Yedda’s head swiveled so quickly, I thought it might just twist right off. “Well now, I hadn’t thought about that, but maybe that could spice up my Friday night plans after poker night with the girls.” She patted my cheek. “Such a thoughtful young lady.”
I smiled warmly at her, feeling better now that I’d laid her worries to rest. I gave her a confident thumbs-up and hightailed it out of there. I had cats to wrangle and sperm to deliver. Several yards away from the Society, the air cleared and I could take a full breath again. Okay, new plan. I’d put the sperm back in the temperature-controlled chamber at the fertility clinic and collect cats. Then I’d go back and get the sperm and get it over to San Jose. If I hurried and the cats somehow came willingly, I could still make it before closing time.
I put the sample back and texted Lucy to let her know what had happened with the cats. I’d just locked up the fertility clinic again when a guy with a black helmet peeked around the corner of the building, looking in the direction of the Society.
“Can I help you?” I demanded, hands on hips to look intimidating.
Probably would have been more effective if I’d been taller than five foot two.
The man startled and nearly tipped over. His denim-clad legs straddled a tiny banana-yellow scooter, the windshield of which did not come up high enough to protect his face. His bright blue eyes went wide underneath the black helmet.
“Uh. Yeah. I’m new in town. I was looking for Main Street?”
Oh, heavens. That voice flowed over me like warm butterscotch. Based on the thoughts running through his head, he most definitely didn’t find my ass too big in these jeans. His thoughts were practically indecent, but maybe that was just me thinking a little too hard about the tattoos covering his forearms or the way his T-shirt spread across his thick chest. I wanted to be straddled like that miniature scooter.
“Ma’am?”
I blinked hard and tried to corral my thoughts. “Oh, yes. Well, this is Brinestone Way. Classic mistake, really. That roundabout sucks people in and spits them out in all kinds of directions. Main Street is that way.” I pointed to the right, trying to be helpful. I pushed out my chest, shamelessly trying to get a ride. “Any chance you can give me a lift to Main Street? I need to rally the troops to collect those cats and then hitch a ride to San Jose.”
He gave me the once-over, and if I wasn’t completely insane, his eyes heated a few degrees. He nodded once and I walked over, my boots no longer even touching the ground. As I came up along the scooter, I realized the ride-along idea might not be suited for this vehicle.
“Um, is there room?”
The man looked down, like he’d forgotten his own stead. “Oh, shit. Yeah. Sorry. My Harley is in the shop. This was their only loner.”
He swiveled and joined me in eying the tiny patch of black vinyl behind his own seat. That little cushion was definitely telling me my ass was too fat. “Uh, maybe I’ll just call a friend instead.”
“Nah. We can fit. It’s only a couple miles, right?” He patted the cushion and smiled.
It was the smile that did it.
I was a sucker for a good smile, and boy did this stranger have a smile that could melt panties right off. If I was wearing any. Shh. That was my little secret. They said wearing sexy underwear made you feel more confident, but I found going commando was the real way to feel like you could kick some ass. At least I saved time and embarrassment from having to dig the cute thongs out from between my cheeks.
I lifted one heavy leather-booted foot and straddled the baby beast. The tilt of the seat meant I slid right into the man, my crotch now glued to his impressive backside, sending off a fireworks display of tingles in my nether regions.
“Oh!” I exclaimed on impact, wrapping my arms around his waist before I could talk myself out of it. Oh no. The man had abs. Hard ridges of muscles that lay just below my hands.
He chuckled, more of a vibration than a sound. But Lordie, did it do wonders between my legs. How the hell did I end up on the back of a scooter, smacked up against some tatted-up biker dude who hadn’t even given me his name? My brain scrambled and I said the only thing I could think of.
“Does this mean I’m your ol’ lady now?” In my defense, it was the only biker slang I knew.
He chuckled again, harder this time. I rode out the vibration by squeezing my eyes shut and trying to focus on the cats that needed rescuing. He revved the engine to life and off we went. The poor little scooter couldn’t go very fast, and I could have sworn the added weight of my person was causing the back end to ride a bit low. We nearly bottomed out when we went around the roundabout and hit a pothole.
“Oof!” I hollered in his ear by accident. Damn. My butt would be sore for days when I got off this thing. “Over there!” I pointed to the right, where Main Street branched off from the roundabout.
Our scooter cut across the other lane, earning us a honk from Clyde, who’d just entered the roundabout and was in no danger of hitting us. Damn guy just liked to honk at people. I risked a glance around the broad shoulders of my stranger and saw a cluster of people forming in the middle of the street.
“Stop!” I shouted, seeing that the cavalry had already arrived.
The stranger pulled over and shut off the scooter. He got off, standing impressively tall, extending his hand to help me off. His hand held calluses on top of calluses. Clearly, he worked with his hands. I only tripped once getting off, those strong, tatted arms supporting me and giving me butterflies at the same time.
“I see my boss, Lucy, over there with her husband, the prison warden. They’ll get the crew together and we’ll round up the cats. Thanks so much for your help.” I smiled up at him, my lashes doing a bit of a dance. What could I say? My lashes liked to flirt a little.
“I’ll come with you. I know Bain.”
Again, with that voice. Did he practice talking like he drank whiskey all day long? Maybe he did commercial voiceovers in his spare time? He could sell me anything, anytime with that voice. If I’d had panties, they would have been wet with longing.
I stuck my hand out, nearly jabbing him in his washboard abs. “I’m Keva, by the way.”
He paused, his eyes crinkling at the corners before he took my hand in his. “Linc.”
“Oh!” Even his name was sexy. All that lash flirting and all I could come up with was a lame response.
“Keva?” Lucy called my name, interrupting the deep staring going on between me and my new obsession, Linc.
I spun and walked over to the group, seeing that Lucy had gathered up her whole crew of friends. Lenora held baby Star, who fussed for her favorite blankie, zero interest in the cats running around down below. Jayden juggled Red in his arms, a full-grown toddler so big he only needed one well-placed kick and he’d be set down to run amok with the cats. Bain stood there glowering with Roxy on his right and Heston on his left, both clinging to his hands and trying to tug him in the direction of a darting cat. A very pregnant Amelia was already running across the street, chasing a cat who’d dared rub against her black leggings and left a swath of hair behind. Titus had three cats in his arms, running after Amelia, telling her to be careful. Charlie sat cross-legged in the middle of Main Street with his arms wide open, charming the cats to come sit with him. Crazy enough, it was working. At least twenty cats sat on their haunches, mesmerized by their new guru.