The Biker's Chaos (Ghosts of the Prairie Motorcycle Club Book 5) (4 page)

Standing in the middle of the sheriff’s office, gazing at one another, John looked like he was going to eat Hannah for dessert. Despite the stress of being taken down to the station and eating his gorgeous dinner on Billy’s desk, he was remarkably in a great mood. Cranston would have been throwing things by now for sure if this had happened to him.

"I really need to talk to you," said John to Hannah with a sensual tone.

Hannah’s insides were warmed with an attraction for him as he stalked her closer to the exit of the sheriff’s office. But Trenton misunderstood him.

"John," said the lawyer with warning. “Let Billy conduct the investigation.” 

"Roger that," said John, winking at her. "Just want to get to know her."

"Not that I blame you," said Trenton. "Don't make yourself a part of Billy’s job in the wrong way."

He and Hannah could hardly take their eyes off of each other as they slowly walked out to the parking lot. They piled into the backseat Trenton’s car.

“What am I the chauffeur?” teased Trenton.

“Home,” said John.

Chapter 6

John and Hannah were stuck on each other, like magnets with no desire to stop ogling one another. The blur of the street lights washing over their faces in fits and spurts, lighting their smiles. His face looked like she felt. It wasn’t just needy fallout, Hannah told herself. They definitely had a thing for each other. The same thing. A really good, hot thing.

By the time they got back to the house, the wonderful dinner table had disbanded, and the bikers were settled around the fire pit in the back yard, sipping beers and coffee. Danny White Feather rolled cognac in a snifter. That looked like a great idea, thought Hannah. She could almost taste the desserty liqueur. John loaded a plate of seconds for himself and dished out a little of everything for her. He sat next to her and watched her eat.

“I’m eating, I’m eating,” she giggled.

It was sweet, but it did make her a somewhat self-conscious. She knew she was thin.

“I just wanted to see it with my own eyes,” he said.

His presence next to her exuded an energy that charged her. She could feel it penetrate the top of her head and press through her body. John sliced a piece of the mudslide cake that was sitting in a dish submerged in an ice bath so that it stayed firm.

“Oh my gosh,” said Hannah. “I don’t think-”

Before she could finish her sentence, he put a fork full of dessert in her mouth.

“Homemade,” he said.

“You keep talking homemade, I’m going to demand to see your apron,” she flirted.

She wasn’t quite sure what that meant. It kind of just came out.

“Oh I’ll show it to you, baby,” he said in a deep, sexy tone.

There was just enough pause and sparks flying between them to make them think of doing the very same thing. He leaned in a little closer to her and she braced herself, fluttering with nervousness as she waited for him to kiss her, and for her to kiss him back.

His lips were so soft and yet electric. A rush pulsed through her, and she tingled inside and out. The force was so strong; it forced a little cry up and out her throat. Hannah gasped against his mouth.

His shoulders shook with soft laughter.

“Poor baby,” he murmured. “I think you need more of that.”

“So give it to me,” she said without thinking.

His eyes widened. She had turned him on. If they weren’t interrupted, she might have let him turn up the heat.

“Ahem,” said Danny, appearing in the kitchen from outside.

“I see you got sprung,” he said. “I don’t mean to interrupt, but can we all have a sit down out here?”

“Sure thing, cap’n,” said John.

He offered Hannah his big, strong hand as they joined the others outside around the fire.

“So what just happened tonight could happen to any of us,” said Danny. “Trenton thinks that someone with access manipulated the system, so it spit out a live warrant on John. I am trying to figure out where there would be a published list of Ghosts? I have a list in a file on my cloud. Unless I was hacked, I’m not sure how they got it but they got it. Or it looks like they got it.”

“They could have just heard you,” said Hannah quietly.

She had everyone’s attention.

“That’s how I knew to run over to you. I heard you guys all day. Having fun,” she confessed. I mean, they could’ve heard names and figured out who was who. Maybe they saw me get on the back of John’s bike, and by that time they knew who he was.”

“No,” said Trenton. “That’s a thought. But they had a last name.”

“No,” said John like a light bulb went on. “Hannah’s right, sort of. They ran my plates, found me that way. And picked me out because she rode with me.”

“Okay, so if they had John’s plates, they could have all our plates. That’s as easy as taking pictures with a cell phone,” said Danny. “Might wanna think of traveling in twos or just tracking yourselves until Trenton straightens this out.”

“Shit,” said Melinda, dropping her cell phone.

Bull picked it up and read it. He handed the phone to Billy who set his plate aside.

“I’ll go pick him up,” said Billy. “Making death threats is a no-no.”

The huge sheriff’s feet were heavy even in the grass. He spoke into his radio phone on the way out of the house. Hannah could hear. He was calling for an all-points bulletin for Cranston Cox.

“You boys stay where you are. I don’t need any help on this,” he said as he parted.

“We hear you,” Danny called back.

But as the door closed, Danny added, “But we’re not listening.”

“I’m going to go,” announced Melinda, shaking.

“No, you’re not,” said Bull.

“I can’t bring this to your house,” she said. “We’re leaving. It’s best for all of us.”

Hannah had to agree with her sister. And if Melinda left, she would have to as well. She rose to go pack.

“Whoa,” said John. “Time out. You’re not going anywhere. If they come here which they won’t, we’ll handle it.”

“Billy Weston has already notified every precinct about all of this,” said Trenton. “He and I both are in touch with the district attorney. I wouldn’t be surprised if that cop who harassed us just lost his day job. You’re fine. You’re welcome. But you guys leave, you’re sitting ducks. Am I clear?”

Melinda looked so scared as she searched Bull’s eyes. Hannah was reassured that Bull was promising her with a look that he wanted her to stay.

“Okay then,” said Danny. “No more talk of leaving. Except that we have to clean up and leave now.”

Chapter 7

Everyone laughed. The dinner party buzzed into the kitchen and cleaned up in no time. It was as though they were never there. That left Bull and Melinda, Pike and his girl, Laramie, and John and Hannah around the campfire.

“Anyone ready for coffee?” asked Laramie.

“Yes,” said Pike. “I’ll help you.”

“Any coffee takers?” asked Laramie.

Everyone raised their hands.

“Okay then,” she said.

“We’ll be right back,” said Bull.

He and Melinda held hands.

“We’re going to take a walk. We’ll have our coffee when we get back,” he said.

“That leaves us,” said John.

Hannah left her chair and sat on his lap.

“I’m fine with those numbers,” she said.

Again, she cringed inside that she said something kind of corny.

John cupped the back of her head, firmly but gently and pressed his lips to her. Hannah never felt such a solid person in her life. John McCarthy was ripped and cut from stone. She couldn’t help but indulge her curiosity. She wove her fingers through the tangle of their arms and bodies and gave his bicep a squeeze.

John giggled, breaking the kiss.

“What was that for?” he asked with a laugh.

“I just had to see,” she said.

“See what?” he asked, the smile still in his eyes.

“You gotta lotta muscles there,” she said, the arousal choking her voice.

“I do, huh? Is that a problem?” he asked wickedly.

“Oh no,” she said quickly.

While still seated, he dipped her romantically, backward as he ravished her with another kiss. His fingers gently pressed on the curve of her neck creating a sensation somewhere between ticklish and erotic. His touch sent curls to her belly, making her squirm.

But their moment was interrupted by Laramie and Pike appearing with a tray of beautiful coffees, piping hot and topped with whipped cream.

“Oh boy,” said Hannah. “Those look great. Do you guys eat this way all the time? It doesn’t show if you do,” she said, giving his belly a pat.

“No, we just had to make a dent in the camping food, so it didn’t go to waste,” said Pike.

Hannah was bowed by a pang of guilt. .

“I didn’t mean–” said Pike. “No–”

“Don’t give it a second thought,” said Laramie. “We had a great time. And here. Here’s more good time in a cup.”

She handed Hannah her cup of coffee. It was laced with just the right amount of brandy.

“Delicious. Very good medicine,” Hannah said.

Melinda and Bull reappeared from their walk. They each took their cups. It was clear to Hannah that both of them had something on their minds.

“Guys,” said Bull.

John could see it too.

“What’s up?” he asked.

“I think we’re going to fly down to Reno and get Melinda here a quickie divorce,” he said.

“It’s about time,” said Hannah excitedly.

“Careful,” John guarded himself.

She got off of his lap, balancing her coffee.

“You should probably talk to Trenton about that. I think he and his wife had to go through that, but it was trickier than they thought,” said John.

“We will,” said Bull. “I’ll text him now.”

It didn’t take but a minute for the lawyer to respond.

“Wow, he says for Melinda, unless she has a house in Reno like Jennifer did, the waiting period is shorter here,” he said with a sigh.

John laughed.

“What?” asked Bull as Melinda huddled into him.

“Nothing,” said John.

“Oh,” Bull said, continuing reading. “He says he wants to file an annulment so that the transfer of property will be nullified for sure. He’s going to prove fraud… okay, it’s a long text, but looks like Trenton is on it.

“Yeah but you can file papers tomorrow,” said John with a smile. “Get things started.”

“Apprehended,” John read his phone. “That was quick. They got your boy.”

Melinda and Hannah high fived.

“He’s not my boy,” said Melinda. “He’s our nightmare, and I am glad he’s over.”

“Well,” said Bull. “I think we’ll call it a night.”

Everyone said their goodnights.

Hannah and Melinda talked for a few minutes on the couch.

“I really like Bull,” Melinda said. “He’s a badass, but sweet on the inside.”

“Yeah, I get it. I like John.”

“I could tell.”

“Guess we found ourselves some bikers.”

She smiled. “Guess so.” 

As Hannah watched her sister tag after Bull who was aptly named – he was built like an ox – she wondered if she wasn’t looking in a mirror. A sucker for the first kind, affectionate person who paid attention to her.

John McCarthy was a gorgeous man. Obviously a kind one, and he liked her. But the doubts crept up for Hannah that things were moving awfully fast. For both her and her sister. That was how they got into the mess with Cranston in the first place.

“Hey,” John said as though he could read her mind.

He gently crossed the yard to her. He scooped her hair delicately with his powerful fingers.

“I enjoy your company a lot. But there’s no pressure here,” he assured her so earnestly.

Hannah took his hand. There was pressure. She had a roaring attraction to him, and she needed human comfort.

“Thank you for that,” she said. “I think you know I have a crush on you.”

He smiled.

“You’re adorable,” he said. “I don’t think I’ve ever had anyone say that to me.”

“But I wish we were coming together for a different reason,” she said.

He looked longingly into her eyes.

“Woman, we are under a star-lit prairie sky. We just spent the evening with friends – new and old. We just got the bad guy. I would say these are good circumstances, wouldn’t you?”

Hannah couldn’t agree more. She tilted her head upward. His lips brushed across her ever so softly. When he swept her mouth with his tongue, her knees buckled. John’s strong arms held her up.

Their embrace intensified. Their bodies swayed under the clear prairie sky. They had each other and the occasional waft of heat from the fire pit for warmth. He pressed his massive, stone-hard chest to hers. Though the neckline of her T-shirt was not low, Hannah was heavy chested. Her breasts smushed up over the neckline as she and John pressed each other tight.