He leaned closer and inhaled, his nostrils flaring.A low rumbled sounded from the large man and she stifled the gasp that rose to her lips.His eyes flashed in the moonlight, opalescent like an animal’s eyes when it’s caught in the headlights of an oncoming car.She knew those eyes.Had seen them before.
“You’re a shifter,” she said softly.
If he was surprised by her observation, he hid it well.
“If you’re a shifter, then Ricardo didn’t send you.”Relief coursed through her at the revelation.Her brother would never dirty his hands by working with shifters.Prostitution, drugs, stolen goods…but not shifters.He considered them to be lowest of the low.
“No, Ricardo didn’t send me.”He leaned in and sniffed again.“Why are you afraid?”
Trust didn’t come easily to Luna and she bit her lip to hold back the words that wanted to spill forth.She’d kept Ricardo a secret since coming to Willow Lake, had never even mentioned having a brother.But for some reason, she wanted to confide in this stranger, this large shifter who watched her with a steady gaze that unnerved her.Luna didn’t know how long she’d stared back at him, the words held hostage in her throat.
“All right.Let’s try this again.I can scent that you’re afraid.Is this Ricardo person after you?Are you in trouble?”He stared at her so intently that she thought he could see into her very soul.
“Ricardo is my brother, and yes, he’s after me,” she admitted.
“And why would you think he sent me?”
“You’re in a motorcycle gang.”
“So you’re an M.C.bigot?”
She blinked, startled.“No.Ricardo is in the Desert Dogs M.C., but once I knew you were a shifter, I knew he couldn’t have sent you.He despises shifters.”
His lips twitched as if he fought a smile at her words.
“No offense,” she added.
“None taken.You know, we can continue this conversation through a cracked window, but my knees would thank you if we could take this someplace more comfortable.How about a cup of coffee at the Pink Lady and you can tell me just what it is you’re running from.You never know, I might be able to help.”
Luna hesitated.The Pink Lady wouldn’t be overly crowded at this time of night, so no one would overhear their conversation.But, it wouldn’t be crowded, which meant if this big biker did mean her harm, there would be no one to save her.Not that she couldn’t take perfectly good care of herself, but…well, she barely weighed one hundred pounds and this big guy had least two or three times that on her.He’d snap her like a twig before she even had a chance to resist.
“My name’s Blaze and I’m part of the Steel Riders M.C.here in town.I promise you’ll be safe with me, Miss….”
“Luna.Luna Sylvestro.”
“Luna,” he said softly, his voice caressing her name like a favored lover.It sent chills down her spine.
“How could you possibly help me?”she asked.“Are you a gun for hire?”
He did smile that time.“I’m no merc, but maybe after you fill me on the situation, I’ll be able to come up with a solution for you.One that doesn’t have you jumping at shadows.”
“All right,” she agreed.“I’ll follow you to the diner.”
He nodded and rose to his feet, his belt buckle at eye-level when he stood.Good god but he was a large man!She couldn’t imagine what type of shifter he was, but it must be something massive.He moved with easy grace, a predatory grace, as he went back to his bike, swung his leg over, and revved the engine.As he pulled away, she fell in behind him, but kept a safe distance so she wouldn’t have a repeat performance if she wigged out again.
The pink neon lights in the diner window spilled across the parking lot, bathing the asphalt in its bright hue.She pulled into the parking space next to the shifter, and took a deep, steadying breath before getting out and walking into the diner with him.Standing next to him, she felt like a fairy beside a giant.He was broad and tall, but she didn’t see an ounce of fat on him anywhere.His biceps bulged under his black tee and she wondered if he used that strength to harm or shelter.If he’d wanted to hurt her, on the side of a deserted road would have been the best choice, so she had to trust that he meant her no harm and truly wanted to offer to help, if he could.She still wasn’t sure what he could do for her, or why she was even here with him.She should have thanked him then went on her way.The fewer people involved, the less likely there would be a body count when Ricardo came for her.
They claimed a booth near the window and away from the other patrons of the diner.Her hands trembled in her lap as she looked around.A firm, rough touch settled under her chin and turned her face toward him.Blaze, he’d said his name was Blaze, had to be his club name.
“I won’t hurt you,” he said.“You have my word that no harm will come to you as long as I’m with you.”
“Why are you helping me?I’m a complete stranger who nearly ran you over.You should be angry with me, cussing and spitting mad, not sitting across from me all calm, cool, and collected, asking how you can help.”
His lips kicked up on one corner.“Is that what you want?Me to be angry with you?”
She shrugged a shoulder.
Blaze turned those intense eyes away from her and motioned for a waitress.He ordered coffee for each of them and then waited for the woman to leave before he addressed Luna gain.
