Page 2 of Rough Ride

“Anytime. You going to take her in there looking like that?”

“What’s wrong with how I look?” Eliana chimed in, feeling like she could no longer hold her tongue. Both of them turned to face her, and she placed both hands on her hips. Grier looked her up and down and grinned.

“Not a damn thing, Cherry,” Grier teased, and Kye smacked him on the chest. “Sorry, sorry,” he feigned with raised hands. “Do yourself a favor and get a drink in her before you go see Max. She’s a little wound up.”

“Wound up? I am not wound up!” Eliana stepped toward him, but Kye wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

“Come on, Eli,” Kye said and led her toward the tin shack that served as a bar. Eliana tossed a glare over her shoulder at Grier before facing the direction they were walking. While she didn’t appreciate his insinuation, the moment they stepped inside, Eliana couldn’t help feeling he may have been on to something.

She’d opted for a comfortable pair of dark denim skinny jeans, her practical but stylish cream-colored wedges and a green satin blouse with decorative buttons on the sleeves and a tan leather jacket over. It was something she would have worn to a Saturday brunch with the girls or a business casual meeting with colleagues. Too bad she hadn’t tapped into her ‘kidnapped into a den of bikers’ wardrobe. The entire occupancy of the bar turned to face them and stare when they walked in.

Eliana could feel the scrutiny draped on her like a wet blanket. She clearly didn’t belong, even with Kye’s arm still around her. Where she looked vanilla, the women in this place were cinnamon. Fishnets. Short-shorts. Sky-high boots. Leather. Red lipstick. Low cut tops and big breasts.

Eliana felt like a Catholic nun in comparison.

Her face flushed hot, and she was grateful when Kye led her farther toward the bar. She quickly ducked onto the free stool and placed a hand over the side of her face that wasn’t directed toward Kye. “What are we doing in here? Is this where we’re meeting Max?” she asked in a hushed tone that was entirely unnecessary. The rock music that was playing over the jukebox would have provided enough noise to cover their conversation.

“Grier doesn’t usually have good ideas, but this one I agree with,” Kye stated and waved the bartender over. She was a tall woman, probably pushing six feet, with long, fire-engine red hair she wore in a single braid down her back. Her skin was flawlessly tan, and she had a mole under her left eye. Dressed in leather pants that fit like a second layer of skin and a tank top that read “Hell Kat” in blue lettering, she also sported a headband with two cat ears that looked more like horns. “Jez,” Kye said, and the woman, who was likely in her late forties, leaned over the bar, her breasts plopping firmly on the wooden counter, and kissed Kye directly on the mouth.

“KD, good to see you,” she said in a smoke-ridden husky voice that oozed sex appeal. “How was Ireland?”

“Rainy,” Kye said and kissed the back of Jez’s hand. Eliana’s jaw made a clicking sound. “Max around?”

“In his office, but he told me that if I saw you to send you on to him. He been expecting you?”

“Yeah,” Kye answered shortly. Jez looked from Kye to Eliana, her dark blue eyes assessing her like a teacher would a new student.

“Who’s the girl?”

“Jez, this is Eliana, Eli this is Jez. She runs the bar and keeps the Hell Kats in line,” Kye explained. Eliana extended her hand, and Jez hesitated before taking it. Her grip was as crushing as a vice.

“Speaking of, Ebony has been missing you,” Jez said to Kye but kept her eyes on Eliana without releasing her hand. “Should I send her your way tonight?”

“Uh no, no, that’s not necessary,” Kye said quickly and scratched the back of his neck. “Just tell her I’ll call her later.”

“Sure thing, doll,” Jez replied and turned Eliana’s hand over in hers to examine her palm. “You haven’t worked much, have you?”

“That would depend on your definition of work,” Eliana said sharply and pulled her hand away. Jez laughed and reached for the bottle opener on her belt.

“I like her,” Jez said, looking back at Kye before she popped the lids to two cold beers she then placed in front of them. “Drink up then go see Max. I don’t want him thinking I’m the reason you’re late,” Jez said, pointing a warning finger at Kye.

“We’re in and out,” Kye promised and took a swig of beer. Jez leaned over the counter again, her large breasts making her neck disappear as they pushed upward.

“Do us a favor, sweet-thing, get changed before you see him. You’re caked in mud, lookin’ like shit, and smelling twice as bad.”

“You always say the nicest things,” Kye teased and kissed Jez on the cheek before grabbing his beer and standing. “Still got some things in the back?”

“My office,” she answered with a nod toward the corner.

“Stay right here,” Kye said to Eliana, and she opened her mouth to say something, but before she could, he was moving through the crowd. Closing her mouth, she wrapped both hands around her bottle and faced the bar, hoping the rest of the room would leave her alone. She looked up when she felt Jez staring at her.

“What?” she asked as the redhead smirked.

“He likes you,” Jez said, crossing her arms.

“Who?”

“Don’t play dumb,” Jez scolded with slightly narrowed eyes. “We both know you’re not.”