Loving The Biker (MC Biker Romance)

by Cassie Alexandra

  I frowned. His voice sounded very different from the caller’s. My gut told me he wasn’t the same guy. “Did you happen to find a phone in here?”

  “No. Why?”

  “My friend that was in here is missing his. Did you happen to see anyone else in here within the last fifteen minutes?”

  “No. Just you and your friend.” He smiled. “Cole.”

  “So, you know him?” I asked, curious.

  He nodded. “I’ve done some of his ink and once in a while, we spot for each other at the gym here.”

  “Really? He didn’t mention that,” I replied, wondering if this guy really did have Cole’s phone and was messing with me.

  “I think he had his mind on other things,” replied the guy with a twinkle in his eyes.

  “Are you sure that nobody else stopped in here?” I asked ignoring his comment.

  He thought back and then his eyes lit up. “Actually, now that I think about it, some older dude stuck his head in. It was just for a second.”

  My eyes widened. “Did he say anything to you?”

  “No. He was busy checking his phone.”

  “Checking his phone… Could he have been taking a picture?”

  The stranger shrugged. “Yeah. I guess he could have been doing that. Why?”

  “Just curious. What did the guy look like?”

  “I didn’t pay him much attention. The only thing I really noticed was that he was older.”

  “How old?”

  “Fifties. Maybe even sixties.”

  “Did he have glasses? A beard? Or anything else that you can think of?”

  “His face was pock-marked and tan. He had a lot of gray in his hair.”

  “Heavy set?”

  “I don’t know. Like I said, he just stuck his head inside the doorway. Why? What’s going on?”

  “Nothing. Thank you for the information,” I said, sighing. I left the room and went out to the parking lot, hoping that I hadn’t missed Cole. When I noticed that his motorcycle was still in the parking lot, I walked back into the building and waited for him outside of the locker room. Ten minutes later, he strolled out, frowning. When he noticed me, his face brightened.

  “Hey, what’s up?” he asked, stopping next to me.

  “Are you missing your cell phone?” I replied, noticing that he’d taken a shower and was now wearing a tight-fitting T-shirt that said “Griffin’s”

  He looked surprised. “Yeah. How did you know? Did you find it?”

  “No, but the person who apparently has it sent me this,” I said, and then showed him the picture.

  His face twisted into an angry scowl. “What the fuck?”

  “Yeah, I know. Real cute. When was the last time you saw your phone?”

  “I’m certain I had it when I arrived. I usually store it in my locker when I’m working out. I noticed that it wasn’t there when I went back in to take a shower. I searched the locker room and went back to the gym, but didn’t see it.”

  “Do you use a lock?”

  “Yes,” he answered. “And it was still locked when I went back there after my workout.”

  “The person who sent me this photo, using your phone, was the same one who called me when we were in the gym. I spoke to the guy who was in there with us and he mentioned that someone poked their head in and could have taken the picture.”

  “Quinn? Did he know the guy who took the picture?” asked Cole.

  “Doesn’t sound like it.” I gave him Quinn’s description of the man.

  “Could have been anyone,” said Cole, running a hand quickly through his damp hair.

  “Not anyone. Someone who knows us both and is trying to piss me off.”

  He sighed. “Do you have any idea of who it could be?”

  Bronson’s face popped into my head. He was in his thirties though and didn’t fit the description. “No. I guess I don’t.”

  Cole swore. “I need my damn phone back. If I get my hands on this guy, he’s in deep shit.”

  “You should call your phone carrier and see if they can track it down,” I said.

  He nodded. “Good idea. I’ll have to do that,” he replied and then looked toward the front desk. “I should probably check the Lost and Found, too.”

  “I guess it can’t hurt.”

  “Cole!”

  We both turned around and saw Quinn heading toward us. He was holding up a cell phone.

  Cole’s face lit up. “Sweet. My phone. Where did you find it?”

  “It was sitting in the locker room,” he replied. “On the bathroom sink.”

  “How did you know it was his?” I asked, still not too sure about Quinn.

  “Easy.” He looked at Cole. “I went in and looked at a couple of the texts and pictures. One of them was of your most recent tattoo. Obviously, I recognized it.”

  “Nothing else like it, brother,” said Cole, raising his shirt.

  “You did that?” I asked, staring in appreciation at the dragon on Cole’s abs.

  Quinn nodded.

  “Wow. Great work.”

  “Thank you,” he replied. “It took quite a few hours. Ask Cole about it. He cried like a baby.”

  “Fuck you,” said Cole, smiling.

  “Okay, he whined like a baby,” said Quinn.

  “I was hangry,” said Cole, dropping his shirt. “I should have eaten something before showing up that day. Anyway, Quinn does excellent work. He’s my new go-to man.”

  “Thanks,” said Quinn. “You have any ink?”

  I shook my head.

  “If you ever decide to get one, stop in at Ink Me. I’ll do your first one for free.”

  My eyes widened. “Free?”

  “Once you get your first one, it’s like an addiction. He knows you’ll be back,” said Cole, looking through his phone.

  “I saw the picture with you two. That’s kind of weird, huh?” said Quinn. “It’s almost like someone is stalking one of you.”

  “No shit,” said Cole.

  “Could it be Patty?” asked Quinn.

  “I don’t think so,” said Cole. “At least I hope not.”

  “Then it probably was that old man I noticed in the gym. Did you tell Cole about him?” asked Quinn.

  “Yes,” I replied.

  “You ever see him here before?” asked Cole.

  “No, but then I don’t pay too much attention to other guys,” said Quinn. “When I’m here, I’m pretty focused on my workout. Or chicks.”

  “I hear you,” said Cole.

  “I have to get going. Good luck with the stalker. If I see him around, I’ll let you know,” said Quinn.

  “Thanks, man,” said Cole.

  Quinn looked at me. “Nice meeting you…?”

  “Terin,” I said. “Nice meeting you too, Quinn.”

  “Don’t forget… Ink Me. We just opened up in downtown Jensen. Tell your friends and neighbors.”

  “I won’t forget,” I said, amused.

  “And… if you want your cherry popped,” he said, winking. “I’m your man.”

  I raised my eyebrow. “Come again?”

  Cole laughed.

  “You have virgin skin,” explained Quinn, smiling.

  “Ah. So have you popped a lot of cherries?” I asked, thinking that he probably had a lot of young women standing in line to be tattooed.

  “I’ve had my share. Don’t worry, I’m very gentle. At least when I can be,” he added.

  “I’ll keep that in mind,” I replied.

  “Good luck catching the creepy old geezer,” said Quinn. “And I’ll see you around Cole.”

  “Definitely.”

  “So, did the asshole do anything to your phone?” I asked Cole, after Quinn left us.

  “Doesn’t appear like it,” he said, scowling.

  I nodded toward his phone. “You have anything in there that could get you into trouble?”

  “Besides the picture of you and me?” he said, smiling. “No.”

  “Could you
please erase it?”

  “Why?” he asked, pulling the photo up. “It’s a good picture.”

  I had to agree but that wasn’t the point. “Some creepoid took it.”

  Cole’s smile faded. “True.” He put his finger on the ‘Delete’ button. “If I erase it, will you let me take another one of you?”

  I tilted my head. “Why do you need a picture of me?” I asked dryly.

  “So I can assign it as your Contact picture,” he said innocently. “I wouldn’t want to forget what you looked like.”

  I snorted.

  “I’m serious. If you want me to delete it, then I need another.”

  “Fine,” I huffed.

  Smiling, he held his phone up. “Smile.”

  I did.

  “Beautiful. What would make it even better is if you,” Cole gave me a wicked smile, “raised your shirt.”

  I raised my middle finger instead.

  He laughed and took the picture.

  Twenty-four

  Cole

  After walking out of the gym, I called Tank from the parking lot and told him about the incident.

  “That’s fucked up. Someone is messing with the both of you.”

  “Apparently.”

  “It has to be someone from the Devil’s Rangers,” he added. “Could even be the same person who called in the ‘anonymous’ tip.”

  “I was thinking that myself.”

  “You on your way to Griffin’s?”

  “Yes. Obviously, I’m going to be a few minutes late.”

  “That’s fine. Have a good night.”

  “You’re not going to be there?”

  “No. Raina has to work late and I’m watching Billy. We just got done bringing her dinner.”

  “How’s he doing?”

  “Great. He’s such a good kid. Frannie just adores him. So do I.”

  “He’s easy to love,” I answered.

  “He sure is. Oh, I have to go. He needs help brushing his teeth before hitting the hay.”

  “Tell him I love him, will you?”

  “I will.”

  After hanging up with Tank, I jumped on my bike and headed to work, still wondering who the fuck had taken my phone. And even stranger, why did they bother to return it?

  Twenty-five

  Terin

  I didn’t feel like working out anymore so I grabbed my stuff, went home, and drew myself a hot bath. As the water ran, I took out my phone to look at the picture again. I had to admit, it was a good photo of the two of us. Especially of him. The man was dangerously sexy.

  Sighing, I went into the kitchen, poured myself a glass of wine, and brought into the bathroom with me. Then I lowered myself into the tub, had a few sips of wine, and closed my eyes, imagining Cole’s hand on my thigh and then other more intimate places.

  After my bath, I filled my vibrator with batteries and eventually fell asleep with a smile on my face.

  ***

  When my alarm went off the next morning, it felt as if I’d just closed my eyes. Yawning, I went into the kitchen, brewed a cup of coffee and turned on the television.

  “Two bodies were discovered, just after three a.m., near Center Lake. Officials have not yet released the identities of the two victims, but foul play is suspected.”

  My cell phone began to ring. It was Walters.

  “Hello,” I said, still staring at the television, which was now showing images of the lake and area where the bodies had been found.

  “You see the news?” asked Walters.

  “I’m watching it right now. Do we have any idea of who the victims were?”

  “Yep. The same two we’ve been looking for. Ronnie and Pete.”

  My jaw dropped. “You’re kidding? Both of them?”

  “Yes.”

  “How did they die?”

  “Pete was shot in the head and Ronnie was strangled.”

  “Were they killed at the same time?”

  “Annie, in Forensics, believes that Pete was killed several hours before Ronnie.”

  “So, Ronnie probably killed him and then someone decided to off Ronnie?”

  “Yeah. That’s what I’m thinking. Both were found in a stolen older model Chevy Impala. Pete was in the trunk and Ronnie was found shot in the back of the head, in the driver’s seat.”

  “Oh wow.”

  “It gets better,” he said, a smile in his voice.

  “What do you mean?”

  “There was evidence found, about ten feet from the vehicle.”

  “What did they find?”

  “A business card for Griffin’s. Written on the back was the name Cole Johnson.”

  Twenty-six

  Cole

  I woke up to the sound of someone pounding on my front door. I looked at the clock and it was nine a.m. It had been a late night and I was still tired as all hell.

  Grumbling to myself, I got out of bed, pulled on a pair of jeans, and headed downstairs to see who the fuck was disturbing me. It definitely wasn’t who I’d expected.

  “Terin. I mean, Detective… what are you doing here?” I asked, rubbing my eye.

  “I tried calling you but you didn’t answer your phone,” she said, staring at me.

  “Sorry. It’s probably in my kitchen. I was still sleeping,” I answered, reaching into my pocket. I pulled out a pack of mint gum and took a piece.

  “Late night?” she asked, watching me shove it into my mouth.

  “Yeah. You could say that. Do you want a piece of gum?”

  “I’m good.”

  “What about coffee? I can make some.”

  She nodded. “Sure.”

  I stepped aside and she walked into the foyer.

  “Nice place.”

  “I’m just renting it,” I told her, shutting the door. It was a newer townhouse and the landlady, a cougar who lived next door, had given me a great deal on the place. One, because she had the hots for me and two, because I agreed to mow the lawn and shovel during the winter. She’d hit on me a couple of times and once even showed up at my door wearing a miniscule bikini. The problem was that she was married and I didn’t fuck anyone with a ring on their finger, no matter how tempting the offering.

  She followed me into the kitchen.

  “You working right now?” I asked, noticing that she was dressed in gray slacks and a white blouse.

  “I’m on my way there.”

  “How do you like your coffee?” I asked, starting the coffee machine.

  “Do you have any cream or sugar?”

  “I’ve got some almond milk and sugar.”

  Her face brightened. “You drink almond milk?”

  “I’m lactose intolerant,” I told her. “Plus, I like it.”

  “I’ll have some, if that’s okay? And, don’t worry about the sugar.”

  “Okay.” I walked over to the refrigerator. “So, what’s going on? Did you figure out who took my phone last night?”

  “Nope. I did not and I take it you didn’t either?”

  “No. It really pisses me off, too. I almost want to get a new phone, knowing that someone was tampering with mine.”

  “I probably would myself,” she answered. “Anyway, speaking of last night, what time did you work until?”

  “The bar closed at two. I helped clean up and then went home. Why?”

  “Did you stop anywhere else?”

  “No.” I frowned. “What’s this about?”

  “You have people who can vouch for you?”

  I didn’t like her tone or the way she was looking at me. Like I was the enemy. “Yeah, why?”

  “Because someone murdered Ronnie last night and there was a business card with your name written on it, just a few feet away.”

  I stared at her in shock. “You’re kidding me? Ronnie’s dead?”

  She nodded. “You weren’t aware of this?”

  “No, of course not. Did they find Pete?”

  “Yes. They found him in the trunk of a car. One that Ronnie app
arently stole.”

  “Wait a second… you’re here because you think that I had something to do with it?”

  “Did you?”

  I scowled. “No. Of course not,” I said sharply. “Do you really think I’m a murderer?”

  “I would like to think that you’re not,” she said, studying my face. “But, the kind of people that you mix with are and I’m pretty sure you know that.”

  “And you have proof that my club brothers are murderers?” I barked.

  “Look, I’m just trying to do my job here,” she replied.

  I walked over to her. “And not doing very well at it, apparently. You know, just because they found a card with my name written on it, doesn’t mean I’m a fucking murderer,” I snapped.

  Twenty-seven

  Terin

  He was angrier than all hell and part of me couldn’t blame him. That is… if he was innocent. I wanted to believe that Cole was, but I really didn’t know him or what he was capable of.

  “Okay. So, it’s not you,” I said, staring up at him. “Could it be another member of the Gold Vipers? I mean, it makes the most sense, right?”

  “If it was one of them, I’d know,” said Cole.

  “But, obviously you wouldn’t tell me, right?”

  His eyes grew stormy.

  “It’s an honest question. I mean, isn’t that how clubs like this operate? You make your own rules and fuck everyone else?”

  He still didn’t say anything, which started to really piss me off.

  “Are you going to answer my questions, or do I need to bring you in?”

  Cole laughed coldly. “Bring me in for what? There’s no proof that I killed anyone. I have an alibi. And there is obviously no weapon linking me to the scene.”

  “How do you know they didn’t find a weapon?”

  “Because if they did and my fingerprints were on it, there’d be more than just you here right now.”

  “If I wanted to take you in, I could do it without any help,” I snapped.

  “Just like you did with Chips?” he asked, smiling cruelly.

  I clenched my jaw. “Fuck you.”

  He spit his gum out into the garbage can. “If you say so, detective.”

  I thought I’d heard him incorrectly but then he grabbed my arms and pulled me against his chest. Crushing his lips against mine, he forced my mouth open with his tongue, thrusting it inside of me. Overcome with my own pent up lust, I slid my hands around his neck and began kissing him back, my body aching with desire. The vibrator had taken the edge off last night, but it could never replace the touch of a real man, which I needed badly.