Sinful Protector (Roughshod Rollers MC 2)

lison is just approaching it from the street, and I can hear the sound of the bus meandering away in the distance. She looks up as I approach, blinking in surprise to see me.

Then she sighs and gives me a small smile.

“You’re really damn persistent, you know?” she says.

I smile slightly. “So I’ve been told.”

She rolls her eyes. She doesn’t seem angry anymore, which is a good thing.

“Come on, then,” she says, shaking her head. “If you’re going to stalk me, you can come and help me set up.”

“I’m not stalking you!” I protest, but I follow her anyway, into the building and up the familiar steps to the second floor, where her apartment is. Then what she said hits me and I frown. “Set up?”

“Yeah,” Allison says.

She shoves some bags at me, which I remember her carrying when she left the college, too. Startled, I grab them before they call and peer into them. They’re full of candy, chips and bottles of drink.

“I’m having a small party tonight,” she explains. “It’s not anything big, just some friends over to drink and play games.”

“I see,” I say as she unlocks her door and we enter. “So what do you need to set up?”

“Mostly we just need to put food in bowls and the drinks in the fridge,” she says. “I do need to go back out and get some alcohol, though; I couldn’t take that to class.”

I try to imagine Allison walking into class with a case of beer and I snort at the image.

“Exactly,” Allison says with a grin, making a beeline for the kitchen and opening a cupboard. “Come and grab a bowl, I have a lot.”

For several minutes the apartment is only full of the sounds of us opening plastic bags and pouring food into the bowls. I sneak a glimpse at Allison; the darkness is gone from her face and she doesn’t seem opposed to me being here.

“What time are your friends arriving?” I ask.

“Why, do you want to stay?” she asks.

I blink. Is that an option? I didn’t even consider it before now. If Allison is having a party, then it means she won’t be alone tonight, which is exactly what I wanted to prevent. But…

“Yes,” I say before I can stop myself.

She laughs as though she had expected that answer, and I relax.

“Yeah, I figured, since you followed me home,” she teases. “Fine, you stalker, you can stay for the party. Just try not to scare my friends.”

“I’m not a stalker,” I say, rolling my eyes.

She just grins at me so I throw a potato chip at her. Allison bursts into laughter, and I feel like my heart might burst from happiness at the sound too. I smile slightly; how is it possible for me to be so fond of this woman that I barely know?

I shake the thought away. It doesn’t mean anything.

“Alright, if you’re staying, you can make yourself useful and grab the alcohol,” Allison decides. “Since you have transport and I don’t, it’s only fair.”

I glance at her. Her back is turned to me, now, so I can’t see her expression.

“Yeah, sounds good,” I say. “I’ll go now. Do you have a list?”

She turns back. She’s all smiles, but there’s a sharp edge to it. I remember Jacqui telling me that she has personal reasons for disliking motorbikes, but I know, instinctively, that now is not the moment to ask.

“Let me write it down,” she says.

I don’t know what’s going on exactly but, suddenly, I don’t care. I’m only here for one reason, after all. And that’s to make sure that Jesse doesn’t come here.