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“But he’s super smexy, Whip,” she heard through her earpiece. Ignoring the comment, Whip remained focused on Gypsy.
“I’ll give you a call when I have something.” Moving past Gypsy, she looked back at the men standing in the room. “If I find something,” she added and shoved the door open, letting the afternoon sun into the dark interior of the warehouse. Then she was gone, leaving only the door to close out the light and leaving the Gypsy Kings dumbfounded.
“All clear?” came across the coms.
Gypsy glanced up to find the shooter from the landing gone. “Clear,” he answered.
What a damn clusterfuck this turned out to be, he thought. “Let’s clear out.” He needed a damn drink. Not for a minute had he thought he’d be facing down a woman and snipers today. Then again, he was sure Whip hadn’t thought her day would include bikers and snipers.
ChapterFour
Jack stood outside the shop, looking at the new window display she’d put together. Traffic was minimal, so she stepped back off the curb to get a better view. She needed to adjust the purse display to the right. It was being shadowed by the window drapery. With her hands on her hips, Jack frowned. The display didn’t have the right feel. It didn’t say ‘come inside and buy me’. Letting out an exasperated sigh, she was about done with trying to figure it out.
She was tired of being cooped up inside the shop, staring at the soft pink walls. The wire racks were half-filled with merchandise. The other half was at the house in the spare bedroom. She just hadn’t taken the time to bring it into the boutique. Maybe she should change the interior. Perhaps the window should be plain with just the shop’s name on it.
Tapping her foot on the pavement, Jack silently reminded herself she hadn’t ordered the signage like Preacher told her to do. She did have the window decal, which needed to be put up and soon. The makeshift sign that had been in the window was now being used as a peg board in the storage room.
With her eyes on the display and her mind on everything else, Jack barely noticed the car making the corner. Taking a step toward the shop, she continued making notes in her head.
A car door opening had her glancing over her shoulder, watching as a guy she knew from college stepped out of the driver’s side. What were the chances someone from the East Coast would be in Lampsing, California? “Greg Mitchell!” She smiled. “What are you doing here?”
She hadn’t seen Greg in almost three years, not since graduating college. He was someone she’d had an on again, off again affair with. Damn, he looked good from where she was standing. She watched him make his way around the car. He was the same as always—tall, lean muscle, with shaggy, golden highlighted hair and gorgeous green eyes. There had always been something about Greg that called to her, but it never stuck, though that had never stopped her from going back time after time.
“I’m driving back from Six Rivers. I’ve been living down in Monterey with some friends since right after college,” Greg said as he leaned against the car.
“Why are you in Lampsing?” she asked, giving him her usual smirk. The one that always got her in trouble. The flirty one that she used to get her way. What would it hurt to flirt with an old friend? It wasn’t like she was going to run off with him.
“Lunch,” Greg stated as he crossed his arms over his chest. He watched how she twirled a piece of stray hair between her fingers, how she plastered that smirk on her pretty face. And damn if she hadn’t changed a little more into a woman than the girl from college. “I was looking for somewhere to have lunch.” He pushed off the car, moving closer to the petite brunette. “Jack, have lunch with me.”
Jack slammed a hand on her hip as she pointed at the shop with her free hand. “I’m working.”
“Come on, it’s just lunch. I’d love to catch up.” Greg gave her a wink, wanting her to do the same thing Jack had always done.Whatever he wanted.
How could she not have lunch with him? Jack tried not to smile as Greg nodded toward the car. Glancing back at the boutique window, Jack knew she needed to finish the display. Preacher would be irritated if she didn’t start opening regularly. Biting her thumbnail, she weighed the options. Go have lunch with Greg and have some fun? Or stay here and work on the displays?Boring.“Just lunch,” she said, looking back at the hunk who stood mere feet from her. Jack watched the devilish smile spread across his face. Throwing her head back, she laughed.
“Let me grab my purse,” Jack said, smiling.
“That’s my girl,” Greg told her.
The words should have stopped her. Any other girl would have listened to them, heard the double meaning in them, and realized he wanted more than lunch. Not Jack. No, she ran inside the boutique, grabbed her purse, and ran back out, barely closing the door. As she headed for the car, Greg opened the door, allowing her to slide inside.
The car was spectacular. The interior was black leather and the seats felt like butter against her bare legs. It smelled like him. It was warm, inviting, and all too familiar. Leaning her head back against the seat, she watched Greg slip in behind the wheel and close his door. Man, she missed hanging with friends.
“Where to, sweetheart?”
They couldn’t go anywhere in Lampsing or any of the surrounding towns. All she needed was someone in Preacher’s circle to see them and it would be hell. “Let’s take a ride down the coast and have lunch somewhere.” Preacher was away for the day. She’d be back before he ever knew she was gone.
Greg started the car and pulled away from the boutique. As they drove around the park and back down the main street heading out of town, she eased down in the seat. The line of motorcycles in front of The Firehouse made her palms sweat. Running them down her jeans, she tried not to feel like she was doing something wrong. It was just lunch with a friend.
“Hey, sweetheart. Are you good over there?” Greg asked her.
Was she good? Or was she screwing things up again? The last time she screwed up was when she had left Preacher a note saying she had gone to Reno to see Viper. That was the first of many. The note had said,I’m overwhelmed and need to take the weekend. I’ll see you on Monday.
She stayed a month instead of a weekend. Between bar hopping and laying out by the pool drinking martinis, she had barely answered Preacher’s calls and had only returned them here and there. When she finally got her head out of her ass, she’d begged Preacher for forgiveness. Like always, he’d forgiven her. But this was different. She was just going to lunch with an old friend and she’d be back in a few hours. No harm done. So, why was she nervous? This wasn’t like it had been in college. They weren’t on a date. They weren’t going to have sex. Jack ignored the excitement that felt way too familiar. She ignored the ache between her thighs that always occurred when she was with Greg Mitchell.
Giving Greg a smile, she decided it was fine for her to have lunch with an old friend. “I’m good. Let’s go have lunch and catch up.”
ChapterFive
