Nickie sat back in her chair and considered the best and worst case scenarios. If security were alerted to watch, could he kill her behind closed doors and get away with it? Or knock her out, put her in a suitcase, and wheel her out? Probably not, but she needed to know more about him before she took the chance.

“Perhaps we should sit on the beach overlook with drinks this evening and get to know one another a little better before we start making plans to get naked.”

“Of course.”

He didn’t seem upset. If anything, his smile seemed to appreciate her game plan rather than show frustration.

“We’re both going to need to open up a lot more before we can get to know one another,” she told him with a smile. “I’ll start with something simple. What do you drive?”

“Primarily a Harley, but I have an old dually pickup and an antique sixty-nine Shelby. What about you?”

“You’re old school, and I’m in a hybrid all-wheel drive Cayenne so I can get around in snow and ice in the winter. In my defense, I drove a motorcycle around India in my twenties. Also, I rented one in France and toured the Alps on my way to Italy last summer.” Her face clouded as she remembered the trip to Turkey from Italy, but she put it out of her mind and focused on the bike. “It was a Ducati, which you’ll probably turn your nose up to if you like Harleys, but—”

“The Alps? Really? I assume you got plenty of experience in India, but I’m guessing there’s more to the biking thing in your history?”

Nickie rolled her eyes. “I’m an only child and my dad raced motorcycles when he was on leave. Without a son to teach, I had the pleasure of learning.”

“Instead of sitting out on the deck, why don’t we change into bathing suits and meet at one of the pools. It’s a beautiful evening, and I think most of the pools have swim-up bars.”

Nickie was about to say it was a good idea, but Bud’s face clouded and he reached into a pocket. “Excuse me, but I set it to only let calls through for two people, and both would only contact me if there’s a problem.”

He stepped away from the table and beside a large indoor bush to talk, and Nickie took the opportunity to eat a few bites.

Bud looked troubled when he returned and took his seat, and Nickie asked, “Everything okay?”

“I pay a security firm to notify me when people are researching me in certain databases. It seems someone is looking at me with a fine-toothed comb.”

Nickie’s face flamed hot but she didn’t look away. “I sent a PI your picture, along with what little you’ve told me. Can you blame me?”

Instead of getting pissed, Bud chuckled as he sat back in his chair. “No, Mr. Daniels, I don’t suppose I can.”

* * *

Bud smelled fear and anger, but Nicole looked as cool as ever. Still, he could afford to be a little more honest with her now, because if she had to send someone his picture to find out about him, it likely meant she hadn’t manufactured their meeting to do a story on him. Unless she knew he’d be watching for activity.

At any rate, she either already knew what he was, or would soon figure it out. May as well open up.

“You’re an investigative journalist, and I’m the president of a motorcycle club. Still want that midnight swim?”

Nicole set her mojito to the side and took a long, slow drink of ice water. Bud’s eyes went to her throat and his thoughts went to how it would look swallowing his cock.

She set the glass down with purpose before focusing her cool blue eyes to meet his gaze. “So your people are faster than mine at doing research. Good to know. You don’t look like a biker. Is your MC a one-percenter club, or one of the others?”

“More likely, I had my people begin earlier so they had a head start. I might be a tad paranoid, but it’s kept me alive.”

“You ignored the one-percenter question, which is likely all the answer I need. Do you have a full-time person investigating everyone you meet?”

Bud couldn’t tell her he needed to be sure she wasn’t a Fed, because that’d be admitting he was into illegal shit. “No, but something about you didn’t add up. All those suitcases, and one minute you came off as shallow and vapid, but the next minute you showed depth and maturity. It wouldn’t be the first time a reporter tried to get close to me to do an exposé on the biker culture.”

She sighed. “Truth? If I were researching for a story, I’d have probably approached you without telling you who I was or what I was doing.” She shook her head. “And quite possibly in much the way we met. However, I’m not, and I didn’t know.”

“Can I get a promise you won’t write about anything you learn from me?”

“No.”

She didn’t apologize, didn’t look afraid. Clear blue eyes, steady gaze, and a hint of a smile. Bud’s respect for her went way up, and he grinned. “Fair enough. If you’re up for a vacation fling, I’d love to see more of you.” He’d put the meal on his room already, so he set his napkin on the table and stood. “I’ll be at the pool we walked by on the way back from the dive boat. I hope you’ll join me, but no hard feelings if you don’t.” He hesitated before adding, “And no expectations other than conversation, if you do.”