Angel (Great Wolves Motorcycle Club Book 12)

by Jayne Blue

  I smiled and gave her a quick hug. “She should work for the CIA as an interrogator. No worries. But do me a favor. I let her hang out in the apartment. If you hear anything ... er ... if it seems like something happens you should call me about, please do.”

  “You got it.” Mrs. Endicott gave me a salute as I headed for my car. I was almost on E, so it was good that I left a little earlier than I’d planned. Also, it would help me clear my head from the bullshit my mother was so good at stuffing it with.

  Dammit all to hell, I found myself checking my look in the mirror anyway. What the hell was wrong with what I was wearing? I looked serious. Neat. Smart. And it didn’t matter anyway. I dressed for me, no one else.

  I did my level best to not get gasoline on my shoes as I filled my tank. It was hotter than hell tonight and I regretted wearing pants with a lining. I fanned my blouse to keep it from sticking as I waited for the tank to fill. Two men on Harleys whizzed by as I put the pump back in the holster. My heart tripped a little, but none of the men were Angel.

  I checked my phone. I said I’d meet Angel in exactly ten minutes. That’s about how long it would take to drive to Regalado’s from here. I’d be punctual. No games. I just hoped he hadn’t planned on playing any either. I made it to the turn-off toward the restaurant when my engine sputtered and died.

  “No,” I whispered, crashing my head to the steering wheel. “No, no.” White smoke billowed out of the hood and nothing happened when I tried to turn the key. I wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

  “Fucking perfect!” I yelled at the sky as I got out of my car. I started to sweat. Within seconds, my blouse was plastered to me. I made the supremely unhelpful gesture of kicking my tire and stubbing my toe.

  “Son of a bitch!” I yelled. Just then, my phone rang. My pulse raced as I read the caller ID. It was Angel. Of course it was. I got a hold of myself and answered.

  “Hey,” I said, forcing a smile so maybe he wouldn’t hear the distress in my voice. It was just a car breakdown, not a tragedy. Except I really didn’t want to max out my credit card to pay for repairs right now. I swear it was like my mother cursed me tonight.

  “Just wanted to say I’m going to be about ten minutes late. I got held up on a run this morning. I’m on my way, but …”

  “Angel,” I said. “It’s okay. This isn’t going to work out. I ... uh …”

  “Maura, what’s wrong? You sound upset.”

  A truck whizzed by and it got hard to hear.

  “Where are you?” he asked. “It sounds like you’re outside.”

  “I am,” I said. “Look, maybe we can reschedule. I’m having a little car trouble myself.”

  “Where are you?” he asked, his voice taking on a darker, more commanding tone.

  “Don’t worry about it. I’ve got roadside assistance. I just need to get off the phone with you and call …”

  “Where are you? Right now.”

  I sighed. “I’m on Brewster Road. I was about four miles from the restaurant.” Another car whipped by.

  “Maura, get back in your car,” he said. “I don’t want you standing out there.”

  “Angel, I’m fine. I’m far enough back. And it’s a million degrees.”

  “There are drunks on that part of the road all the time and truckers who don’t give two shits what’s in front of them. I can get someone to you in about two minutes. Just get in your car and sit tight.”

  “Angel …”

  He clicked off. I looked at the sky. The sun hung low, casting orange streaks across the horizon. It was beautiful out here, desolate, with the shadow of Mount Shasta looming in the distance. But it was eerie too. The speed limit was sixty-five, but no one ever drove that. The next car that zipped past me had to be going close to ninety. Ignoring Angel’s advice, I punched in the number to the roadside assistance service my insurance provided. It took me a full minute to get through the automated menu, only to be rewarded with a robot telling me my wait time to even get an operator would be another ten minutes.

  Then the powerful roar of motorcycle engines vibrated through me as two members of the Great Wolves M.C. pulled up behind me.

  The younger of the two peeled off his helmet and headed straight for my car. I already had the hood popped. He had jet-black hair and a skinny build, but his biceps were well defined and he clearly knew his way around an engine as he started checking pumps and gauges while his companion came to me.

  He tore off one leather glove and offered to shake my hand. He was rough, handsome, and heavily tatted. I remembered him from the other night at the club as he stood behind the bar.

  “I’m Ford,” he said. “That’s Josh. He’s a mechanic. Lucky we were only about a mile ahead of you when Angel called. Are you all right, Ms. Denning?”

  My mouth gaped open as I shook his hand. “I ... uh ... thank you. It just started sputtering and smoking then it died.”

  Josh had pulled out his cell phone and made a hand gesture to Ford. Ford nodded back. “You’ll need a tow,” he said. “We’ll get it back to the shop.”

  “What? I mean, that’s not necessary, I have roadside assistance and …”

  Ford smiled. “Well, I mean unless you feel like baking out here in the heat all night.”

  “I don’t want to put you out.”

  “You’re not. This is one of the things we do. You take that car anywhere else around town and they’ll try ripping you off. We won’t.”

  The last of his words were drowned out by the roar of a third Harley’s engine. Angel pulled up alongside us, his hair whipping back beneath his helmet. I saw myself reflected in his mirrored sunglasses as he shot me a sly smile. I looked completely out of place in my business casual outfit. Then again, I didn’t know what one was supposed to wear to a roadside rescue like this one.

  “Angel, you didn’t have to do all of this.” He lifted his chin to Ford, then put a light hand on my elbow, guiding me away from my steaming car and his buddies.

  “Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine. It’s car trouble. Not a tragedy.”

  “Well, we’ll get you taken care of. Don’t worry about a thing. Plus, I owe you a dinner. Let Josh and Ford handle that shit.” He handed me his helmet.

  “Uh ... what …”

  “We can wait for the tow truck,” he said. “But it’s hot as hell out here. I was kind of looking forward to a cold beer in an air-conditioned room. We’ve missed our reservations. I’m sorry I couldn’t get out here sooner.”

  “Oh my gosh. It’s okay. I mean ... thank you.”

  “You mind just heading back to the Den with me? We’ve got a private room we can use to talk. Plus, Mo made a pot of Irish stew. It’ll knock your socks off.”

  The moment he said it, my knees nearly buckled with desire. I had to look like a complete hot and sweaty mess. I was starving on top of all the rest of it. I wanted neutral turf, but it was just one of many things that felt all shot to hell tonight.

  “I’ve never ... I haven’t ... you want me to get on that thing?” I asked.

  Angel smiled. “Well, I wasn’t planning on making you walk, Maura. Come on. Live a little. You might like it.”

  “Er ... okay. What do I do?”

  He fit the helmet over my head, blinding me when the visor popped down. He chuckled and adjusted it so I could more or less see. Then Angel took my hand and guided me to the back of his bike.

  “You just climb on and wrap your arms around me. Don’t worry. I’d never let anything happen to you, Maura.” A shiver of pleasure went through me when he said it. I knew deep down he was telling the truth.

  The hot leather of the Harley’s seat felt so good between my legs. Angel climbed on in front of me. I hesitated for a second, then did as I was told. I wrapped my arms around his solid waist, loving the feel of his marbled abs and the power of the engine as it idled. Then Angel kicked down and we vaulted forward. I squeezed him even tighter as it felt like we’d taken flight.

  My breath lef
t my lungs as Angel zoomed away from the others. He handled the bike with smooth precision. I could almost forget how fast we were going. It was as if he were one with the machine, taking each curve with an agile grace I never expected. Flying. Soaring. Yes. That’s what it felt like. I’d tucked my hair into a knot at the base of my neck but the tie flew out and it whipped behind me like a banner.

  I felt ... all of him. Angel’s core muscles bunched and rolled as he took each winding curve. Denim, leather, raw sex appeal. That’s what this man was. Dangerous. Primal. He wasn’t like the handful of guys I dated in law school. They were arrogant, wrapped up in themselves. Angel seemed so different. Like I could truly believe he didn’t care what people thought of him. Why would he when he could take to the highway like this and just leave it all behind whenever he wanted?

  I was breathless, exhilarated when he finally pulled in to the parking lot of the Wolf Den. Part of me hated to stop. The ride here had made me want to let loose in other ways, but I knew I couldn’t. Not with Angel.

  He parked his bike and helped me climb off. I hadn’t felt it the whole way here, but now my legs were like rubber. I stumbled on the first step but Angel’s arms were there, big and strong. God, it would be so easy to just let him wrap them around me and take care of everything.

  “I think I understand how you got your name,” I said, looking up at him. “You have a knack for this guardian angel gig, don’t you?”

  Angel’s smile seemed to light him from the inside. A moment. A heartbeat. He still had his arms wrapped around me and maybe my eyes lingered on his too long. I moved. I didn’t mean to. At least, I don’t think. But before I knew it, I was on my tiptoes.

  I wanted to kiss him. Oh God. A tiny moan escaped from my lips. I saw a flicker of desire in Angel’s eyes too. It would be so easy. Just a moment. I could take it. It didn’t have to mean anything. Except I knew it would mean everything and it wasn’t why I was here.

  I cleared my throat and took a step back. Angel’s smile didn’t leave his face, but he gave me space. “Come on,” he said. “Let’s get you inside where it’s cooler. You look a little hot under the collar.”

  Dammit if he wasn’t smirking as we started toward the back door of the Wolf Den. Just before we got there, I heard soft laughter then a squeal of delight. Two figures staggered out from behind the building.

  Bailey nearly ran straight into me as she walked arm in arm with Judd. My mouth dropped. I looked from Bailey to Angel then back at my sister.

  “You’ve been here?” I asked. “This whole time?”

  “Oh shit,” Bailey said, all smiles gone. “Maura ... what are you doing here?”

  I wanted to storm off. I wanted to tell them all to go to hell. Except I was stuck here without my car. Angel’s jaw tightened. His eyes hardened as he looked at Judd. Then he turned to me and held the door open.

  “Come on,” he said. “Get inside. We need to talk.”

  “You bet your ass we do,” I said as I stormed past him and headed into the bar.

  Chapter Nine

  Angel

  I liked Maura Denning when she smiled. I liked that look of true caring I’d seen when she was helping her client the other day. She mattered. What she did was important. But now, as she glared at me and practically spitfire, I think I liked that even more. Fuck.

  “Just hold on,” I said. I’d at least gotten her to come back with me to the private dining room off the main bar. She was raising so much hell, her voice would have caught the attention of the normal customers trying to blow off steam on a Friday night.

  “I didn’t lie to you,” I said for the tenth time. “I swear. I had zero clue where Judd was this week. Believe me, he’s got some answering to do over a hell of a lot more than your little sister.”

  “I knew it,” she said, pacing. She’d kicked her heels off. Well, more like she’d hurled one at the wall sort of aiming for my head. She brandished the other one like a weapon, shaking it at me for emphasis. Her hair had come down and flew wildly around her face.

  “Knew what? Maura, I get you’re pissed. But your sister is over eighteen. And you’re not her mother.”

  “You have no idea. None. My whole life is keeping her and our mother out of trouble.”

  “Well, she’s not in trouble. You don’t even know Judd. You’ve made some assumptions.”

  “I don’t have to know him. I know my sister. And she’s been lying to me. She’s not working. She’s not going to school. She’s not doing anything to better herself. This is her life plan, Angel. Shacking up with some guy who can pay her way!”

  I leaned back and sat on the edge of one of the tables. “Maura, I hate to break it to you, but Judd’s not rich. He’s barely more than a kid himself. A good one up until this week. He helps out around the bar and he’s got potential. But he’s just a probie. He’s not sugar daddy material. Did you ever think maybe your sister loves the kid?”

  Maura threw the other shoe.

  “Love. What difference does that make if she can’t take care of herself? I never should have gotten on the back of that damn bike tonight.”

  “You sure don’t like it when other people try to help you, do you?” I asked.

  “What?”

  I slid off the table and came closer to her. She was breathing hard, her breasts heaving. I loved the way her cheeks flushed as I got near her. That was desire flashing in those hazel eyes. I’d bet my life on it.

  “You got on that bike because you needed a ride. And you needed help.”

  “I didn’t. I had it all under control.”

  I chuckled. “Sure, baby. You were standing in a hundred degree heat with a steaming radiator.”

  “I told you. I have a service.”

  “Right. That’s fine. And they’d jack up your premiums next month for using it. It’s no big deal.”

  “I didn’t ask for you to help me, Angel.”

  I took another step toward her. “No, you didn’t. But I offered anyway. And you hate that. I get it. You think accepting it means I think you owe me something. I don’t. Not anything you’re not willing to give.”

  “You don’t know a thing about me. And you don’t know my sister.”

  I spread my hands out as I shrugged. “Maybe not. I know you’re smart as hell. Tough. Maybe not as street smart as you like to pretend. But I know you’re trying to make your little corner of the world better than how you found it. I told you before how much I respect that. If there’d been someone like you to help my mother twenty years ago, her life would have been different.”

  “Angel … just ... stop.”

  “Stop what? Stop caring? Stop trying to help you when I see a need? Sorry, too late for that.”

  She plopped down in one of the chairs beside me. I sat back on the table.

  “I just like my life how it is. I’m not looking to complicate it,” she said.

  I reached for her, brushing a wild hair out of her face. She drew in a sharp breath as my fingers touched her cheek.

  “I think I need a drink,” she said.

  “Beer?”

  She shook her head. “Something stronger. What do you have behind that mini bar over there?”

  This got a laugh out of me. I went across the room and pulled out two shot glasses. Mo kept a bottle of whiskey back here for emergencies. I poured two shots and handed one to Maura. She smirked up at me as we clinked glasses and she downed her shot in one gulp. An instant later, she scrunched up her face and a tremor went through her.

  “Gawd!”

  “That’s the good stuff.”

  She held out her empty shot glass, gesturing for me to pour her another one. “You sure?” I asked. “You strike me as a lightweight.”

  “How would you know?”

  “Cuz you don’t like giving up control, baby. I know the type.” Still, I poured her another shot. She downed it quick like the first one. When she held up her glass again, I set the bottle down.

  “Pace yourself.”


  “Why?” she asked. “It’s not like I’m driving. And it’s not like anyone listens to me anyway. Maybe you’re right. Maybe my mother’s right.”

  “Oh, really? And what does she say?”

  “She says I need to lighten up.”

  I couldn’t help it. Her defeated tone brought a great big belly laugh out of me. Over her shoulder, I could see Judd getting dressed down by Dex and Sly in the hallway. Behind him, Maura’s sister sat in the bar looking glum. Mo had an arm around her.

  “Well, maybe a little.”

  “You tell me,” Maura said. Her eyelids had grown a little heavier. The bourbon was working its way through her, proving my point that she was a lightweight. “What am I supposed to do about my sister? How do I get her to listen to me and give a shit about what happens to her?”

  “Judd’s not going to hurt her,” I said. “Promise. And I’m not kidding. He lives here at the Den. If it’s money she’s really after, she picked the wrong Wolf. Most of them out there are already married anyway. It’s just me and Switch left.”

  Maura raised a brow. She pointed to the patch on my chest. “Does that mean I’ve got to mark my territory or something?”

  Oh hell. She really was a lightweight.

  “Maura ... I think maybe it’s time for me to get you home.”

  “No!” she said. “We’ve got a meeting, remember? I came here for business.”

  “Rain check. I’ll call you tomorrow anyway. Once Josh figures out what needs to be done to your car.”

  “Guardian angel,” she said, slowly rising. She wasn’t drunk. But the bourbon had chipped away at part of her armor. I should have insisted on just pouring her a beer.

  “Something like that,” I said.

  “Who have you saved, Avery Bishop?”

  I wasn’t sure how I liked my real name on her lips. I suppose it didn’t rile me like everyone else who tried to use it. An image flashed through my brain of her saying it, breathless, while I had her under me.

  Shit. I wasn’t drunk from the bourbon, but I was drunk from being this close to her.