Free Stoned (Unlikely Heroes Book 4) by Leslie Georgeson Page A

corridor, long after Viper had entered his room and closed the door.
    He turned back to stare at the door to his room. It was time to apologize to Karen. To try to make her understand. Would she listen to him?
    He swiped his key card through the slot and pushed open the door.
    He glanced around. The room was empty.
    The only way out of his room was through the door he’d just come in. Then the sound of running water pierced his senses. She was in the shower. He hesitated. Maybe he should leave her alone for a while.
    Striding over to the end table at the left side of the bed, he pulled open the drawer. He withdrew a pen and a notepad.
    He would leave her a note. He contemplated what to say for a long moment, then scribbled on the notepad. He tore the piece of paper from the pad. He tossed the pen and notepad back in the drawer, then slammed the drawer shut.
    The shower was still running.
    Stoner carried the paper over to the closed bathroom door. He set in on the floor in front of the door. When she came out, she would see it. She couldn’t miss it.
    He wasn’t very good with words. Would it help her feel better?
    He set his extra key card on top of the note for her to use to access his room whenever she needed. It was an invitation he hoped she would understand: she was welcome in his room anytime, day or night, whenever she wanted.
    Stoner strode from the room, closing the door behind him.
    * * *
    The note lay on the floor, beckoning her closer. Karen stared at it. Had Stoner left it? She snatched up the key card laying on top. What was Stoner trying to say by giving it to her? She would need it to access his room when he wasn’t around. Did this mean he was never coming back to his room? Or was he just giving her a key to his room so she could come and go whenever she wanted? Whatever the reason, she would be sure to take the key card with her whenever she left the room. If she ever needed a place to hide, Stoner’s room would be accessible.
    She stared down at the note for a long moment, chewing her bottom lip, then bent to pick it up.
    I’m sorry , Stoner had written in a bold, manly scrawl.
    She smiled. The writing was so Stoner.
    She read on.
    It makes no difference to me.
    Her breath hitched.
    I still want you.
    A sob bubbled up her throat at those last four words.
    I still want you.
    Those had to be the most beautiful words she’d ever heard. For three years she’d felt like half a woman, believing no man would ever want her again. Why would anyone want her now? She had no breasts. Part of what made her a woman was gone forever.
    I still want you.
    Emotion burst inside her chest, spreading outward, warming her cold limbs better than the warm water from the shower.
    I still want you.
    She sank to the floor and clutched the note to her chest, overcome with emotion. A tear trickled down her cheek.
    Who was Stoner? A man of contradictions, he continued to confuse and amaze her at the same time.
    A man like Stoner didn’t say things he didn’t mean. He meant every word. A man like Stoner was blunt, to the point. He told it like he felt it.
    I still want you.
    Karen drew in a ragged breath, swallowing hard. Did Stoner know how much those words affected her?
    Yes. Of course he did. He was an intuitive man. Stoner didn’t do anything without planning, thinking about it first.
    Her heart clenched. His kindness was unexpected, but knowing Stoner, he hadn’t done it out of kindness. He was just being honest. He wanted her to know he cared, that he had feelings for her, which was so unexpected. So un-macho man.
    She giggled. Stoner was definitely a macho man. But he obviously had a tender side as well, which touched her more than she wanted to admit. She wanted to know so much more about him. He was the only good thing in this house of bikers. Their attraction might be the only thing that kept her sane while here.
    She needed to find him. To let him know she’d gotten his note and appreciated it. To let him know how