“You found the place okay.”
Cole chuckles as he pulls out my chair and I sit down, then he sits in the chair next to mine. His body is close, yet I have no yearning desire to reach out and touch him. To discover if his flesh is as soft as it looks. To find that one spot that will have him begging for mercy. I know Alex’s secret spot, I found it by accident and it’s one secret part of him, I hope I am the only one aware of.
“It wasn’t hard considering I only have a pick of two. Besides, what kind of journalist would I be if I hadn’t found it?”
I blink as Cole’s voice drags me out of my fantasies. “I still can’t believe you chose Noir Valley Gazette to work for. Hell, the gazette is an independent. Why not work at one of the syndicated media groups?”
Cole raises a bottle of house red, and I nod, watching the wine slosh and twirl in a glass as he pours it. “I’m a coward and hate competition. Something which Noir Valley doesn’t have.” He raises the wine bottle at me and winks, “Apart from you, that is.”
“Well, I hope you’re not too bored and don’t leave too soon. After all, we are a sleepy provincial town.”
Cole’s eyebrow rises as his lips twist. “A provincial town with a riverboat casino run by a biker gang,”
My lips tighten as my fingers clench the stem of my wine glass. “They’re a club. Not a gang. Who turned an old riverboat into a good business.” I look at Cole and smile. “And may have just saved this town from drowning. We’re getting visitors who are curious about Demon’s Lair. Shit, we’re even building new houses.” This time my shudder has nothing to do with Alex or Cole, but at the changes going on in Noir Valley.
“I bet they are.”
Cole’s gray eyes glitter as his lips pinch, and I blink as I lean back in my chair and watch him. He’s a journalist, hungry for a story. I have one I could tell him. But I won’t. Poppy is my friend. I’ll not betray her, or the club I’m not part of.
“They’re having a family day. Come with me and you’ll find out how harmless they are.” Shit, there are times when my mouth runs away from me and after promising myself no more Alex, I was arranging a trip to Demon’s Lair. Albeit with a man.
Cole winks and the restaurant’s resident band, which comprises members of the family who own the restaurant, plays. “You must like me, Mia. That’s a second date you’ve arranged for us.”
I slip my shoe off and rub his lower calf. “I hope I don’t have to wait that long for a second date, Cole.”
Cole leans in, slipping my hand into his. The touch of this thumb a whisper over my flesh as he looks into my eyes. “I’d like a couple more dates.”
His voice has a deep husk to it. Full of promises and delight, and I lick my lips. It’s a long time since I’ve tasted a man’s mouth against mine. Felt a man inside me. For five years I’ve had a relationship with a virtual boyfriend and my vibrating friend. And as much as Slick has satisfied me, he’s never touched me. Caressed my flesh, kissed me or simply talked to me. Not that I’ve used the name Slick online. It would give the game away too much. Neither did my virtual boyfriend look like Alex or share the same lifestyle. I blink. There’ll not be any sex tonight. I’m not taking Cole back to the house for either Poppy to see, or for Data and Pond to report back on. I may not be part of The River Demons, but the young bikers still report everything that happens at the house back to Day and the other officers.
“Did you come on your Harley?”
“Do you like Harleys, Mia?”
I scrunch my nose. “My brothers have their own.”
“Brothers?”
“Hank–You’ve met him. He’s the Sherriff. And Jono. He lives in Noir River. It’s not far from here.”
Cole nods, then waves over the waiter. “Fancy a ride before we end the night.”
“You’re lucky I’m wearing slacks, otherwise I’d have had to turn you down.”
Cole chuckles as he leads me outside. Spring is just coming, and the air is fresh, but still cool. As we reach the bike, I reach out to Cole, gripping his arm. “Just a bike ride, Cole. Nothing more.”
Cole leans forward, his lips brushing against my ear. “It’ll have to be just a bike ride; I didn’t bring any condoms with me.”
Chapter 3
Alex: Demon’s Lair Noir Valley
Stopping short at the base of the gangplank leading onto Demon’s Lair, I draw in a deep breath, then exhale slowly as I wipe my sweat soaked forehead with the back of my hand. The pounding of my heart echoes the throbbing in my head. I twist my body to the right, then to left, repeating the same movement several times as I control my racing pulse and steady the beat of my heart. I check the counter on my watch. Ten miles accomplished- That’s my
