The Biker's Protection - Book 3 (Motorcycle Club Romance) (Ghosts of the Prairie Motorcycle Club) (2 page)

“Oh my goodness,” she said with a start. “Did I say that out loud?” 

“Fuck, yeah. And it was flattering,” he chuckled. “Now come here.”

Savannah approached the bike timidly, flushed with embarrassment.

“I won’t bite,” he said.

He adjusted her helmet on her. Their eyes locked, and they had this incredible moment.

She cleared her throat.

“You look adorable,” he said.

“Do I?”

He grinned. “Put your hands on my shoulder and climb on.”

Savannah placed her hands on his hard shoulders. The sensation sent cording wirings of pleasure coursing through to her very center. Touching him was better than a cup of coffee, by a long shot. He was so handsome, so physically perfect, and such a nice guy too. How the hell did she pick up a biker? She chuckled inwardly.

As she straddled the bike, Foley gripped the backs of her knees, and pulled her close to him so she fit him snuggly. Every bit of the front of her made contact with every bit of the back of him. Of the several things that Savannah was aware, being on the back of a bike of a gorgeous man, made her feel like a beautiful woman.

And she was a lucky woman; she knew that. Something strange happened to her dog, but that looked like it was going to turn out okay. She lost her father a couple months before. She had some super ugly scenes with her stepmother and the estate lawyer but that all went away. She was now riding on the back of a motorcycle with the most handsome man ever on the way to her lakeside home. It was all good.

Foley smoothly leaned to turn down her windy driveway. The bike glided to the steps of her front door. Sadly, the sweet like ride was over. He parked the bike. When he removed the helmet from her head, her mass of honey-colored hair fell in a dramatic sweep. Her face was bright and alert as he looked past her, toward the house. 

“Oh, hell no!”

“What?” he asked.

“I didn’t leave a window open,” she said. “They’re fucking with me.”

Foley looked. A curtain fluttered through the side window around the door. The closer they got, it was evident that the window was not opened. The glass was broken.

Shit! This wasn’t happening. 

“Stay here!” said Foley.

“You can’t go in there alone,” said Savannah.

“Darling, I can handle myself.”

“I’m coming with you.”

He took her hand as he led her into the house. She could feel her heart racing. Maybe they should just call the police. That would be the smart thing to do.

“I’m going to call 911,” she said.

“I got this,” he said. “I’m going in.”

“I’ll cover your back.”

Just before they actually entered the house, Foley pulled a gun from his boot. Savannah shivered. She went back to remembering Foley Graham was a stranger.

An armed one.

“Fuck! You carry a gun!” Savannah said.

“Hell, yeah.”

Whoever broke into the house, unlocked the front door. It appeared as if someone had ransacked the house. But nothing seemed to be missing. It was like somebody was looking for something. Foley and Savannah went from room to room. He checked every closet, under every bed. He checked the attic, the crawl space. Every possible nook and cranny.

“It’s clear,” he said, putting his gun down.

“They’re trying to scare me,” Savannah said. “They know I live alone. I think they wanted to kill my dog and break into my house to send a message so they can scare me. This is just the beginning. They want revenge.”

“Don’t worry. I’m here now. If they fucking mess with you again, I’m here.”

“Thanks.”

He smiled.

Foley looked around. “This is a cool room.”  

Savannah’s father put in a pretty neat home theater before he died. It was one of the pleasures they shared because he could convalesce during his terminal illness and watch movies together.  

“You’ll have to come and watch a movie with me sometime,” she said.

“I would like that,” he winked.

He had to stop doing that. He had no idea that it did things to her.

“C’mon,” she said. “I’ll get you a beer.”

They went to the kitchen, and she handed him a cold one.

“Tell me more about your stepmom,” Foley said. 

“My stepmother and her estate attorney hate me. My dad was terminally ill. I learned that they were having an affair. They were doing some stuff to take over the estate. My dad found out about it before he died and changed the will. Went to another attorney. Trenton Gillis. Fixed everything. Found out how they were cooking the books. Got the estate fees back. My stepmom was cut out. She wasn’t happy.”

Foley smiled. “I know Trenton. He happens to be the attorney for our club.”

Savannah was surprised. “A motorcycle club needs a lawyer? Well, I guess they do.”

“And just what does that mean?” he asked playfully.

“Well, bikers do have a reputation for being bad boys,” she replied.

“I think we ought to have the sheriff come out and fill out a report. I do have to go, but you leave it to me. Like I said, I’ll have our guys keep an eye on your place. You’ll be safe from here on out. You and your dog,” he promised.   

Chapter 3

Savannah thought it was best to call the police and put the incident on record. She immediately filed a police report. They promised to send someone out soon as they could. She wasn’t the type to live and die by her cell phone, but while she was waiting for news of her dog, she kept her phone in hand. She might as well keep it in hand for the cops too.

It took about three hours for lab results, but they confirmed somehow Beau had been poisoned. Anger flooded through her. Her dog was all she had left. Her stepmom knew that. It’s why she targeted the dog. It was payback, simple revenge. But the wonderful news was, aside from minor bruising from his contact with the truck, Savannah’s dog was going to be fully recovered. She wouldn’t leave Beau out by himself and would keep a constant eye out. 

In their conversation, the vet mentioned she lived down the street and could do house calls if Beau ever needed her. Foley’s ex-wife lived in her neighborhood? That shouldn’t really strike Savannah as oddly as it did. She was fortunate to have inherited a home in a fairly affluent neighborhood. It was inhabited with retirees and professionals mostly. And Devil’s Lake was a pretty small town. Paths crossed a number of different ways. 

Maybe it was the fact that Foley was in the neighborhood to see that gorgeous veterinarian ex-wife of his that bothered her so. Foley told her he was returning from her house when Beau got hit.

Foley was a hot guy, and it had been a long time since anyone caught her attention. He could just be very good friends with his ex-wife because he seemed to be that kind of person, in fact, they both seemed to be that kind of people. And somewhere in Savannah’s brain, she equated attractiveness with they must still have a thing for each other again.

After all the talk about the dog, Susan mentioned Foley.

“He says you’re beautiful,” she said.

“Aww. That’s so sweet.”

“I just wanted to warn you that he’s a player. Don’t get burned. He’ll fuck you and leave before you wake up. Not relationship material. But if you want a good fuck, then he’s your man.”

There was a pause.

“I’m just looking out for you, girlfriend,” Susan said. “Us girls gotta stick together.”

“It’s a bummer to hear he’s like that.”

“I think all the good looking ones are.”

“Shit. I think you’re right.”

“A biker is perfect for a good time, though.”

“I want more than that.”

“I get it. I do too. He cheated on me all the time. You’ll never get a relationship out of him, that’s for sure, unless you’re willing to share him. He’s impossible to tame. Trust me, I’ve tried.”

They hung up, and the news bummed Savannah out. She certainly wasn’t going to jump on the chance to call him to let him know that Beau was fine, not after what Susan had told her. When the Devil’s Lake deputy did a walk-through of her house, she could hardly be present. Her head was elsewhere.  

Foley had to have ESP or something because just as the deputy was wrapping up, he called. 

“What did Bob say?” asked Foley.

“You know him by first name basis. Should I be concerned?”

He laughed.

“Anyway, not much they can do,” said Savannah.

“Hand the phone over to him. I want to talk to him,” said Foley.

Savannah was a little perturbed at his ordering her, but she complied. After a few nods and grunts, the deputy handed the phone back.

“Don’t touch the glass or the door. We’re going to dust,” said the deputy.

She nodded, and he walked off.

“I think you might have annoyed an officer of the law,” said Savannah.

“Nah, I just got connections.”

“I’m impressed.”

How is your dog? Any word?” asked Foley.

“Yeah,” she replied evenly. “He was definitely poisoned.”

“Son of a bitch! Did you tell Bob?”

“Yes, but he didn’t seem to care,” said Savannah.

“I’ll talk to the police myself. I’ll light a fire under their ass and get them moving.”

“Boy, you do have connections.” She sighed.

“Hey, are you okay?” he asked. 

“It’s been a bad day.”

“I know you’re tired, but I wanted to stop by to introduce you to my friends. Because they’re going to be keeping an eye out.”

“Meet the motorcycle club personally? Man, not tonight.”

“We’ll be quick. I promise.”

“I appreciate that, but I don’t think that’s necessary,” said Savannah. It was best to break off any kind of friendship with Foley. She didn’t need the heartache. “I can handle my stepmother. She’s not dangerous.”

“You don’t know that. And she tried to kill your dog, so it’s totally necessary. I think Beau getting drugged and the broken window are related. I don’t mean to push, but we’re going to keep an eye on you regardless. You might as well know us by name.”

“Okay,” she replied. “I’m dying to meet my guardian angels.”

Savannah put on a movie and curled up in the home theater. She fell asleep, taking a much-needed nap.

Chapter 4

Foley and his motorcycle club friends walked up the path. Savannah recognized Trenton Gillis, her lawyer. He also brought with him, Sheriff Doug. The sheriff carried a little kit with him. Foley had a gym bag.

Foley and Savannah caught each other’s eye and sort of floated as they connected. She watched his face transform from casual to sensual. He looked like she felt which was reassuring. And warming. She winked back at him. His smile emerged from ear to ear, showing perfect, bright white teeth. 

How could she possibly deny the attraction? Nobody had ever got her that excited from one glance. Maybe he could just be a good time. She wouldn’t get her emotions or feelings involved. She’d keep those distant. But she couldn’t deny the exploding chemistry between them.

“Hi, pretty lady,” he said. “I brought the gang.”

She grinned. “I see that.”

“How are you?” he asked graciously. “How’s Beau?”

“Beau looks fine,” she said, gazing at him. “I have him in his room with his toys.”

The sheriff set his kit by the front door. He dusted the glass and surrounding areas. He worked hard trying to obtain any bit of evidence that might help them.

“Hope this works,” Savannah asked him.

Foley guided her inside the house, in the living room. 

“It’s as much for show as it is for business,” said Foley softly. “We want it to get around that this is an investigated crime scene.”

“I’m certain that would scare my stepmom. It would definitely make her think twice about fucking with me again.”

A deputy arrived on scene and taped off her yard. They weren’t kidding. They were tying a big crime scene bow around her place.

“I’m going to show the guys your house, including that spiffy home theater. I envision a Ghosts of the Prairie party in your future,” he said. 

“You do?” she smiled.

“Ahem,” one of the bikers teased.

“This is Danny White Feather,” Foley began. “He’s our club captain. You know Trenton. That’s Sheriff Doug. Deputy Mike. Here are Pike, Bull, and John.” 

Trenton spoke. “Foley says you think your stepmother and estate attorney might have something to do with this. Why, besides the obvious? Has anything else happened?”

Savannah hesitated. She took a deep breath.

“I came out one morning, and all the tires on my car were flat. Stuff like that. My stepmother once told me a story how she flattened somebody’s tires who messed with her.”