Sour Cherry(16)

“Hell, yeah.” I stepped inside the cool interior of the fast food joint and hoped the air conditioning would cool the internal flames licking up my body. I went straight to the counter, ignoring the surreptitious glances toward my nose then toward Cooper, and ordered my food to distract myself from Cooper’s sexy side glances. The thousand bucks in my bra helped foot the bill, but I didn’t know how long it’d be before I saw more cash. I had to watch what I spent.

They called my number. I got my food and went directly into the play area. As desolate as Pahrump was, I’d expected there to be at least one child running around. The place was empty. I didn’t mind, though. Just meant I could do whatever I wanted in here. A naughty thought crossed my mind. Cooper could join me in the multi-colored ball pen.

He sat down across from me as I nibbled on an over-salted fry. I didn’t normally allow myself such unhealthy luxuries, but couldn’t argue with my stomach or the hamburger begging me to take a bite. “You know, usually on a first date, you offer to pay for the lady’s meal.”

“Good thing this isn’t a date.” He took a bite of burger, talking around it. “And you’re not a lady.”

I feigned insult, gasping and throwing my hand to my chest. I made sure my voice turned whiney and British, classic Victorian era. “My word, what makes you say that?”

Cooper smiled through the pickles and mayonnaise then wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. Drops of ketchup landed in his lap, but he didn’t seem to notice. “You eat like a pig for one.”

I shoved the rest of my hamburger in my mouth as fast as I could. I liked this banter between us. Made me think we could really have something in common. You know, besides both our clubs wanting to kill us. “At least I can keep it in my mouth.”

“That’s ʼcause you have a big mouth.” He laughed then, a deep rumble reverberating in my lower belly.

The teasing and joking felt good. Right. Of course my life had been changed by a single stupid decision. Okay, maybe a couple stupid decisions, but Cooper gave me hope that I could start over. Have a fresh start. As frightening as it sounded, I needed this like I’d never needed anything before in my life. I needed someone I could share my stupid jokes with and who could meet me head on, mentally and physically. Cooper met the specs, at least so far. But if life treated everyone fair, I wouldn’t be in a McDonald’s dreaming of a future with a man who wasn’t the type to give up freedom for commitment. In my experience, aside from Ryder and Amelia, biker boys chose the road over love. My father had done it. All my brothers in the club had done it. I guess what it came down to was, I was ready to give up this life, but was he?

What the hell was I thinking? I’d known the man for three days and I’d literally just lumped us together like we were in love. “How’s Plan B coming along?” I asked, more to distract myself from my traitorous thoughts than to really know.

Cooper took another swipe at his face with the back of his hand then met my gaze. With a serious expression and low voice, he said, “I’m going to hand you over to your club.”

My breath hitched. Well, that changed things.

****

I chuckled. Again, an inappropriate time, but I couldn’t help it. “That’s your plan?” I couldn’t let his words sink in. Despite my willingness to travel all over the state from warehouse to warehouse with him, I wouldn’t go back to my club quietly. If it came down to it, I’d sabotage his bike. The thought made me wince. I had such respect for a beautiful piece of machinery like his, but if it saved my life, I’d rip that sucker apart. I even knew how.

“You know what I want. How else am I going to get it?” Cooper finished his food then crumbled up the wax paper it’d been wrapped in. Tossing it into a nearby trash bin, he refused to meet my gaze. “Turning you in is logical.”

“Okay, Mr. Spock, but tell me this. What happens when I don’t go willingly? You going to tie me up and throw me over your bike?” I should have kept my mouth shut. I didn’t want to give him any ideas.

“Do you even know who Mr. Spock is?”

Completely off topic.

“Don’t try to change the subject and yes, I do. I know every episode of Star Trek, and all spinoffs, forward and backward.” Not something I normally admitted out loud, but there it was: I am a sexy nerd. I crossed my arms across my chest. It could have been the environment or the simple fact he’d ruined my fantasy that made me so belligerent. “Come up with another plan.”

Cooper leaned back in his chair. “If I turn you in to the Outriggers, I have leverage to campaign for president of Satan’s Army.”