Seventeen
Thor
I’m almost sad to leave the quiet little bubble we’ve created for ourselves over the last few days, but it seems I can’t deny Clover anything. The way her eyes lit up when she was talking about going to the bookstore, well, she could have been asking me for the moon and I would have handed it to her on a silver platter.
It was also somewhat satisfying to see a smidge of jealousy swirling around in her violet eyes when Chantelle called. I’ve been hoping and praying that this draw I feel toward her isn’t only one-sided, and if the conversation we had when I hung up with Chantelle is any indication, she’s feeling something too.
Still, I have to tread carefully. For one, she is still a client. But also, she’s all alone and vulnerable. I refuse to take advantage of that. If anything more than friendship comes from this, it will be because she wants a relationship with me. Not because she’s desperate for any connection that comes her way.
My phone buzzes with a call from Rock.
“Hey, Rock. Any updates?” I glance through the window into the cabin as Clover finishes packing her bag .
“All has been quiet. She must have gotten spooked with the cops watching Miss Mason’s house.”
“You think she’ll turn herself in?”
“Doubtful. But listen, that’s not what I’m calling about. You’ve been out there for a while, Hammer. I think we need to switch you out with someone else.”
A stone lodges in my throat as my stomach twists into knots. Rock is concerned, but . . . no. I refuse to leave Clover with anyone else.
“No,” I grind the word out harsher than I intend.
There’s a beat of silence before Rock replies, “Excuse me?”
I sigh, scratching my beard. Making sure that Clover is still in the cabin, I lower my voice. “Listen, Rock, have I ever once gone against your orders since I’ve been working for you?”
“No, but that’s beside the point. You—”
“I’m not leaving her with anyone else.”
Rock curses. “How bad is it?”
I blink. “Is what?”
“Hammer, you sound like a lovesick pup over there. Am I going to have to call my lawyers?”
Scrubbing a hand down my face, I resist the urge to sigh. “No, of course not, Rock. Nothing has happened. But she is starting to trust me. Do you want another situation like with Cut?”
“Cut broke protocol and has been put on leave while I investigate his previous cases. That won’t be happening again.”
“We always say that clients’ trust is the most important thing for a job. If they don’t trust us—”
“Then they don’t listen to us.” Rock sighs heavily. “Yeah, but, Thorin”—I cringe at my full name, knowing he’s exasperated with me if he’s pulling it out—“you need sleep.”
“I’m getting sleep,” I argue, not telling him that it’s been the worst sleep I’ve had since getting out of the Corps and that I almost woke Clover with a nightmare. “And I’ll be getting more sleep tonight. We’re heading back to Denver, and then we’ll go to my place.”
Sighing again, Rock replies, “I’ll relent this one time, but listen to me, Hammer, any hint that you aren’t up to the job, you need to call me. You don’t want something happening to her on your watch.”
His words are a punch to my gut, and he immediately backtracks. Letting out a low curse, he says, “Geez, son. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that.”
My shoulders tense as memories flash in my mind. I swallow them back. “Yeah. I know, Rock.”
“Just keep her safe and take care of yourself. Okay? But I’m only giving you three more days. If we haven’t caught the suspect by then, I’ll switch out with you myself. Do you trust me with Miss Mason’s safety?”
No, but I’m smart enough not to say that. “Of course.”
“Okay, keep me updated.”
I disconnect the call and slide my phone into my jean pockets. When I glance back into the cabin, Clover is on the phone. Probably with her parents. They’re the only people she’s talked to since I’ve known her. Most likely the only people she ever talks to .
As I’m stepping back into the cabin, I hear Clover saying, “Oh, that’s perfect. Thank you so much. I’ll be there in about thirty minutes.”
She turns around, not even startling when she sees me behind her. It’s nice that my presence doesn’t seem to scare her anymore.
“Who was that?”
Glancing at me, she lifts a shoulder. “Oh, no one.”
I want to press, but decide to let it drop. Something about her looks different. I angle my head, my brow furrowing. “Are you wearing contacts?”
What should be piercing violet eyes, but are now a dark brown, meet mine. “It’s called a disguise, Thor.”
“Your disguise is to change your eye color?”
“Violet eyes aren’t that common. I don’t always wear them, but when I’m going to be around a lot of people, I usually try and look as ordinary as possible so no one comments on how my eyes look just like the gorgeous Clarissa Steele’s.”
There’s nothing ordinary about this woman, even if she’s altering her eye color—which by the way, does not make her any less alluring. My eyes trail over her frame, snagging on her T-shirt choice of the day. Editing I like, you not so much .
A deep chuckle rumbles through my chest. “Nice shirt.”
Clover glances down and shrugs. “Just wanted to keep you in your place.”
Throwing my head back, I laugh. “Noted.”
She and I work to clean up the cabin, and I swear she’s like a different woman. Her eyes are lit with an excitement I’ve never seen before, and she appears anxious to get on the road. Maybe I was wrong. Maybe she does have someone—a friend, hopefully—that she has failed to mention to me.
We load our few items onto the bike. Clover slips on her purple jacket and helmet. I can’t take my eyes off of her. Man, she looks smokin’ in that biker gear.
I mount my bike and hold a hand out to help Clover on. Once she’s settled behind me, her arms wrapped firmly around my waist, she says through the comms, “Do you know where Stonecrest is?”
My brow furrows. “Yeah, why?”
“That’s where we’re going.”
“Now who’s bossy?”
“Hey, it’s your job to keep me safe, not tell me where to go.”
I make a humming sound in the back of my throat as we leave my cabin behind. Maybe one day I’ll be able to bring her back here. I bet she’d love to see the eaglets learning how to fly.
“I thought we were going to the bookstore.”
“We are. But after Stonecrest.”
“And what exactly are we doing in Stonecrest?” I ask as we pull out off the back road and onto the paved highway.
“That’s a need-to-know basis.”
“And I don’t need to know?” I roll the throttle and speed up.
“Nope. You just need to focus on driving.”
Which is impossible to do when her arms are snug around my waist and I can feel the body heat from her chest on my back. The longer I’m around this woman, the more time I crave with her. I want her safe, but I also dread when Rock tells me this job is done. I’m glad he agreed to let me be her guard for a few more days.
I only hope and pray by the time Angie is caught, Clover will let me stay in her life. Even if it’s only as friends. Because I don’t know if I can go back to the time when Clover Mason wasn’t tossing out snarky quips and throwing icy glares at me.
Taking the exit for Stonecrest, I say, “I know you love surprises, but you’re going to have to tell me where we’re going from here.”
Silence.
I glance back at her, my hand instinctively moving to rub her thigh to make sure she’s okay. “You with me, Love?”
A heavy sigh comes through the comms, and I return both hands to the bars. “J&J Choppers.”
Huh. That’s not at all what I expected. “The bike shop?”
“Yes. You know where it’s at?”
“I do. But why do you need to go to a custom bike shop?”
“Need-to-know basis. Remember?”
“Did you buy me a custom bike? Because as awesome as that would be, I’m not sure I’m ready for that big of a step in our fake relationship, Love.”
She slaps me on the back of my helmet, and my laugh breaks free.
“Shut up and drive.”
“Love me some Rihanna.”
“Oh my gosh, you’re impossible.”
I shrug and make the last turn toward the chop shop. A few months ago, Rock introduced me to one of the owners, Malcolm James, who he knew from his previous work when they were both FBI agents together.
We pull in, and I hit the kill switch and put the kickstand down. Clover places her hand on my shoulder to steady herself as she slides off. Removing her helmet, she shakes her curls out and glances around. Her eyes light up as she examines the rows of bikes sitting out front.
“You think I need to know now?” I ask as I dismount and remove my helmet.
She slices her gaze to me, a challenge there as she hangs her helmet on the handlebars and heads in the direction of the shop.
I follow her, shaking my head and wondering what we’re doing here. I’m pretty sure we’re not here for me, which means . . .
Stopping in my tracks, I watch as she strides toward the door with a confidence I could get used to seeing from her. “You have a bike?”
Clover glances back at me, cocking one dark eyebrow. “Does that surprise you?”
I blink. “Yeah, maybe a little.”
She smirks, but then barking draws her attention away from me.
A large Bull Mastiff comes around the building. I go to step in front of Clover, but she squats down, a wide smile forming on her face. “Oh, aren’t you just the cutest,” she coos, and I’m done for. That smile on her face, her eyes dancing with laughter, and the tenderness in her movements as she pets the massive dog—who’s rolled over for belly rubs—has my heart tripping over itself .
If I wasn’t already falling for Clover Mason, I sure as heck am now.
“What’s your name?” she asks the dog, gripping the tag on his collar. “Bones. There’s certainly nothing boney about you, big guy.” She brings her face down to his and he eagerly licks her, causing her to giggle.
My lips tug up in a grin as I watch the exchange. “If I knew all it took to get you to laugh and smile was licking your face, I’d have tried it on day one.”
Her face flushes red as she looks over her shoulder, daggers shooting from her eyes. “Aren’t there rules about flirting with your clients?”
“You mean girlfriend.”
Huffing, she stands and crosses her arms. “I told you, that was a mistake.”
I hum softly. “There’s a Bible verse about that.”
Her brow wrinkles. “About what?”
Stepping closer, my eyes lock with hers. “Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.”
She lifts her chin, her nostrils flaring. “Are you implying that I want to be your girlfriend?”
My gaze skims over every detail of her face, slowly and deliberately, lingering on her slightly parted plush lips. I lean forward, careful not to touch her, as I whisper, “I don’t know, Love. You’ll have to answer that for yourself.”
Ignoring me, she steps away and pushes through the door .
“You must be Miss Mason,” a deep voice with a slight Southern drawl greets us as we walk in. “I hope Bones wasn’t bothering you.”
“Not at all. He’s a big sweetie.” Clover tosses a brilliant grin as Malcolm walks toward us. When he sees me, recognition registers in his face.
He shakes Clover’s hand first, and then turns to me. “Thor, nice to see you again.” He clasps my hand, giving it a firm shake.
“You too, man.”
Malcolm looks between Clover and me. “I didn’t realize you two knew one another.”
I open my mouth to say something, but Clover loops her arm through mine, leaning her head against my arm. “Yes, Thor’s my boyfriend.”
My lips twitch. I swear, if the woman doesn’t stop claiming me as her boyfriend, I’m never going to be able to let her go.
“How’s Jamar?” I ask Malcolm. Jamar Johnson is the other “J” in J&J Choppers.
“He’s doing great. He and his wife just welcomed their first baby, so he’s taking some time off.”
I grin at the news. “Tell him I said congratulations.”
Nodding, Malcolm replies, “Will do,” before turning to Clover. “Well, Miss Mason, we’ve got you all squared away. Ready to see her?”
Clover practically bounces on her toes as Malcolm leads us to the back room before we stop in front of a Bonneville T100 that’s been custom-painted a metallic light blue with purple and hot pink flames down the side, complete with chrome detailing.
I let out a low whistle. “That is a nice bike.” And expensive.
Clover runs a hand across the bars and down the side. “It’s gorgeous.” Her voice is full of awe as she squats to observe the fine detailing.
“And look at that, Love, the jacket and helmet I got you matches it perfectly.” Clover raises her head as I smirk. “It’s like its destiny.” She rolls her eyes and turns her attention back to the bike.
“Is it what you were expecting?” Malcolm asks.
“More.” Clover stands, her mouth spread into a wide grin. “It looks amazing. Thank you.”
Malcolm dips his head.
They talk for a few minutes before Malcolm rides the bike outside. He hits the kill switch and hops off. “I believe that should do it, Miss Mason. If you have any issues, just bring her back in.”
“Will do. Thanks again.” Clover shakes his hand and grins. If I wasn’t basking in the glow of that smile, I’d be jealous that I’ve worked for days to pull one out of her and here she is throwing them out like candy to a dog and a married man.
Malcolm claps me on the shoulder. “See you around, man.”
I lift my chin and tell him goodbye. It’s only after he walks back inside and I turn around to see Clover sliding her helmet on, that it fully hits me that she’s planning to drive the bike back to Denver.
Of course, she is, dummy .
“Umm . . .” I’m really not sure what to say or why the thought of her driving a bike has me unsettled. It’s absolutely not because I’m going to miss the feel of her sitting behind me. Not at all. I rub the back of my neck and say the only thing I can think of. “You know it’s illegal to drive without a motorcycle license, right?”
I can hear her snort through her helmet. Flipping her visor up, she glares at me. “It should also be illegal to be a moron, yet here we are.”
“Harsh.”
Rolling her eyes, she steps closer to me. “I have a motorcycle license, thank you very much.”
“Oh.”
“I’ve been driving since I was seventeen and riding for longer than that. Not that it’s any of your business.”
“Huh.”
She sighs. “Has the shock that a woman can ride a motorcycle reduced you to one-worded caveman grunts?” She stuffs her hand into one glove, then the other.
“No. Are you forgetting that there’s a woman in the group I ride with?”
Leveling me with a look, she mutters, “Could have fooled me.”
I grasp her arm gently before she can walk away. “Seriously. I just—you—” I huff out a frustrated breath, my eyes meeting hers. “You surprised me. That’s all.”
My hand is still on her arm, our gazes studying one another. Questioning. Something unnamed passes between us as the air crackles with a new energy .
Does she feel even an inkling of what I feel when I’m around her? Is she as drawn to me as I am to her? Was I reading into her moment of supposed jealousy when she realized I was talking to a woman?
There are lines I can’t cross while she’s a client. Still, I want her to know how I’m starting to feel about her. How much I care about her. I want to give her something more solid than my backpack comment back at the cabin.
I swallow over the lump in my throat. “Clover.” Her name comes out in a gravelly whisper.
She blinks rapidly and shakes her head, stepping back. “Meet you in Denver.” Her voice is strained and unnaturally high-pitched as she slides onto her bike.
Whatever that moment was is gone. I slip my helmet and gloves on and hop on my bike as Clover pulls out of the parking lot in front of me. I follow her, all the while praying that I won’t have to give up the woman who has quickly stolen my heart.