November’s Ride with Viper (Mustang Mountain Riders #11)

3. Viper

CHAPTER 3

VIPER

It was too damn early to be heading back into town, especially after working until closing at the bar last night. But I’d told Ace I’d be able to help him with inventory, so I sucked it up and fired up my bike. As the engine rumbled to life and I turned to head down the mountain, I couldn’t help but think about Marlowe.

Seemed like that was all I’d been doing since I ran into her a few days ago. She’d looked so fucking good. I’d seen a few pictures of her over the years when I’d secretly looked her up online, but they didn’t do her justice. She’d always been beautiful, though I’d never allowed myself to think of her as more than a friend. I hadn’t been willing to risk our friendship back in high school. Not when she was the only one who’d understood me. But now… hell, now I wasn’t sure where things between us stood.

My front wheel hit a slick patch as I entered downtown Mustang Mountain. I really needed to start bringing my truck. It was getting too dangerous to be on these roads on anything without four wheels. Knowing Ace would roll in at the last minute and hadn’t had time to start the coffee made me pull over by the Merc so I could grab us each a cup and walk it over.

As I moved up the sidewalk, I glimpsed Marlowe through the front window of the cafe. She had her laptop open in front of her and was smiling at the screen. The way her lips curved up sent heat unfurling through my belly. I stood there, my boots glued to the sidewalk, and wondered what the fuck was wrong with her fiance for being willing to let her go.

Her smile widened, then she clicked a button on the screen and flipped the top of her laptop down. Must have been on a call of some sort. While I stood there, she turned her head and caught sight of me through the glass. Her smile returned, and she motioned me to come inside.

Less than a minute later, I’d made my way into the cafe and looked down at the papers she’d spread all over the small table.

She crossed her arms over her chest and grinned up at me. “Good morning. What are you doing up and around so early?”

“I promised Ace I’d help out with inventory today.” My palm scrubbed over the scruff on my chin. “I probably look like shit. I’ve never been much of a morning person.”

Marlowe laughed and motioned for me to sit down across from her. “Have a seat. You look like you could use a gallon of coffee.”

I sank into the chair and rested my elbows on the table. “I’m not sure a gallon will cut it. I’ve been waiting for someone to discover a way to mainline caffeine. That might be the only way to get me moving before eight in the morning. How about you? Why are you out and about so early?”

“I had a meeting for work. I’m still waiting for the internet to get set up at my grandma’s place. They’re an hour ahead of me at the office, so those early morning meetings mean I’m up before the sun.” She slid her mug of coffee across the table toward me. “Help yourself. I’ve already had too much.”

“You still take it with just sugar?” I was desperate enough to down the dark brown liquid no matter how she’d doctored it, but wanted to know what to expect.

“I switched to the fake stuff. I’m trying to be better about my sugar intake and watching my weight.” Her eyes widened a fraction like she hadn’t meant to admit that.

My finger hooked the handle of the cup, and I brought it up to my lips. “That’s ridiculous, Lo Lo. You’re perfect just the way you are.”

Her eyes widened even further, then she let out a nervous laugh. “Um, thanks.”

I gulped down the remaining coffee, then looked around for a server who might be walking by with a refill. My MC brother’s girl Poppy caught on and stopped by. After she’d filled the mug, I asked her if she’d be able to bring over two large coffees to go. Then I dumped a packet of real sugar into Marlowe’s mug and stirred.

“Go on, try it. I know you want the real stuff.” I slid the coffee back across the table to her.

“I see you’re still encouraging me to engage in bad behavior,” she said with another smile.

I returned the grin, wondering if she was thinking about the old days when we’d both gotten into a little bit of trouble. “Some things never change.”

“I’m still holding a grudge from that time you took me up to Lake Bliss and dared me to go skinny dipping.” She took a long sip of the coffee, then set it back down on the table. The tip of her tongue darted out to swipe a drop from her bottom lip.

My cock twitched. Marlowe had always been beautiful, but now she was absolutely stunning. She’d filled out in all the right places, and I was having a hard time trying to keep my mind in the friend zone.

“I forgot how good real sugar tastes.” She smiled and took another sip.

“Told you, you’re missing out. And about Lake Bliss, we never would have gotten caught if you hadn’t screamed so loud.” She’d made me promise to look away when she ripped off her clothes and ran into the chilly water. As soon as she’d screamed, I’d turned around and raced toward her, worried she was hurt. That was the first and only time I’d seen her without a stitch of clothes on… a vision I hadn’t been able to erase from my mind since.

Her bottom lip pushed out in a slight pout. “It was freezing. I wasn’t expecting it to be so cold.”

“When you dive into a Montana lake in November, you should know you’re going to be freezing your ass off.” The way we bantered back and forth was so easy. It was like we’d fallen right back into how things used to be. Except we couldn’t go back, at least not all the way, and if I were being honest with myself, I didn’t want to.

Her cheeks turned a slight shade of pink. “I thought my dad was going to have a heart attack when the sheriff brought me home that night.”

“I thought he was going to pull out his twelve-gauge.” Smarting off to the deputy who’d shown up and getting us both in trouble hadn’t been one of my finest moments. “Hey, at least he let you go to the Friendsgiving fest that year, even if you were still grounded.”

“Yeah. Those were the days, huh?” Marlowe lifted her head and her gaze locked onto mine. Her bright blue eyes held a mix of humor and something that looked a lot like a yearning for the past. Was she thinking about what happened on her birthday right before that Thanksgiving? When her boyfriend broke up with her for skinny dipping in the lake with me and we’d made that silly marriage pact?

“So… have you given any thought to what you want to do on your birthday?” I asked. She hadn’t given me a solid answer on whether or not she wanted to get together. “I could take you to dinner at the Flathead Steakhouse.”

Her nose crinkled. “That sounds pretty fancy. I don’t think I brought anything nice enough to wear there.”

“You don’t have to dress up. Last time I was there, I wore jeans and a Harley t-shirt. And you’d look beautiful in anything.” Fuck. I didn’t want to come on too strong, but I hated it when she doubted herself.

“Seems like a lot of things have changed around Mustang Mountain since I’ve been gone.” Marlowe gave me a shy smile.

She had no idea. Taking that smile as a sign of encouragement, I pressed on. “If you want to do something more laid back, we could go up to Lake Bliss, make a campfire, and stare up at the stars like we used to.”

Before she had a chance to answer, Poppy stopped by with my two coffees to go. I gave her enough cash to cover Marlowe’s bill as well and waited for her to walk away before pushing to firm up the plan.

“How about I make you dinner at Grandma’s place? I’ve been craving her meatloaf and having you over would be a good excuse to make it.”

I licked my lips at the thought of tasting her grandma’s meatloaf again. It had been too damn long. “That sounds real good to me, but you shouldn’t have to cook your own birthday dinner.”

“Then come a little early, and we can make it together.” Her brows arched in a challenge.

“You got it, but I’m bringing dessert.” I shoved my hand across the table to shake on it. As soon as her palm slid against mine, heat shot up my arm.

Marlowe pulled back first, her movement so jerky that she knocked over her coffee. Dark liquid spilled over the table and dripped onto the floor. I grabbed a few napkins and tossed them down on the puddle. Just then, my phone pinged with an incoming text from Atlas.

A few of the Savage Bones had been spotted driving through the middle of town. With Marlowe back, I had an added incentive to do away with those bastards for good.

“I’ve got to go. Can we talk later to firm up plans?” I didn’t want to leave, but duty called.

“Sure. I’ll see you soon.”

I nodded, already pulling my jacket tighter around my shoulders as I left the table. Hell yeah, she would.