Unedited Excerpt

Copyright ©2018 Trixie Publishing, Inc.

CHAPTER ONE

Jasmine

“You are a confident, beautiful woman, Jasmine Elizabeth Buckley,” I said to myself as I stood at my bathroom mirror. “You do not let a man get under your skin.”

This was all true.

Until...

I shook off my thoughts with a frustrated growl. Valen “Alamo” Slater was apparently my kryptonite.

Alamo was the Sgt. At Arms for the Dogs of Fire Motorcycle Club, Savannah Chapter, and I’d met him when my best friend fell for his “brother,” Dash. Willow and Dash were now shacking up, which had surprised the hell out of me and Parker (the third bestie in our triangle), because Willow was the best “good girl” on the planet. Sweet, funny, and virginal to the nth degree. Now, however, she was Dash’s and he wasn’t letting her go.

God, I wanted that. No, that wasn’t entirely true. I wanted that with Alamo, but he wanted Parker. They always want Parker. Which was fine. I loved Parker too. She was perfect. Dark hair, model body, giant green eyes. Everything I wasn’t.

That didn’t mean I thought I was less than. We were just different. I was tall, about five-foot-eight, I had long, red hair, and I was a big girl... as my mother said, in body and personality. I owned that. I don’t think I could be a skinny girl even if I tried. I’d done the fad diets, worked out like a mad woman, and taken pills that offered rapid weight loss, but it didn’t stick. I was way more Ashley Graham (according to Sparky’s woman Poppy) than Kate Moss and that suited me just fine.

Don’t get me wrong, I did have days where I wished I was more of the “ideal” (like when Alamo was chatting up Parker... I wanted to be her. I wanted to be what he wanted), but the thought would come and then I’d shake it off and be back to my normal, confident self.

Which led me to today. I’d woken up on the wrong side of the bed, after having sexy as hell dreams of Alamo going down on me, and I was back to feeling insecure. Probably because we’d just been at another get-together at the club and I’d spent the entire time watching Alamo... and Parker. God, he talked to her for, like, forever.

Damn it!

I forced my thoughts aside and gave myself another pep talk. I had a salon to run. I didn’t have time to moon over some sexy as fuck biker.

I gave my perfect, precious (and sometimes psycho) cat, Scruffy, a quick cuddle then grabbed my purse and headed to my car.

I had a few appointments today, but my schedule was light so that I could leave early to join Parker and Willow for dinner and a movie. I loved owning my own business. I’d worked hard to get here, having chosen a route unlike my brother and my sister.

My father was a prominent doctor in town and both my siblings had followed in his footsteps, but I’d always had a flair for the dramatic and a passion for beauty and fashion, so instead of going to medical school, I took business and cosmetology classes (along with sewing courses), then set about building an empire for myself. So far, I had a very successful salon and had just started looking at properties across town to open a second. I loved my life and was really proud of what I’d accomplished.

Walking into the salon, I disarmed the alarm and turned on all the lights before locking my purse up and unlocking the front door. I headed to the reception area and powered up the computer just as the bell rang indicating a customer.

Which was weird, considering I didn’t have a client this early.

I glanced up and stalled. Okay, my lungs stalled, but my girl bits reacted with a violence I’d never experienced before. Lordy, I needed relief. Immediately. “Hi,” I managed to squeak out.

“Hey, Firefly,” Alamo said with his southern Texas drawl that caused my womb to contract as I yearned for his baby to grow in my belly.

God.

Yum.

Firefly.

I didn’t know why he called me that, but I loved it. So did my vagina. I bit my lip. “What... um... what can I do for you?”

“Was wonderin’ if you had time for a haircut.”

My first appointment wasn’t for an hour, so I absolutely had time for a haircut. I was, however, a little confused as to why he’d driven into downtown Savannah for a forty-two-dollar haircut... not that I would charge him that much money, but he could head to a local chain for less than twenty bucks.

“Ah, sure. I can do that,” I said, and stepped from behind the desk.

He nodded. “’Preciate it.”

I led him to my chair and he settled his big body into it. “Do you want the works?”

He grinned at me in the mirror. “I always want the works, baby.”

I shook my head, trying to bite back a smile. “I’ve heard that about you.”

He laughed and I led him over to one of the sinks. After washing his hair, I led him back to my chair and covered him with the cape. “How short?”

“Just a trim,” he said.

I found myself relaxing. He had glorious hair and the thought of cutting it off didn’t sit well with me.

“You comin’ on Saturday?” he asked as I worked.

“What’s Saturday?”

“Drinks and pool at Barney’s.”

“I actually have plans, but that sounds like fun. Give me more notice next time and I’ll try and make it.” I didn’t have plans, technically, but Barney’s wasn’t really my jam, so rather than insulting one of his favorite hang-outs (along with the entire club), I bent the truth a little. “Is Parker going?”

“How would I know if Parker was goin’?”

I shrugged, forcing a smile. “Figured you asked her already is all.”

He studied me, but I dropped my head and focused back on his hair, running my fingers through it one last time to check length. I met his eyes in the mirror again and smiled. “How does that look?”

“Looks great, babe.” I grabbed a hand-held mirror and showed him the back, but he just nodded and said, “You do good work, Firefly.”

“Thanks.” I moved to his beard, but he stayed my hand.

“No one touches the beard, babe.”

I smiled. “Well, you’re no fun.”

He chuckled and I removed the cape and shook it out, while Alamo slid out of the chair.

He pulled a fifty out of his wallet, but I pushed his hand away. “On the house, Mo.”

“Don’t work that way,” he said.

“I’m not taking your money, buddy,” I insisted.

He raised an eyebrow, dropping the cash on the reception desk. “Keep the change, baby.”

He walked out and I shook my head. “Stubborn, gorgeous... ”

“Who are you talking to?”

I whipped my head up to see Parker walking in. She was my first appointment.

“No one.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Did I just see Alamo climb on his bike and ride off?”

I nodded.

“You okay?”

“I’m great.” I forced a smile. “I just have to sweep up and then I’ll be ready. Want some coffee?”

“I’ll get it,” she said.

“I just brewed a pot, so it’s fresh.”

Parker headed to the break room and I finished sweeping up Alamo’s hair. She returned with a cup for both of us and plopped herself into my chair.

“Are you going on Saturday?” I asked, sipping my coffee.

“What’s on Saturday?”

“Pool and beer at Barney’s.”

“Um, no.” She wrinkled her nose. “Are you?”

I chuckled. “No. Alamo asked if I was going... I figured he’d have asked you.”

“Why would he ask me?”

“Because he wants you.”

Parker raised an eyebrow. “Come again?”

“He’s always all over you at the get-togethers.”

Parker did a spit-take... like a bonafide spit take. “What?”

“What, what?” I asked, handing her some tissues.

She set her cup on the counter and laughed. “Ohmigod, you beautiful, beautiful woman. You are so, so pretty.”

I frowned. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means, you’re very pretty... not so smart, but super pretty.”

I rolled my eyes. “He is all over you... every time we’re at the compound.”

“Yeah... asking about you.”

“What?” I squeaked.

“That man might be considered brooding, but he’s really good at grilling for information, and the only topic he’s ever interested in is you.”

“Shut up,” I rasped.

She swiveled her chair to face me. “You like him.”

“My vagina does, yes... jury’s still out on if it’s just lust or something else.”

Parker giggled. “Well, you’re both in the same place.”

“His vagina’s lusting after me?”

“Yes, yes, it is.”

“Weirdo.”

“That man is primed and ready for some Jazz... not to be confused with jizz—”

“Parker!” I admonished.

She shrugged. “Whatever. He’s primed and you won’t even have to work for it.”

I couldn’t stop a giggle as I shook my head. “You’re ridiculous.”

“Maybe so, but I’m not wrong.”

“Okay, change of subject,” I said, setting my coffee down. “What am I doing to you today?”

As Parker gave me in-depth instructions on how she wanted her hair cut and dried, I allowed part of my mind to imagine Alamo primed and ready for me. God, that would be amazing.

* * *

Alamo

Fuck me, this woman was gonna be a challenge. I was still tryin’ to figure out if the challenge would be worth it as I walked into her fancy-ass salon, but then I saw her and all those questions were forgotten. Jasmine Buckley was a fuckin’ knockout. She was tall and curvy, had big blue eyes, and the most glorious red hair I’d ever seen. All I wanted to do was wrap it around my hand and fuck her ’til she screamed... this thought made it difficult to focus, but it was no less the truth.

I’d first noticed her at Willow’s dad’s funeral. I doubt she saw me, but I clocked her the second she walked in. She was playin’ referee with Willow’s ex-douche of a fiancé and she was takin’ her role seriously. She wouldn’t let him anywhere near Willow, and since Brad Aljets was a total asshole, I was ready to jump in if he got nasty with her, but it hadn’t been necessary. She “handled” him perfectly.

When she walked into a get-together with her friend, I knew I needed to get a little information about her... and endear myself to her friend... in order to figure out my next move.

Apparently, it didn’t work.

Jasmine had cut my hair and refused my money, which pissed me off. I didn’t ask for shit I couldn’t afford, but then she’d called me ‘Mo,’ and I’d had to stop myself from kissing her stupid right then and there.

The shit truth was, Jasmine didn’t seem interested, even though I know Parker dug me (and Willow adored me), so now I planned to back off. If Jasmine wanted me, she’d have to give me some indication. I didn’t chase anyone I couldn’t catch.

CHAPTER TWO

Jasmine

Two weeks later, I walked in to Daily Grind, my local coffee shop, and ordered a latte and a muffin (plus a treat for my client). I had a little time before my first appointment and had decided to indulge myself. It was raining (which I loved), and I was cold (which I also loved), because it gave me the excuse to buy a warm fancy coffee with a gazillion calories.

As I waited for my order, I thought back to my conversation with Parker. At this point, I was pretty sure she was insane, because I hadn’t seen Alamo again, which was an obvious sign he wasn’t interested in me. If he really was grilling Parker for information, I would have thought he’d have come back to the salon, or something... find any excuse to see me. He hadn’t.

So I was eating my feelings. I wasn’t so naïve as to think this wasn’t what I was doing. I typically didn’t eat much for breakfast, so I recognized that I was about to consume a muffin the size of my head in an obvious attempt to soothe my hurt... or libido. Both of them needed a little TLC, but I couldn’t very well whip my vibrator out in public, so socially acceptable breakfast cake it was.

Once my name was called, I grabbed my purchases and headed for the side door, finding it opened at the same time as I was ready to leave, so I looked up to gauge whether or not I should wait... and nearly dropped my coffee.

“Hey, Firefly.”

“What... um... hi,” I manage to stutter out.

He grinned (still holding the door). “I come here every morning.”

I stepped outside and he let the door close, guiding me under the awning, out of the rain. “You do?”

“Pretty much every morning I work this side of town. The shop’s right around the corner.”

“Oh, I didn’t realize.”

Alamo was a mechanic. I think. Yes, a mechanic. But he worked for BMW or something like that. I wasn’t sure. I drove a Mercedes, so it’s not like I’d run into him accidentally or anything.

“What are you doin’ here?” he asked.

“I have a private client. Her place is near the Park.”

The park I was referring to was Forsythe Park in the most historic part of town.

“Nice client.”

I smiled. “She’s lovely actually. Almost ninety now and finds it difficult to get out of the house. So, I come to her.”

I met his eyes and realized pretty quickly that that was a mistake, because they got soft and I melted. Well, my vagina melted. No, actually, everything melted. If I stood here much longer, I was going to end up a pile of goo. A very horny pile of goo.

“What time you done?” he asked.

“Um, usually sometime around twelve. I do her hair and then we visit for a little bit.”

“You wanna grab lunch?”

“With you?”

He cocked his head. “No, I’m askin’ you out for a friend. Need me to hand you a note with a yes or no on it?”

I big back a giggle. “Depends on who the friend is.”

Alamo grinned. “I can meet you somewhere or pick you up from your client’s place... whatever works for you.”

I smiled. “That sounds fun, actually. I have a client at three, so that would be perfect. How about I meet you?”

He held his hand out. “Phone.”

I handed him my breakfast (and Miss Opal’s breakfast... I should have grabbed a cup carrier thingy) so I could dig in my bag without dropping anything, and once I found my phone, we switched. His thumbs flew over the display before he gave it back to me. “I’ll text you.”

I nodded. “Sounds good.”

“You look real pretty, Firefly.”

“Oh,” I whisper-squeaked. “Um, thanks, Mo.”

He grinned and walked into the coffee shop, and I stood watching his ass for a few seconds before I came to my senses and headed to my car.

I pulled up to Miss Opal’s 1880s townhouse was on W. Gordon Street, right around the block from Forsyth park. She was old south with a shit ton of money, but you’d never know it if you met her. Well, you might guess, as she was highly “proper,” but, outside of my family and closest friends, she was the kindest person I knew.

I knocked on the door and her butler answered within seconds.

“Miss Buckley,” he said with a huge grin. “It’s so lovely to see you again.”

“Hi, Michael.”

He reached for my breakfast burdens, which I happily handed over to him. “Are you spoiling the madam with treats again?”

“Guilty,” I said, as I entered the home.

He chuckled, closing the door behind me. “She’s out in the solarium. If you’ll follow me.”

Opal had a live-in butler and maid/housekeeper who prepared most of her meals, but she also brought folks in twice a week for various things.

Today, however, was Sybil’s day off, so I grabbed Opal breakfast since she was typically on a strict diet, and had mentioned (often) that she loved cinnamon coffee cake.

I was clearly the bad influence in her life.

I walked into the solarium and found her laughing with her grandson, Thomas. Thomas Ellis (and you called him Thomas, no Tommy or Tom) was tall, blond, and very, very pretty. I liked him, if you liked old-world, southern men who were as rich as Croesus.

He grinned (and stood) as I came into the room, closing the distance between us and greeting me with a kiss on the cheek... which was weird since he’d never done that before. “Jasmine Buckley, Grannie said you were coming this morning.”

“I’m a little early. I’m so sorry. I can come back.”

“You’re not early, dear,” Opal countered. “Thomas was supposed to leave an hour ago, but he stuck around for—”

“Grannie, you’re my one true love,” he interrupted. “I couldn’t pull myself away from your witty conversation.”

I smiled and set my things on the ground before hugging Opal. “How are you?”

“I feel as though I could run a marathon.” She grinned up at me. “It’s just too bad my body disagrees with me.”

I giggled. “Bodies are suck jerks.”

“Yes, they are.”

“I’m going to take my leave,” Thomas said. “May I steal Jasmine for a moment, Grannie?”

I was a little taken aback by request, as I couldn’t imagine what Thomas Ellis would want to say to me, but I followed him back into the north parlor and he faced me with gentle smile. “I was wondering if I might ask you out. Dinner... perhaps tonight?”

“Uh... um... ” Fuck, what do I say here? I liked Thomas. He was handsome and sweet, but I’d never really had him on my radar because he was super rich, super popular, and I wasn’t really in his league.

“Lunch, then, if dinner’s too forward.”

“That’s not it,” I countered. “This is just a surprise, and, uh, I’m actually busy tonight.”

With my vibrator, because I know my lunch with Alamo is going to drive me to need some instant relief.

That part I kept to myself.

“Of course you are,” Thomas breathed out. “I should not have presumed. Would Friday night be agreeable?”

I grimaced.

“You’re booked then as well,” he deduced. “Of course. A woman such as yourself is bound to be in high demand.”

“I’m free on Sunday night,” I offered, and his face lit up.

“I’ll get us reservations at Olde Pink.”

“I love that place.”

“As do I.” He grinned again. “I’ll call you with details.”

He leaned down and kissed my cheek again, then left me standing there wondering how he would call me if he didn’t have my number. Heading back into the solarium, I unpacked my bag and began to set up my mobile salon.

“My grandson is sweet on you,” she said.

I paused my busywork. “I’m sorry?”

“Thomas. He’s sweet on you. He’s been askin’ after you for close to a month now. I see he’s taken his chance... finally.”

I shook my head. “I had no idea.”

“Am I free to give him your number?”

“Yes, Miss Opal, you are free to give him my number.”

The lady squeaked in excitement. Yes, she squeaked. I’d never heard so much emoting from her before, and I couldn’t stop a giggle at her outburst.

“I want six grandbabies.”

I gasped. “I think you’re rushing things a little, Miss Opal. It’s just dinner.”

“It’s never just dinner,” she said. “Not with Thomas.”

I bit my lip. That gave me pause. I didn’t want to rush into things with Thomas. I didn’t want to rush into things with anyone... well, no, that wasn’t true. I wanted to rush into things with Alamo, but he was like a unicorn to me. A fantasy... with a really big horn.

“Just ignore me, dear,” Opal rushed to say. “Chalk it up to the mutterings of a crazy old lady.”

I sighed. “You are neither of those thing to me. Your body might be up there, but your mind is a sane and witty as a teenager.”

She grinned. “This is why I love you so, sweet Jasmine.”

I squeezed her shoulder gently and then went about pampering her.

* * *

Alamo texted that he’d meet me at the little café by the park at twelve-thirty, but I’d gotten out of Opal’s late and now I was not almost twenty minutes past our meet time.

Shit!

I hated being late. For anything. I did text him to say I was running late, but, still. I didn’t like to let anyone down.

After finally finding a parking space, I rushed into the café to find Alamo sitting in the corner, his eyes glued to his phone and I took a minute to watch him. Okay, not a minute, damn it... I didn’t get a full minute because his eyes met mine and he smiled... sort of. He looked a little irked, actually, and my heart raced as I approached the table.

He stood and greeted me with a kiss on the cheek, which sent my nether regions into a tailspin, but that didn’t last long either as we took our seats. “I’m so sorry I’m late,” I breathed out. “I could not get Miss Opal to stop talking.”

“It’s all good, babe. ’Preciate the text lettin’ me know.”

“Everything okay?”

“Yeah, why?” he asked.

“You just looked a little pissed... I was hoping it wasn’t because of me.”

He smiled then, a gentle one that melted me. (Oh, alright, all his smiles melted me). “Not you, Firefly.”

He didn’t elaborate, so I didn’t pepper him with questions. If there was one thing I’d learned early on (because of Willow’s experiences with Dash), was if they didn’t offer information, you didn’t ask. Club business was sacrosanct, and wasn’t shared outside of the brotherhood.

“Did you order?” I asked.

He shook his head. “Waitin’ on you.”

I opened the menu and scanned the pages just as the server arrived to take our orders.

“Do you know what you’re getting?” I asked him.

“Burger, rare, no onions,” he said to the server.

“That sounds perfect.” I closed the menu. “I’ll get that as well. Medium, no lettuce or onions, please.”

“Cheese?” she asked.

“Cheddar,” we said in unison.

As the server took our menus and left us, I checked my phone, then turned it off and dropped it into my purse. I wanted to be fully present with this unicorn and I didn’t want the buzzing of my phone to spook him.

“Dash says you’re a mechanic,” I said.

He nodded, leaning forward slightly with his forearms on the table. “Own my own shop, but help my buddy out on occasion when he needs it.”

“Is that why you’re over this way?”

“Yeah. Dalton owns the BMW and Cadillac stores downtown. He’s out a shop manager at the moment, so I come in, when I can, to run it. It’s temporary.”

“That’s nice of you.”

He chuckled. “Not really. He pays me a shit ton of money to do it.”

I cocked my head. “Doesn’t mean it’s still not nice of you. You could say no.”

“I guess that’s true,” he said. “You’re right, Firefly. I’m Mother fuckin’ Teresa.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “Okay, Saint Alamo, let’s slow your roll.”

“Fuck me, you’re funny, Jasmine.”

“So are you.”

Lunch arrived, so our conversation was cut off for a minute, and I took a minute to prep my burger.

“You always cut hair?” Alamo asked, then bit into his burger.

I nodded. “I was styling my Barbies’ hair even as a little girl.”

“No shit?”

“No shit.” I chuckled. “My dad’s a doctor, as are my siblings, and Mom’s a teacher, so yeah, I’m their classic underachiever.”

“You’re not a fuckin’ underachiever, Firefly,” he ground out.

“I’m kidding,” I rushed to say.

“Kidding because you don’t wanna throw someone under that bus who made you feel that way. Or... ?”

“Because I’m kidding,” I said. “Honestly, my family’s awesome. It’s me that sometimes feel like I should do more.”

I couldn’t believe I’d just told him that. I wasn’t shy, but I didn’t typically offer up feelings of insecurities to virtual strangers.

“Do you love what you do?”

“So, so much,” I breathed out.

“You moochin’ off anyone?”

I shook my head.

“Then, you’re ahead of the curve, baby. Don’t let anyone, including yourself, tell you otherwise.”

I felt heat creep up my neck. “Stop being sweet, Mo.”

“Nobody’s ever accused me of bein’ sweet, Firefly.”

I took a bite of my burger so I wouldn’t say anything stupid like, “Ohmigod, Alamo, can we go back to my place and get naked? Oh, and can I lick you? Everywhere?”

We spent a few minutes in silence as we ate and my thoughts spiraled deeper into the gutter. God, what the hell was my problem? He smiled and I was salivating like Pavlov’s dog. I needed to get ahold of my adoration of this man. It was too much.

Alamo’s phone buzzed on the table and he leaned over to look at it, then swore. Wiping his hands on a napkin, he answered it. “Yeah. Fuck, seriously? Yeah, man, I’ll be there in fifteen.” He put his phone down and pulled out his wallet. “Sorry, Firefly. One of the newbies dropped a fuckin’ car. Gotta go deal with it.”

“Dropped it? Like off the lift?”

He nodded, dropping a fifty on the table. “Fuckin’ moron.”

“Ohmigod, that’s bad,” I said as I rose to my feet and donned my outerwear.

“Tell me about it.” He dragged on his leather jacket and shoved his wallet back in his pocket.

The server arrived with a smile. “I’ll just get your change.”

“Keep it, babe,” Alamo said, and wrapped an arm around my waist.

I felt myself leaning into his touch and craving more as he guided me out of the restaurant.

It was pouring, but Alamo still walked me all the way to my car. I had my purse over my head, because I had not come prepared with an umbrella, but he had nothing. “You’re not on your bike, are you?” I asked, my voice sounding a little more concerned than I intended.

“No, babe. Got my Scout.”

“I don’t know what that is.”

“Old SUV.”

“Oh, okay.” I relaxed. The thought of him being on a bike in this weather scared the shit out of me. I licked my lips, partly because rain was hitting them, and partly because I desperately wanted him to kiss me. “Thanks for lunch.”

He ran a finger down my cheek. “Get out of the weather, Firefly.”

“Okey doke,” I grumbled, then climbed into my car.

Alamo waited for me to pull out of the parking spot, giving me a chin lift as I smiled at him, then he turned and jogged away from me.

Damn it!

I wanted to taste his mouth.

* * *

If you liked the sneak peek of Stealing the Biker’s Heart, you can order it !