The Biker's Fate Chapter 126

Cassidy

I ARRIVED AT the office the next morning to find flowers at my desk. Red roses. Not my favorite, but still, I wondered who would have sent them. Carter wasn't much of a flowers and romance kind of guy... unless he was trying to butter up my mother, plus, he knew sunflowers were my favorite, so he'd never send roses.

"Who are they from?" Janie asked excitedly from my cube door.

I faced her and shrugged, dropping my purse into my drawer. "I have no idea."

"Well, what does the card say?"

I smiled. "You know something, don't you?"

The pretty brunette pressed her lips into a thin line. "I plead the fifth."

I powered up my computer and then opened the card. "Ohmigod, they're from Tom."

Janie gasped and then gave a girlish giggle. "That's so cool, Cass. He's unbelievably hot."

I groaned. "But he knows I'm taken, Janie. It's a little weird, don't you think?"

"Lady, you're not married. You're not even engaged, so live a little." She leaned against the desk. "Tom is super-hot, super rich, and super interested in you. This guy you're dating isn't even on the same playing field as him. Go for it."

"You know nothing about my boyfriend, Janie, I'd be careful about what you say next."

She raised her hands in surrender. "Not trying to start a fight, Cassidy. It's just that Tom's a catch and you rarely talk about your boyfriend. I saw him when he came to pick you up and he kind of looks rough, you know? Tom's a total gentleman."

"Okay, since I don't really want to get into a cat fight, Janie, I'm going to ask that we stop this conversation. I purposely try to keep my private life private, but I will say something and I need you to hear me. I love my boyfriend. More than you or anyone could ever imagine. Not only is he good to me and my son, and loves us both dearly, he served this country and continues to serve it, so in my eyes he's a hero. Maybe you and other people don't see him on the same playing field as a man like Tom Dale. Well, I'd agree with you there, because Carter is the greatest human being I've ever known, and that includes the great Tom Dale."

"I didn't mean to offend you," Janie grumbled. "I'll talk to you later."

I didn't respond as she walked away from my desk. There was no reason to. Janie Styles was a notorious gossip and could be vindictive as hell. I wasn't interested in getting further on her bad side.

I decided there was only one thing to do. I had to return the flowers to Tom. I grabbed the vase and headed to the elevator. Once at his floor, I squared my shoulders, walked past the executive level receptionist desk, down the hall to his office. I knocked on the door, entered when bid, and set the flowers on his desk.

"You got them," Tom said, rising to his feet with a smile.

"I did. They're beautiful, but I'm sorry, I can't accept them."

"They're just flowers, Cassidy," he argued. "I know you had a rough day yesterday and I wanted to cheer you up."

Well, that was seriously thoughtful.

"That's very kind of you, Tom, seriously, and I don't want to look ungrateful—"

"Then take the flowers back to your desk, Cassidy."

"I can't. I'm sorry."

"You can, love." He crossed his arms and leaned against his desk. "Tell people your boyfriend sent them. It can be our little secret."

"I don't think that would be a good idea." I smiled. "I should get back to my desk. Have a lovely day."

"Have lunch with me," he said to my retreating back.

I faced him again and shook my head. "I brought my lunch today, but thanks for the offer. I really should get back to work."

"No worries," he said, and I hightailed it back to my cubicle.

At just before noon, I entered the main kitchen and opened the fridge. I couldn't stop a little swear as I shoved things around in the icebox. My lunch had disappeared.

"What's wrong?" Janie asked, and grabbed a Coke from the vending machine.

"My lunch has suddenly walked away," I complained.

"Ugh, people suck. Mine got stolen last week. I'm thinking next time I bring something with me, I'm going to put a powerful laxative in it."

"That's actually a really good idea," I said.

"Hello, ladies," Tom said, and walked into the room.

"Hi, Tom," Janie said. I just smiled.

"Did you finish up with the board?" Janie asked.

"I did." Tom checked his watch. "Thought I'd grab lunch."

Janie nodded. "You might want to take Cassidy with you. Someone stole hers."

"No, it's okay," I rushed to say. "I've got stuff at my desk."

Week-old Ritz crackers and oatmeal, but beggars can't be choosers.

"Who would steal someone's lunch?" Tom asked, disgusted.

"It happens all the time around here," Janie informed him.

I gaped at her. She was just a wealth of information today.

"What do you say, Cassidy?" Tom asked. "Can I take you to lunch? It'll have to be quick because I have a meeting in two hours."

That was a quick lunch? Good lord, to be an executive.

"No, really, it's okay," I said.

"I insist. You've got to eat, after all, and I'm starving." He smiled. "We'll just head to the deli across the street."

I was hungry and it was just lunch. Besides, since the deli was within walking distance, it's not like I was getting in a car with him, so it's not like it was a date or anything.

"Okay, sure. That sounds great," I said.

Gah! Why did I feel like I was cheating?

"Shall we?" he asked.

"I'll just grab my purse."

"No, it's on me. We won't be long."

"You kids have fun," Janie said, and I followed Tom to the elevators.

Ace

I slid out from under the sixty-seven Mustang I was working on and smiled at Maverick who was sitting relatively quietly on a chair by one of the tool cabinets. His face was focused on my iPad, probably because I'd loaded a bunch of games on there for him.

"Ace," Booker called, his voice echoing through the shop.

"Here, brother." I rose to my feet and wiped my hands on a rag... not that it helped much. I probably should have worn gloves, but what I was doing was delicate and I needed to feel my way with limited visibility.

"Got somethin' on that number you sent me."

"Mav, let's go hang inside for a bit," I said, and waited for him to follow me.

Once Maverick was settled safe within sight, but out of earshot, I took the pages that Booker handed me. "The fucker called Cassidy on her cell phone?"

"Yeah. I did more digging and Tom Dale has more than one cell. He has a company one and a private one. He called her from his private one." Booker pointed to page two. "The guy left New York under suspicious circumstances, but nothing's in writing and no one's talking. Mack's got a P.I. looking into it in person. For someone who's made it so far up the chain so young, there's no chatter about him. Not one fuckin' thing, and that doesn't sit well with me. There's nothing positive or negative about him."

I skimmed through the information. "Yeah, you'd think he'd have a hell of a lot more out there than this. It reads like a scripted professional biography. Even his social media seems vague."

"Any clue on what he wants with Cassidy?"

"He wants her," I said. "But she thinks he's a nice guy with no ulterior motives."

Booker sighed. "And she's not listenin' to your warnings."

"Nope. Fuck me, this guy's not right."

"Got your back, brother."

"'Preciate it, Book."

I grabbed Maverick and we headed back into the shop to work on the car some more. I tried to put the pit in my gut aside, but the more I thought about the asshole sniffin' after Cassidy, the more concerned I became.