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“Babe, there’s a law in this state that makes that mandatory.”
The waiter arrived with their food, stepping very close to Scarlet so that when he bent to place her plate in front of her, his face was almost nuzzling her neck. She pulled her head immediately to the side to get away from him with a look of distaste. The move was almost reflexive.
“Step away,” Absinthe commanded, his voice low, but there was no mistaking the threat. He “pushed” blatantly, although no one would know. Only the waiter would feel it—and the threat that was all too real. “She doesn’t like you so close.”
The waiter immediately complied. There were very few people who didn’t comply when Absinthe used his voice at that level. It was rare, and he was shocked that it came out so aggressively when the indiscretion had been a small one. There was silence as the man finished giving them their food. Once they were alone, Absinthe reached across the table to gently cover her hand.
“I’m sorry, are you all right?” He removed his hand immediately before she could be the one to withdraw it. He wanted her to feel his touch, to be comforted, not offended by it.
“He just startled me, that’s all. I don’t like anyone I don’t know coming so close to me. It’s just a thing I have.”
“It’s not a bad thing to have, Scarlet. It’s called self-preservation. You’re a beautiful woman and men are going to find you very attractive. Most will just look. Others take advantage when they shouldn’t.”
“What do you do?”
“I ask you out and see if you’re interested.” He flashed a little self-deprecating grin. “I confess my worse sins, including not liking lettuce, and let you decide.” He was a fucking liar and he was going to burn in the fires of hell, but she was worth it.
She flashed him a smile and pointed to his steak. “Eat up before it gets cold. Do you actually own a motorcycle? Is that what you ride all the way from Caspar to here on? Because it gets cold, you know.”
It was his turn to laugh. They spent the next hour and a half talking and laughing together. He enjoyed every minute with her far more than he had expected. He spent all of the time watching her every move, absorbing her as if he could just take her inside of him. It was interesting to be able to relax wholly in her company. He didn’t know why he didn’t worry about making mistakes with his voice, but he didn’t. He just felt at peace, the chaos in his mind receding until it was gone completely.
After dinner, he walked her to her car and told her he’d had a great time and he’d see her in a couple of days. She didn’t object or pull away when he brushed a light kiss across her forehead. Touching her skin was a mistake. Inhaling her scent was a mistake. Taking in her laughter and the poetry of her lyrics was even worse. It didn’t matter. He’d done it and he’d do again. She was his addiction now and he would return again and again. He hoped she felt the same about him.
He walked the two blocks to the parking garage where he’d left his Harley. Parked on either side were two other motorcycles and, sitting on them, were two familiar men. Both wore Torpedo Ink colors and they were grinning at him.
Maestro tossed his vest to him. “You’ve been holding out on us.”
He had been. Absinthe caught his vest and shrugged into it, his colors fitting over his body like a second skin. “How long have the two of you been following me?”
Maestro and Keys exchanged a long, amused look between them. “About two weeks now,” Keys admitted. “We hung back, stayed up on the roof across from the library, just to make certain you were safe.” He shook his head. “Even if she’s yours, Absinthe, you know to be careful.”
“Especially if she’s yours,” Maestro corrected.
Absinthe nodded and slung his leg over his bike. The moment he did, most of the chaos that had been returning in him settled. His bike. His colors. His brothers. His little redheaded librarian. “Yeah. What blows the most is I wasn’t aware you were following me.”
“We only had to stay close the first time. After that, we knew where you were going. You like books. You like to hang out in libraries. We weren’t aware for the first week that the librarian was the big draw.”
There was a questioning note in Maestro’s voice. Absinthe nodded. “Yeah. She’s mine. I don’t have her yet. She’s somewhat of a mystery and I’m taking my time with that.” And enjoying it. He liked watching her. Uncovering her little secrets. Watching her with the teens that came in and the infinite patience she had with them.
She was attracted to him and shocked that she was. Shocked and a little embarrassed, yet at the same time, she wanted to go for it. He was certain she would have tried for a purely sexual relationship had he suggested it, but because he had asked her to dinner and kept it light, talking about himself and asking questions about her, pushing more for a relationship, she was confused and didn’t know exactly what to do.
“Code look into her yet?” Keys asked cautiously.
“No. Tonight was the first real contact I’ve had with her,” Absinthe said. “When I said I was taking it slow, I meant really slow. I would have lost had I gone too fast.”
Maestro’s head went up alertly. “You didn’t use any influence?”
Absinthe shook his head. “No, of course not. If she comes to me, I want it to be because she wants me as much as I want her. Something’s not quite right though. I did lift the fork she used tonight and got her prints. I also got a very good picture of her on my cell. Code should be able to give me the information I need if she needs protection, or if I do.”
He sent them a brief grin, but he wasn’t kidding. She had abilities. He was certain of it. He just didn’t want to give Code the opportunity to find out about her yet. He wanted to take his time and uncover her himself, one layer at a time. He knew he was giving them the impression he was turning over the fork and picture to Code immediately, but he didn’t intend to do it, not yet. He really did want to take his time with Scarlet.
“I’m just taking my time right now and enjoying myself.” That was the best he could do, give them the truth of it. They seemed to understand, both nodding.
“Let’s ride, gentlemen. It’s getting late and we’ve got a distance to go,” Keys said.
“She know you’re in a club?” Maestro asked.
Absinthe should have known he wasn’t going to get off that easily. He’d expected the question. “No. Not yet. I went into the library without my colors and kept it up. Didn’t tell her tonight. I had a feeling …” He trailed off. Why hadn’t he told her? He was Torpedo Ink. The club logo was inked into the skin of his back, but more importantly, he was part of his brothers, and they were part of him. One didn’t work without the other. It was that simple. It always would be.
“A feeling?” Maestro prompted.
Absinthe shrugged. “I just had a feeling I shouldn’t. She’s skittish, and I’m not losing her. I’m reeling her in slowly. Once I have her hooked, then I’ll tell her. I just need to set that hook in good.”
Maestro shook his head. “I hope to hell you know what you’re doing, man.”
Absinthe hoped so, too.
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