Cole opened her mouth to shut him down but his words echoed in her head. You’re supposed to be dealing with Sam.
“You got to buy into the story about Noel and Sam. They’re in love. Hot sweaty heat for each other. Can’t keep their hands off each other. That’s why he’s following her around like a puppy on a leash. The man’s got it bad. You’re in charge, pretty lady. So cowgirl up.”
She stared at him, a dozen thoughts whipping through her mind. But in the end, there was only one. “I don’t know how.”
“That’s because you’ve been trying to reason your way to Noel. A good cover is all about feeling. That means knowing deep inside you that Noel’s actually a part of you.”
Cole looked down and to the right as something flickered to life in the back of her mind. Part of me. That was the trouble. Nothing felt like part of her anymore, except the ache of being in the same room as Scott and doing nothing about it.
Richards blew out another ring and watched it float away. “You’ve just graduated vet school and are waiting to see if you passed your exams so you can get a license to practice. Meanwhile you’ve decided to try your hand in ring competition.”
She nodded. “That’s my cover story.”
“Doesn’t that strike you as atypical behavior? Here you are an animal doc, spent all those years on schooling, but suddenly you’re just kicking back and doing nothing. Why would you do that?”
“Because she’s—I’m dog tired of school. I’ve sacrificed everything for so long, worked so hard. I just want to have a little fun.”
He nodded. “Makes sense. I suspect there’s a whole other personality inside Noel Jenkins that hasn’t been let loose in a while. Probably even a wild streak. Otherwise, how could you explain Sam’s interest?”
Cole blushed as he winked at her.
“He’s a hellion, that Sam. Yet, he’s sniffing at your heels. You got something that man wants bad, sweetheart. Figure out what it is, and you’ll do just fine.”
He pushed off her vehicle and bent to carefully break off the ash of his cigar against the road gravel. When he was satisfied the tobacco was out, he stuck the remainder of the cigar in his pocket. “I don’t have to smoke it all to enjoy the experience. This way, I save a bit of fun for later.”
He reached into his pants pocket and pulled out several keys. When he had unhooked one, he looked her up and down, from her tee to her jeans to her patrol boots. “You got a license to ride?”
Cole gazed in amazement at the motorcycle key he held out to her. “If I say I know how to ride?”
He grinned. “Close enough.” But as she reached for the key he snatched it back. “Only one rule. Don’t scuff the chrome.” He pointed out his motorcycle before handing her the key. “Helmet’s hanging on the back and there’s a jacket in the saddlebag. Be back before dark.”
He didn’t even look back once to see what she was going to do.
Cole laughed when she had swung a leg over Agent Richards’s bike. It was big, a little bigger than anything she had driven before. It had been years since she even straddled a motorcycle. When they were married, Scott seldom let her drive his bike. Most often she was the unhappy and totally intimidated chick on the back.
“But not Noel,” she whispered under her breath. And her boyfriend Sam would be cool with her borrowing his bike.
She tightened the strap of her helmet and zipped up the too-large leather jacket she’d pulled from the saddle back. Finally, she turned the key in the ignition. The engine thrummed to life between her legs. Yes! Suddenly, she felt the possibility of having fun. The worries and concerns of Nicole Jamieson might even take a backseat for a while. She was Noel Jenkins, and Noel was a bit of a badass.
Harmonie Kennels was located in the hills of Shenandoah National Park. Traffic was sparse on the back roads that led in and out of the compound. Even so, concentration was in order. Once out on the empty two-lane blacktop, Noel let out the throttle a little more.
Riding a bike was about confidence. Noel had confidence for days. Noel rode with Sam regularly. They loved the open road and being together.
Sam was ex-military and now manager of a motorcycle shop in New Jersey. They’d met six months ago at a mutual friend’s wedding in Baltimore. She had learned to ride to be with him. In turn, he was supporting her desire to compete in Agility competitions. They share a love of dogs, and the wicked urge to keep their freedom. Oh, and a wild desire for one another that ran so hot that people sometimes felt closed out in their company.
Cole’s body quivered under the vibrations of the engine locked between her thighs. Yes, Sam would be hot and heavy and thumping just like this. When she got home to him.
A small smile began.
After that, Noel stopped thinking and just concentrated on the ride as the gorgeous scenery of Virginia flew past her in a hundred shades of forest green and late-afternoon blue-gold sky.