrapped her right hand around the bottom of the handle just the way Max had shown her. Steady. Strong. Fearless. Nary a tremble. Back against the wall, she edged down the steps as silent as if she still slept. She peeked around the wall as she came down the steps. She could see a black boot, a knee clad in blue denim. Who the hell would break in to sit at her table and drink coffee? No one. But Tyler would let himself in, make himself right at home. She lowered the gun to her side and walked into her kitchen as if she wasn’t just ready to end someone.

When she saw him, she stopped. Closed her eyes, rubbed them to make sure they weren’t playing with her, then opened them. Still Grier. His hair hung in damp strands over the collar of his leather jacket, and he smiled when he saw her. “Good morning, sleepy.”

She set the gun on the table, just to let him know she had it, then went to the coffee maker and poured a cup. It wasn’t until she sat across from him that she really looked at him, past the grassy green eyes, the hint of beard that was either meant to be sexy or meant he was too lazy to buy a razor. She decided on sexy.

“What are you doing here?”

“Woke up passed out in a field.” He said it as if it was no big deal.

Since she couldn’t decide how or if his answer explained his presence, she concentrated on the fact he’d rather sleep in a field than with her. Even coffee wouldn’t help her angry disposition now. She shoved her mug away and crossed her arms. The glare she shot him didn’t affect him more than to elicit a smile. “Marriage make you an alcoholic?” Not that he’d acted much like he was married since Max’s funeral.

“Not at all.” He ran his finger around the lip of his mug. Fiona couldn’t tear her gaze away. “Last night, the trucks got hit. There were men waiting on both routes.” He leaned back in his chair and crossed his legs, that damned finger still circling the mug. “Nate found Hamilton and Frank this morning. Neither one could say what happened.”

“They didn’t know?”

“Broken jaws.”

And still that damned finger… This time, though, she looked away. Hamilton, her best friend, with a broken jaw.

“Who?” She watched him and his non-reaction said more than anything else he might have spoken. “You have an idea?”

He kept his face blank, and dammit, she couldn’t read him. “No.”

Yes, he did. The flicker in his eye said he wasn’t quite comfortable lying. Damned if she planned to tell him. “Where are they?”

“Ham is with Jez now. Frank’s at home.” He straightened. “What about the other truck?”

“Empty. Burned. Driver’s missing.”

Shit. That shipment, and the other, were meant for a new client. Someone they would lose. “What about the riders escorting the second truck?”

“Your boyfriend got a little roughed up. Said he didn’t see anything until the car ran them off the road. He passed out. Has some road rash, a couple of black eyes.” Grier stood. “Don’t worry. I’m sure he’ll be back tonight.” He watched her face, tried measuring her. Frowned when she showed nothing. “For you.”

His mouth twitched as he clenched his jaw. So he could almost hide a lie, but the jealousy on his face was as bright as a beacon.

She nodded, pleased with all she’d learned. “Good to know.” But she’d told Tyler to put four men on each truck. So far, she’d heard about three total. “What about the others?”

He listed the casualties. “Jez is taking care of them.”

The missing shipments would be a problem. A big one. She needed to get on the phone and do some damage control. “I need to get on this.”

He nodded but didn’t move. “Sage is on it with your boyfriend.”

Boyfriend. That was the second time. She waited.

“Are you seeing him?” She didn’t answer, continued watching him. He clenched his fist. “Are you fucking him?”

“Do you care?” He looked down and relaxed his hand. “Do. You. Care?”

Grier stood and walked to the French doors that led to her back yard. “I asked first.” He shook his head. “And I know. I don’t deserve an answer. I just… want one.” The way his voice dropped sent shivers over her skin. Shoulder to toe.

“You don’t want me. What do you care?” She kept her tone hard. Ignored the ping in her chest.

“Don’t want you.” He scoffed. “I wish that was true.” He continued speaking to the window. “I want you so bad I can’t think. I can’t sleep. I think about you… all the time.”