Her shoulders fall, and her head drops forward. “It’s nothing personal. Actually, it’s very personal. Kelsey and I may not get along, but I care about her.”
“As long as she does what you want her to do? Newsflash, sweet cheeks, that ain’t love.”
I step up beside her and pull out my phone to snap a pic of her license plate for a later check. Just because she says she’s Kelsey’s sister doesn’t mean she’s on the level.
“Looks like we’re not the only ones you’ve pissed off.” I nod in the direction of the front tire on the driver’s side. It’s not just slashed. Someone had dug a knife in and twisted it.
A clear message if I ever saw one.
McKenna looks at the tire and circles the car. Her dismay grows with every punctured tire.
“You did this,” she accuses, hazel eyes lasering in on me.
“Not me. I’ve been talking to you this whole time, sweet cheeks.”
She folds her arms, blonde hair blowing in the breeze, and stares at me. “What about your friend?”
“Haven’t you noticed? My friend is gone, sweetheart. Fact is, I would have rather followed you to whoever put you up to following me. Make my job a hell of a lot easier.”
Last thing I want is this back and forth with this woman, even if it is fun and she’s nice to look at.
“Don’t call me sweetheart, and don’t call me sweet cheeks. The name is McKenna.”
Her gaze bores into me as if this rich girl is trying to figure me out. As if she’s even capable of figuring me out.
“Whatever you say, sweet cheeks.”
A low growl escapes from her, and I give her a slow smile that causes a pink flush to stain her cheeks.
“Whatever.” She circles the vehicle again and stomps her foot.
“Something wrong?”
“Yeah,” she turns to me, anger turning her hazel eyes an intoxicating shade of melted gold. “My phone is gone.”
“Bummer.”
“Your sympathy is overwhelming,” she shoots back, her voice devoid of amusement but with a hint of sarcasm.
“Come on.” I turn on my heels and head to the other side of the parking lot to where my bike sits, untouched. Unharmed.
“I’m not going anywhere with you.” Her voice echoes in the parking lot, but I keep moving. If she wants my help, I’ll give it to her in exchange for making sure she’s not up to no good. If not, I’ll get the fuck on with my day.
“Suit yourself,” I mumble, not even loud enough for her to hear. My stride is long and fast, the distance between us growing wider with every passing second. My bike is just a few feet away.
In a few seconds, I’ll hop on it and drive away before I tell my club—and Kelsey—that her sister is playing private dick for some reason. Then I can spend a few hours at the gym, hitting the bag, lifting weights, and sparring with whoever is brave enough to step inside the ring with me.
“Hey, wait up!” McKenna’s feet shuffle against the blacktop pavement, but I don’t stop for her because I don’t feel like more rich girl drama. “Hey,” she calls again. “You’re just going to leave?”
“Yep.”
“But, why?”
A rough laugh escapes. “Because you’re not going anywhere with me, and I have better things to do with my day.”
“But…my car.”
“Call the shop. One of my guys will tow you and get you fixed up with some new tires.”
“Call with what phone?”
I shrug again. “Not my problem.”
Her footsteps quicken until she’s standing in front of me, one hand straight out to stop my forward movement. McKenna rolls her eyes and lets out a put-upon sigh as if I’m the reason for her woes.
“Can you please give me a ride home?”
“Why would I do that?”
“Clearly, you all have a soft spot for Kelsey. Imagine how this will screw her up, finding out something has happened to me.”
I bite back a smile. She’s good. And manipulative. “What if I’m the something that happens to you?” My words catch her off guard just as I intended. I smile. “You been on the back of a bike before?”
“No. Obviously.”
“I’m doing you a favor, Princess. You might not want to be such a snooty bitch about it.”
She sucks in a breath and rolls her eyes, but the tiniest apology comes out of her lips in a whisper. “Sorry.”
“Hang on and lean into curves how I do. Don’t fall off.”
I start my engine and focus on the road ahead of me instead of the tits pressed against my back, the soft hands gripping my waist, and that sweet scent invading my senses.
Get Kelsey’s sister home and get on with my life. That’s the plan.
Don’t deviate from the plan, and everything will be fine. It’s what they always told us in the Marines. I hold onto that thought as I turn onto McKenna’s block, delivering her home safely.