Free Stone Cold (An Iron Tornadoes MC Romance) by Olivia Rigal Page A

tell him with a wink.
    He looks up at me with a big smile.
    "Oh, good, maybe food will pacify him," he says, making a funny face. "It's been a horrible morning."
    "Really?" Obviously, he's ready to burst. I'm sure he's so frustrated being stuck behind the desk that he needs to talk. Telling stories about his colleagues is the only way to vicariously become part of the action. I discreetly glance at my watch. I can spare him a few minutes and still get to work in time.
    "Come on, tell me. You're such a great storyteller," I say. "It's a lot more exciting to hear stuff from you than from Captain Williams."
    Comforted by the thought that I'm going to hear all about it in the evening from his boss, Mike starts talking.
    "Last night we got word that the Iron Tornadoes know they've been infiltrated by an undercover cop, while we've just found out they have one of our own on the take," he whispers. "The task force have been called in for a special meeting with IA. Given the leaked intel, the corrupted cop is one of them. There were not so many people who new about the undercover assignment. Let me tell you, today I'm really happy to be down here. Heads are gonna roll, so I'm keeping mine very low."
    "That's very wise," I tell him.  
    "And of course you didn't hear anything from me," Mike says as the door opens behind me.
    "What didn't you tell her?" asks a voice behind me. It's Everest. I haven't seen or heard from him since the rock festival day. It's good I've never fancied myself as a damsel in distress because he's just as fickle a prince as Brian.
    Mike turns beet red.
    "How many roses the captain ordered for my mom," I answer. I have no qualms about lying—I can make up stuff anytime. It comes spontaneously to me. "Not that it's any of your business anyway."
    I turn my back to Everest and step toward the door.
    "As always, it was fun talking to you, Mike."
    Everest follows me outside. "Lisa, wait," he says.
    I don't. I take a few steps and get on my bike. He's yet to begin saying something, so I raise my eyebrows. "What do you want?"
    "I wanted to explain, you know…”
    I watch him shifting his weight from one leg to the other, looking for words. I don't have time for his crap. If I wait for him to start talking, I'm going to be late for work.
    "Yeah, right. Don't worry about it. It's not as if you'd promised me anything. I've got to get to work."
    While I drive away, a smile creeps across my face, because thanks to Mike, the world looks a bit brighter today. My mind is on a "what if" rampage, and I'm loving it.
    For a moment I will allow myself to dream: What if Brian has never been kicked out of the police academy? What if he's been recruited to participate in this operation before graduation? What if he's the undercover agent with the Iron Tornadoes?
    Without a full-face crash helmet, one can't ride and smile—there are way too many bugs for that in Florida!

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

    Everything is beautiful. I have to hand it to Captain "what will it take for you to call me Steven" Williams—he knows how to get things organized. He's rented this beautiful pavilion in a posh golf club, and it's very tastefully decorated.
    Chairs have been set up on the grass. The front row is occupied by Captain Williams's sister and her kids, on one side, and by Aunt Nancy and me, on the other side. Behind us sit many police officers in full uniform. I see Catherine and Thomas, as well as Mike and a few other familiar faces. No Everest. I'm sure of it, because he's so much taller than everyone else that there's no way to miss him when he's around.
    Captain Williams is standing under a flower-covered arch, and one of his judge friends is next to him. I'm not sure if he's acting as best man or witness, but he's standing very erect. He's stiff, as if he's swallowed an umbrella. The music starts, and we all turn to look behind us.
    My mother is walking down the aisle on Uncle Tony's arm. Am I the only one who realizes how weird this is? She's