Free His to Claim #2: Savage Kiss by Opal Carew Page B

jingled as Melanie finished lining up the muffins in the display case.
    “Wowza!” Sue whispered. “If you don’t hit that, you’re crazy.”
    Melanie stood up to see Rafe, impeccably dressed in a dark gray suit, dove-gray shirt, and dark teal and charcoal tie walking toward her. He was a stunning sight. And other than the subtle glint of the diamond studs in his ears, there was no hint of the laid-back biker with arms and chest adorned with tattoos. He looked every bit the wealthy businessman.
    She smiled. “What can I get you?” she asked, trying not to think about his arms around her, his tongue gliding into her mouth. And how warm and solid his body felt against hers.
    “Nothing. I just wanted to talk for a minute,” he said. “Do you have time?”
    The place was empty. “Uh … yes. Of course.” She knew Sue wouldn’t mind covering for her, just like she did when Sue’s sister came in.
    She followed him to the same table they’d sat at last time, near the back, then sat down.
    “I just wanted to make sure we’re okay after Saturday night,” he began.
    She blinked. She was okay with what had happened. More than okay. But it sounded like he wasn’t.
    “Um … sure. Why wouldn’t I be?”
    “It’s just … things were getting pretty hot and heavy.”
    “Is there anything wrong with that?”
    “I just don’t want to jeopardize our friendship.”
    She shrugged, but she could feel her cheeks heating in embarrassment. She’d thought the attraction was mutual, but he must have just been caught up in a rush of hormones. Clearly it wasn’t her he’d been attracted to. Just any woman would have sufficed, and Melanie had made it clear she’d be ready and willing.
    “Okay. No harm done. I don’t know what either of us was thinking.” She tried to laugh casually, but it came out strangled and sad. She stood up. “I should get back to work.” She turned to escape.
    “Wait.”
    She turned back. His brow creased and his blue eyes were filled with concern.
    “I seem to have insulted you and I didn’t mean that. Melanie, this is new territory for us. I just don’t want to ruin things.”
    “What is it you do want?” she asked point-blank.
    He stood up and pulled something from his inside jacket pocket and handed it to her. She glanced down at it. A ticket to an event.
    “I’m playing with Savage Kiss at an outdoor concert on Saturday. You said you’d like to see me play sometime. What I want is for you to come to the concert.”
    ***
    Saturday was a hot day, so Melanie decided to wear a camisole and a short denim skirt. She tossed a light sweater in her large shoulder bag and went down to the lobby of her building.
    The concert was about an hour out of town, so Rafe had offered to send a car for her. She’d be meeting him after the show.
    When she walked out the door, she saw a black limo waiting at the curb, the chauffeur standing beside it.
    “Ms. Taylor?”
    “Yes.”
    He opened the door and she climbed inside.
    She sat back in the ultracomfortable leather seat and glanced around. There was a bar along the side with small bottles of wine, cans of soda, beer, and juice. There were nuts, chips, and other snacks, too. On the right was a TV.
    Wow. This was luxury. She could happily relax and fall asleep in this seat.
    The car pulled smoothly from the curb. She poured a glass of wine and turned on the TV, then relaxed. The miles and minutes just seemed to slip by as she sipped the rich Cabernet. When they finally arrived at the venue, she thanked the driver and followed the other people flocking to the admission gate, her ticket at the ready.
    Once she was inside, a uniformed security guard walked toward her.
    “Good evening, miss. Are you Melanie Taylor?”
    “Yes.” She reached into her purse to find the ticket stub and pulled it out.
    “Come with me.”
    Her chest compressed. “Is something wrong?”
    He smiled. “Not at all.” But he gave no further explanation.
    He led her through the