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Rather than arguing, Denver took the gum with a smile. Minty fresh breath definitely went with shaking thighs. “Thanks.”

The speedbumps about killed her as they finally pulled up behind the bus. The boys rolled in right behind them even with their Danica Patrick wannabe driver at the wheel. Lauren and Jules were torturing Randy in the third row of the SUV. Lo’s penchant for invasive questions made for a lot of laughter, especially since most of them made Randy blush and stammer.

While they were distracted, Denver took the opportunity to head for the bus. Even with a head start, Lauren, Jules, and Elle caught up. Drunk on too little sleep and too much excitement, they were a flock of magpies chasing each up the stairs.

By the time Denver got to the stairs, the steep incline of the three steps seemed a little daunting.

Lauren paused and turned to look down at her. “Sure you’re okay?”

“Peachy.” She could do this. It was a simple matter of one step at a time. She wrapped her fingers around the railing just as a familiar scent rolled over her. She knew it well because she’d bought it for him as a joke. The guys had been making fun of the Johnny Depp commercial for Sauvage co

logne since the day it had come out.

The problem was, the way Ryan wore it was no joke. Crisp spice and heat.

“Ryan,” she said on a low growl.

“I know, I know. We’re a secret.” His voice was a rumble. His fingers slipped into her jeans pocket. “I have a little something for you.”

“I know, I’m wearing it.”

His nose brushed her ear. “You sound a little frustrated already.”

She elbowed him.

He laughed. “Just hit play.” Then he was gone. Up the stairs like a shot, leaving her suffering on the blacktop.

“Bastard.” She stuck her hand into her pocket and found the earbuds. She generally wore one earbud and played her own playlist on her phone, but Ryan knew that. Why the hell did he think she needed a new pair of buds? Then she felt the slim MP3 player.

She couldn’t concentrate on that right now. She had to get on the bus and get it moving. They had a schedule to keep and the trip to Rochester was a monotonous one. Especially when the day was bleak and gray.

A spear of lightning cleaved the sky and thunder rolled over the city. Just what she needed, to drive through a storm. Maybe they’d be lucky and they’d drive out of it. She took the first stair and her body didn’t betray her this time. Okay, she could handle this.

She dropped into her seat like usual and everything shifted and eased. She could definitely handle this. She pulled her microphone down. “Ladies and pervs, it’s time to get this show on the road. Everyone aboard?”

“Missing one,” Elle said from the back.

She checked her gauges and itinerary. “Tie all the things down you don’t want rolling around. West, that’s a clue for you today.”

Jules laughed. “Lo has been starting up her toy collection. Don’t think they hit ropes yet.”

“Yet is the important word,” West said.

Denver rolled her eyes and twisted in her seat. Looked like she and Ryan were the only ones with that particular fun bag.

Jules dropped into her beanbag chair with a magazine. “She’s going to need a trunk like Ryan soon.”

Lauren sat up. “Did you know it’s a tax write-off? Research.” Her grin was wide as she clapped.

Denver shook her head and faced forward. Mal and his beefy shoulders came into view. He looked over his shoulder once before climbing the steps. Her eyebrow spiked. “All good?”

Mal only grunted and moved through the living space and to the bunks without a word.

“Hello to you too.” She closed the door. She set her course on the dash GPS and set her maps as a backup under her thigh. She didn’t foresee any problems. The trip out through central New York was boring and flat, but she liked her options just in case.

The bus held a low hum of excitement and laughter. The night before had been a high point of the miniature tour. Add in their field trip to The Velvet Vault and there were smiles all around, her own included.

She pulled out into traffic and maneuvered her way down the winding hill that led to the interchange of all the major byways in Albany. The roads were crap and potholes were plentiful. Every time she rolled over one, her seat rocked, thanks to the bus’s exceptional shocks. The shift of her hips on the cushioned seat normally didn’t faze her. In fact, she didn’t think twice about bouncing around thanks to city driving.

Source: www.allfreenovel.com
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