Chapter 3
SAYLOR
Ishoved through the door of The Burnout, my cheeks burning out of anger instead of the summer Florida heat.
“What an arrogant, rude, ridiculously hot jerk,” I muttered under my breath, stalking across the parking lot toward my car.
The second I saw him stalking toward me at the bar, I’d been struck speechless. I had never reacted to a guy like that before, but he was tall, dark, and handsome to a T. With an air of danger, too.
His brown hair was just long enough to look tousled, and his neatly cropped beard and mustache framed lips that were entirely too kissable.
A black tire track tattoo wrapped around his right bicep, disappearing under the sleeve of his shirt.
Masculinity rolled off him in waves, making him stand out even in a bar full of bikers.
His brown eyes had locked on me like I was the only person in the room, and I’d thought it was because he’d felt the same spark of attraction.
Then he opened his mouth, and I was struck by the familiar urge to strangle my twin sister.
I had no clue what she was doing in Florida, let alone Crossbend, but I wasn’t as surprised as I should be that she’d somehow turned up at the perfect time to ruin things with the first guy I wanted to climb like a tree.
It sucked so much that he thought I’d spent the night before throwing myself at him when I didn’t even know the man existed. Sutton had pulled a lot of stunts, but this one hurt more than it should.
All I could do was comfort myself with a reminder that a hot biker with a bad attitude was the last complication I needed.
I’d only been in town for six weeks, and this was my first real attempt at a social life outside of my job. Now I needed to text Rain and let her know I wouldn’t be here when she showed up. Definitely not a great way to start a new friendship.
I fished my keys out of my purse, my fingers trembling slightly as I clicked the button to unlock my car. Cursing the moment our mama’s fertilized egg split into two separate embryos because having Sutton for a twin was the absolute worst.
The crunch of heavy boots on gravel made me freeze.
“Wait.”
I spun around, my chin lifting in the stubborn way my mama always said would get me in trouble one day. Bracing for more of his accusing attitude from inside the bar, I was surprised to see that the hard lines of his face had softened, genuine remorse shining in his eyes.
But that didn’t mean I was going to let how he talked to me slide. “What?”
He ran a hand over the back of his neck, his black leather vest doing nothing to hide how the movement pulled his shirt tight across his muscular chest. “I owe you an apology. Your evil twin made a fucking awful first impression. That’s why I was so damn rude.
Didn’t want her to think she could walk back in there after she got thrown out. ”
I huffed out a breath. “Yeah, I get how it happened since I’ve had people mistake me for Sutton before.”
His voice dropped lower as he stepped a little closer. “I’m sorry I assumed the worst. You’re nothing like her, and it kills me that I made you pay for shit you didn’t do.”
We stood there in the dimly lit parking lot, locked in a staring contest that felt way too loaded for two people who’d just met, and I felt the ice around my irritation start to crack.
Part of me still wanted to stay mad, but the sincerity in his eyes and how quickly he’d moved to fix his mistake were doing dangerous things to my resolve.
Headlights swept across the lot, cutting through the moment. A little silver sedan pulled into the space beside mine, and my coworker hopped out with a bright smile. “Hey, Saylor! Sorry I’m late.”
Rain’s timing was perfect, immediately easing the crackling tension.
She clocked the hot biker immediately, and her whole face lit up with recognition.
She moved closer and fist-bumped him like they’d known each other forever.
“I hope you’re not giving my friend a hard time, Century.
I’d hate to be forced to tattle on you to my brother now that he’s an officer of the club. ”
My shoulders loosened a fraction. If Rain was this relaxed around him, maybe Century wasn’t the total jerk my first impression had painted him as.
“Nope.” He smirked, the crooked tilt of his mouth doing dangerous things to my pulse. “Was just about to convince Saylor to let me take her to dinner and make up for being a dick.”
Rain’s eyes darted between us, lighting up with pure mischief. She winked at me, clearly shipping whatever this was, hard. “Girl, go. I can keep myself company tonight.”
I huffed out a surprised laugh, the last of the tension from our confrontation draining away. Between Rain’s effortless approval and the way Century was looking at me, I felt myself softening.
My cautious nature told me to be careful, but the flutter in my belly and the genuine remorse lingering in his expression won out. “Okay, dinner. But you’re buying.”
Century’s smirk widened. “Wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Rain wagged her finger at him. “And take her somewhere nice.”
“Go find Apex.” He jerked his chin toward the door. “He’s at the bar.”
“Thanks.” Rain gave me one last encouraging wink before she headed inside.
“There’s a steakhouse called The Racing Line not far from here,” he suggested. “Club owned. Quiet enough to actually talk.”
I glanced down at my casual top and jeans. “I dressed for a low-key night at the bar, not somewhere fancy.”
“You look beautiful either way.” His brown eyes heated as his gaze swept over me. “How about The Drift Café?”
“That’ll work.” I’d been there a couple of times already. “Their caprese flatbread is really good.”
Century tilted his head toward a row of motorcycles parked nearby. “I’ll follow you.”
The short drive over gave me a minute to breathe—and overthink. I glanced at his headlight in my rearview mirror much more than I should’ve. By the time we were seated at a table for two at The Drift Café, my stomach was twisted in knots.
Century proved how observant he was when he reached out to cover my hand with his. “Relax, Saylor. I know we got off on the wrong foot, but you’re safe with me.”
“I know.” I took a deep breath and let it out slowly to release some of my tension. “I only met Rain when classes started, but she strikes me as a good judge of character, and she seemed to trust you.”
“Well, shit.” He raked his fingers through his hair. “Now I’m gonna owe Apex a favor.”
“That’s Rain’s brother, right?” When he nodded, I narrowed my eyes. “How come?”
“’Cause Rain wouldn’t have vouched for me if he wasn’t a King.”
Before I could ask him about the club, a server came over to take our order. I got my flatbread, and Century went for a roast beef panini. We both ordered coffee with cream, no sugar.
Conversation flowed easier than I expected.
“You work at the high school with Rain?”
I nodded. “Yeah, she’s a student teacher in the classroom next to mine, and we hit it off right away. Probably because I was in her position at a school in Georgia last year while I finished my degree.”
“What subject?” he asked before drinking some of the coffee our server dropped off.
“History.” I lit up as I talked about my students and the chaos of trying to make the past feel relevant. I was a little shy admitting I was still finding my footing, but he listened like every word mattered.
“Sounds like you love it.”
“Because I do.” I grinned at him. “How about you?”
“I’m lucky as fuck.” He waited until the server set our plates down and walked away to add, “Work at The Pit, the garage owned by the club. Get to custom build bikes for guys who know how to ride them since Kane owns racing teams with the best riders around.”
With how he spoke about his job, it was easy to tell how passionate he was. “I don’t know much about motorcycles, but that sounds really cool, Century.”
His intense gaze practically pinned me in my seat when he murmured, “Call me Levi.”
My breath caught in my chest. “Okay, Levi.”
The chemistry between us only intensified as the night went on. There was a lot of lingering eye contact and accidental hand brushes that sent a spark up my arm each time.
After dinner, his hand settled on my lower back as he guided me toward my car. Right before I reached for the door, he caught my fingers, his thumb brushing over my knuckles. “My mistake almost cost me getting to know you. Not gonna make another one.”
I melted right there in the parking lot, all too aware Levi was going to be the best kind of trouble.