With a twisted smile of my own, I rise and ruffle my own short hair. “I thought you were fixing the fence.”
“Just waiting on Pond to bring the last of lumber then we can get it finished.”
I nod, watching Alex stand. There’s a gleam in his gaze as he watches me, and I have an itch in need of easing.
“See me to the door, Mia.” When Data chuckles, I glare at the younger man, then follow Alex to the door. When he reaches the stoop, he turns to me. The smile he flashes sends the warning bells off in my head. “Does Cole kiss like that?”
The warning bells clang and my fingers clench and unclench. “Is that what the kiss was about, Alex. Don’t you like another man touching me. Because you and me. We’ve been there. Done the tee-shirt stuff.”
Alex’s lips brush against mine. “He’s a journalist, Mia. Don’t be talking club business with him.”
My mouth falls open. “I don’t know any club business. In case you’ve forgotten, I’m a journalist as well.”
Alex’s blue eyes darken. “You know Poppy. That’s club business.” His lips brush against mine as he strokes my ass. Without saying another word, he leaves me standing with my mouth open. As he strolls down the path, my gaze lingers on his butt and I run my tongue over my swollen lips. They still tingle from his touch. When the bike roars to life and Alex leaves without looking back, I know he’s not interested in Cole and me. That the kiss has more to do with club business. That it was a warning. And I close the door on him and his kiss.
Chapter 5
Alex: Demon’s Lair Noir Valley
Shit, as the pool ball rebounds off the side of the pool table, I step aside for Oyster as he takes my place at the table. His bright smile mocking as his eyes gleam. Shit, I had four balls to pocket. Four balls I should have pocketed with ease. Instead, my mind focused on the kiss with Mia. Her taste still lingers on my tongue and my mouth hums. Touching Mia had been a mistake. My cock still throbs, and blood continues to whirl through my body. I was grateful and resentful at Data for his timing. A chuckle wakes me from my daydream, and I watch Oyster pocket his remaining balls and the eight ball, then pockets the twenty-dollar bet. His victory smile has me shaking my head.
“Fancy a beer?” I ask.
“Sure. You get them while I set the table for another game.”
As I watch Oyster grab the wooden triangle from beneath the table and place the balls in order inside it, I run my hand through my hair. I could do with a cold shower. “Maybe you should get yourself another partner.”
Oyster chuckles. The gleam in eyes brighter. “What. Lose you and your money while the pickings are easy. Do I look like a fool?”
“We’ll see who’s easy pickings. Double your money or keep your mouth shut.”
“Round it up to fifty dollars and you’ve got yourself a game.”
When I return to the pool table, Oyster has his fifty on the table and after I place the beer next to it, I place my fifty on top.
“Kit’s staying around for a little longer. What about you?” I ask.
Oyster sips his beer, then wipes the back of his hand over his mouth. “I’ve a trip to the Scarlett Runners to make. Then I’ll be back.” His smile slips and the gleam in his eyes dims. “Kit says you’re thinking of using Mia as bait to flush out Jono.”
I stroll around the pool table. I lost the last game, and I lost the toss of the coin. I break the balls. The resounding click of my cue hitting the balls fills the air of the saloon. My stomach clenches and my mouth tingles. Touching Mia had been a mistake, but hell, she looked good enough to eat in those shorts of hers. As I watched her hips sway as she left the kitchen, all I wanted was those long legs of hers wrapped around my body. Her scent had teased the blood in my cock. The kiss had been too brief. If Data hadn’t walked into the living room when he did, Mia would have been mine. A couple more minutes and I would have been inside her. Tasting her tight pussy once more. I amble over to the table and scowl at my beer before taking a swallow. Had his interruption been accidental. Or was he taking his responsibility as Poppy’s guard dog one step further. I swallow a large mouthful of beer. Mia may have been on a date last night, but the bastard only stayed long enough to drop her off. Blood pounds at the back of my skull. Data said there had been a kiss. That it hadn’t been a chase peck on the cheek either.
“Well.”
I blink as I look at up at Oyster to find him watching me. “Yeah. He’s the one soft spot she has.”
Oyster makes a play of chalking his cue. “And how do you plan to
