He felt her tense, felt the air around her electrify with his soft-spoken challenge. She stood, crowding him when he refused to take a step back. Tilting her head to look up into his face, she said, “You do not scare me.”
He laughed then, a low rumble deep in his throat. “Then you’re the first, baby.”
She was so close he could now feel her heat, smell the honeyed vanilla of her hair, and realized his plan was beginning to backfire as his own control was severely threatened. He stepped back enough to allow her to exit the booth, but placed his hand possessively on her lower back as he guided her toward the exit.
He nodded to an older man seated at the counter. “Daideo,” Sean said, nodding. Conlan O’Leary, Sean’s maternal grandfather, was the owner of the small diner. The man smiled and nodded in return. Then he looked at Nicki and winked knowingly.
“Do you know him?” Nicki asked as they emerged into the sunlight.
“Yeah,” Sean confirmed, but didn’t expand on that. She’d probably suspect a conspiracy if he explained it to her.
“Where are we going?” Nicki asked, trying hard to hide her curious interest and failing.
“You’ll see,” was all he would say.
Within minutes they pulled into the parking lot of Big Mo’s, the custom cycle shop where his cousin-in-law Kyle McCullough worked. Kyle was nationally known for his genius in creating custom machines, and was currently married to Sean’s cousin, Lina. Anyone with Nicki’s penchant for mechanics and bikes would know Kyle; it was like a basketball fanatic getting to spend an afternoon with LeBron James.
Sean felt no guilt whatsoever in using his family connections to gain a few points in his favor.
“A cycle shop?” Nicki asked, bemused but clearly interested.
“Not just any cycle shop,” Sean told her as he nodded to Mo and led the way into the Employees Only back room. He kept her moving, afraid that if he had to endure the lusty glances Mo was shooting Nicki’s way he might do some damage.
“Sean!” a feminine voice shrieked only seconds before a mass of blonde wrapped him in an affectionate hug. “It’s so good to see you!”
“Hey, Lina,” Sean chuckled, returning her embrace. He was more than a little pleased to see the flash of a scowl across Nicki’s face before she could hide it. Nicki was jealous! There was no reason for her to be, but he’d take it.
“I’d like you to meet someone. Lina, this is Nicki, the one I was telling you about. Nicki, meet my cousin, Lina.”
Nicki nodded in greeting, but her confusion was as obvious as her relief.
“Hi, Nicki!” Lina said cheerfully. “Come on back. Kyle’s waiting for you.”
Nicki looked questioningly at Sean, but he just smiled and indicated that Nicki should follow Lina. “Is she always so cheerful?” Nicki murmured out of the side of her mouth so only Sean could hear.
“Yes,” he grinned. “Perpetual sunshine, that one. But don’t be fooled. She’s every bit as tough as a Callaghan, even though she’s technically from the Connelly side of the family.” His grin grew as he leaned closer. “And her tat’s a lot bigger than yours.”
The area right around Nicki darkened considerably. She turned to see what – or rather who – had cast her in shadow. Sean bit back a smile as she looked up – and up – into the face of the very large man standing there. Even he had to admit Kyle cut an imposing figure. He was dressed in black jeans with a black T-shirt stretched taut across a massive chest, with long black hair and black shades, despite the fact that they were indoors. Her lips parted in shock.
“Sean, man, been too long.” The biker dude and Sean clasped hands in greeting before the man turned to her. “And you must be Nicki,” he said in a voice that rumbled like a Harley and a grin that showed perfect white teeth. “I’m - ”
“Kyle McCullough,” Nicki whispered, her eyes huge.
Kyle’s grin grew. “Sean tells me you know something about bikes. Says you built a custom that rivals a Ducati. That true?”
She nodded mutely. “Sick. You’ll probably appreciate this then...” Kyle led her over to where he was working on a new custom. She looked to Sean, but he just smiled and waved her on. Within a few minutes she’d regained her speech and was talking with Kyle like they had been friends forever.
“She’s awesome,” Lina said to Sean as she offered him a Coke. The two of them stayed back, watching. “She’s the one, huh?”
Sean nodded. “Yeah. I think so.”
Lina laughed at this. “You think so? Sean, if you could only see the way you look at her. There’s no doubt. Does she know yet?”
“No.” He ran his hand through his hair. “She’s going to fight it, I can feel it.”
Lina put her hand on his arm. “That’s probably one of the reasons you find her so irresistible. None of us like to do things the easy way, do we? But don’t worry. If she’s your croie she won’t be able to help but feel the same, even if it does take her a bit longer to realize it.”
Sean hoped she was right.
Chapter Ten