Free In the Moment: Part One by Rachael Orman Page A

didn’t work there. He didn’t own the place. He was simply a customer. He was a big dude with both arms covered in tattoos, but I wasn’t going to let him intimidate me. I would, however, address him personally because if I took it to the manager it could turn into something stupid.
    I had worked at the bar for as long as I had been in town — about six months. Before moving, I had lived a couple states away while working in a place that wasn’t much different. I’d seen how quickly the entire biker club could turn on someone when they wanted to, and I didn’t want to risk it. Ace was always nice enough toward me and I didn’t think he’d have issues with me asking him to keep it in his pants while there.
    My arm still stung a bit from where I bumped the wall, so I kept rubbing at it as I moved to grab my purse. Trevor gave me a nod from farther down the long countertop as I waved bye and headed toward the door.
    Stepping out into the cool night air, I wrapped my arms around myself and ducked my head, walking quickly toward my SUV parked across the street. Employees weren’t allowed to park in the bar’s parking lot because it was so small. I always forgot to bring a jacket because when I arrived at work it was still lukewarm outside; it was once the sun went down that it turned to damn near freezing. Okay, maybe it just felt that way because I was wearing a tank top and jeans, but when working I got too hot to wear much else. Hell, most nights I could get away with wearing shorts because it was that warm running around filling orders.
    Once I crossed the parking lot, I used my remote to start my car so it could warm up as I waited for a break in traffic. Finally I was able to cross the street and climb in. Rubbing my hands together, I shivered and let my body heat up. As I waited for the last of the chill to leave, I spotted Ace walking out the front door.
    The way he walked looked more like stalking than walking. His gait was long and smooth as he moved. He ran a hand over the short hair on top of his head as he headed toward his bike parked on the side. The movement made his muscles flex and my mouth water. I couldn’t help but enjoy the play of his muscles as he moved. I’d been watching him for months when he came in with his club. The bar flies were always all over the bunch of them. I’d seen him leave numerous times with one or another of the sluts that hung around, hoping they’d find someone to take them home. Hell, most were lucky to make it that far. Usually the men took them down the street or around back into the grove of trees.
    Throwing a leg over his bike, Ace fired it up, and it made my windows rattle. Just as he pulled out of the parking lot, the door opened and another man I didn’t recognize exited. His eyes followed Ace for a few moments before he headed deeper into the parking lot, and I lost track of him. I couldn’t prove it, but I would bet he was the man who had been in the room with Ace. Then again, quite a few people watched when Ace walked by or at least took notice of his beautiful bike.
    Since I was no longer cold, I turned the heat down a notch and reached to put the truck in drive when there was a rap against the driver window. My heart nearly jumped out of my chest as I snapped my head to the side to see what caused the noise.
    Next to my truck and the source of the sound was Ace.
    How I didn’t hear his bike approaching I’d never know, but somehow he’d managed to turn into the parking lot and get up next to me without me realizing.
    When I didn’t move, he knocked on the window again.
    “You gonna roll it down or get out?” he asked through the glass.
    Taking a fortifying breath, I left the engine on and opened the door. “Can I help you?” I asked. I simply turned in the seat to look at him, unwilling to leave my warm spot. The open door let in the cold but the heater helped make it not so bad.
    “I wanted to talk to you about what you saw,” Ace said, his eyes