Cocky Biker(36)

Carmen waves and Tonk takes off running. Jealousy fires up my veins.

Fuckin’ hell.

Luna watches them for a second, then glances warily to me. She just nods.

Jesus.

I want to wait where I am, but my feet have a mind of their own. I meet her in the middle. “How was the trip?”

“Good,” she smiles. “She’s never been on a train. Pointed out so many pretty things it kinda wore me down. You shaved your beard.”

Tonk and Carmen are making out right on the platform, not caring who’s watching.

I’m trying not to care, and failing.

“Yeah. It itched. What do you mean it wore you down? Like you got tired of it?”

Luna shakes her head a little, just enough for her sweet shampoo smell to torture me. “No, I mean her being so innocent and happy made me see the beauty, too, after a while.”

“Ah,” I huff. “Well, that’s good.” I reach for her backpack, but she shakes her head.

“I’ve got it.”

“Just give me the bag.”

Luna’s dark eyes search me until she decides to give in. “Sorry. Not used to being around a gentleman.”

“Not used to being called one.” I throw it on my shoulder. and shout, “Hey lovebirds! Let’s go!”

Tonk breaks the kiss and grins at me, throwing his arm around her. They slowly make their way over. “Maverick Inn?”

“Yeah.”

We’ve been to Alpine before. With a population of just over six thousand, it’s a great place to rest your head and sleep like a baby on bourbon.

At this inn we have to check in with our credit cards. No plans on doing anything worth hiding here. Tonk gets The Superior Deluxe and Carmen beams at him, stroking his forearm like it’s his cock. The seventy-year-old behind the desk keeps watching, but he’s really trying not to. I can tell he wishes he was young again.

My jaw tightens as I step up. “Two Deluxe rooms.”

He blinks and looks at Luna, who’s probably the prettiest woman he’s ever seen. He steals an accidental glance at her rack and comes back to me.

“Two rooms?”

“Yeah.”

Edgy silence. Fun times. Sharing a look with Tonk, I drop my card on the counter and wait for the guy to make snails brag about how fast they are. Fuckin’ hell, man, hurry it up.

“We put a deposit on the cards to hold any costs for…”

“Yeah, I know. It’s cool.” Forcing a smile at Luna, I sign the receipt, and go to open the door for her. As she walks up, I mutter, “Don’t even say it.”

“Thank you, Jett,” she whispers.

I stare after her. That’s not what I thought she was gonna say.

After Carmen thanks me, too, Tonk hits my shoulder on his way out. He pauses. “Sorry, man.”

“Don’t.”

He nods and bows his head, looking at the key. “Carmen, baby, this way.”

Luna is waiting in front of the sand-colored one-story building. She follows as I head left scanning for our rooms.

The guy put us next to each other, which sucks so fuckin’ bad.

A little distance would have been better, but I’d never go ask him to change it and hurt her feelings. Never in a million years.

That’s not how Nancy Cocker raised me.

She raised us to be men.

Gruff, maybe.

Temperamental, fuck yes.

Pouty dickheads, NEVER.

“I gotta get some sleep, Sunshine. I’ll see you at breakfast.” Glancing over to the beautiful purple and gold sunset, I hand her the key.

“Sky sure is pretty,” she quietly says as she takes it.

I nod. “Yep. Sure is.” Meeting her eyes, I tell her, “But nothin’s more beautiful than you.”

Her mouth drops open and I turn on my weathered boot’s heel for the room next door. As the key slides into the lock with ease, I remember what it felt like to slide into her. I turn the doorknob, listening for her footsteps on the hot cement, but she’s still where I left her.

I don’t look over.

Don’t need to stick anymore glass in my heart.





Luna





This place is definitely one of the nicer motels I’ve been in. Well, I guess they did call it an ‘Inn,’ so maybe that’s the difference. Elegant Southwestern décor is how their pamphlet describes it. Big fan of the slanted wood ceilings and log bed frame. Warm and cozy.

But it’s doing nothing to calm me down.

I’ve got ants under my skin. Red ones. That’s what this feels like.

A king size bed for just me. It looks lonely.

And Jett is on the other side of the wall.

I jump at a tentative knock on the door. Grinning and relieved, I run — literally run — to answer it.

Swinging it wide, I freeze.

Carmen’s eyes go big. “Oh Luna! I’m sorry. It’s just me.”