Sally sat on the wood picnic table sandwiched between Kaylie and her friend Janet. They’d met a bunch of times at the diner. Janet was nice, but way more confident than Sally felt. Plus her boyfriend followed her around like a hulking mama bear keeping an eye on her cubs.

Maybe, now that they were getting to be friends, Janet could give her some tips. If not on how to act confident, on how to get a big guy like that to turn to mush.

But maybe she didn’t need help in that department. Donnie had been acting strange, overly solicitous. It was throwing her off guard.

He was acting like they were on a date.

"So, did you figure out why we invited you yet?"

Kaylie was smiling at her as if she had a secret. Sally shook her head and tried not to stare as a biker threw a half naked woman over his shoulder and carried her into the clubhouse.

"Other than the pleasure of your company, of course."

Janet winked at her. She felt her cheeks warming up suddenly. She knew what they were going to say. Of course. It all made sense now.

Donnie did like her. She wasn’t imagining it.

He was walking toward her with two beers and a determined look on his face. He looked like a man on a mission. And she knew what the mission was.

It was her.

Her stomach seemed to drop out of her body and hit the ground. How could it be that her forbidden fantasy, the one thing she wanted but could never risk having, was now coming to life?

Damnit, she was not ready for this.

Why did it have to be him? The one guy who she had a harmless little crush on? The one guy that might make her slip up, and do something stupid.

Like let her guard down.

Anyone else she could brush off. In fact, she did on a regular basis. She’d declined to give her phone number to at least twenty guys since she’d moved into town a few months ago.

Even without the makeup and fancy clothes she used to wear, she seemed to attract more than her fair share of male attention. She groaned inwardly.

She should have gotten a fake wedding band when she first moved to town. Or made up a boyfriend. One that was big and mean and in the military.

"He likes you."

Kaylie leaned close and whispered the obvious. It sent a shiver of pure excitement down her spine. Immediately followed by dread.

Oh no. This was bad.

Dangerous.

Scary.

He handed her a beer and leaned against the edge of the picnic table, staring at her intently. He looked hungry. And he was looking at her like she was something good to eat.

This was very, very bad.

She had to get out of here. Now.

"Thank you."

He grinned again. He looked like she'd just thanked him for saving a kitten from a tree. Way too proud of himself.

And way too sure he was going to get what he was after.

Her.

Sally had a sudden vision of what would happen if she didn’t skedaddle. He would take her home after the barbecue. He’d kiss her, then she’d ask him inside. He’d run his hands all over her, making her lose all sense of perspective.

Then after, when she was a needy, vulnerable pile of goo, he’d change. He’d be cruel. Maybe just a little bit at first, but more and more over time.

And then the monster would come out.

She couldn’t bear it. Even if she wanted him. Which she did.

Badly.

How could she not? He was big and strong and so gorgeous it made her head spin.

Sally felt a flush of arousal as his eyes slid down her body. She was under no illusions that he just wanted to get her into bed for a quickie. She was sure he had women throwing themselves at him all the time. Looking around this place, there were tons of hot girls and more than a few were looking his way.

But Donnie was in for a surprise.

Sally was not going to make it easy for him. She was not going to jump into bed with him. Ever. She knew the risks all too well. No matter how much she might like to. If she was honest with herself, she wanted to a lot.

She sipped the beer, wondering how long it would take before she could leave without attracting more attention. She wracked her brain for an excuse- something that wouldn't offend her friend.

She really did like Kaylie. If things were different, she would tell her everything. Explain how things were. How men always seemed to treat her, judging from her limited experience.

But as it was, she couldn't be too open, not even with the few girlfriends she'd made in this town.

Who was she kidding? She had one friend. Janet was nice but they'd only hung out a few times. Mae was her boss, even though Sally liked her a lot, it wasn't that kind of relationship.

Kaylie was it. And now Sally was going to ruin it by running out of here. Donnie would lose interest. And Kaylie would never invite her out again.

She'd be all alone. Again.

She felt tears welling up in her eyes suddenly.

Coming here had been a mistake. She started to stand and make her excuses when there was a big commotion toward the gate.

Devlin was here. Heads were turning and everyone was hooting and hollering. Kaylie gripped her hand as he jumped up on a table in the middle of the courtyard.