Sinful Protector (Roughshod Rollers MC 2)

nd powerful. He leans in closer, his nose just barely brushing against mine.

“What about this?” he asks.

“A little closer,” I whisper.

He leans in. I can feel his breath on my lips, his heated body brushing against mine. I close my eyes, waiting for our lips to meet…

A loud knock sounds at the door, and we spring apart like startled cats, disoriented and confused by the suddenness of the intrusion into our world. My heart is racing for two different reasons now, and I adjust my robe, flustered.

“Allison!”

I groan at the high pitched whine, rubbing the bridge of my nose.

“Damn it,” I mutter.

“Who is it?” Kyle asks with a frown.

“It’s Mrs. Phillips,” I say with a sigh. “She lives next door.”

Kyle runs a hand through his hair. “She has the worst fucking timing.”

“Tell me about it,” I groan. “But I better see what she wants, or she’ll be knocking all day.” I glance at him. “Uh…would you mind staying out of sight? Only, she’s a horrible gossip…”

“Got it,” Kyle says with a nod, disappearing into my bedroom.

I sigh and head to the door. I’m annoyed and bereft of the attention that I thought I was about to receive from Kyle. As such, I open the door a little harder than I meant to, and the smile I give the old woman on the other side is hard and sharp.

“What can I do for you, Mrs. Phillips?” I ask as politely as I can manage.

The old woman scowls at me, not cowed at all.

“You and those friends of yours were ridiculously loud last night,” she scolds. “You didn’t even tell me you were having a party!”

Someone, give me patience.

“I did, Mrs. Phillips,” I say. “I told everyone on Tuesday night.”

Mrs. Phillips huffs, not looking convinced.

“Then there’s that motorcycle down in the alley beside the building,” she exclaims. “It’s been there all night! Allen saw it on his way to work and asked me about it, but of course, I have no idea. I don’t associate with that riff-raff. I’m sure no one here does.”

I feel my eye twitch. This is too much. Not only does she interrupt Kyle and I, but now she’s insulting him? Granted, she probably doesn’t realize that she’s insulting someone that I know, but I find that I’m too irritated to care about that.

“I see,” I say. “Well, I’m sorry we disturbed you, Mrs. Phillips, but I am busy today, so…”

“No respect,” the old woman grouses, glaring at me. “And after I came over here to tell you about this letter at your door!”

I pause.

“Letter?” I ask, confused.

Mrs. Phillips taps her cane on the ground. I look down and step back. There’s a plain white envelope right outside my door. The old woman scowls at me.

“Did you leave it there?” she demands.

“Not me,” I promise. “Someone must have dropped it off.”

“Was it that bastard who was banging on your door at that ridiculous hour the other night?” she asks with a scowl.