Zach (Hell's Handlers MC 1)

Whether she’d meant the words to be heard or not, they were. Loud and clear. Zach laughed and rested his hip against the stair railing. “There are plenty of hours in the day for kicking ass. Wouldn’t waste my sleep on that. There are a few other things I could do in my sleep.” He winked at her. “Especially if I had someone as hot as you keeping my bed warm.”

Well look at that. No blush. No prudish little gasp. Just a sassy smirk and a delicate grunt.

“Are you hitting on her?” Chris released her and started toward Zach, but the woman stopped him with a hand on his chest.

“I’m Toni,” she said, holding out her manicured hand.

Tori, Toni. He’d been close. “Zach.” He grasped her hand and gave it a squeeze. Her hand shake was strong, confident, and soft as fucking handwoven silk. Christ, that feminine grip would feel fantastic about a foot and a half lower.

“I remember,” she said.

Before he allowed her to withdraw her hand, he met Chris’s gaze.

The man was pissed. Looked as if he was trying to melt Zach with the heat of his shitty stare. There was probably more of a chance of that happening than him actually beating Zach in a fair fight.

Poor little soft man.

“Figured it was about time I did my neighborly duty. Seen you coming and going for the past week or so. Can’t say I’d have recognized you on the street. You did a damn good job growing up.”

She laughed. “I’m glad you popped over. I’ve heard your bike a few times, but it was always late so I never bothered to come say hello.” She pushed a lock of shoulder-length hair behind her ear. Definitely brown with blonde highlights. It suited her and made her green eyes even more obvious.

She was one hell of a looker. Curvy hips, large tits, round ass, small waist. If he’d closed his eyes and described his fantasy woman, Toni would have easily slid right into the mold.

“Hey douche bag, her eyes are about ten inches higher.”

Busted.

Zach just smirked at Toni. He wouldn’t apologize, because he wasn’t sorry. Not for one second. The outfit she had on did nothing to hide her figure and that included the breasts he’d love to bury his face between. A woman couldn’t wear a top with a low neckline and a necklace that ended an inch above her cleavage and not expect men to look.

Again, she didn’t blush. Just raised an eyebrow and placed one hand on her hip.

“Hope the bike’s not too loud for you,” he said.

“Nope. I kinda like it, actually. That deep rumbly sound is comforting in a way.”

Holy shit. If he was interested in tying himself to a woman, she just might be the perfect one. “A woman after my own heart,” he said at the same time Chris snorted.

“Can I get you a beer or anything?” she asked.

He’d love a beer, but that would mean she’d walk away and he didn’t want to stop staring at her, nor did he want to be alone with her asshole boyfriend. Not that the guy intimidated him, but because he wasn’t in the mood for a pissing contest. This visit was supposed to be a fun distraction, not an annoying whose-dick-is-bigger contest.

It was so obviously Zach’s there was no point in even measuring.

“Nah, I’m good, thanks. So, you guys sticking around town for a while?”

“I’ll be here for the next six weeks or so,” she said. “Chris was actually just leaving. He’s got a flight to Chicago this afternoon. Right, Chris?” Her tone was soft but brokered no argument. Like she was trying to gently prod him along.

“I do.” He slid his arm around Toni’s waist and dropped a kiss on her cheek. “Walk me to the car, baby?” he not-whispered in her ear.

Zach fought to hold back his laughter. If the suit was trying to stake his claim, it didn’t seem to be working too well. Toni’s eyes narrowed and she slipped out of his hold. “Sure,” she said, though the word sounded forced. She gave Zach a strained smile. “I’ll be just a second.”

“No problem, beautiful.” If Zach was a better person, he’d make an excuse and hightail it back over to his house. Leave these two to sort their shit in peace. But he’d never claimed to be a good man. In fact, he was an outlaw. And sticking around to watch the uncomfortable goodbye between Toni and the suit seemed exactly like something an outlaw would do. So, he climbed the steps to the porch and took a seat in one of the side-by-side rocking chairs.

And the goodbye was awkward. Zach couldn’t make out what was said, but if Toni’s flailing arms and Chris’s deep scowl were any indication, it wasn’t a lovers parting. After about three minutes, Chris climbed into the car, slammed the door, and peeled out of the dirt driveway engulfing Toni in a cloud of dust.