Biker by Ashley Harma Page B

heist.
    Noelle felt offended, but then she mentally scolded herself. Yes, she wanted to sleep with Blaze again, but she also was enticed by the promise of more money. So even if Blaze didn’t want to sleep with her again, the trip would still be worth it for the payout.
    Noelle couldn’t believe she was willing to commit a serious crime.
    A crime that could land her in prison for a very long time.
    But the danger, the risk, excited and enticed her.
    She knew that these feelings might be springing from her bipolar illness. It was as if being with Todd had helped keep her symptoms at bay, but now that she was on her own, she was free falling.
    Not much caring what the source of these new urges might be, Noelle went home. She booked a flight for Vegas. She was scheduled to be off for the next three days, so she wouldn’t have to worry about missing work. Her flight had her arriving in Vegas around seven in the evening, local time, and she was flying back out Sunday afternoon so that she would be home for her Monday morning shift.
    Noelle almost called Liz and Quinn to tell them, but decided not to at the last minute. They would only tell her that she was crazy and try to talk her out of it. She would just avoid their calls and texts for the weekend if it came to that.
    Friday seemed to drag on, but Noelle finally found herself moving through security at Philadelphia International Airport. She managed to sleep for a good part of the flight, and Noelle knew that it would benefit her if she happened to be up all night.
    At last she disembarked the plane, found a bank of payphones, and with shaking fingers, called the new number Blaze had given her.
    “Hi,” she said awkwardly when he answered, “I’m at the airport.”
    “Okay. I will be there in twenty minutes. Look for me outside. I'll be driving a black Escalade.”
    And then he hung up.
    “Nice to hear from you too,” she grumbled, grabbing her carry-on and making her way toward the exit.
    Without having to wait for baggage claim, she was able to quickly make her way through the airport, and she found herself waiting outside, her eyes searching for a black Escalade.
    While she was waiting, she had time to second-guess her outfit choice. She didn’t know if she should go for something overtly sexy, since that was what had attracted Blaze to her in the first place, or if she should go for her more regular, laid-back style. In the end she compromised, choosing black leggings, which were comfortable for flying, silver gladiator sandals, and a periwinkle halter tunic.
    Maybe she should have gone for something sexier? Maybe she was trying too hard? Her auburn hair was plaited into a thick braid that she pulled over one shoulder. At the last minute, she pulled open the braid, fanning her hand through the waves it had had left.
    Just as she finished tousling her hair, the black Escalade pulled up to the curb. Her stomach seemed to drop and she walked woodenly to the passenger door.
    She opened the door, and there was Blaze, his hair disheveled and his eyes even bluer than she remembered.
    He gave her a sexy grin and cocked his head to the side. “Are you getting in?”
    Noelle realized that she had been standing outside, gaping at him.
    “Oh! Yes!” She quickly climbed in, tossing her bag into the back. Blaze pulled away quickly, tires squealing.
    “So you couldn’t stay away,” he teased.
    Noelle felt a wave of relief to hear that Blaze's tone of voice was normal.
    “Well, I wasn’t sure if I made the right decision from the curt phone conversations,” she couldn’t help saying.
    Blaze looked chagrined. “Sorry about that. You never know who’s listening, especially with those numbers I gave you.”
    “It wasn’t your cell phone?”
    Blaze shook his head. “I don’t give that our right away.” His forehead creased. “So why don’t you tell me why you called me.”
    Noelle squirmed, feeling put on the spot.
    “You know,” she said, waving her