Burnout: A Legal Heat Novella (4 page)

“Your man?” Sophie tried to edge away, but Ace tightened his grip, his fingers digging into her side.

“Long dark hair, blue eyes, broad shoulders. Incredibly hot in a rough biker kinda way. Seems to be fixated on you…” Jackie held up a
Chelada
bottle. “I tried everything except poisoning to get his attention. But now I know what it takes.”

“You wouldn’t have to poison me.” A young blond biker came up behind Jackie and nuzzled her neck. He was younger than Ace, his features more refined, but damned if he didn’t have the same roguish expression. “I’m here for you, Jackie. Anytime. Anyplace.”

With a snort, Jackie wiggled out of his grip. “This is Kickstand. Used to be a prospect, but now he’s a full-patch member of the Rogue Riders. Seems to think the patch on the back of his cut is gonna get him into my pants. But I’m looking for a real man.”

“I am a real man.” Kickstand did an oh-so-manly crotch grab and puffed out his chest.

“That. Right there. Tells me you’re not a real man.” Jackie sighed. “A real man knows he’s a real man and doesn’t need to draw attention to his real man parts. A woman knows a real man ’cause… well, it’s just something women know.”

Kickstand frowned. “I’m confused.”

“’Cause you’re not a real man,” Jackie said. “Real men don’t get confused. They also don’t do relationships.” She leaned over and whispered in Sophie’s ear. “Watch out for Ace. That man is sex on a stick, but he’s not in it for the long haul. He has his fun and moves on. One night is all you’ll get from him. Trust me. I know.”

One night.

What would it be like to have a one-night stand? Or better yet, a one-night stand with Ace? Crude and overtly sexual, he was nothing like the men she’d dated after Ryan, and everything like the men she’d dreamed about before Ryan had taught her the hard way that not all dreams should come true. But now that relationships were off her radar, why not give it a try? No strings. No emotional ties. No wondering if he would call the next day or break her heart.

And, oh God, it had been so long.

“A
ce.” Jason clapped
a hand on Ace’s shoulder. “I need a minute.”

Fuck. No.
“Busy getting acquainted with your sister.” He glared, but Jason shook his head.

“Now. It’s important.” His strained tone, and the fact he dared touch Ace and even further dared to make demands, drew Ace’s attention away from the beautiful woman he’d been seconds away from ravaging with his mouth.

“What the fuck?”

“Over here.” Jason drew Ace to the side of the house. “I just got a call. The Red Dragons are coming for me. They think I double-crossed them ’cause they didn’t get their weapons. I’ve gotta run. My bodyguards are already spreading the word that the party is over. I need to hire you for protection starting now—but not for me. For Sophie. I don’t want to send her home alone. I introduced her to a lot of people tonight, and word will get around that I have a sister. Until this is resolved, she could be in danger. My buyers have done a lot worse than hold a relative for ransom for a shipment of guns.”

“How long?”

“Just until I get this sorted out,” he said, glancing over his shoulder. “I’m going to try and meet with the head of the Red Dragons after things have cooled off and work out a deal. Hopefully, it should only be a day or two. I already paid Ryder half the protection fee for the weapons I lost. Your MC can keep it as the up-front fee for this protection job, and I’ll pay the other half for protecting Sophie when I’ve fixed this mess.”

Ace raised an eyebrow. “Messes” involving the Red Dragons were usually only resolved one way. Jason had to have serious pull if he thought he’d meet the Red Dragon head and walk out alive.

“Yeah. Okay, we’ll take the job.”

Tires screeched on the road outside and Jason paled. “I gotta go. Just… don’t let Sophie know why you’re there, and especially not what I do. And there’s something else—”

A door splintered and Jason bolted, running for the back gate.

Ace slid his hand beneath his cut and drew his weapon. This was one protection job he was going to thoroughly enjoy.

*     *     *

“Jason!” Sophie’s eyes widened as Jason ran past. “What’s wrong?”

“Work emergency,” he shouted over his shoulder. “Have to end the party early and get to the… paper factory.”

Only then did the silence register. No music. No guests visible through the patio doors.

Work emergency? Did he think she was that stupid?
“Jason…”

He pushed open the back gate, pausing only to yell, “Ace will look after you. I’ll explain later.”

Ace clamped a hand around her arm and tugged her forward. “Let’s go, babe. Party’s over.”

“What’s going on?”

“Jason’s getting some unexpected guests.” He pulled open the back gate and gestured her through.

“I should stick around, make sure his place is okay…”

Ace’s jaw tightened. “Not your business, babe. Jason wants you out of here, and he tasked me with keeping you safe. Now, let’s go.”

She took one look back over her shoulder at the house, now empty save for Ace’s biker brothers visible through the patio doors. “I don’t need anyone to keep me safe. I can make my own way home.”

“I got a job,” Ace said. “And that job is you. I’m taking you home and sticking around until I get the all clear from Jason. I don’t go back on my word, so it’s not a choice. It’s a given.”

“Anyone ever tell you that you’ve got a bossiness problem?” Unsettled and worried about Jason, she pushed past Ace and into the back alley.

“Bossy?” The amusement in his voice rankled, but not as much as the hand he placed on her lower back to guide her forward. With those long, lean legs, he had no problem keeping up with her. “Is that why you’re trying to run away?”

Run away? Only fifteen minutes ago, she had been trying to decide whether to invite him home. But now, alone with him in the narrow alley, she realized just how big he really was. Although she was used to being around strong, muscular men, she had never really felt disadvantaged by her height. Maybe it was the uniform, or the weapons she carried, or her tactical training. But she felt small beside Ace, in every sense of the word. How could she invite this man—an outlaw—into her home? How could she strip off her clothes and put herself at the mercy of his powerful body?

Because she sensed that a man like Ace could give her what she’d been looking for—a chance to let go, to fly and not fear the fall. But afterward, would he go away? She had misjudged Ryan, and the mistake had almost cost her life.

After finding him in bed with another woman and kicking him out of the house, she’d been lulled into a false sense of security when he didn’t even try to call. Assuming he was happy in his new relationship, she’d moved on with her life, initiating divorce proceedings so her lawyer could make arrangements to split up their stuff. But he’d just been biding his time. Only during the trial had she discovered he’d been watching her, illegally using police surveillance equipment to bug her phones and her house, parking outside her house at night, and following her around after work. The divorce papers had tipped the balance. He’d come for her the very same night he’d been served.

If I can’t have you, then no one else will.

She’d felt small that night, too, with Ryan on top of her, a knife in his hand.

Her breath caught and a wave of panic gripped her hard. “I’ll just call a cab.”

“I promised Jason I’d take you home.” He gestured toward a Harley-Davidson Softail parked at the side of the road.

Sophie breathed out her appreciation, and for a moment her tension eased. “Your Breakout?”

“You know your bikes?”

“My dad was really into bikes. Somehow it rubbed off on me. Other women buy
Cosmo
. I buy
Cycle World
. When I save up enough money, I’m buying a dragster that’s chopped, slammed, and chromed.” She ran her fingers along the red fairing. “Beautiful. I’d be afraid to leave it on the street.”

“I’d be afraid for anyone who dared touch it,” he growled.

She walked a full circle around the motorcycle. Although her father hadn’t had much time for her, she had fond memories of riding pillion on his bike the few times they’d gone out together. For those few hours, with the wind in her hair and the countryside blazing past, she’d felt free. But that had been years ago. She hadn’t been on a motorcycle since she’d joined the police. Maybe just a ride home. After all, Jason knew she was with him, and he
had
asked Ace to take her home.

Plus, she knew how to defend herself. Although it hadn’t done any good when Ryan had broken into her house and she hadn’t been able to pull her trigger. That night she had almost died for love.

“Do you have another helmet?” She could only see one helmet clipped to the bike, and riding without one was against the law.

Ace unclipped his helmet and placed it over Sophie’s head. “Wouldn’t want you to break the law, babe.”

Sophie peered out from beneath the helmet’s rim and shook her head gently. The helmet rocked violently from side to side, and Ace threw back his head and laughed.

“Christ. You look so damn cute you make me ache inside.”

She gave him a reluctant smile. “There’s enough room in here for two of my heads. It’s not going to give me much protection. Better for you to wear it. At least one of us will have a chance if you crash the bike.”

His face softened as he removed the helmet. “You lookin’ out for me?”

“Just thought we should keep your supersize head safe so that supersize ego has somewhere to go.”

He straddled his bike and motioned her toward the pillion seat behind him. “You okay with breaking the law?”

Sophie slid onto the seat and wrapped her arms around Ace, breathing in the scent of his leather jacket and the essence of him. Hard, unyielding, and utterly delicious, his body molded to fit hers. She couldn’t remember the last time someone had looked after her. Ryan had been possessive, not protective. And although she didn’t need protecting, handing over the burden, even for a short time, sent a thrill of excitement through her veins.

Much like riding without a helmet.

Or inviting a stranger home for sex.

Decision made, she nodded. “I’m living dangerously tonight.”

C
hrist.

Ace couldn’t think straight. With Sophie’s body wrapped tight around him, her breasts pressed against his back, her hips tucked up against his ass, it was all he could do not to drive off the road. But he needed to keep his focus. What had started off as a seduction had become a job, and even if she was willing, the idea of sleeping with her when he’d promised to protect her left a bad taste in his mouth.

Sort of like relationships.

Ace liked to be free. Unrestrained. He was a no-strings, no-attachments kind of guy. The few relationships he’d had were painful reminders that unwanted foster kids did not develop the life skills necessary to sustain any kind of stable, meaningful partnership. Unwanted foster kids kept their suitcases packed because they always knew they would be moving. Life was temporary. Stability nonexistent. Maybe if he’d had role models for a healthy relationship, things might have been different. But the past was the past, and he was who he was.

He took a sharp left and turned into South Granville, slowing as they passed drab, ’50s box-style houses interspersed with giant pink stucco monstrosities. Sophie directed him to pull up in front of a small three-level apartment building on Hemlock Street with a tiny front lawn and a flowerbed overgrown with roses.

After he tugged off his helmet, he followed her up the walk and waited as she unlocked the front door to the apartment complex.

Don’t leave her alone tonight.
How the hell was he supposed to do that if she sent him packing?

“Thanks for the ride.” Hand on the door, she turned to face him, overwhelming him with the intensity of her gaze. So much could be said with just a look. He hoped her look said, “Come in.”

Sophie studied him for a long moment, her head tilted to the side, considering. Then, as if something had been resolved in her mind, she smiled.

“You want to come in?”

Yes!
“Let’s go.”

“You don’t have—”

“Babe.” He raised an eyebrow. “A man says yes, he means yes.” As if he would turn her down.

Sophie huffed and pushed open the door. Ace followed her in and paused to watch her stomp up the stairs.

“You’re making me reconsider my offer,” she called out.

Ace grinned. “Stomp harder. Makes your ass wiggle. And those boots are fucking hot.”

A few minutes later, Sophie opened the door to her apartment and flicked on the light, gesturing to a sea of furniture and boxes. “Sorry about the mess. The movers just brought my stuff today. They were supposed to put everything in the right room, unpack, and clear away the boxes, but they just dumped it and ran. I called the company and filed a complaint, but since I prepaid for the move, I don’t think anything is going to happen.”

Ace frowned. What kind of moving company would leave a woman to move heavy furniture and boxes on her own?

When she headed for the kitchen, Ace pulled out his phone and snapped a picture of the shipping label, then texted Kickstand with instructions to investigate the company. Now.

“You want a drink?” She pulled two glasses from a box and placed them on the counter.

Ace sat on the lonely barstool at the kitchen bar across from her. “You gonna try and poison me again?”

“You’re no good to me dead.”

“Good for what?”

Her cheeks flushed, and her hands curled around the bottom of her shirt. With a quick glance up through her lashes, she tugged the shirt over her head. “One night.”

*     *     *

For a long moment, Ace didn’t move.

Oh God. What if she’d misread him, and his hesitation outside had been genuine? Maybe he wasn’t really attracted to her. Maybe he’d taken her home simply because Jason had asked, with no ulterior motive in mind.