Chapter 3
3
LESLIE
P arent-teacher conferences end at nine, but it takes another thirty minutes to organize my notes and stop thinking about the way Ace Hunter filled my entire classroom with his presence.By the time I pull into the Rusty Nail, the local bar near my cottage, it's nearly ten.Late enough that the dinner crowd should be gone, early enough that the real party hasn't started.
I thought about stopping by the Drunken Whiskey on Main, but there's something about the grittiness at the Rusty Nail that pulls me to it.It's certainly not the fact that it's always crawling with MC men and may attract a certain father at all.It's because it's perfect for grading papers with a glass of wine.Or at least that's what I tell myself as I purposely choose a seat as far from the motorcycles parked outside as possible.
My phone buzzes just as I settle in.Shari's name flashes on the screen, making my heart skip.My best friend from Atlanta never texts this late unless--
Shari:
He knows.
Two words. That's all it takes for my hands to start shaking.
Me:
How?
Someone at the charity gala mentioned seeing you in Serenity.Ian's been asking questions. Be careful.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
"Rough night, sugar?"
I jump at the voice, nearly knocking over my untouched wine.The man standing over me looks like he stepped straight out of a country music video, complete with cowboy hat and shit-eating grin.
"Not interested." I turn back to my phone, trying to steady my breathing.
"Aw, come on now." He slides into the seat across from me."Pretty lady like you shouldn't drink alone."
"I'm not drinking. I'm working." I gesture to the stack of papers I brought as cover."And I'm definitely not looking for company."
"Playing hard to get?" He reaches for my hand."I like that."
Before I can tell him exactly where he can shove his interest, a shadow falls over our table.The temperature in the room seems to drop ten degrees.
"Problem here?" Ace's voice carries that same gentle tone from the classroom, but there's steel underneath it now.
Cowboy Hat yanks his hand back like I've burned him."No problem, Ranch. Just being friendly."
"She doesn't look like she wants your kind of friendly." Ace doesn't raise his voice, doesn't even look at the guy.His eyes are locked on me, dark and intense."Do you, Miss Leslie?"
"I was just leaving anyway." I start gathering my things, but Ace's hand comes down on top of my papers.
"Stay."
It's not a request. Any other time, that would piss me off enough to walk out just to prove a point.But Shari's text is still burning in my mind, and suddenly leaving doesn't seem like such a great idea.
Cowboy Hat disappears without another word.Ace slides into his vacated seat, signaling the bartender without taking his eyes off me.
"Interesting choice of workspace."
"Interesting choice of customer service." I pull my papers out from under his hand."Do you always terrorize your patrons, Ranch?" The name seems wrong on my tongue.In my opinion Ace suits him better.Not that my opinion matters since I'm staying away from this man after tonight, I remind myself.
His lips twitch. "Only the ones who need it.Your wine okay?"
"I haven't tried it yet. Too busy fending off your customers."
"My customers know better than to harass women who clearly want to be left alone." He leans back, with casual dominance."Course, if you didn't want company, there are safer places to grade papers than an MC bar."
"It's the only place in town open past nine that serves decent wine." I take a deliberate sip."And I'm not looking for safer."
"No?" Something dangerous flashes in his eyes."What are you looking for then, Miss Leslie?"
"Peace and quiet to grade these papers."
He laughs, the sound doing inappropriate things to my insides."Serenity's a small town, darlin'.Peace and quiet come with a price."
"Everything does." I set my wine down harder than necessary."What do you want, Mr. Hunter?"
"Ace," he corrects, for what feels like the hundredth time."And maybe I just want to make sure my daughter's teacher makes it home safe tonight."
"I've been making it home safe on my own for twenty-eight years."
"Have you?" He pulls out his phone, sliding it across the table."Because according to my sources, Ian Davidson's asking questions about a certain preschool teacher in Serenity County."
My blood runs cold. On his screen is a photo of Ian at some Atlanta event, clearly mid-conversation.The timestamp is from yesterday.
"How did you--"
"I make it my business to know who comes sniffing around my town." He takes the phone back."Especially when they're looking for someone under my protection."
"I'm not under your protection."
"You're my daughter's teacher.That makes you my concern."
"I don't need a protector." I start packing up again, but his next words freeze me in place.
"No? Then why've you been checking the exits every thirty seconds since you walked in?Why's your hand shaking when you reach for that wine?And why'd you choose the one table in here with a clear view of both the front door and the back exit?"
Because old habits die hard. Because Ian's reach is longer than I thought.Because--
My phone buzzes again. Another text.
Shari:
He's asking about the school.
This time, Ace sees the message before I can hide it.His jaw tightens.
"Here's the thing, Miss Leslie." His voice drops lower, meant for my ears only."I've got a problem that needs solving, and you've got trouble that needs handling.I'm thinking we might be able to help each other out."
"I don't make deals with MC presidents."
"Smart policy." He smirks. "But hear me out anyway."
Against my better judgment, I stay silent.
"My ex is getting married next month.To my former best friend." His smile turns sharp."She's threatening to tell Emma some things she doesn't need to know unless I bring a date.Someone respectable. Someone who'll make her look good for choosing my best friend over me."
"And you think that someone should be me?" I can't help the laugh that escapes."Have you lost your mind?"
"Think about it. You need protection.I need a date that'll drive my ex crazy.We fake it for a month, you get the safety of the club, I get to keep Emma from finding out ugly truths, everybody wins."
"Except for my reputation when the whole town thinks I'm dating an MC president."
"Sweetheart, the whole town already thinks whatever they want." He nods toward the bar where several people quickly look away."Might as well use it to our advantage."
"And what happens when your ex's wedding is over and Ian's still out there?"
"Then we renegotiate." He reaches across the table, his fingers brushing mine."But right now, you need immediate protection, and I need an immediate solution.Sometimes the simplest answer is the right one."
I pull my hand back. "There's nothing simple about you, Ace Hunter."
"No," he admits, smirking with a slight shake of his head."But I'm probably your best option right now."
As if to prove his point, the door opens and three rough-looking men in leather cuts walk in.Not Ace's crew--their patches are different.The temperature in the room drops again.
Ace's posture shifts subtly, but I recognize the change.It's the same way Ian used to look right before things got ugly.
"Think fast, darlin'." Ace's voice is barely a whisper now."Those guys aren't here by accident, and you really don't want to be unaffiliated when they start asking questions."
"You're blackmailing me?"
"I'm offering you a choice." His eyes never leave mine."Take the protection of the Saints, or take your chances with whatever the River Kings are selling.But choose fast, because they're heading this way."
I think of Shari's text. Of Ian's resources.Of the way he found his last ex-girlfriend three states away.
Then I think of Emma's smile this morning.Of how much she loves her dad.Of how this whole stupid plan could blow up in all our faces.
The River Kings are three tables away now.Two tables. One.
"Fine." I grab Ace's hand where everyone can see it."But I have conditions."
His smile is pure predator. "Name them."
"This stays professional. No actual dating, no real feelings, no--"
He cuts me off by pulling me against him, one hand tangling in my hair."Sorry, darlin', but if we're gonna sell this..."
His mouth crashes into mine, and every thought of conditions and rules goes up in smoke.He kisses like he owns me, like he's been waiting to do this since the moment he walked into my classroom, and God help me, I kiss him back.
When he finally pulls away, the River Kings are gone.But the damage is done. Half the bar is staring, phones already out, and I know by morning the whole town will be talking.
"Was that really necessary?" I try to sound angry, but my voice comes out breathless.
"Sweetheart." He tucks a curl behind my ear, his touch surprisingly gentle."If we're gonna play this game, we need to make it convincing.Nothing in this town stays secret for long.And no smart club member in a 50-mile radius will step to a woman known to be mine without a death wish."
"I hate you." But there's no heat in it.
"No, you don't." He stands, pulling me up with him."Come on. I'll drive you home.We can discuss those conditions of yours on the way."
"I have my owncar."
"And now you have a man with a motorcycle." His grin iswicked."Better get used to it, MissLeslie.For the next month, you're allmine."
God help me, what have I just agreedto?
He leads me out of the bar with a firm hand in place on my lower back, and for the first time in six months, I'm not checking theexits.
I just hope I haven't traded one dangerous man foranother.