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“WELCOME TO ÁF_XI_SI_,” MJ Cartwright, the club’s resident photographer, greeted her with a shy, awkward smile. Her long brown hair was tied back in a ponytail, and her body, covered in a loose checkered polo, gray tank top, and faded jeans, was so slender she appeared taller than she looked.
Bobby remembered Leandro telling her once that MJ was the same age as her – nineteen now – and that she had joined the club even though she was mortally afraid of bikes for one all-important reason: she had a secret crush on one of the club’s bikers.
Wondering if the cat was out of that particular bag now, Bobby smiled back at MJ. “It’s nice to meet you again, MJ.”
MJ’s cheeks flushed, making Bobby realize that MJ was a lot shyer than she realized. “Same here.” MJ was playing with the SLR in her hands, as if needing the contact with her gadget to keep her from bolting. “I’ve been sent by Helios to show you around while the officers are having a meeting. It should be done soon.”
Bobby debated asking whether Leandro was part of the meeting and decided that with MJ, it was safe to do so. “Feel free to tell me it’s none of my business if I’m violating some kind of club rule, but is, umm, Leandro part of the meeting?”
“He is.”
“Oh.” A chaotic mix of emotions erupted inside Bobby at MJ’s answer. She felt lightheaded, her heart jumping even as her stomach dropped. Damn him. Damn him to hell. She hated how he could make her feel so mixed-up even after learning of his callous use of her.
The silence became strained, and MJ asked hesitantly, “Shall I give you the official tour now?” She didn’t know Bobby Granger very well, but she did read the papers and knew from club gossip that things weren’t exactly great between Bobby and her ex-boyfriend, the notorious Leandro Christopoulos. She had a feeling the other girl needed a distraction, and MJ hoped to provide her with one.
MJ’s invitation made Bobby flash her a smile tinged with relief. An official tour would definitely keep her from dwelling on the fact that once again Leandro was nearby. “Please do. I’m excited to see the whole place.” She looked around with unfeigned interest. The building’s elevator opened directly to the lab’s small mezzanine, which had waist-high glass walls and steel rails. It gave Bobby a nice bird’s eye view of the lab, which was so expansive she could barely see what was going on at the very end.
The lab had shiny hard plastic walls, and fluorescent LED bulbs installed behind the glass edges of the ceiling blazed down on the cemented white floor like alien-powered beams.
“It looks like a spaceship, doesn’t it?” MJ asked cheerfully.
“Umm, yeah, it kinda does,” Bobby agreed laughingly. “But I like it so much better than the old club.”
“I feel the same way, too.” MJ started for the stairs and Bobby fell into step next to her. “Teamwork is very important to the club, and it’s why there are no dividers separating the different work areas. The only rooms here are those that absolutely require privacy like the conference suite, the private quarters of the officers, and the security room.”
“Security room?”
“It’s where the CCTV monitors are plus the club’s database servers and their armory.”
Bobby choked. “Armory? Seriously?”
MJ grinned. “Notthatkind of armory. Basically, it’s all the cool prototype parts the guys can add to their beasts—-”
“Beasts?” Bobby was starting to feel that she and MJ were not talking in the same language.
“It’s what the guys call their bikes. Beasts – or more specifically, beasts on wheels.”
Bobby saw the unspoken curiosity in MJ’s pretty violet eyes. “I know. I don’t know much about racing club lingo, do I?”
MJ could only smile awkwardly.
“Leandro and I didn’t get to talk much about bikes then.” Actually, they hadn’t really talked much at all since most of the time, they had only...Bobby’s cheeks turned red as she realized the direction her stupid brain had taken.
Unfortunately, the other girl easily guessed what she had been thinking.
MJ blushed as well. “Oh.”
Bobby hastily changed the subject. “So, any areas here that are off-limits to me since I’m a non-member?”
MJ was visibly surprised. “But youarea member.”
It was Bobby’s turn to be surprised. “I am?”
“You became one when you and Leandro were a couple and even though you broke up, Leandro made it very clear to the club that you retained your membership.”
“I don’t think I got my ID,” Bobby quipped even though inside she was starting to feel restless. She didn’t like knowing all these things about Leandro, and she didn’t like remembering what she used to do with him either.
