Free Ashes - Book 2 (New Adult Romantic Suspense) by Leslie Johnson

smiles at me again.
    “I better get back to Madeline,” I say. “You’re still coming to the club tonight, right?”
    Hannah bites her lip and seems to hesitate. I don’t let her. “Come on, it will be fun. You can meet some of my other friends and I hear that the visiting DJ — some guy from New York — is really awesome.”

Chapter 13 — Gage
    The music is thumping as I step from my truck. I lock the door and say “You better damn well start when I get back” to the hunk of metal. Then I pat the hood. The old girl’s been nothing but trouble the past several months, but I’m going to miss her when I trade later this week. The big Ford and I have had many good adventures together.
    Turning to the club, I look for Amber, then check my watch. It’s a few minutes till eleven; I’m a little early. The line is long … damn long. I look for the gate keeper. Fuck yeah. It’s Reggie. I won’t have trouble getting straight in.
    “Hi handsome.” The words are whispered in my ear as two arms come around me from behind. I look down and smile at the bright silver polish covering her long nails. Amber is always perfectly made up, always sexy as hell. I turn. I can’t wait to see what she’s wearing.
    She does not disappoint. The silver dress is practically painted onto her skin.
    “Hi Amber, you look beautiful.” I lean in to kiss her cheek, but she turns and I find myself locked to her glossy mouth. She presses against me and my cock twitches. In the heels she’s wearing, she’s close to my height. I curse as her pubic bone rubs circles against my cock. She’s horny, as usual.
    “Want to just go back to my place?” I ask her when she pulls away and lifts a thumb to wipe the lipstick from my mouth.
    She seems to consider it, her bright blue eyes smiling into mine. She’s really beautiful. Long blond hair, huge tits, long legs. She bites her lower lip, drawing attention to her mouth.
    “As tempting as that is, let’s go check DJ Trunk out first. I’ve heard his mixes are the best.”
    She grabs my hand and pulls me behind her. I get my first look at her from the back. There’s almost nothing there; her entire back is uncovered. There’s a slash of silver material that barely covers her ass and that’s it. Tanned skin everywhere else.
    Walking past the long line of people waiting to get in, I’m soon shaking hands with Reggie, then he folds Amber in his gigantic arms. Apparently they know each other well.
    “How’s your sister?” I yell at him over the noise.
    He wrinkles his nose. “Doing better. Still going to physical therapy a couple times a week. They think they’ll have her walking again within a year or so.”
    I met Reggie when I pulled him out of a car his sister was driving. Reggie walked away with a broken collar bone and a fractured wrist. His sister wasn’t quite as lucky. But she is alive, and Reggie never quit thanking me anytime we saw each other.
    “Come right on in, my man.” He lifts the cord and we’re ushered in. The crowd behind me groans and tosses out their complaints. “Hey, quiet down!” I hear Reggie shout behind me good naturedly. “That man’s a hero. Let the man dance.”
    Amber links her arm in mine and leans close, “Save me please, Mr. Hero. I have a big, big problem and I need someone to take care of it for me.”
    I pretend to open up my Superman suit and she laughs. “What ails you, ma’am?” I yell.
    She presses closer to me and backs me up until a wall is at my back. “I have an itch, Mr. Fireman. And I need you to scratch it.”
    Damn. The woman is sexy.
    I have a flash of another type of sexy. Petite, brown hair, brown eyes, hardworking hands with clipped, short nails.
    I blink Beth away. I’ve got to get her out of my head. This is stupid.
    I re-focus on the woman in front of me. What were we talking about? Oh yeah, an itch. I trace my thumb down the line of her bare spine. She shivers and presses harder against me.
    The moment is interrupted