Leather for Two: Wings of Steel MC (10 page)

“Holy shit!”

“How much do you think is there,” I whispered.

“A shitload.”

I looked at his profile. “We have to call Peterson.” I stood and started for the door.

“Wait,” Blaze said.

“Wait for what? The only reason Diesel would have this much cash is because he was doing something illegal. I’m not going to prison for him!” I dug into my back pocket, grabbed my phone and had it mid-air when I noticed Blaze’s pained expression. “What, Blaze?”

His expression paled. “I agree. He was up to no good, but I have a feeling it’s not as simple as calling Peterson. And remember, I did buy him out of his share of the shop. That could be a lot of the money.”

I panicked. I couldn’t breathe. I dropped my phone onto the bed. “What are you suggesting?”

He shrugged and took something out of the box. “Start by reading this.” He held up a small, white envelope. “It has your name on it.”

Wrapping my brain around his words, I grabbed the envelope. “I hate Diesel. I really do,” I murmured and dropped into the chair by the desk.

“This should get real interesting.”

Sliding open the unsealed flap, I took out the piece of paper and smoothed it on the desk. I read it aloud…

“Rena,

If you’re reading this then you didn’t go to the police. This shit sucks, I know. I’m sorry I dragged you into this, but I need your help. There’s two-hundred thousand here in this box. That’s a lot of dough. I guess I won’t get that new Harley now. As far as I see it, one person needs this to make up for what I’ve done. Take it to 1765 Bellview Park, Grove City. You’ll know what to do. You always did.”

Blaze.”

“What the hell is he up to?” I got up from the chair.

“I’m curious who else knows he had this much cash hidden here? Probably why this place is ransacked.”

“I’m committing a crime if I don’t give this to Peterson.” My head hurt. My stomach flip-flopped. And I was confused.

“Rena, you have to decide what you want to do, but Peterson won’t protect you. If this is blood money, someone wants it back.”

Damn! “Are you suggesting we leave this cash? Here?”

“I’m suggesting you put all of it in a bag and we walk out of here and figure out who Diesel believed should have this. I have a friend in the local PD who’ll look up the name who lives at the address. We can go from there.”

“I’m not a detective, Blaze. I don’t want to be.”

“But you do want to live, right?” His pensive glare made me tremble.

“Of course.”

He stood up, came to me and grabbed my shoulders. He turned me around to face him. His jaw slacked, but his lips were tight. “This is too much cash for anyone to forget. Diesel could have been killed because of it, and I refuse to let that happen to you.”

I blinked back tears. “Why? Why would he entrust me with this money?”

“That’s what we need to find out. I can ask around. We’ll figure it out. But handing it over to Peterson is probably one of the craziest things I’ve heard.”

“Someone has to be trusted.”

One corner of his mouth jerked upward. “I know why we nicknamed you Bambi. Always naive. There
is
someone you can trust.” He swept the tips of his fingers across my cheek. “Me. I’d never let anything happen to you. I’d put my life on the line.”

I swallowed despite the lump in my throat. The sincerity in his expression made every fine hair on my body stand as my stomach did a twist. How could he make everything feel okay?

Those were my thoughts as we pulled back in front of my house an hour later. Two trash bags stuffed with cash were in the trunk of my car. I felt like a criminal. I swore everyone had their eyes on me. I didn’t know if not telling Peterson was the right thing, but I wasn’t convinced yet that it was the wrong thing either. Blaze could be right. Two-hundred grand wouldn’t be forgotten. If someone else knew about it, Blaze and I both could be in danger.

I had no doubt, though, that Diesel didn’t die over a woman he had been screwing.

I agreed to stay with Blaze at his shop. What choice did I have? I didn’t own a gun, never thought of having one. I couldn’t ask him to give up his life to come and babysit me. He seemed to believe I would be safer there than at home.

Upstairs in my bedroom, I gathered enough clothes to get me through for a few days and zipped the suitcase.  I would be safe with Blaze, except when it came to matters of the heart. I’d never stopped loving him. Never stopped wondering what the possibilities could have been…

My cell phone rang from the nightstand. I glanced at the screen.
Daisy.
I hit talk. “Hello?”

“Okay. You haven’t called in work in forever. I know what’s going on. Fess up, girly.”

My fingers tightened on the cell. “You do?”

“Of course. Your knight in shining armor has come along and swept you off your feet. You can’t even drag yourself out of bed to come to work, can you?” Daisy’s chuckle vibrated the phone.

Movement in the hall grabbed my attention. Blaze stood in the doorway, leaning one brawny shoulder against the frame. His heated gaze made me shift. I licked my lips and hoped my voice would work. “I don’t believe in knights in shining armor. That’s a fairytale. I’m under the weather today.” I hated lying, but I couldn’t tell the truth and put Daisy in the middle of this too.

“Will you be back tomorrow?”

“I’m taking a few days. I don’t want to pass my germs to the kids.” I turned so that I couldn’t see Blaze. He had a way of making me nervous. I especially couldn’t lie in front of him.

“Who am I going to eat lunch with? And you’re not in any kind of trouble, are you?”

“No, I’m okay, besides a scratch in my throat.”

“Okay, I believe you. I can wait until you come back to bore you with my role-playing and complaints. You take care and call me if you need anything.”

I finished the conversation, quicker than normal, knowing I had a pair of striking eyes watching me.

“A friend?” He took a step into the bedroom. The oxygen depleted. He stood in front of my dresser, looking at me through the mirror. The view couldn’t get any better than this. Front and back of gorgeous at the same time.

“A friend from work.” I slipped my gaze down the strong lines of his back, lean hips, nice bottom. Scorching heat rushed through my veins as I remembered the orgasm I’d had at his fingertips. I busied myself packing my toiletries into a small bag. Out of my peripheral, I could see he’d turned around and now leaned against the dresser. There had to be a point when I wouldn’t get all flustered like a teenager when he was around. Something had to put those feelings to rest…but I had a feeling only one thing could ease the need within me. That could be as dangerous as playing Russian roulette. Things were already complicated enough. Within twenty-four hours, my calm, serene life had turned erratic. I couldn’t believe I had bags of cash in my car. I had so many emotions running through me.  I wanted off the roller coaster.

“You’re taking a few days off work. I think that’s a good idea.”

“What choice do I have?” I answered bitterly.

“Look, I know this isn’t—”

“Stop, Blaze.” I swung around on him. All of my feelings leaked through to the surface. “I left Wings. The last thing I wanted was to be involved with the club, or involved with any member of the club. I don’t want to live like this.” Wow, I found my voice, so why didn’t I feel better? Why did I feel as if I’d lashed out at the last person who deserved it?

He pushed away from the dresser and strolled across the room to the door. He glanced at me over his shoulder, his poker face intact. “We need to get going. I have things to do back at the shop. We head out in five.” And he was gone. I could hear his heavy boots descending the stairs.

In exactly five minutes, I followed Blaze out my front door.

“Are you going somewhere?”

I looked up to find Hoover standing at the edge of my property. “Hi, Hoover. Yes, I am.” What would I tell him? Blaze stood at the back of my car, putting the suitcase in my trunk. Hoover strolled over, his thumbs tucked into his front pockets and question marring his thin features. “I didn’t get to say thank you for working on my car. It must have been something easily fixed.”

“You needed a new battery.” Hoover sighed. “You didn’t say you were leaving. Most folks ask neighbors to keep an eye on things while they’re gone.” He glanced from Blaze back to me.

Blaze came back up the sidewalk, standing next to me. “I was able to finally talk my girl into going on a romantic getaway with me. I’m one lucky guy.” He wrapped his arm around my shoulders and planted a quick, but lethal, kiss on my lips. Did Blaze think this would help the situation? I could barely concentrate at this point. Yet Blaze, calm and collected, took over. “I’m Blaze.” He stuck out his hand in greeting.

“I’m Hoover.” They shook hands. Blaze stood much taller and at least fifty pounds heavier than Hoover.

“I’m glad Rena has a neighbor that likes to keep watch of the area, keeping it safe.” Blaze winked.

Hoover shifted proudly. “Yes, I’m sort of the crime stopper of the neighborhood.” He kicked the toe of his shoe across the grass. “Where you two heading?”

I decided to let Blaze answer.

“Florida. I’ve always wanted to take my baby to the ocean. I hear the sand is white and so fine it can pass through a sieve. We can do a lot of nude sunbathing, right baby?” Blaze looked at me, a naughty grin stretching his lips.

My breath hitched. “Not in Florida.”

Hoover didn’t quite grin or frown. Stuck somewhere in between. It did something miraculous though. It shut him up. He nodded and walked back into his yard.

“Someone has a crush.” Blaze whispered in my ear. “Is he your type?”

I looked into Blaze’s profile. “You’re incorrigible.” I pushed out of his hold. His laughter followed me down the sidewalk until I slid behind the driver’s seat of my car and slammed the door. I didn’t dare look across the lawn at Hoover who I knew still watched. I didn’t have time to ponder over poor Hoover’s feelings. I was handling the devil himself.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Blaze had gone downstairs to catch up on something in the shop and I stayed alone in the small studio apartment, surrounded by Blaze’s items. His smell surrounded me, engulfing me, teasing my senses. I looked over the things sitting on top of the small three-drawer dresser. A large silver buckle glinted in the sunlight. Loose change scattered from one end to the other. A new deodorant and a container of cleanser to take the oil and dirt from his hands were thrown into a basket. I picked the bottle up and brought it to my nose, inhaling the strong scent. Putting it back exactly as I found it, I then opened the first drawer and on top, bound by pink ribbon, were the birthday cards I had sent him. Smiling, I pushed them to the side. I picked up a notebook and sifted through it. The pages were full of information—appointments, addresses, numbers. I skimmed Blaze’s neat, small handwriting, glancing over names of banks and account numbers. Why did he have all of them?

I shouldn’t have been snooping. His activities were none of my business. I placed the notebook back in and shut the drawer.

I allowed my gaze to drift to the unmade bed. The rumpled sheets did funny things to my inner thighs. Crossing the room, I picked up the wrinkled pillow and did the unthinkable. I brought it to my nose and inhaled Blaze’s scent. My blood warmed and sweat beaded between my breasts. I was a body full of longing. My panties turned moist and I had a strong desire to touch myself.

Grr.

I dropped the pillow and stepped away from the temptation.

Blaze couldn’t expect me to sit here all afternoon.

Wandering from the room and down the stairs, I turned the corner into the shop.
Pings
and
dings
echoed off the walls as the men worked. I peeked into the service area, then to the right and down the hall to the showroom. A customer stood next to the salesperson, both hovering over a new bike in the window.

I stepped across the cement floor, toward the mechanic’s space and a loud exchange of words stopped me in my tracks. Miles and Sharp were both working on a bike and having a heated debate over what method they should take in fixing it. I cleared my throat and both heads popped up. Sharp grabbed a rag from the worktable and wiped his hands, which did little good. Miles just shoved his deep into his pockets.

“Bambi. Hey there. Blaze told us you’d be sticking around for a while.” Sharp smiled.

I resisted the urge to explain to both of them that I wouldn’t stay long. Glancing past Miles to the closed door of Blaze’s office, I looked for any sign of him. I couldn’t see anything through the small glass window. “Is Blaze in there?”

“Yes.” Miles’s head bobbed reminding me of one of the bobble heads I used to have on my dashboard.

“Good.” I started across the work area, walking around the maze of tools and bikes.

“But….” Miles’s voice quaked.

I didn’t wait to hear what he had to say. I pushed open the closed door marked ‘Do Not Enter'. Blaze sat at his cluttered desk, leaning back in a swivel chair, his legs stretched and relaxed on the corner. He saw me and frowned. Not the greeting I’d hoped for, but I wasn’t surprised. “I’m not sitting upstairs in that cell another minute.” I cocked my chin in a daring position.