Slow Burns (Blacksteel Bandits Motorcycle Club Book 1) Read Online Free

angel.”
     
    “Are you following me?” Naomi narrowed her eyes, though her lips wouldn't curl down. She was smitten with this man, if Miranda were any judge.
     
    Her gaze bounced between her friend and the stranger. She had the feeling she had seen his face somewhere else. Her mind itched with curiosity. Where had she seen him before?
     
    “Oh, yes. I'd never ever be caught dead in a place like this,” he answered, his tone thick with sarcasm. A wry smile twisted at his lips and Miranda could see why Naomi was suddenly all smiles. The man wasn't hard on the eyes, that was for sure. When he smiled, his attractiveness was even more evident. His gaze flickered to Naomi and Miranda's dates, his eyebrows quirking curiously as he brought his gaze back to the blonde. “You sure there's no problem here?”
     
    “Now that you mention it,” Naomi's eyes sparkled with impish glee. Miranda stifled a laugh, watching their lackluster dates from the corner of her eye. Both of them tensed as they fell under the biker's scrutinizing leer. “These two gentlemen ,” even Naomi's tongue writhed insincerely around the term, “offered to pay for our drinks before they realized we were incompatible. Now, because it's not a sound investment , they're backing out.”
     
    “Oh, really?” Jack cocked an eyebrow, his grin melting into a rather displeased frown.
     
    The sour date forced a stiff laugh as he dug into his pocket for his wallet. “She's joking! Haha, Naomi, such a kidder.”
     
    “Don't worry about it.” Yet another voice echoed from the bar, stepping up beside Naomi's handsome scruffy biker. Miranda's face warmed with a blush and her heart fluttered in her chest. Tyler fished out a few bills from his wallet. After waving down a harried waitress, who bounced from table to table in the bar, he handed her the cash with a wink and a grin. The woman giggled before scurrying off, tucking the money into her apron.
     
    “You don't have to do that,” muttered Miranda, heat licking up her cheeks. She couldn't meet Tyler's gaze when he turned around.
     
    A ruffle of amusement tickled through Tyler's thoughts. Memories danced through his head where he committed a good deed and she had a hard time accepting it. That was his Mir. Tyler clamped down on that thought and mentally shook his head. No, she wasn't his.
     
    “Miranda, where are your manners?” Naomi sighed loudly, like a mother disappointed in her child for spitting in public. The blonde faced Tyler and his friend, a smile stretching over her lips, “Thank you. You're way too kind, guys.”
     
    Introductions were traded, but Miranda still couldn't get herself to turn her gaze toward Tyler. Something in her shivered, knowing he was so close. Naomi continued to flirt with Tyler's apparent buddy – Jack, if her half-attention heard correctly – while awkward silence planted itself in Miranda's throat. The blonde suddenly twittered something about 'her' song being on. Before Miranda could register the words and manage a protest, Naomi dragged Jack off into the dance floor.
     
    Soon enough, both disappeared among the writhing throngs. Miranda swallowed heavily, staring forlornly in the direction they had disappeared. She needed her best friend to play buffer. Her awkwardness was catching.
     
    At least the shoddy dates were long gone. They had scurried out from the table as soon as Tyler paid the tab.
     
    Tyler stood beside Miranda, helpless and hapless. A battle warred inside him. The desire to talk to her, to reconnect, fought against his sense of responsibility. The right thing to do would be to wade back into his little throng of adoring barmaids. Yet, Tyler hesitated. He peeked at Miranda from the corner of his gaze and words fumbled across his tongue, “So, how do you like working at the bank?”
     
    Miranda mumbled, “It's good work. Long hours, so it keeps me busy.”
     
    “Oh.” Silence strung out from between them. It seemed a bubble of tension