Tank loaded a cooler and two tents in the back of his truck, along with his motorcycle. Annie walked out of the house, her black jeans tight against her skin, her hair up in a loose bun, and her overnight bag thrown over her shoulder. He stared at the beauty as she strolled toward him, and let out a low whistle.

“Flirt,” she joked. “I didn’t have anything black to wear up top. Clean anyway.” She tucked her locket inside her button-down shirt. Smart.

“That’s okay. I have something better.” He hopped out of the back of his truck, reached inside the pickup, and pulled out a helmet and a leather jacket.

“For me?”

“Yes, ma’am. Just for you. I hope it fits. JoJo helped me pick it out.”

Beauty dropped her shoulder bag, turned, and held her arms out as he helped her in the leather. “How does it look?” She spun around, modeling the jacket for him.

Damn sexy. He bit back the words. He’d be paying for this bounty for the next few months, but Annie was worth it. Every penny.

“Uh…good. Here.” He raised the helmet up. “Let’s see how it fits.” He put the fiberglass cover over her head. “Now, you look like a true biker, all decked in black.”

She flipped the eye cover up. “Just call me JoJo Junior.”

JoJo had turned into a good friend, but not a nickname he wanted for Annie. When he thought of JoJo, his body didn’t burn with desire. Irritation maybe, but not lust. He and Annie hadn’t kissed since the other night, but his need for her grew with each passing day. While he ached to do more than touch her, he wouldn’t rush her. But he sure as hell wouldn’t call her JoJo Junior in the meantime.

“How about Moonlight? It sort of flows with your hair…it’s so blonde, and your jacket is so black. And your tattoo with the moon and stars.”

“Oh, I like that.” She shimmied her head out of the helmet. “But I have to admit, this jacket is a little hot out here in the July heat.”

“I know, but you don’t have to wear it long.” He reached back into the truck for a black ball cap. “Here, put this on while we head in to town.” He flipped up the collar on her leather to further hide her face. “Once we arrive at the meeting spot, you can put on your helmet. I’ll take mostly back roads there, so hopefully, we won’t run into anyone.”

“Because wearing a helmet in a truck might look a little suspicious.” She placed the cap over her hair.

“Yeah, and a little stupid.” He winked and grabbed her bag from the ground. “Ready?”

“Yeah, I think so.”

“Alfred, let’s go,” he hollered for his dog. The big lab bound in the truck and plopped right in the passenger seat, his head hanging out of the window. “Al, move over buddy. That’s Annie’s spot.”

His dog stared at him.

“Alfred. Move.”

“It’s okay. Really.” She laughed. “This might be better. If I’m in the middle, maybe it’ll be harder for people to see me with both side windows being covered by you and Alfred.”

Yeah, and easier for us to accidently touch. Or maybe, not-so-accidently.

“You sure?” Tank scratched his head.

“Positive.” She shimmied around him and slid in the truck.

He hopped in behind her and placed her bag on the floorboard. He’d cleaned the junk off the floorboards the day before when he fixed the broken taillight. Last thing he wanted was another run-in with Duke.

He pulled back, and his arm grazed her thigh.

Damn it.

“Sorry about that.” Not really. He gripped his steering wheel and cranked the truck.

She gave him a little shrug. “It’s okay. Not like we haven’t touched before.”

She smiled and his insides quivered.

Rein it in, jackass.

Alfred turned in his seat and bumped Annie with his backside, causing her to lean in closer to him. He got a big whiff of her flowery perfume. The same perfume that seemed to soak into the fibers of his home. Christ almighty. Every time he walked in the door, all he could smell was her. If he had such a hard time sitting next to her now, what the hell was he going to do in thirty minutes when she straddled the back of his bike all the way to Jasper?

God help me.

* * *

 “We’re here.” Tank put the truck in Park and hopped out. He cracked his neck and took a big sniff of the muggy, hot air. At least it didn’t smell like Annie. All that sweetness made him dizzy with need. Thankfully, he’d have on a helmet in a few minutes to help block the glorious smell.

“Hey.” Steele slapped him on the back. “Right on time. We’re leaving in about twenty minutes. I’ll help you get your stuff loaded.”

“Thanks, man.”

“Morning, beautiful.” The firefighter nodded toward Annie and winked.

Flirt.

“Hey, Steele.” She slid out of the truck and held her bike helmet in her hands.

Annie kept a cool smile on her face, but her cheeks didn’t blush, nor did she wink back. His heart gave a slight bounce.

“You think I need to go ahead and put this on?” She darted her gaze back to him.

He glanced around the grounds. Besides the group of Guardians, the land seemed pretty deserted. “I think you’re okay for now.”

“Hey, sweetie.” Sandi walked to her and gave her a hug.

“Sandi.” Annie’s eyes misted right before she tossed her arms around the woman. “I’ve missed you.”

“We’ve missed you around the diner, that’s for sure.” The older lady hugged her back. “You have a job whenever it’s safe to come back.”

“Thank you.” Beauty wiped a tear from her eye.

“I tell you what.” The diner owner pulled Annie in a side hug. “How about you come sit in the SUV with me. We’ll turn on the AC and wait while these guys finish loading their gear.”

“That’ll be great, thank you.”

Sandi pointed to Alfred as his dog jumped out of the truck. “Who’s this, and more importantly, why is this here?”

“That’s Alfred. Father said he could ride with you.”

“He did now?” She cocked her head toward the leader. “Mentioning it to me would have been nice, Jack.”

“Sorry, babe.” Father pecked her on the cheek. “I thought you might want a companion on the way.”

“Yeah? You’re going to pay for this.” She shook a skinny finger at the leader.

“Can’t wait.” The horny bastard winked and skirted off to help Steele load supplies.

“What am I supposed to do with him when we stop to eat?” Sandi asked.

“Either leave him in the car with the windows down, or let him out,” Tank offered.

“He won’t run off?” The woman stared at Alfred. The pup licked her hand.

“Naw. He stays close by.”

“All right.” Sandi let out a little huff. “Come on, babe.” The mother figure pulled Annie’s hand. “We’ve got some catching up to do.”

Beauty gave him a little wave as her employer pulled her away, Al hot on her heels.

Damn dog. The minute Annie walked into their lives it was like he didn’t even exist anymore.

“I think you lost your companion.” Steele held Tank’s tents in his hands.

“Yeah. I think you’re right.”

“What the hell are these for?”

“Sleeping quarters.” Tank pointed to each. “One for Annie. One for me.”

“Yeah. Okay.” Steele cocked a sly grin as a smug look took over his face.

“What the hell is that look for? There is nothing going on between me and Annie.” Not anything this flirt needed to be concerned with at least.

“Nothing, man.” Steele shook his head. “No reason. Whatever you say.” His friend sauntered off toward Sandi’s truck, still shaking his head, his boots shuffling on the gravel beneath.

Nosy bastard.

“Everyone about ready?” Father yelled to the group. “We head out in five minutes.”

JoJo pulled up on her black sewing machine and parked beside the leader.

“Nice of you to join us.” Father tossed her a glance.

The woman whipped her helmet off. “I’m not late.”

“Yeah, well, you damn sure ain’t early. Get loaded, let’s go.” The leader pointed to the SUV.

Tank marched around to the back of his truck. “Morning, JoJo.”

“Morning.”

“You’re new leather looks nice.”

“I know.” She gave him a self-assured grin.

When she had helped him pick out Annie’s, she had selected one for herself as well, and he’d gladly paid for it. Least he could do for her after what all she’d done for him and Annie.

He jumped in the back of his truck, and dropped the ramp to unload his bike. “A simple thank you would suffice.”

“Not my style.”

“Imagine that.”

“Enough chit-chat.” Father hollered. “Let’s ride.”

Tyler unloaded his bike, and Annie ran over to him.

“Hey, leather looks good.” JoJo remarked, staring at Beauty’s outfit.

“Thanks for helping, JoJo. You did good.” Annie stood beside him.

“I know.” Little Bit threw her helmet on and revved her engine.

“She’s too damn cocky for her own good.” Tank shook his head. No way in hell was his sweet and beautiful Annie a JoJo Junior. “Here, let me help you.” He grabbed the helmet from her hands and placed it on her head. “Can you hear me?”

Annie nodded.

“Okay, hop on Moonlight, straddle the bike, and hold on to me. When I lean, you lean with me. Got it?”

“Yep.”

He adjusted himself on the seat. She gripped his shoulders and tossed her leg over the saddle, then snaked her arms down his waist. Her hold firmed before he even took off.

“Are you scared?”

“A little. I’ve never been on a bike before.”

He patted her hand and spoke over his shoulder. “I’ll take good care of you. I promise.”

“I know.” She placed her helmet on his shoulder and squeezed his waist a little harder. “You know where we’re going, right?”

“Yeah. I have directions on my phone if we lose the group, and Sandi is holding up the rear. We should be good.”

Father drove to the front of the pack and pointed his finger forward. “Let’s ride,” he shouted above the noise.

Several of the members hollered in excitement. The whooshing sound of revved engines sang out like a melody as bikes zoomed off one by one to follow behind the pack leader.

“We’re going to have fun, Annie.”

“I know.” She gave him another squeeze.

He’d be sure of it.