Barely Undercover: Legal Heat Book 2(19)
A heavy thud on the door rattled the windows. Lana shot out of her seat and shared a wide-eyed glance with Jackie.
“Were you expecting anyone?” Jackie twisted her long black braid around her finger, her trademark stress move.
Lana shook her head. “Except for an enraged Heartless Bastard, no one. Go look through the peephole. If it is him, I don’t want him to know I’m here.”
Jackie walked across the room and peered through the tiny security window. “It’s a biker. He’s facing the other way. Dang nasty patch. Three evil-looking dogs.”
Heart pounding, Lana ran to the window, almost overwhelmed with the need to escape. She opened the catch and pushed against the glass. “Describe him.”
“Tall. Broad shoulders. Longish hair. Kinda like a rock star. Very sweet tight ass,” Jackie whispered. “Oh. He’s turned around. Sweet mother of hotness. He’s got the rough, grizzled thing going, but he’s one hell of a looker. Blue, blue eyes. One of them is staring right at me.”
“Lana. Open up.” The rough edge to James’s voice sent a shiver down Lana’s spine.
“It’s him,” Lana rasped. “Heartless Bastard. Get over here and help me with the window. If he comes in, he’ll find a way to stop me from going to the barbeque, but once I’m there he’ll just have to roll with it.” She tugged on the window. “Damn. It’s stuck.”
Jackie looked back over her shoulder and gave Lana an exasperated toss of her hair. “Just be quiet and I’ll tell him you’re not here.”
“Who is it?” Jackie yelled.
“I need to speak to Lana.”
Jackie giggled. Lana shot her a glare. “Don’t laugh. You’re not supposed to know who he is. A strange biker is at the door. Do you laugh or threaten to call the police?”
“I can’t help it,” she snorted. “It’s like a bad movie. Your ex is at the door and you’re trying to escape through the window. Who does that? Come on. Pull up those big girl panties and tell him where to go.”
“Just tell him I’m not here.”
Jackie took a deep breath. “She says she’s not here.”
“Jackie!”
“Sorry. I can’t think straight,” Jackie whispered. “I’m running on a junk food high after that chip.” She turned back to the door and yelled, “I mean she doesn’t live here anymore. She moved after some two-bit loser ripped out her heart.”
“That’s good. That’s exactly how I felt.” Lana pounded her fist on the window, but it wouldn’t budge. “Tell him I also felt betrayed.”
Shaking her head, Jackie called out, “It was the worst kind of betrayal. She never recovered. Last anyone heard she was living on the streets.”
“Too much.” Lana made a chopping motion with her hand to silence her friend.
“Lana, open the fucking door.”
“Bad language. Just like you said.” Jackie gave her a wicked grin. “He’s a feisty one, and in that badass jacket… You sure you don’t want him to come in?”
Lana frowned. “How many weekends did you sit here with me, eating ice cream and watching B-rated sci-fi movies? You know what he did to me. How could you even suggest I let him in? And how will I face down my fears if he stops me from going to the clubhouse?”
Jackie gave her an apologetic shrug. “I only met you after you guys split up. I never got to meet him. But after hearing what happened in the field and seeing your cheeks all flushed, I’m thinking you should let him in to talk. He looks anxious, not angry. I don’t think he came here to hurt you. Maybe he’s worried you’ll go to the clubhouse alone. Do you think he’ll go away?”
Lana gave a bitter laugh. “Ironically, except for walking out on me, he’s not the going-away, giving-up type. But he’s not coming in. I don’t want to see him.”
“You should.” Jackie’s face softened. “If only to get it all out, once and for all. Then you can move on, whether to the barbeque or another guy. At the very least, all the things you wanted to say won’t be burning a hole in your gut.”
“Babe. Last time. Open the fucking door or I’ll break it down.”
Jackie’s eyes widened. “He’s like the big, bad wolf. Would he really break down the door? I thought he was a cop. Aren’t they all about restraint and obeying the law?”
Lana sighed. “Not when it comes to me. For some reason, I make him overreact. And he is a man of his word. So the answer to your question is yes, if he’s pushed enough, he will break down the door.”