The Biker's Fate Chapter 521

His smile softened and he slid his hand to my cheek. "If you'd said something back then, we could have avoided all of this."

"I tried," I growled.

He sighed. "Yeah, you're right. I'm sorry I didn't figure it out, Tater. I was an idiot."

"It doesn't matter," I whispered.

"Why doesn't it matter?"

"Because the damage is done."

"Is it?" He stroked my pulse.

I let out a frustrated grunt. "It's not like you did anything wrong, Flash."

"And yet…"

"And yet…?"

"You're hurt," he deduced.

"Yeah. It's irrational," I breathed out.

"Not irrational," he said, then frowned. "But you didn't tell me you were in love with me, Tate and that's totally uncool."

"I'm not in love with you," I lied.

"Well, that sucks."

I rolled my eyes. "Why does that suck?"

He leaned in again. "Because I'm in love with you."

I gasped just as his mouth covered mine and he took advantage of that, sliding his tongue against mine. It took me a second to recover and I pushed him away, stepping back for space. "Why the hell did you do that?"

"Have I got your attention now, Tate?"

I narrowed my eyes and let out a hiss. "Are you trying to teach me a lesson?"

He crossed his arms. "That depends."

"On what?"

"You gonna pull your head outta your ass long enough to hash this out with me?"

I jabbed a finger at him. "You are beyond the pale, Parker Wallace."

"I love you, Tate. How is that beyond the pale?"

"Because you're lying."

"Let me be clear, baby, because we are never going to have this particular conversation again. I have never, not once, ever lied to you."

I shivered when he called me 'baby,' and I didn't like the power he had over me. "Then why are you starting now?" I retorted.

"Do you really think I'm lying to you?" he challenged.

"I don't know." I shrugged. "I don't actually know you anymore, Flash."

He raised an eyebrow. "Do you think I ever lied to you back then?"

"Well…" I sighed and reluctantly admitted, "No."

"So, what makes you think I'd start lying to you now?"

He had a point, but I wasn't done being mad at him, so I didn't respond.

"Tate?"

"Yes, Flash?" I whispered.

"Look at me."

"Nope, I'm good," I said to my feet.

His boots appeared in my sightline as he touched his feet to mine. "What do you want, Tate?"

"From you?"

"Sure, we'll start with that." He cupped my chin and put gentle pressure on it, so that I'd raise it to meet his eyes.

Lordy, he was pretty.

"You interested in exploring something past our friendship?" he asked.

I shrugged. "I don't know."

"You willin' to take the time to work this shit out?"

I bit my lip. "I don't know."

"What's stopping you?"

"I hated you until about three minutes ago, so I'm not sure I can move past that."

Flash smiled. "You said, 'hated,' not 'hate.' That's a good start."

I forced myself not to smile, purposely frowning instead. "But we can't just pick up where we left off."

"Why not?"

"Because the trust has been broken," I rasped.

"But it was broken for no reason," he pointed out, stroking my cheek. "I'm willing to try and fix that, are you?"

"I don't know."

"You don't know much, do you?" he teased.

"Not when it comes to you and how I feel about you, no. Everything's topsy-turvy right now."

"I get it," he said. "But I miss you, Tate. Don't you miss me?"

"Like warm cinnamon rolls," I admitted.

"Huh?"

"Nothing," I breathed out.

He smiled. "Since we both miss each other, how about we quit doin' that and work on being together?"

I wrinkled my nose. "I guess I don't have anything better to do."

Flash chuckled. "That's the spirit."

"How do we do this, exactly?"

"You've never dated anyone?"

I let out a quiet snort. "I have never dated a biker, and I've never dated you, so I have no idea where to start."

"We start with me takin' you to dinner."

I shook my head. "I think we need to slow this down."

"We haven't even started."

I nodded, meeting his eyes. "And, honestly, I don't know if it's something I want."

"I don't think that's true."

"Well, at the very least, I need time to process this."

"How much time?"

"As long as it takes, Flash."

He sighed, closing his eyes, then giving me a quick nod. "I'm gonna go. But tomorrow I'm gonna take you to dinner, yeah?"

I pressed my lips into a thin line. "Okay."

He ran his knuckles down my cheek and smiled. "I'll pick you up at six."

"Okay."

He walked out my door and I fell against it with a sigh.

What the hell just happened?

Flash

LRG shook my hand and smiled. "That was unreal!"

"I'm glad you enjoyed it. Sorry for the scare over Tacoma."

"That was one of the best parts. Right, Lane?"

His assistant, Lane Samuels, accompanied us on the flight round trip from Portland to Seattle and gave him a reluctant nod. We'd hit a bit of a wind surge over Tacoma, scaring Lane to near tears which LRG seemed somewhat amused by.

I didn't like this and took a minute to pull the woman aside once we landed in Seattle to make sure she was okay. She'd seemed put out by my question, which admittedly irritated me, but I tried not to show her that irritation.

LRG pulled me away from his assistant and slid an envelope into my hand. "A bonus for today. My card's in there as well. I'd like to talk to you about flying for me exclusively."

"I don't do exclusive," I reminded him.

"So you've said. But everyone has a price and I plan to find yours."

I wanted to hit him.

I refrained.

"I'm glad you enjoyed the flight," I said, nodding toward the elevator and the man in a suit standing with his arms crossed. "I believe your car is waiting."

He reached out his hand and I shook it with a forced smile.

"Thanks again, Parker, right?"

"Right."