Ava lifted her chin. “I am not. I just like . . . order in my life.”
Lacey laughed. “That’s exactly what I’m talking about. A biker lifestyle is anything but orderly. Are you sure this is what you want?”
Lacey used to like things orderly and neat, too. Ava went and sat next to Lacey on the bed, surprised that the leather she wore was soft enough to give when she sat. “Yes. It’s what I want. I’ll give it a try, anyway. I think it’ll be fun.”
Lacey grabbed her hands. “Oh, I’m so glad you’re going to be riding with us. I’ve missed you so much.”
“I’ve missed you, too. We don’t see each other enough.”
“I was afraid we’d drift apart. But you’ve been busy with school, and that’s just not my life anymore.”
Ava wanted to ask her why it wasn’t, but Lacey had made it clear she didn’t want to talk about school anymore, so she let it pass. “Where’s your boyfriend?”
Lacey grinned. “He’s on the Strip now. Probably getting drunk with all his friends.”
She said it with such pride. Ava resisted wrinkling her nose. “Uh, great.”
Lacey looked at her watch. “We should get going. We’re meeting them at eight.”
“Okay.” Despite only being here for Lacey, Ava ran into the bathroom to take one last look. She had no idea if she looked appropriate or like a fish out of water. She supposed she’d have to take Lacey’s word for it.
Finally she’d get a chance to see Lacey’s world. Spend more time with Lacey’s boyfriend.
Then she’d find out if she had anything to worry about.
Riding again with Bo and the Hellraisers was a lot like old times, and then again not. Last time Rick had ridden with Bo and the gang, they’d been kids and low on the totem pole. Ten years later and Bo was in the upper echelons of the organization, riding lead in this particular group.
That said a lot about what Bo had been doing for the past ten years. And that meant whatever the Hellraisers had been doing, Bo was really good at it. They rode the Strip for a while, and Rick realized it really had been ten years since he’d been there. A lot had changed. Growth had exploded the Strip. There were more casinos, hotels, and a lot more to do than just gambling now. He gawked while he rode, barely noticing the throng of Hellraisers adding to their numbers until the congested group pulled to a stop in the older part of town. Bike upon bike pulled into the parking area. It looked like a freakin’ parade. There must have been a hundred Hellraisers by the time the last one parked.
“Damn. The Hellraisers have expanded.”
Bo nodded as they walked from the parking area to the street. “Membership grows by about ten to fifteen every year. We’ve gotten really popular.”
“Yeah? What do you attribute that to?”
Bo grinned. “We get laid a lot. Guys notice all the chicks that have joined the club.”
Rick laughed. “I guess I came back at just the right time.”
Bo slung his arm around Rick’s shoulder. “Yeah, you did.”
They got to the corner and a flash shot by Rick. A skinny female leaped onto Bo, wrapped her legs around him, and planted one hot, tongue-involved kiss on his lips. Bo grabbed the woman by the ass and held onto her, returning the kiss.
When he broke the kiss, the woman squealed. “I missed you today, baby!”
“Missed you, too,” Bo said, letting the woman slide to the ground. He wound an arm around her waist. “Lacey, this is my cousin, Rick Benetti. Rick, my girlfriend, Lacey.”
So Bo had a girlfriend, huh? Interesting. And a pretty one at that. Not at all like the skanky girls he used to hang out with. This one had straight brown hair, a nice body, and pretty blue eyes.
“Your cousin? Wow. I didn’t know you had a cousin.” Lacey held out her hand. “Nice to meet you, Rick.”
Rick shook her hand. “Nice to meet you, too, Lacey. And I’ve been out of town the past few years, so that’s why you didn’t know about me.”
“Really. Are you joining the Hellraisers for bike week?”
“I am.”
“Have a girl with you?”
“No. I ride solo.”
She grinned. “That’s perfect. My best friend is here and she doesn’t have anyone to ride with.”
“Uh, I don’t think—”
The woman had been standing behind Bo. With all of Lacey’s flash and exuberance, he hadn’t even seen her. He did now as Lacey pulled her in front.
Wow. To Rick, one woman was just as good as another.
This one was different. She was stunning, with rich black hair, silvery gray eyes, and a lush body that rocked his dick into shocked awareness.
And she looked damned familiar.
“Rick, this is my very best friend, Ava.”
This was Ava Vargas? It had to be. She looked a lot like the picture he’d been given, only the picture must have been a few years old. This Ava was a hell of a lot sexier now that she was gift-wrapped in leather.
And she’d just been dropped right into his lap.
TWO
Ava sized up the biker she’d just been introduced to. Tall, damn fine-looking, with dark hair, dark eyes, in need of a shave, and looking all too dangerous. Classic biker look in jeans, chaps, and leather jacket.
Wow. Just . . . wow.
“Hey, Ava.” Rick held out his hand.
Polite, too. She hadn’t expected that. She slid her hand in his and felt the sizzle of . . . something electric and very warm.
“Nice to meet you, Rick.”
“This is just perfect, isn’t it?” Lacey said, bouncing on the balls of her feet. “I was hoping you would find someone to ride with. With Bo’s cousin here, you have a seat now.”
“Yes. Perfect.” Ava couldn’t help staring at Rick. She supposed she had these preconceived notions of bikers. Dirty, scruffy, mean, and scary looking. None of those characteristics fit Rick. Or, for that matter, Lacey’s boyfriend, Bo, who was tall, lean, and very attractive. He resembled his cousin in many ways.
“Hi, Bo,” she said.
“Howdy, Ava. You look great in leather. Glad you decided to join up with us for bike week.”
Bo was friendly, too, had been since she’d first met him at one of the bars. Maybe she’d expected something different.
“Let’s take a walk, see what’s up around here tonight,” Bo said.