Between Embers (Lost Kings MC #5.5): A Companion to White Heat: Three Short Stories (14 page)

“I’m glad you stopped by.”

“Really? I wasn’t sure—”

“Yes, really.”

“Your bike stands out. It caught my eye.”

“Yeah?”

“Yup. Are you upset it’s almost time to garage it for the winter?”

“Hell, yeah. But it’s been pretty warm. You never know. Might be able to ride right up until Christmas.”

“Always hopeful. That’s good, Blake.” She stares at where our fingers are sort of rubbing up against each other.

“I was thinking of going on a run. Haven’t taken my bike for a long ride in way too long.”

She peeks up at me. “By yourself?”

“Yeah. Unless you want to come with me. You used to beg me to take you all the time when you were little.”

Her cheeks turn pink. “Yeah. Sorry.”

“No. It was cute.”

“You promised me a cross-country trip when I was old enough, remember?”

“I did, didn’t I?”

“Yes.” She looks away, sadness turning her mouth down.

“Hey, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing. I just used to—never mind.”

“You still want to be my co-pilot?”

Her surprised eyes meet mine. “Me?”

“Yeah you. Never had anyone go with me before. On the back of my bike, I mean.” I wait to see if what I’m trying to explain to her sinks in.

“Oh.” She hesitates and I brace myself for the
I’m-with-Axel
speech. “I can’t. I have classes. . .” she trails off.

Encouraged, I tap the back of her hand. “When’s your break?”

“Not until Thanksgiving. But that’s only like four days. Then winter break, but it’s probably too cold. . . Spring break is a whole week. Can you wait until March?”

“For you, I’d wait forever, Heidi.” Ain’t that the fucking truth.

She flashes a weak smile. “Where?”

“Dunno. Not enough time to do cross-country, but I’ll come up with something.”

“Cool. You think my brother will bring Mariella?”

Fuck. Nope. She didn’t get what I was asking at all.

“I don’t know what’s going on with them.”

Nervous laughter spills out of her. “They’re cute together, right?”

“Sure.”

“But you weren’t talking about a club run, were you?” she asks.

It must be spelled out all over my face that I was talking about a trip for two. “No.”

She nods slowly. “I’ll text you the dates when I get my spring schedule.”

“Okay.” Here’s where I should say something like, “What about your boyfriend?” Except, I don’t want to ruin whatever we just planned together. There’ll be plenty of time to figure out the details later. Right now I want to enjoy making plans with Heidi. Something I’ve been waitin’ to do a long damn time.

Noises from the front of the building reach us. The busload of kids from Empire High School getting dropped off.

“Should I let you get back to work?” Heidi asks.

I hate like fuck to have her leave, but I
do
need to get back inside and help Wrath. Trying to be a responsible adult sometimes sucks. Worse, I can’t let a brother down when he’s counting on me.

“Yeah. Wrath has me teaching the afternoon class.”

She stands. “I can’t picture you teaching.”

“No?”

“That’s not true. Actually, I bet you’re pretty good at it.”

“Thanks.”

I take her hand and walk her around the building to her car. “Thanks for stopping to see me.”

“Sure. Maybe next time I’ll bring you lunch or dinner or something?”

“I’d like that.” Warmth fills my chest as it sinks in that she’s planning to come visit again. I can’t help pulling her in for a hug. She feels so good pressed up against me. But I don’t try sneaking a kiss or anything else. Something shifted, changed for us today, and I don’t want to press my luck.

I watch her leave, feeling empty as her car disappears. Turning around, I find Wrath standing in the doorway.

“What’re you doing, Murphy?”

“I don’t know, brother.” I can’t wipe the grin off my face, though, and he shakes his head.

He doesn’t step back as I approach but pats my shoulder. “I hope you don’t end up gettin’ burned.”

“Me, too.”

More Than Miles
will be available August 16, 2016. You can preorder it
here
.

ALSO BY AUTUMN JONES LAKE

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S
LOW BURN (Lost Kings MC, Book #1)

Forced to represent an outlaw biker, a married attorney must come to terms with her feelings for her client while avoiding the danger he brings into her sedate life.

C
ORRUPTING CINDERELLA (Lost Kings MC, Book #2)

Love is the ultimate outlaw.

Although widowed attorney Hope Kendall cares deeply for President of the Lost Kings MC, Rochlan "Rock" North, the truth is they come from completely different worlds. Add to that the fact that they are also both headstrong people, and they have a very rough road ahead of them.

Real love isn't a fairy tale.

For Rock, that means introducing Hope to what it really means to be part of his brutal and shady world, where the Lost Kings Motorcycle Club is his main focus. For Hope, it means accepting the things she can't change, and understanding that Rock is a man who will do anything to keep her safe.

Love doesn't follow any rules.

As Rock continues to draw Hope deeper into his world, painful misunderstandings, past relationships, and opposition from the members of his club will threaten to drive them apart.

How do a lawyer and a badass biker with a heart of gold keep their love alive while their opposing worlds collide?

T
HREE KINGS, ONE NIGHT (Lost Kings MC #2.5)

A collection of three short holiday stories set in the Lost Kings MC world.

Heidi and Murphy.

Wrath and Trinity.

Z and Lilly.

S
TRENGTH FROM LOYALTY (Lost Kings MC, Book #3
)

As a dark cloud descends over Hope and Rock’s already precarious future, will a long-hidden secret push them both past the point of no return
?

T
ATTERED ON MY SLEEVE (Lost Kings MC #4)

Lust.

Eight years ago, the Lost Kings, MC was recovering from turmoil within the club Wrath and Trinity met. Their connection was instant and explosive.

Fury.

Wrath and Trinity's story is a heart-breaking, soul-crushing, tear-your-heart-into-pieces story. The way they hurt each other over the years is intense, raw, frustrating and sometimes dark.

Forgiveness.

Can they move past their horrible pasts to become better people and ultimately forgive each other?

They’ve wasted too many years. Once Wrath learns the dark secret that’s been fueling Trinity for years, he’ll stop at nothing to prove they’re meant to be together and that she’s worthy of the love she keeps denying.

*
Warning: Tattered on My Sleeve is not a "typical" romance. It's not even a typical MC Romance. While there is technically no cheating in Tattered on my Sleeve, Wrath and Trinity’s journey to love takes a much different route than Rock and Hope’s.

WHITE HEAT (Lost Kings MC #5)

The queen always protects her king
.

For straight-laced attorney, Hope Kendall, loving an outlaw has never been easy. New challenges test her loyalty as she discovers how far she’s willing to go to protect her man.

If you have hope, you have everything
.

MC President, Rochlan “Rock” North finally has everything he’s ever wanted. Hope as his ol’ lady and his MC earning money while staying out of trouble. The only thing left is to make Hope his wife. But as their wedding day nears, an old adversary threatens Rock’s freedom, the wedding, and throws the Lost Kings MC into chaos.

Love makes the ride worthwhile
.

While the club waits for Rock's fate to be decided, Wrath has to balance solidifying his new relationship with Trinity and fulfilling his president's orders.

Loyalty gives an outlaw strength
.

Threats from unexpected places will challenge every member, but in the Lost Kings MC, brotherhood isn’t about the blood you share. It’s about those who are willing to bleed for you.

B
ETWEEN EMBERS (Lost Kings MC #5.5)

This collection of short stories is intended to be a fun, companion to
White Heat
. If you were wondering what the other guys were up to during Rock and Hope’s wedding, here’s your chance to find out.

Short stories include:

Teller

Murphy

Z

M
ORE THAN MILES (Lost Kings MC #6)

Forbidden love is the hardest to forget.

Blake “Murphy” O'Callaghan, Road Captain of the Lost Kings MC, has the world by the balls. Money. Women. The wide-open road. It’s all his, everything he wants…except the one girl he loves, the one girl who’s off limits. His best friend’s little sister, Heidi.

Abandoned by her mother when she was only eight, Heidi Whelan’s familiar with heartbreak. Especially the heartbreak of falling in love with her big brother’s best friend. When Murphy pushed her away, it broke her heart. Now, on her eighteenth birthday, he claims he loves her? Growing up around the Lost Kings MC, Heidi’s witnessed his manwhoring ways. He’ll never give that up for her. Besides, he’s too late: Heidi’s in love with her high-school boyfriend Axel.

Axel Ryan loves two things—motorcycles and Heidi. He signed up to be a prospect for the Lost Kings MC because it seemed like a fun way to get closer to her. Now that he’s gotten a taste of MC life, he’s not so sure this is where he belongs. He’s confident Heidi shares his dreams for the future, so even if he chooses another road, their relationship will survive the detour.

Sometimes the road you fear the most is the one that leads you home.

With more than miles between them, will the deceptions they’ve lived with for so long be too much to overcome? Can Murphy convince Heidi that the hard roads they’ve traveled will lead to the most beautiful destination of all, or is he destined to ride the open road alone?

K
ICKSTART MY HEART (MC Meets Mob #1)

Included in the 80’s Mix Tape anthology

Setting: Los Angeles, 1989

A fledgling actress and the son of an MC President who wants to be a rock star.

Little do either of them know how much they actually have in common.

*Has a slight connection to The Lost Kings MC Series.

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