Dirty Deals by Nicole James Page 0,7
it. I’m going to have to trust him long enough to get off this desolate ramp.
I still can’t see his face, so I side step around until my back is to his bike and he’s facing the headlight.
Oh my God. He’s drop-dead gorgeous. Dirty blond hair is slicked back in a short ponytail and the prettiest damn eyes stare back at me. I can’t tell if they’re blue or green, but they’re hypnotizing. A close beard perfectly frames his mouth and runs along his jaw. I’ve never been much for facial hair, but this one’s changing my mind. On him, it works; boy, does it work.
“Name’s Rusty. What’s yours?”
“Ashlynn.” I see no need to give a fake name. I’ll never see this guy again.
“Ashlynn,” he tries the name out. “Pretty.”
My eyes drop to his clothing. He’s got on a leather vest with patches on it. He turns to look at my car, and I can see the back of his vest. It says Devil Kings on the top and Georgia on the bottom. A little square says MC.
Great.
“Where’s the rest of your gang?” I ask. I look over my shoulder, half expecting them to roll up.
He squats by my tire, examining it, but looks up at me and gives me a megawatt smile, his teeth white and straight. “Just me, Ashlynn.”
He continues his study of the tire, running a hand over the treads.
“Here it is. Picked up a nail.” He stands and takes out his phone. A moment later he’s grunting into it. “Get a can of tire inflator and get your ass over here. I’m on the eastbound ramp off I20 at Stonecrest. Yeah, but there’s a big wreck, so take route 278 to Lithonia Industrial and come up the ramp the wrong way. Dumb fuck, I know that shit won’t work for a bike. It’s not for me. Hurry your ass up, Prospect.” He shoves the phone in his pocket and looks at me. “Shouldn’t be too long.”
I stare at him. Now there’s another one coming.
He strolls around my vehicle. “Nice. Bet it handles like a dream.” He peers inside. “Five speed?”
“Six.”
He whistles. “Not many women I know can drive a manual transmission.”
“I must be special.” I quirk a brow, and there’s that grin again. My stomach does a little flip at the sight of it.
“What sold you on it?”
“I rode in one once.” I’m not about to tell him it was with a client.
His eyes sweep over me. “You must travel in some fast circles.”
I lift my chin, not willing to divulge anything more.
“Babe, relax. Swear to God, I’m not here to rape or kill you. And although this is one hell of a sweet ride, I’m not gonna jack your car.” He makes an x over his chest. “Cross my heart.”
I suppose if he’d been after any of those things, he’d be done and gone by now. I lower the tire iron. “You always stop to help damsels in distress, then?” I can’t help the sarcastic tone from creeping into my voice.
He chuckles. “Fuck no. Only when they look like you.”
“And how do I look?” He’s pissing me off again.
“Like a Playboy centerfold. Stacked and racked.”
“Don’t be vulgar.”
“You asked.”
I can tell he’s enjoying taunting me, but I’ve been around enough men to know when one is interested.
“Where you headed, Ashlynn?”
I swallow and look away.
He leans against the side of my baby and folds his arms. “We got nothin’ but time. Might as well get to know each other.”
I want to tell him to get his ass off my car, but since he’s the only help in sight I refrain. I should keep my mouth shut entirely, but this is the first human conversation I’ve had in days. “Not sure. Just kind of playing it by ear.”
His head drops to the side. “You don’t look like a play-it-by-ear kind of girl.”
“I don’t?”
“Nope. You look like the kind who’s got her whole life planned out to a T.”
I’m so that girl. I plan everything, prepare for every eventuality. It’s scary the way he knows that. Is it the car? My clothes? “Kind of.”
There’s that chuckle again. His chest shakes with it. “Kind of?”
“Okay, fine. It’s true. I usually plan everything. This trip sort of came up out of the blue.”
“Vacation?” He glances at the trunk with the one carry-on sized bag that takes up every inch of the tiny compartment. “I’d figure you for more of a three bag minimum traveler. Guess there’s no room, though.”
“Are you saying