Chapter 2
2
ACE
T he teacher standing in front of me is nothing like I expected.Sure, Emma's been talking about Miss Leslie non-stop for months, but my mind painted some older lady with sensible shoes and a grandmotherly smile.Not this gorgeous woman with curves that make my mouth water and eyes that hit me like a sucker punch.
Those green eyes widen as she takes in my cuts, my tats, everything that marks me as exactly the kind of man good teachers should run from.But she doesn't run. No. Miss Leslie meets my gaze head-on, her chin lifting just enough to tell me she's got steel in her spine.
Fuck me. I'm in trouble.
"Miss Leslie?" I keep my voice deliberately gentle, not wanting to spook her despite every instinct screaming to crowd her space."I'm Ace Hunter. Emma's father."
She looks me over for a moment.Interesting. "Mr. Hunter. Please, come in."
"Ace," I correct her, following her into the classroom.Nobody calls me Mr. Hunter except cops, and something tells me this woman aint got nothing on the Five-O.
The room is exactly like Emma described with bright colors, kid's artwork everywhere, and there, right by her desk, my daughter's drawing of our motorcycles.She wasn't kidding about that.
"Please, have a seat." She gestures to a chair clearly meant for someone much smaller than me, but I make it work.Her eyes catch on my shoulders as I settle in, and that little glance sets something primal loose in my chest.
My phone buzzes. Tank, my club VP, probably with updates about the River Kings situation.I silence it without looking.Club business can wait. Right now, I'm fascinated by the way Miss Leslie tries to maintain her professional demeanor while her body language screams awareness of me.
"Emma is one of our brightest students," she starts, in a proper 'teacher voice' that does little to mask her obvious warmth.Real affection. "Her reading level is well above average, and her artistic abilities are exceptional for her age."
She slides a folder with artwork, test scores, and behavior reports across the desk.I look them over carefully, pride swelling in my chest. My girl's smart as hell.
"She talks about you constantly." Now there's a smile in her voice that makes me want to hear what else I can make her say."She brought in your picture for show and tell last week.Called you her hero."
Something in my chest tightens."Emma's my world."
"It shows." Her smile is genuine now, and Christ, it's like staring into the sun."She's lucky to have such an involved father."
My phone buzzes again. This time it's the burner.I fight the urge to grit my teeth as I know it's Lucy, no doubt calling to remind me about her fucking Valentine's Day wedding ultimatum.I click it to silent too. If the club can wait, the ex sure as hell fucking can.Miss Leslie has my full attention, especially when her tongue darts out her mouth to lick her lips like that before continuing.
"However, there was one incident last week..." She shuffles through her papers."Emma told the class that her daddy makes bad men disappear."
I can't help the laugh that escapes."Did she now?"
"She's very... creative with her stories." Miss Leslie's trying to be diplomatic, but there's curiosity in her eyes.Good thing she doesn't know how accurate my daughter's stories can be.
"Kids say the darndest things." I lean forward, just enough to catch her scent.It's something soft and sweet that makes me want to bury my face in her neck."But you don't seem too concerned about having a dangerous man's kid in your class."
Her cheeks flush pretty and pink, but that steel spine shows again."The only thing dangerous about Emma is her ability to convince the whole class to join her dance parties during reading time."
Christ, no wonder my kid loves her.Most people in this town either fear the club or kiss our asses.Miss Leslie does neither. She may really just be a teacher who genuinely cares about her students, even the ones with MC presidents for fathers.
But I don't miss the wariness in her eyes, or the tension in her shoulders when the hallway creaks.This woman's running from something.I know that look. I've seen it on enough women who've come to the club seeking protection.
The results of the 'safety check' that I had Reaper, our road captain, run on her when she took over Emma's class make more sensenow.She was a former Atlanta socialite that just up and moved to Serenity shortly after filing for a restrainingorder.Reaper couldn't figure out who the restraining order was against nor find a recent picture of her. But after the third month of it not being a problem in Emma's life, I droppedit and told Reaper to just keep an eye out for anything strange. Nothing yet.Miss Leslie's got secrets, and suddenly I want to know every single one ofthem.
The conference wraps up tooquickly.She stands to show me out, but I take my time rising, deliberately invading her space just enough to watch her pupilsdilate.
"Thank you for coming in tonight," she says, professional mask firmly inplace."Emma will be thrilled you madeit."
"Thank you for taking such good care of my daughter." I let my voice drop lower, satisfaction curling in my gut when her breathcatches."Maybe I'll see you around town, MissLeslie."
"Serenity's a small place, Mr.Hunter."
"Ace," I remind her. "And yeah, it sureis. So, I look forward to it."
The Rusty Nail is already filling up when I arrive, but my mind's still back in that classroom.Tank notices immediately, raising an eyebrow as I take my seat at our usual table.
"Conference go that bad?"
"Went fine." I grab the whiskey he slides my way."Emma's doing great."
"Then why do you look like someone pissed in your beer?"
Before I can answer, my phone buzzes again.Lucy's name flashes on the burner's screen.I silence it for the third time tonight.
"Ex still pushing about the wedding?" Tank settles into the chair across from me, blocking the rest of the bar from view.
I nod. "She’s threatening to tell Emma about the custody arrangement if I don't bring a date." I down the whiskey in one shot."Says it'll look bad if I show up alone while she plays happy families with my former best friend."
"Bitch." Tank signals for another round."You gonna cave?"
"Don't have much choice." The whiskey burns, but not enough to wash away the memory of Miss Leslie's scent."Emma doesn't need to know about the shit that went down back then."
"Could always take Crystal from the club." Tank shrugs."She's always up for playing arm candy."
The suggestion should make sense.Crystal's hot, available, and knows the score.But all I can think about is that pair of captivating eyes, flowing jet black hair, and the way Miss Leslie stood her ground despite clearly being afraid of something.
"I’ve got someone else in mind," I hear myself say.
Tank follows my gaze to the wall of photos behind the bar.Among the shots of brothers and bikes that I usually gloss over is a new one from yesterday.I almost spit out my drink when I realize who it is.It's a picture of Miss Leslie, at the bar, grading papers with a glass of wine, completely unaware she was being photographed.My guys are thorough about monitoring new faces who walk in here.
"The teacher?" Tank's eyebrows shoot up."Seriously?"
"You got a problem with that, Tank?"
"Besides the fact that she's your kid'steacher?And definitely not club material?" He leansforward."Reaper got more details for her report that came backinteresting.That restraining order? The one inAtlanta?It was filed against IanDavidson."
That gets my attention. "The techbillionaire?"
"The one who made headlines last year when his fiancée disappeared." Tanknods."No body, no evidence, case wentcold.But word is, he's still looking for herreplacement.Been working his way through Atlanta socialites eversince."
Well, that explains why Miss Leslie jumped ship toSerenity.And why she tenses every time a dooropens. She must've been his next prospect. The implication turns something deep in my gut.
"You thinking about offering club protection?" Tank askscarefully.
"I'm thinking she's exactly the kind of date that'll drive Lucy crazy. Did Reaper get any photos?"
Tank nods, and I pull out my phone, scrolling through the photos Reaper took of Miss Leslie over the pastweek.Always alone, always watching hersurroundings."She is who I need for my date to that wedding. Respected teacher, Atlanta native, looks that could turn every head in theroom."
"Plus a personality that whipped you into shape from one meeting," Tank adds
I ignorethat. "Besides, she's got her own trouble. So, there may be a saving grace that she might be open to an arrangement that offers some protection."
"Boss." Tank's voice carries a warning."You're talking about using a civilian for cover.A teacher. Your daughter's teacher."
"I'm talking about a mutually beneficial arrangement." The whiskey's hitting my blood now, mixing with memories of her sweet scent and the fire behind her reluctant eyes."She needs protection, I need a date.Simple."
"There’s nothing's simple with you, Ranch." Tank stands, shaking his head."Just remember, she's not some club chick you can fuck and forget.She's Emma's teacher. You mess this up, it affects your kid."
He's right, but it doesn't matter.I've already decided. Miss Leslie is perfect for what I need, and if I'm being honest, I've wanted to taste that pretty mouth since the moment she opened her classroom door.
Now I just need to convince her that playing my fake girlfriend is in everyone's best interests.
My phone buzzes again. This time it's Reaper.
"Boss, we got movement. River Kings just crossed into our territory."
I stand, already shifting into club president mode."Where?"
"Heading toward the school."
Ice fills my veins. No way that's a coincidence.
"Get the crew ready." I grab my cut."Nobody touches that school. And Reaper?Run a deeper check on Ian Davidson.I want to know everything."
Miss Leslie might not know it yet, but she's about to become my problem.In more ways than one.
And I always protect what's mine. Problem’s included.