A Little Harmless Ride Read Free

and left without another word. The long, slow walk was so stereotypical of a cowboy, she wanted to laugh, but she didn’t. He was dressed in jeans, and she couldn’t help but admire the way they cupped his ass so wonderfully. Did he wear leather? God, he would be gorgeous in leather pants. She could just imagine seeing those long strong fingers wrapped around the end of a crop.
    The screen door slammed, breaking her daydream. She shivered and tried to get that image out of her mind. It wouldn’t be smart to get all googly-eyed over a man like that. Besides, he had been like a son to her uncle. He’d always said that St John and she would get along well. Crysta didn’t know what her uncle had been talking about, but she doubted St John and she had much in common. He was quiet while Crysta well…wasn’t.
    With a sigh, she decided not to worry about it. She was on the Big Island for a short while to honor her uncle and spread her mother’s ashes. Then, she would return to DC and sort out her life.
     
     

Chapter Two
     
     
    The memorial service had been uneventful, which would have disappointed Joe. Eli shifted from one foot to the other knowing it would tell people he was uncomfortable, but he didn’t care at the moment. He didn’t go for big family get-togethers. Growing up in foster care like he did, Eli hadn’t had much to do with these kinds of things.
    Joe would have been happy with the attendance. Several folks from the mainland had come and even Micah Ross made the hop over from Oahu to pay his respects. Eli knew with the new baby keeping him up at nights, making the trip was probably hard on him. Ross offered him a firm handshake.
    “ Sorry to hear about Joe.”
    “ Appreciate you coming,” he said as he took a sip of his beer. One thing he enjoyed about Joe was the things he had insisted on for the service. He’d made it mandatory they have beer.
    “ No problem. Dee wanted to come, but she’s asleep on her feet so I told her to stay home. Oh, and there’s a package of cinnamon rolls that Cynthia sent over. She said they were your favorite.”
    They were and it was just like one of the women in the group to remember. It was an odd position he was in with the Rough ‘n Ready group. Micah owned the popular BDSM club on Oahu with his friend Evan Chambers. The quasi family he had built with his friends and their extended family was endearing and confusing at the same time. The women now treated him like a big brother and at one time he would have been irritated. Now, he was amused most of the time.
    For a man who never wanted family ties, Eli was finding himself all but shackled to people in Hawaii.
    “ You didn’t eat any, did you?” he asked.
    Micah gave him a look of mock innocence. “Now why would you say that, my friend?”
    Before he could answer, he felt the fine hairs on the back of his neck stir. It wasn’t the type of feeling that warned him of an attack. Worse, it was the type of feeling that warned him of a woman. Micah’s attention moved beyond his shoulder and Eli saw him offer one of those rare smiles he only gave women.
    He knew without a doubt it was Crysta. She stepped up beside Eli. The scent of her hit him without warning. It was subtle, something sweet but not too sweet, with a hint of musk. He tightened his hand around the beer bottle.
    “ Micah this is Crysta Miller. Crysta this is Micah Ross.”
    “ I’m really sorry about your uncle.”
    Her eyes softened. “Thank you.” Then she cocked her head to the side and studied Micah. “Your name sounds familiar but I don’t think Joe ever mentioned you. You’ve never spent any time in DC have you?” Crysta asked.
    Before Micah could answer, Eli said, “He’s married.”
    She gave him a confused look but said nothing. When they both turned back to Micah, the club owner was smirking. Damn. Eli’s attraction would be something he would have to deal with, but he didn’t need anyone at Rough ‘n Ready to know about