Author: Jaci Burton

Anyone following them wouldn’t know which bike to watch for. Even Mac’s Harley was similar to hundreds of other bikes at the rally. He turned off a side road and doubled back the way they came. This time Lily did turn around and watch behind them. She didn’t see anyone there.

Other than a stop to use the bathroom and grab a quick bite to eat at a convenience store, they kept moving. They rode the entire day. It was dark by the time they met up in a park with ten other bikes. Jessie’s was one of them and Mac’s bike was there.

“Anyone follow?” Mac asked as they switched bikes and he reclaimed his. It was then that Lily noticed they’d even swapped license plates. A couple of the guys were putting Mac’s license plate back on his bike. Wow. These guys had thought of everything.

Jessie shook her head and grinned. “No one. We’re clear.”

Mac shook everyone’s hand. “I owe you all.”

“Hey, nice day for a ride,” one of the guys said. “My pleasure.”

“Anytime,” another said. “You know that, Mac.”

She climbed onto the back of Mac’s bike and waved to Jessie as they rode off. As soon as the sun went down it was much colder riding. She wrapped her arms around Mac and huddled close to him, grateful for the leather jacket and chaps that kept the cutting wind off her body.

She kept expecting Mac to pull off and stop somewhere, but he kept riding. And riding. Until she couldn’t feel her toes anymore. Or her fingers, despite the gloves she wore. Eventually she shoved her hands in Mac’s coat pockets.

She shivered against him.

Okay, he was obviously continuing to ride because he felt a threat, so she was just going to have to buck it up. She thought about warm things. The tropics, the beach, the ocean, lying out in the baking sun until she was drenched in sweat.

Or rolling around naked with Mac until they were both so hot they couldn’t breathe. Oooh, that was working. She felt warmer already and scooted closer to Mac, laying her head against him, wishing they were in a room somewhere, stripped of their clothes. Stripped of everything that kept them apart.

She’d really like that. She wanted this invisible wall of distrust to disappear. She would have loved to run into him by accident in a coffee shop, to renew what they once had without the theft, the virus, the what ifs having come between them.

But that wasn’t going to happen. He was who he was.

And so was she. She couldn’t pretend to be someone she wasn’t.

With a resigned sigh, she relaxed against him. For the time being, at least, they were on the same side, keeping whoever was after the virus from getting it. Because it wasn’t the authorities. They would have marched into the middle of the rally and identified themselves with badges. That meant it was someone who had nefarious intent. And Mac either didn’t know who it was, or he did know and wouldn’t tell her. The good thing was, he had at least revealed his plan to her, had admitted to still having the virus, and that was a step in the right direction, a signal that he believed in her. That made her feel a little better. And while they weren’t exactly working the same side of the street, it gave her hope. A tiny spark of hope she desperately needed.

Maybe things were starting to turn around.

Now if they could just get off this freakin’ bike and get inside somewhere. Her back was stiff from so many hours of riding. So much that when Mac finally turned off the main highway and onto a tiny road, she prayed they’d be stopping soon. He pulled up in front of large iron gates and pushed a button. This was private property, obviously, but at least they were someplace that they might get off and rest for a while.

She was so grateful she almost cried. She had no idea where they were or how far they’d come, and she didn’t care. She wanted off this damn bike. But she did take the time to scan the front area for an address, a name, anything identifying where they might be. Nothing.

They waited a few seconds while a camera above the gate surveyed them, then the gates opened and Mac rode through. Lily turned around and watched the gates close securely behind them. Whoever lived here had some serious security. The long driveway was very well lit. No chance of anyone somehow getting over the high stone wall and somehow skulking their way up to the front door without being seen.

The house itself was a modest two story frame, built up to avert flooding. Mac pulled past the house and along a covered driveway and into the back of the house. It was too dark to see beyond the lit screened in porch, but after Mac shut down the bike’s engine Lily heard the sound of water.

“Where are we?” she asked.

“Lake of the Ozarks. A friend of mine lives here. Come on.”

They climbed the stairs and Mac opened the screen door leading onto the back porch.

“Shouldn’t we knock?” she asked.

“Nah. He knows we’re here.” He pushed the door open and walked inside, holding it open for her.

They stepped into a cozy kitchen. Neat and tidy, everything put away. Nothing modern or extravagant.

Definitely a summer type home with older appliances and furniture, curtains on the windows and vinyl flooring in a yellow checked pattern.

It felt warm inside. Like being at someone’s grandmother’s house. Lily instantly felt comfortable, but stayed near Mac’s side, not knowing what, or whom, to expect.

When a tall man came down the hall and entered the brightly lit kitchen, Mac stepped up to him and shook his hand.

“Tom.”

“Mac. So glad you stopped by.”

He looked to be in his late forties or so, well built with short cropped dark hair that was graying at the temples. He had penetrating eyes that seemed almost black, but his smile was welcoming and friendly.

“And who did you bring with you?” Tom asked.

“This is my friend Lily. I’ve known her since high school.”

While Mac went to retrieve their things from the bike, Tom arched a brow and moved forward, clasping both his hands over hers. “I’m so glad to meet you. “I didn’t know Mac had any friends from that long ago who still liked him.”

Lily snorted. “One or two, I imagine.”

“Good to know. Come in and take off your coat. It’s a little cool out tonight to be riding, isn’t it?”

Understatement. Her fingers were icy.

He led them into the living room. Again, it was cozy, with a striped couch and two matching recliners sitting on a polished hardwood floor. Stacks of books were piled on a couple end tables as well as scattered across the coffee table.

Very simple, nothing fancy. She liked the place.

“Do you live here by yourself?” she asked.

“Yeah. I like the quiet and I love to fish, so this place is perfect for me.”

She took a seat in one of the recliners, rubbing her palm over the worn material on the chair arm. It was so real in here.

So different from her father’s home where furniture was so stiff, formal, unyielding. Like its owner.

She gestured to all his books. “You must like to read.”

“Keeps me busy when the weather’s too cold to go fishing.”

She smiled, realizing that in five minutes she had become instantly comfortable with Tom. And she knew nothing about him.

“How do you know Mac?”

“The Major and I go way back,” Mac said, sliding onto the recliner next to hers.

The Major? It was then that Lily noticed the medals in frames along the wall in front of her.

“Oh. You’re military.”

Tom nodded. “Retired. Marine Corps. It’s in the family blood. All the way back to my great grandfather.”

Lily arched a brow and looked at Mac as he reentered the room. “Military?”

Mac snorted. “Hardly. Not my thing.”

Tom laughed. “No, definitely not your thing.”

Confused, Lily said, “Then I don’t get it. How did you two meet?”

Mac shot a look at Tom. He stood and said, “I’ll bet you two are hungry. Mac, take your things into the spare room and I’ll put some food on.”

Way to avoid her question. Obviously another mystery for her to try and figure out. And they’d left her alone. Surely Tom had a telephone. She heard Tom in the kitchen and Mac rummaging around upstairs. Perfect opportunity to search for the telephone. It wasn’t in the living room, so she moved into the kitchen.

“Need anything?” Tom asked, throwing a glance over his shoulder.

“No. You need help?” She did a quick scan of the kitchen, but didn’t see a phone.

“I’m fine here. You just get settled in. Make yourself at home.”

“I’ll do that. Thanks.” She slipped out of the kitchen and hurried down the hall, opening doors along her way.

Closets, a bathroom, one bedroom, which must be Tom’s. She hated sneaking around, but she wanted a phone.

No telephone. How could he live out in this remote area and not have a telephone in his kitchen or bedroom? She eased the door to his room closed and tiptoed upstairs. There were two bedrooms and one bath up here, but she already knew what she’d find. Or, rather, not find. The first bedroom was empty, the bathroom was useless and Mac was in the third room.

“No, there are no telephones here,” Mac said, obviously reading the frustration on her face.

“How can he live out here and not have a phone?”

Mac grinned. “He has a cell. And he keeps it on him.”

Dammit. The fates were clearly conspiring against her.

Well, them and the men.

“I’m going to take a shower,” Mac said. “Care to join me?”

Lily laughed. “As tempting as that sounds, I don’t think so. Not with Tom downstairs cooking a meal for us.”

“He’ll keep it warm.” He took a step forward.

Lily took a step back. “You go first. I’ll shower when you’re finished. Does Tom have a washer and dryer?”

Mac nodded.

“Good. I need to wash some of our clothes.”

“Now you’re thinking practical things. I like it when you think about sex, instead.”

“You just prefer me distracted so I won’t try to find a phone or ask you any questions.”

“Well, yeah.” He moved forward again, this time pinning her between his body and the wall, leaving her no escape.

A sharp awareness and a swelling heat rushed through her. Just like that, thoughts of laundry and telephones and Tom cooking downstairs were lost. Mac’s eyes went dark, his focus only on her. He skimmed his hand across her shoulder, down her arm, moving to her waist.

“Mac. I’m not stupid, you know.”

Just being near him was a distraction, and she couldn’t deny it.

“Of course you’re not stupid. That’s why I have to keep distracting you with my dick.”

She couldn’t help it. She laughed. “Yes, it is quite impressive, but eventually we have to talk. Who is Tom?”

“He’s a friend of mine. I met him during my troubled days. He helped me out of a tight spot or two. Kept me from going to jail.”

Okay, that was honest. She kept getting little revelations from him, pieces of his past that he fed her bit by bit. But at least it was something. “Is he just a friend now, or are you two involved in some professional capacity?” Not that she expected him to tell her if they were.

“Just a friend. His place was close, and he’s big into security. I figured we’d be safe here for a couple days. No one gets on Tom’s property without him knowing it. If anyone is tracking us and follows us here, we’ll know it. Tom’s pretty high tech with surveillance equipment. This is the best place for us to be right now.”

“Thank you.”

His brows lifted. “For what?”

“For talking to me. For telling me…anything at all at this point.”

“You’re welcome. Now kiss me. My cock is hard and I want you.” He leaned in for a kiss and she didn’t resist, needing to feel his lips on hers.