“I might survive if you can find me a couple of fingers of scotch and a two-inch steak.”

Loren laughed. “That I can handle.”

“What happens now?”

“We wait for Ramsey to sort out the room situation. Supposedly we all have reservations made by national. Doesn’t always work out that way, though. You want to go to the bar first?”

“I want to go anywhere that isn’t outside in the cold.”

“Come on. I’ll find Ramsey later.”

Inside, the usual cacophony of dinging slots and loud voices filled the casino floor. The New Year’s Eve crowds hadn’t yet arrived, and they were able to find standing room at the bar. The scotch burned with a delicious bite, warming Sky all the way down. She sighed. “That is so much better.”

Loren swallowed a quarter of a mug of beer. “About tonight—stick close to me and keep a low profile. I don’t want people remembering your face—or wondering who you are.”

“Don’t worry. There’s going to be so much going on, no one’s going to be paying attention to us. We’ll pretend to be having a wonderful time, and maybe if we’re lucky, we can sneak away before dawn.”

“I might get pulled away—a lot of chapter business gets done here behind the scenes. With this big deal coming up, you never know.”

“I’ll be fine. Don’t worry.”

Loren’s eyes darkened. “Sorry. But I do.”

The intensity of her words struck Sky like a fist. Dan was always worrying, fretting about her whenever she went into the field. His concern had never really registered with her, but Loren’s did. That Loren cared what happened to her made her feel special in a way she never had and never thought she needed. Sky hooked her fingertips inside the wide strap of Loren’s black leather chaps and tugged her forward by the heavy silver buckle. Loren’s hard thighs collided with hers. “You know what?”

“What?” Loren’s voice was husky, her black eyes blazing.

“I won’t do anything crazy if you don’t.”

Loren smiled, a crooked smile that made her look impossibly handsome. “You ask a lot.”

“I know.”

Loren cupped Sky’s jaw with the palm of her hand. “I liked you behind me on the bike today.”

“I liked being there.” Sky brushed her fingers over Loren’s lower lip. “But I better warn you—don’t get used to it.”

“Oh yeah?”

“I don’t plan on riding in the bitch seat forever. I expect my own bike if I’m going to be your old lady.”

Loren’s smile widened. “Optimistic.”

“Always.”

Ramsey was suddenly beside them, his hand clamped hard on Loren’s shoulder. “There you are.” He dangled a keycard in front of Loren. “Thought you might want this. Room 2010.”

Without taking her eyes off Sky, Loren plucked the card from his hand. “Perfect timing again.”

Ramsey smiled down at Sky. “See you later?”

Sky shot him a smile. “Wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

“Then I guess you’d better take care of business so you don’t miss anything.”

Loren took Sky’s hand. “Exactly what I was thinking.” Without glancing at Ramsey, she led Sky away.

“You’re going to piss him off,” Sky murmured, gripping the back of Loren’s chaps.

“I don’t care. He needs to get the message.”

“What message is that?”

Loren stabbed the elevator button and slid her hand onto Sky’s ass. “That you belong to me.”

“Optimistic,” Sky murmured.

“Nah.” Loren yanked her into the elevator, pinned her to the wall, and kissed her. “Just sure.”


*


“Oh God.” Blair leaned back on the sofa in Diane’s living room and propped her feet on the coffee table. “I can’t eat or drink another thing.”

Laughing, Cam settled beside her and slid an arm around Blair’s shoulders. “I think there’s cake.”

“No,” Blair moaned.

Diane emerged from the kitchen with a tray bearing a chocolate layer cake with a single candle burning in the center. She placed it ceremoniously on the coffee table. “Happy birthday, Blair.”

Valerie followed with a bottle of champagne and four flutes. She set them down and began to fill them. “It’s not quite New Year’s, but since it’s your birthday now, we should start the celebration.”

“This has been great.” Blair threaded her fingers through Cam’s. “The best birthday ever.”

“We haven’t even given you your presents yet,” Diane protested.

“Believe me, you guys are the only presents I need.”

Cam kissed her temple. “Happy birthday, baby.”

Blair kissed her. “Thank you. I love you.”

“I love you too.”

Somehow, Blair managed to make it through the cake and her champagne, and before she knew it the countdown to the new year had begun on TV as the illuminated ball descended above Times Square.

“You sure you don’t want to head down there?” Diane said.

“God, no.” Blair pointed to the television. “I can do without the crowd and the cold. I’m happy right here.” She was more than happy. Cam was with her and she was celebrating with friends. At the stroke of midnight, she kissed Cam. “Happy New Year, darling.”

Shortly thereafter they said their good-byes and caught a cab home.

“Tonight was the perfect birthday,” Blair said, shedding her clothes and climbing into bed. “Thank you for being here.”

“I can’t think of anywhere or any place I’d rather be right now than right here with you.” Cam undressed quickly and joined her.

“Me neither. This is perfect.” Blair slid on top of her and kissed her. “And I have you for two more whole days.”

Cam kissed her. “You have me for a lot longer than that.”

Blair rested her forehead on Cam’s. “Like I said, perfect.”


*


Sky got her wish—a hot shower, a surprisingly good room-service steak, a quick nap, and clean clothes. Loren went out while Sky slept to check on her bike and collect the rest of their gear. Warm, full, and refreshed, Sky pulled on low-riding jeans and a stretchy scooped-neck tank that left a few inches of belly bare and a lot of breast showing. From the way Loren’s eyes flared when she walked out of the bathroom, she figured the outfit would work. Loren was heart-stopping as usual in boot-cut jeans, heavy boots, and a black leather vest over nothing but skin and ink. Sky’s throat was suddenly as dry as the desert. “You sure we have to go so soon?”

Loren grinned. “You want Ramsey in here?”

“I’ll pass.” Sky took Loren’s hand. “Are you armed?”

“Just a blade. We get caught carrying here, the casino can lose its gaming license, and we lose our welcome.”

“Be careful tonight,” Sky murmured.

“You too.”

They found the Renegades congregated six deep at the casino bar. Chapter after chapter poured in all evening, and bikers in leather and denim overflowed the bar onto the casino floor. Eventually, the noise and increasing advances from bikers toward any woman, attached or unattached, drove the ordinary citizens out into the night in search of less intimidating surroundings.

At midnight, a roar filled the casino. Loren grabbed Sky, slid a hand into her hair, and covered her mouth with a hard kiss. She’d been fending off men all night who’d wanted to get over on Sky before she could set them straight as to just whose old lady Sky was. Her patience was gone and her hold on her temper thinner than air. The ear-shattering din in the room was nothing compared to the thunder in her head when Sky’s warm lips melted against hers. She hadn’t been hungry earlier, but she was starving now.

“We need to get out of here,” Loren gasped.

“It’s still early,” Sky whispered, running her hands up and down Loren’s back. “And Ramsey has been watching us.”

“Fuck Ramsey.” Loren couldn’t catch her breath. “I want you alone.”

“Loren.” Sky stroked her cheek. “Baby, we need—”

A heavy hand appeared out of nowhere, closed over Sky’s upper arm, and pulled her away. A beery voice demanded, “Come on, sweet stuff. Give me a little of that.”

The filament holding Loren’s last sliver of control snapped. She caught the biker’s arm, spun him to face her, and punched him in the face. Her knuckles screamed at the impact, but a flood of satisfaction filled her chest. The gratification ended just as quickly when the burly, bearded stranger rocked on his feet for a second, then shot out a fist the size of a cinder block and knocked her back into the bar. Someone grabbed her from behind, another fist connected with her abdomen, and she doubled over as all the air left her body. Her knees wobbled, and a blow to the back of the head put her down. She tried once to get up, but a boot to the side and a wave of nausea pulled her into the black.

Chapter Twenty-five


Russo checked his phone messages and saw a recent call from Derrick with an odd sense of relief. Business was infinitely preferable to watching any more of the New Year’s Day parade with his wife, teenage daughter, and mother-in-law. If he’d had any plausible excuse for absenting himself from their Palm Springs retreat, he certainly would have, but his focusing on family for the holidays looked good to the electorate. Perhaps Derrick’s call would provide him a reason to leave early.

At his wife’s questioning look, he assumed an apologetic expression. “Sorry, my dear. Business. I won’t be long.”

She smiled absently before turning her attention back to the television. “Of course.”

As he walked outside to the patio and closed the slider behind him, the thought crossed his mind that she was probably just as glad for the interruption as he was. When they were forced to spend more than a few hours together, their lack of common interests rapidly became painfully clear. He had no real idea how she occupied her time and didn’t care. She took no interest in his political aspirations but faithfully fulfilled her obligations as the wife of a political figure as she had been raised to do. Their relationship functioned best when they each kept to their own separate spheres, in and out of the bedroom. Nora was expected back in Idaho after a short holiday with friends. A few days alone with her would be far preferable to enduring any more family time. While his wife accepted his attentions, she never relished them. And Nora—Nora threatened to burn him to cinders with her demand. Smiling at the image of Nora astride him, eyes wild and mouth open in a silent scream, Russo paused to adjust the sudden fullness in his trousers and called his assistant.