Page 5 of Coveted By Cupid

“’bout fucking time,” I mutter to Oaks before addressing the garage owner. “What’s the verdict, Buck?”

Oaks pipes in, “Were you able to fix his one true love?”

Ignoring Oaks’ slight, I meet Buck at the counter where he walks me through the bike diagnosis.

“The front forks were a tad twisted out of alignment. I tried adjusting them back, but you know how it is. Some parts shouldn’t be bent repeatedly. Replacement parts came in yesterday and she’s good as new.”

As I pay the expenses, I hear the woman from earlier call out to Buck from behind me. “Thanks again, Buck. I owe you one.”

“No problem, Vanessa. If you have any issues, you bring her right back,” Buck hollers after the woman before handing me my keys. “Your bike’s in the side yard, up against the building, Cupid.”

“Thanks, Buck.”

As we make our way out to the side yard, Oaks starts up again. “Have you ever tried one of those dating apps? Maybe those are worth a shot.”

I groan, heading for my hog. “Pretty sure any woman on a dating app would swipe left if they came across my profile.”

“See, that’s what I’m telling you. You gotta smile more. The ladies like a friendly smile.”

As I’m about to tell Oaks to fuck off with his dating advice, a little baddie with honey-brown tendrils blowing out from underneath her beanie helmet cruises alongside us on a candy-apple red Harley Street Glide.

Time seems to slow around me as soon as my eyes land on her. My breath stalls in my lungs, like I’m looking at the answer to everything that could breathe life into me.

Fuck me sideways, she’s gorgeous. Like kick you in the nads, drop to your knees, dead gorgeous. She’s all lithe lines and soft curves hidden under snug denim.

The woman catches me gawking at her. Her cherry bow-shaped lips perk up into a flirty smirk in response to my attention.

My heart lurches in my chest, fluttering madly and yanking my feet forward. I reach out for her as if I can stop her on a moving bike, beckoning her with my fingers.

Her smirk widens, and then she winks at me—fucking winks at me—before tearing off like a jackrabbit fleeing from a predator.

Sweet little thing doesn’t realize what she’s done. A hawk will always give chase to game.

My lips tug at the corners, pulling my skin taut.

“Um, yeah…nice effort. Maybe show fewer teeth,” Oaks suggests. “You kind of look possessed when you smile that wide.”

Possessed? I guess I am, all because a little mink tested the devil inside of me.

Chuckling to myself, I hurry to my bike and climb on. “I’ve gotta go, Oaks.”

My VP scratches his head, clearly confused why I’m rushing. “Go? Go where?”

I motion ahead to my dream girl speeding away. “I have a woman to catch.”

Oaks gapes. “You want to chase tail right now?”

“Not tail, Oaks. Psyche.”

“Say what now?!”

Again, I point at the woman growing smaller the further she gets. “Her. She’s my Psyche. Google it—I don’t have time to give you a Roman mythology lesson.”

“Whatever. Just remember we have a virtual meeting today with the Durango chapter regarding the new shipment being delivered this week. Don’t miss it. You know how testy Rock gets if we keep him waiting.”

Rock is the president of the Durango chapter. He’s a seasoned biker with zero tolerance for fuckups with club business. Smuggling guns isn’t a joking matter. Like me, Rock is methodical in handling this line of work. It makes working with his chapter a hell of a lot easier for us when we’re all on the same page. I respect the hell out of the man and make a mental note not to be too tardy for our meeting today.

“No worries. I’ll be back in time,” I say to Oaks. Revving my engine, I give my VP a two-finger salute before taking pursuit of the woman who has stolen my attention with a fleeting wink.