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“Not exactly a systems programmer. I do some financial systems stuff, but most of it is unorthodox.”
“A hacker?”
“Not exactly, but… maybe closer to a hacker than systems programmer… yeah.”
He seemed embarrassed, and the look on his face made her laugh. “I didn’t know there was a middle ground. Oh well, I did say I needed to get to know you better.” She looked at Max, who’d been silent throughout the exchange. “You’re just a member? No aspirations of political office?”
He scowled. “Fuck no. I’m no politician. I just learn from Rafe, but he can handle all the finances.”
“I’d better, or we’d all go broke,” said Rafe with a chuckle. “So, we’re not entirely to be avoided?”
She scowled. “I don’t know that yet. I’d guess not entirely, but the jury is still out. Just so you know, my initial feeling is that although, yes, you both are definitely crazy, I’m inclined to think you have good hearts.”
“Then how about a date?” asked Rafe.
“With both of us,” said Max in a firm voice, as though he wanted that plainly understood.
The upbeat attitude Rafe displayed clashed with everything she thought she knew about bikers, though Max’s façade was more in line with what she’d expected. Of course, so far everything she’d learned about them clashed with the stereotypes she’d learned. Finding out there was something deeper, something better, inside their coarse and macho exteriors made her feel warm. “Perhaps, but not now. Not until the jury returns a verdict.”
“The offer, along with my alleged good heart and my dream, remains open until you say no.”
“Same,” said Max.
She smiled at his taciturn agreement. “How generous of both of you.”
“Not generous; that’s me being wildly optimistic and greedy,” said Rafe.
“All we can ask is that you consider the idea and tell us your decision within our lifetimes,” said Max.
“I have to admit I liked the way you guys dragged Brad out. He’s a good-sized man. That showed promise.”
“Ah, the lady liked the caveman part of the program.” Max laughed. “Rafe said we couldn’t be cavemen, but I liked that part too. Which I’ll cheerfully acknowledge was made possible by that beautiful elbow-to-the-throat move.”
“I train in martial arts.”
“So I’ve heard.”
“We approve. That demonstrates an immensely practical streak, and that makes a lady seem even sexier to me,” said Rafe.
“Then perhaps we have made a start, bikers, white knights, cavemen, nerds, financial analysts, and whatever combination of those you guys might actually be. I’ll have to see. Of course, that means you need to come around fairly often.”
“Easily done, although Sam says we’re required to bring our friends with us.” Rafe shrugged.
“Money,” said Max.
“His survival depends on it, right?”
“That seems to be the logic—if he’s going to allow bikers in, the very least they can do is descend on his place like the barbarian horde they should be and fill his cash box with their illicit shekels.” He grinned. “It will be a small horde, I’m afraid. Sam’s prices are a bit steep for guys who own their own bar.”
“You own a bar?”
“Thanks to Rafe,” said Max, sounding not at all jealous.
“The first act of the LLC we formed was to buy a bar. It’s our mailing address and a clubhouse. It’s really handy as a lot of the guys prefer not to have their credit card bills and such sent to the county jail.”
The sparkle in his eyes, and the way Max rolled his eyes, made her wonder how much of what Rafe told her was teasing. He was playing a role, and there was only one way to see what he was really like.
“Then I guess I’ll be meeting some of your friends.” She wrinkled her nose. “That isn’t a bad first step, guys. Don’t be too impatient.”
