He looked away, jaw tight like he was grinding the truth into dust.
She stood slowly and headed toward the door. But before stepping out, she paused and glanced over her shoulder.
"I'll be around," she said quietly. "You know where to find me. Or grab my arm. Or lean a little too close. Likeyoudon't know what you're doing."
She let the truth echo behind her. If he wanted to think she'd created the attraction going on between them, then he was a fool. He'd done his share of flirting and touching, too. She didn't have to be forty years old to understand that he wanted her.
She walked outside without a clear plan, except that she needed her ten-minute break before returning to work. Kodiakhad her on a roller coaster. One minute talking as if they had something together, and the next ignoring her.
He was in denial. How could she stop wanting more from him? She couldn't care less what anyone in Royalla thought of her getting involved with Kodiak. They all knew he was her guardian.
She blew out her breath and checked her watch. Her heart rate was one hundred. Kodiak always worked her into a mood. She paced, knowing she'd get more than ten thousand steps today.
The compound was quiet this time of day. Most of the guys were out on errands or sprawled inside waiting for the next ride order. A few bikes sat in the sun, the chrome glinting in the late afternoon heat.
Only three others were working in the garage with Kodiak. From what she'd overheard, most of the regulars were up all night partying.
"Hey," a voice called out. "You good?"
She turned to find Nate leaning against the handrail near the clubhouse steps, arms crossed, sunglasses pushed up into his hair.
"Yeah." She pointed behind her. "I need a break from the office."
He studied her for a beat. Nate wasn't the kind of guy who pushed or got into anyone's business. He was laid-back and always the first to crack a joke. But today, he looked suspicious.
"You and Kodiak," he said finally. "Did something go sideways?"
Roma blinked. "What? No."
Nate gave her a slow, skeptical look. "You sure?"
She scoffed. "I don't know why you'd ask that."
"Uh-huh." He nodded like he didn't believe a word of it. "Just saying, Prez has been off for a few days now—more than usual.Won't say why, but he's snapping at people who don't even deserve it. And he's only like that when shit is going down."
Roma's stomach turned. "Maybe he's got club stuff on his mind."
"Maybe." Nate tapped her under the chin. "Or maybe someone finally got under his skin."
She looked over at the open garage bay, unable to see Kodiak. If others were noticing, perhaps that's why he was trying to put the brakes on. She sighed. A little late now. He'd seen her pussy. He'd made her orgasm.
Nate pushed off the railing, stretching his arms behind his head. "You don't have to tell me anything. I figured you should know that I'm not the only one who's noticed something's off."
With that, he walked toward the door of the clubhouse, leaving Roma alone with his observation.
She stayed there for another minute, maybe two, until she decided there wasn't anything she could do to make it easier on Kodiak. Despite the age gap, they were both adults. If they wanted to get sexual, then that was nobody's business.
Maybe having sex would improve Kodiak's mood. She walked back into the garage and straight to the office. The desk chair creaked as she sat down. She leaned forward slightly, enough to see through the doorway into the first bay. The angle gave her a clear view of Kodiak.
He was crouched beside a Harley. His jaw set in that familiar hard expression under his beard so that it created wrinkles at the corners of his eyes. Roma planted her elbows on the desk and rested her chin in her hand, content to watch.
If he'd looked up right then, he would've seen her. Maybe even understood what she wasn't saying out loud. But he didn't.
He stayed focused on his job as if the clang of wrenches and the high-pitched hum of the compressor filling with air were enough to let him escape his problems.
She wasn't sure how long she stayed there, staring through the doorway like a girl daydreaming to escape reality. Time no longer mattered when her heart was breaking.
Chapter 17
