Born to Ride: A Biker Erotic Romance (Blue Mustangs MC) Read Free Page A

his hand.
    *****
     
    It was well after five when Sandy finally stepped back from the paper and looked at the final product. It would be some of her best work, and it would also be expensive to ink. She hadn’t taken cost into consideration when she’d started. That was something she’d have to discuss with Christian.
     
    Cramped up from sitting in one position, she got up and stretched, moaning when her neck popped. She turned and found her Daddy leaning against the door, smiling.
     
    “Haven’t seen you all day. Thought I’d come see if you wanted to get a bite to eat with your old Dad.”
     
    “That sounds perfect. I’m starved.” She put her pencils and pens away, folded up her sketchbook and tucked it into her bag.
     
    “It’s hot in this old room. Maybe I can get a window unit or something put in here to keep you cool.” Atticus put his arm around his daughter’s shoulders and they walked in tandem to the main room, weaving around the dinner crowd already inside.
     
    “That would be awesome. When I’m with someone and the door is shut, it’s like a furnace in there.” She pulled her chair out and sat down, fanning herself with a menu.
     
    Mariah noticed them and came out from the kitchen to sit beside her at the table. “I was beginning to wonder if you’d died in there. Hungry?”
     
    “Famished.” She smiled and kissed the older woman’s cheek. “You know what I want, right?”
     
    “The same thing your Daddy has every Thursday night-- meatloaf, fried potatoes, and a big glass of my special sweet tea.” She got up, kissed Atticus on the top of his head, and went to make their plates.
     
    “Mari sure is happy you’re home.” Atticus said, smiling after the woman who’d saved his life more than once in the past twelve years.
     
    “Are you?” Sandy asked, her eyes serious.
     
    “Don’t be silly, Sandy girl. I’m always happy when you’re home.” Atticus smiled but it was tight, not relaxed like it used to be.
     
    He was lying. She could see it in his eyes. Maybe he could hide it from other people, but never from her. He wasn’t upset she was home, just upset that she’d come home an adult. He wouldn’t be able to influence her the way he had when she was younger. That bothered him.
     
    Mariah returned with their plates but was too busy with the dinner rush to join them. They ate in silence, both of them leaving too much unsaid. Halfway through her meal, her phone beeped at her. The text from Christian, no doubt. Her Daddy looked at her to see what she’d do. Respect had her keeping the phone in her pocket until the meal was done.
    The first thing sh e did when Atticus excused himself to take care of an issue at the bar was to grab her phone. The text was short and to the point. ‘Done yet?’
     
    She texted back, ‘Yep. Come to the club. There’s an entrance on the side.’
     
    Seconds later he sent back, ‘omw, pretty girl’
     
    She hated that she smiled at the words on her phone’s screen. She also hated that she was tempted to go to the restroom to freshen up and comb her hair. She really hated it when she gave in to temptation.
     

     
    CHAPTER FOUR
     
    Still stewing over the confrontation with Atticus, Christian pulled up to the side where Sandy’s little shop was and stared at the door. He probably should have taken some time to cool off before coming here. He was wound tight, and problems at the shop hadn’t helped the situation after the old man had left. His neck and shoulders were tight with tension as he took off his helmet and strapped it in place on the back of his bike.
     
    He pushed open the door without knocking, liking the way Sandy’s breath caught when she saw him. As a bonus, a slight flush of color spread across her cheeks. “I startled you. Sorry.”
     
    Sandy eyed him closely for a moment. “Huh, I don’t think you’re sorry in the least.” She watched as he came in and made himself a spot in her small space.
     
    She’d been