Page 20 of Barristers & Bones
Roman cut in, his voice flat. “She’s not available. I think it’s fine if she sits in on most of our meeting, but there are a few… issues we need to discuss privately. Will she be safe if she wanders around? I’m warning you, she asks a fuck-ton of questions.”
He grinned. “Yeah, I got that. Let’s discuss the legal business first, then I’ll go back and talk to the guys.” We went to Diego’s office, and he and Roman discussed a restoration contract and some indemnification issues. Then Diego walked us back to the garage area.
I touched Roman’s arm as we walked, and he glanced down at me. “What did he mean by a claim on me?”
His jaw clenched. “Later.”
Two fully tattooed men were working on a machine in the shop area, and three other vintage motorcycles lined the back wall in various stages of disrepair.
I slowly approached the motorcycle they were currently working on and stared. “Oh, my God. Is that a Knucklehead?” I whispered reverently.
Diego turned to Roman. “Are you sure she’s not available?”
“No,” Roman snarled.
The man on the floor looked up from my legs to my face and grinned. “Yeah, honey. How’d you know that?”
Diego stepped forward. “Luna, this is Rick.” Then he pointed to the man in greasy blue coveralls hanging from his waist and a black wife beater, who stood in front of a computer monitor. “And that’s Roy. This is Roman’s law student, so hands off. But can you talk with her and keep her company while Roman and I talk for a few minutes?”
Roy looked me up and down, then grinned. They both looked to be in their late thirties and had full tattoo sleeves.
An hour later, Roman and Diego returned to the shop area and stopped dead. I straddled the Knucklehead, and Rick and Roy stood on either side of me, pointing out the different features and quirks. I’d hiked my pencil skirt up to my thighs so I could climb on.
“What the fuck, Luna?” Roman growled. Diego folded his arms, rocked on his heels, and grinned.
I smiled happily at Roman. “Okay, I’m not gonna lie. I may not like you dragging me to your office every day, but I fuckinglovethese field trips. This place is amazing!”
Rick and Roy grinned, and Rick patted my bare thigh. “I think he wants you to climb off, honey. You’re welcome back anytime, and we’ll answer the rest of your questions.”
Roman’s eyes narrowed, and he flicked his fingers to me in a “come here” gesture.
“But they were going to start it for me,” I protested.
His eyes narrowed dangerously, and I sighed. “Fine.” I’d taken off my shoes, so I swung my bare foot over the bike and slid off, adjusting my skirt back down.
Turning to Rick and Roy, I patted them both on the arms. “Thanks, guys. That was fun.”
Roy grinned a shit-eating grin. “Next time you want to straddle one of our bikes, we’ll take it outside and take you for a ride.”
“Luna. Now.” Roman barked.
I turned around and faced him. “What’s your problem, grumpy pants? They’ve been nothing but polite, and very patient.” I bent down, grabbing my shoes.
“Get your eyes off her ass. Right. Fucking. Now.” Roman growled low. I straightened and turned around to see who he was talking to.
Roy ignored Roman and grabbed a few wipes from a container. “You’ve got a grease mark across your cheek, sweetheart.”
Roman stalked over and grabbed the wipes out of Roy’s hand, then held my chin between his thumb and forefinger. He studied my happy smile, then cleaned off my face. “You’re a damn menace.”
“No, I’m just inquisitive.”
“I’ve heard of that,” Rick offered. “Isn’t an inquisitor one of the death squad fromStar Wars?”
Diego smirked. “Pretty sure that’s not what she meant.” He turned to Roman. “Bring her back anytime.”
Rick and Roy both nodded, and I smiled at them.
Roman grabbed my hand and started walking toward the door. “Fuck, no. I’ll be in touch.” He didn’t turn around as we walked out.
