She watched him walk away, admiring how his jeans fit just right over a firm ass. And, of course, she couldn’t help but notice the way his tattoos flexed as his toned arms moved. He was one hot man. So hot, in fact, he had her clenching her legs together, and that’s what made him so dangerous.
The roar of engines once again thundered through the canyon, leaving Ashley to watch as the bikers began to ride off—all except for one. A vague smile curled the corners of Smokey’s mouth as he ambled toward her.
“Your friends didn’t want to stay?”
“Not really.” He stood motionless before her, his stare pinning her in place.
“I feel bad. I didn’t mean to run them off.”
“Don’t. They’re going to Emerald Lake.” He pointed at her bicycle. “How’d you like the ride up?”
“It was breathtaking. I’d planned to take the guided trail to Falls River Ridge, but I spotted this dirt road and decided to see where it led.” She waved her hand toward the waterfall. “But I never expected this. I love it.”
“Not many people hang out around here. Tourists stay on the guided trails. You want a beer?”
“No thanks. I brought tea and water, so I’m good.” She tipped her head toward the blanket. “Do you want to sit down and talk for a bit?”
“Sure. Lemme grab a couple of beers from my saddlebag.”
Settling down on the blanket, she unscrewed the cap to her green tea and took a sip. “So those guys are part of your club?”
“Yeah. They’re my brothers,” he replied, plopping down on the throw. “How long have you been cycling?” He brought the beer bottle to his lips
“I got into it a few years back. It helps me unwind, as I tend to be a bit uptight.”
“No kidding? Hell, I didn’t notice.” He winked at her, and feeling her cheeks heat, she quickly turned away, which caused him to chuckle.
“If I were in Denver, I’d be working for sure, but I had to get out today. I’ve been feeling a bit restless.” She shook her head. “I can’t believe I told you that.”
“Why not? We all get antsy sometimes. Anyway, everyone needs to take a break.”
“I suppose. What do you do to relax besides having sex?” Grimacing, she covered her face with her hands. “I can’t believe I said that.”
“Damn, woman, I don’t fuck twenty-four seven.” Smokey laughed, and all she could do was groan. “For your information, the thing I do the most is ride. If I could ride all the time, I’d be just fine. When I ride, I relax, heal, overcome, breathe, and just live.”
She nodded. “I totally get what you’re saying. I feel the same when I’m cycling along the trails. It feels good to be immersed in nature. For me, it melts the stress away.”
He kept his gaze fixed on her, but didn’t say anything. The softness in his eyes had her wanting to reach out and touch him. Stifling the urge, she shifted her eyes away.
“Am I making you nervous?” he asked.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” she replied, a slight crack in her voice.
Leaning back, a small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “Because you’re beautiful.”
The compliment made her stomach flutter, and she shifted in place. “Thank you.” Wanting to change the subject, she asked, “How long have you been with your club?”
A laugh erupted from his chest. “Did I embarrass you?”
“No.”
“Then what? You don’t like a man noticing you?”
“You’re not ‘a man,’ you’re the boss. Big difference.” She rummaged through her backpack, pulling out another tea. “So, how long have you been in the motorcycle club?”
“Okay, we’ll change the subject.” He cleared his throat. “Going on thirteen years.”
Surprised, she looked up at him. . “That’s a long time. Were you in high school when you joined?”
He shook his head. “At seventeen, I hung around the club, then prospected for a couple of years. I patched in at twenty.” He took a pull on his beer. “Joining the Insurgents was the best thing I ever did. It fuckin’ saved me.”
“What do you mean by that?” Ashley ran her finger along the top of the bottle before putting it to her lips.
“Let’s just say, I was on a one-way road to destruction.” He looked away, turning his attention to the waterfall.
“Did your parents support your decision to join the club?”
“My parents? Fuck.” Snorting, he met her gaze. “They didn’t give a shit about any of us.”