She took a seat at the small breakfast table, as Vance served up the hot brew.
They sat in silence for a few minutes as had become their routine, and then Maya hedged, “What’s our next step, Vance? What do you want to do from here?”
He sighed heavily. It had obviously been weighing on his mind, too. He slouched in his chair, and Maya couldn’t help but think how delectable he looked in that lazy pose. “There’s no telling how long the calm and quiet back home will last. It sounds like the Scorpions are accepting the self-defense plea right now, and they lost enough men to step back. We’re thinking about offering a small monetary restitution. Maybe.”
He paused for a drink. “The problem is, once they get their shit together, they’ll strike back, and they’ll want me. They’ll punish my brothers if I’m not there to work things through.”
Maya had learned that meant trying to smooth things over with words, and if that didn’t work, violence was the backup plan. “So, you’re going back.”
He didn’t answer right away. Without meeting her gaze, he finally said, “I want you to come back with me.”
Torn between exuberance and fear at how close the two of them had grown, Maya’s body shivered with delight, even as her mind was hesitant. A lot of things were up in the air, and she and Vance had spent more time making love than discussing their relationship.
Maya had just been thinking about going back to the desert, away from the fashion and business world with all its caveats. She wanted the peaceful feeling she had at Vance’s house, with nothing for miles around.
Making a decision and putting away her questions, Maya nodded. “I’d like to go back.” She hesitated and told him, “I have to leave in two weeks for another shoot though.”
He frowned. “We’ll deal with that later. First, we have to focus on the safest way to get back.”
Maya didn’t think it was a particularly hazardous journey. She had loved taking the motorcycle on the road. She’d been sore for a couple of days, but it wasn’t anything some yoga and mild weight training didn’t work out. “I thought we would just ride back.”
However, Vance shook his head. “The Scorpions aren’t showing their faces around town. That doesn’t mean they aren’t watching the roads coming into town. They’re mad as hell, and if they see me or my bike—or you, for that matter—they won’t hesitate to strike. I need to make some arrangements so that the next shipment we get includes my bike. We’ll fly to Phoenix and have an escort bring us back.”
That gave Maya doubts. Sneaking back into town to avoid being shot at? It didn’t sit well, and her stomach churned. “Are you sure we need to take that much precaution?”
“Absolutely.” He was serious and determined. Maya didn’t argue; she could charter a jet to arrive in Phoenix late this evening, or she could have her agent book a commercial flight that left tomorrow.
Nodding her reluctant agreement, Maya went to the drawer where she’d tucked away the few items of clothing she’d managed to fit into the saddlebag on Vance’s bike, along with a couple of outfits she’d bought hastily on arrival. She grabbed a scarf for her head—it had been ridiculously windy since they’d arrived—and said, “Coffee is great, but I’m starving. Let’s go downstairs for breakfast.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Since their arrival in Los Angeles, Vance had lacked the comfort he felt in Wheelie. He’d traveled from place to place with his mother, but he’d been young, and they had moved so often he’d never put down roots. The only place he ever called home was the small town he ran with his club, and the difference between Wheelie and this urban jungle was so vast he couldn’t wrap his mind around it.
The only time he felt any sense of peace was alone in the hotel room with Maya. And even then, unless
They sat in silence for a few minutes as had become their routine, and then Maya hedged, “What’s our next step, Vance? What do you want to do from here?”
He sighed heavily. It had obviously been weighing on his mind, too. He slouched in his chair, and Maya couldn’t help but think how delectable he looked in that lazy pose. “There’s no telling how long the calm and quiet back home will last. It sounds like the Scorpions are accepting the self-defense plea right now, and they lost enough men to step back. We’re thinking about offering a small monetary restitution. Maybe.”
He paused for a drink. “The problem is, once they get their shit together, they’ll strike back, and they’ll want me. They’ll punish my brothers if I’m not there to work things through.”
Maya had learned that meant trying to smooth things over with words, and if that didn’t work, violence was the backup plan. “So, you’re going back.”
He didn’t answer right away. Without meeting her gaze, he finally said, “I want you to come back with me.”
Torn between exuberance and fear at how close the two of them had grown, Maya’s body shivered with delight, even as her mind was hesitant. A lot of things were up in the air, and she and Vance had spent more time making love than discussing their relationship.
Maya had just been thinking about going back to the desert, away from the fashion and business world with all its caveats. She wanted the peaceful feeling she had at Vance’s house, with nothing for miles around.
Making a decision and putting away her questions, Maya nodded. “I’d like to go back.” She hesitated and told him, “I have to leave in two weeks for another shoot though.”
He frowned. “We’ll deal with that later. First, we have to focus on the safest way to get back.”
Maya didn’t think it was a particularly hazardous journey. She had loved taking the motorcycle on the road. She’d been sore for a couple of days, but it wasn’t anything some yoga and mild weight training didn’t work out. “I thought we would just ride back.”
However, Vance shook his head. “The Scorpions aren’t showing their faces around town. That doesn’t mean they aren’t watching the roads coming into town. They’re mad as hell, and if they see me or my bike—or you, for that matter—they won’t hesitate to strike. I need to make some arrangements so that the next shipment we get includes my bike. We’ll fly to Phoenix and have an escort bring us back.”
That gave Maya doubts. Sneaking back into town to avoid being shot at? It didn’t sit well, and her stomach churned. “Are you sure we need to take that much precaution?”
“Absolutely.” He was serious and determined. Maya didn’t argue; she could charter a jet to arrive in Phoenix late this evening, or she could have her agent book a commercial flight that left tomorrow.
Nodding her reluctant agreement, Maya went to the drawer where she’d tucked away the few items of clothing she’d managed to fit into the saddlebag on Vance’s bike, along with a couple of outfits she’d bought hastily on arrival. She grabbed a scarf for her head—it had been ridiculously windy since they’d arrived—and said, “Coffee is great, but I’m starving. Let’s go downstairs for breakfast.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Since their arrival in Los Angeles, Vance had lacked the comfort he felt in Wheelie. He’d traveled from place to place with his mother, but he’d been young, and they had moved so often he’d never put down roots. The only place he ever called home was the small town he ran with his club, and the difference between Wheelie and this urban jungle was so vast he couldn’t wrap his mind around it.
The only time he felt any sense of peace was alone in the hotel room with Maya. And even then, unless
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