“How did you know about that? Did Lacey tell you?”

“I don’t speak to Lacey and you know that. I’ve never thought that girl was an appropriate friend for you.”

Ava’s stomach knotted. No one was good enough for Ava according to her father. After all, Lacey’s parents were blue collar. Not the right connections for the great Senator Vargas’s daughter. She tried to love her parents, but their narrow-minded view of the world made it so damn hard.

“So if you didn’t hear it from Lacey, how did you know?”

“Because I’ve had you under surveillance. The Feds put someone undercover to watch you.”

“What? Are you kidding me? When?”

“As soon as you hooked up with the Hellraisers for bike week.”

No. That couldn’t be. She would have noticed. She always noticed. Her father had security personnel tailing her all the time. She’d become an expert at dodging security detail when she wanted to be alone with a date, or go out with her friends. Security personnel were always so obvious. And if there’d been a federal officer . . .

Undercover.

Undercover in the Hellraisers? Who? And why?

Her curiosity turned to anger. “You had me watched? I want to know why.”

Her father took a seat on the sofa across from hers. She noted the crisp, perfectly starched line in his trousers, thought of her mother. Everything so perfect . . . nothing out of place.

“As you can imagine, there was some concern about my daughter being involved with a gang suspected of heavy involvement in drug distribution. You know I head the committee drafting major antidrug legislation. I told you that when you made contact with Lacey after she joined that gang.”

Ava rolled her eyes. “I wasn’t joining the gang, Dad. I was trying to reach Lacey.”

“Nevertheless, imagine how it would look if you somehow got tangled up with this gang, with drugs, and me heading this committee. It could seriously undermine this important legislation.”

Yes, God forbid the legislation be harmed.

“And you were so worried about the harm I’d do that you put someone undercover to keep an eye on me.”

“To protect you from harm.”

Bullshit. More likely to preserve his reputation.

“And it turns out my fears weren’t unwarranted. Look at the mess you got yourself into. It’s a good thing we had a federal agent on hand to save the day.”

Instantly it clicked. Rick. Oh, God, it was Rick. He was the federal agent.

That’s why he’d “dumped” her. That’s why he’d nearly run out of her apartment that night. He couldn’t tell her who he really was. Then again, maybe she was just his assignment and nothing more. Maybe he didn’t care about her.

Or maybe he did, and he wasn’t supposed to.

God, she had to know, had to talk to him and find out.

“I want to talk to this federal agent.”

Her father shook his head. “Not possible.”

“It’s possible and you know it. I want to see Rick and now.”

Her father raised his brows. “You do not speak to me that way, Ava.”

Ava stood, so angry she could barely breathe. “Look. You’re the one who set me up. Do you think I’m such a child that you couldn’t have just come to me and talked to me rationally about your concerns? I’m an adult, Father. I understand legalities and your job and your reputation and PR. But no, you continue to worry more about the shit I might step in and how it might affect you, and worry less about how I feel. So now I don’t care how you feel. I need to talk to Rick.”

Her father looked stunned. Good. It felt damn good to finally unload her frustrations on him.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about. You have always been treated well.”

“Yes, like a caged pet.”

Her father stood. “I don’t need to listen to this.”

“Find Rick for me.”

He shook his head. “Getting involved with an undercover federal agent is unacceptable.”

She rolled her eyes, frustration knotting her stomach. “Oh please. He’s a federal agent. How much more aboveboard can it get?”

“No. I won’t have it.”

Then she realized her father’s refusal had nothing to do with Rick, or even her. It was about him, his political career. He didn’t care how she felt, never cared about what was important to her or what she wanted. Somewhere down the road he’d probably find some lawyer or politician that he thought would be a good match for her. Love didn’t matter with him. It never had. There was no love between her parents, so that shouldn’t surprise her. He’d expect her to be dutiful and find a man who would cement his political career.

Hell could freeze over before she allowed that to happen.

She marched to the front door and opened it. “Good-bye, Father.”

“We’ll speak again soon.”

Not likely.

She closed the door behind him, blinking back the tears that pricked her eyes.

Now she had no idea how to find Rick, no clue which branch of the government he even worked for.

And without her father’s connections, she was afraid Rick was lost to her.

FOURTEEN

“He’s moping.”

“It’s pathetic, really.”

“He might need an antidepressant.”

“Or, I could beat the shit out of him.”

“I’m in the f**king room, assholes.” Rick refused to turn around and acknowledge the other Wild Riders, who’d decided to give a verbal report to their superior officer, General Grange Lee, on the state of Rick’s emotional health.

General Lee rounded the corner of the main living area, where Rick was trying to lose himself in a video game.

“Is that true? You moping?”

“No, sir. I’m playing video games.”

“Yeah, he’s playing video games,” Diaz said, coming around to stand next to Grange. Diaz crossed his arms and stared down at Rick. “And he’s sucking at all of them.”

Grange arched a brow. “Rick, sucking at video games? You’re the house champ.”

“I’m a little off my game.”

AJ leaped over the sofa and grabbed one of the controllers. “Seriously off his game. Even Jessie can beat him.”

“Hey, dickhead, I heard that.” Jessie sauntered into the room, stuck out her tongue at AJ, and linked her arm with Diaz’s. “But seriously, Rick, you do look kind of sad.”

“I’m not sad. I’m not depressed. I’m not moping. Why don’t you all leave me the hell alone?”

“Now what fun would that be?” Mac asked as he came in, an apple in his hand. “You know none of us get to have secrets.”

“I don’t have any secrets.”

“He’s hung up on his last assignment,” Spence said, leaning his beefy frame against the doorway.

Rick had just about enough. He tossed the controller on the table and stood. “My last assignment is over.”

“Yeah,” Spence said with a laugh. “And that’s your problem. You fell in love with her.”

“Spoken by someone who knows all too well what it’s like to fall in love while on assignment,” Jessie teased.

Spence nodded. “You got me pegged, darlin’. In fact, my lady is waiting for me at home. My paperwork is done, Grange. I’m outta here.” Spence pivoted, but stopped and half turned. “Rick, trust me. If you love her, go tell her. The ache doesn’t go away.”

“I don’t love her.” But he couldn’t look at any of them when he said it, because that was his problem. He couldn’t stop thinking about Ava, couldn’t get her face out of his mind. He didn’t like the way he’d left her, the things he’d said to her. He’d hurt her. It was wrong.

“All of you, go find something to do. You, come with me.” Grange motioned to Rick. And when Grange commanded, you went.

The rest of the team scattered, and Rick followed Grange into his office. The general shut the door and they took seats in front of the general’s desk.

“Okay, so this Ava Vargas. You love her?”

Leave it to Grange to be direct. “I don’t know.”

“Then go find out.”

“She was an assignment. She doesn’t even know who I really am.”

“Then go tell her.”

“Her lifestyle isn’t conducive to—”

“Boy, quit drumming up excuses. You guys had shit for upbringings, and very little love in your lives when you were younger. If it comes to you now, don’t spit in its face. Now get on your bike, go back to Las Vegas, and see if you can find a way to make it work with this woman.”

And just like that, it all fell together. Grange was right. “Yes, sir.”

The fresh air of campus had done a lot to clear her head. Seeing the colorful trees lining the sidewalks, stopping at a bench to eat lunch and soak up the fall weather all helped keep her mind off Rick. Spending time at the library and working with the counseling office to investigate different schools’ Ph.D. programs kept her busy enough that Rick didn’t creep into her mind until she crawled into bed at night. Only then did his face appear before her, only then did her mind dredge up memories of his hands on her, his mouth on her. Only then did her heart ache from missing him.

So she spent as much time as possible on campus, and she went to the gym for a couple hours every day, hoping by the time she fell into bed at night she’d be physically and mentally exhausted.

Her backpack filled with brochures and laden down with her laptop, she took a brisk walk from the library on her way to the administration building, breathing in the crisp air.

She paused when she heard the revving sounds of a motorcycle approaching behind her, sucked her bottom lip between her teeth, and shook off the moment of melancholy.

The bike would pass her shortly, and so would the feeling of loss.

The bike slowed as it approached behind her. She waited for it to turn at the nearby corner.

Go away. I don’t want to hear you. I don’t want to think about him.

She heard the bike’s throttle revving as it drew closer, closer. Unable to help herself, she turned, her heart leaping as Rick pulled up alongside her.

He parked just ahead of her, climbed off his bike, and removed his helmet, shaking out his dark hair.

He looked so damn good dressed in black leather chaps and matching jacket she wanted to melt right there on the cement walkway. She licked her lips, parched for a taste of him, for his touch.

“What are you doing here?” she asked as he stepped up to her.

He didn’t say a word, just pulled her into his arms and kissed her, a kiss filled with longing, with passion, that spoke volumes without him needing to say a word. He wrapped his arms around her, pulled her backpack off her shoulders so he could hold her closer. She moaned, felt like she was home again as she moved into his embrace, as his tongue swept in and found hers. And when he finally broke the kiss, she was out of breath, panting from shock and excitement and wonder.

“My name is Rick Benetti and I work undercover for the United States government. We’re called the Wild Riders, a special group of operatives. Not many people know who we are, because we work special projects for the government. I was assigned to keep an eye on you because of who your father is. My assignment didn’t include kissing you, touching you, making love to you, or falling in love with you, but I did all of those.”

Stunned speechless, Ava could only look at him, and listen, her heart rejoicing at what he said.

“I can’t tell you how bad I feel about what I said to you that night at the apartment. Part of it was needing to retain my cover. The other part was fear. No one has ever loved me before, Ava. I didn’t know how to handle it and I didn’t handle it well at all. I’m sorry. I hurt you and I know it and I feel like an asshole. If it makes you feel any better, I haven’t slept since I left you.”

She smiled. “That does make me feel a little better.”

“There’s a hole inside me without you. I hurt when I’m not with you. And I think that’s what love is all about. It means you hurt when you’re not with the person you love.”

She let the tears fall down her cheeks. She laid her hand on his chest, felt the strong beat of his heart. “Love is a scary thing. It’s risky.”

“I know. I’m afraid. I’ve never told anyone that before in my life.”

“I’m afraid too, Rick. But you’re worth the risk.”

“So are you.”

He pulled her against him again, kissed her breathless again, and when she no longer felt the chill in the air, when she began to sweat under her jacket, she pulled away, licked her lips, and swallowed hard.

He swept his knuckles against her cheek. “God, I missed you. Can we go to your place, because if I can’t get my dick inside you within the next ten minutes I might push you up against the tree here and f**k you.”

She laughed, and her body swelled with arousal at the thought of him taking her right here in front of the administration building. “I might like that.”

His eyes flashed heat. “Don’t tempt me.”

She’d like to tempt him, but her need for him was as great as his for hers. She grabbed his hand. “Come on.”

Fortunately, she lived right down the street from the campus. They hopped on his bike and were there a couple minutes later. Ava fumbled with the keys to the front door, but managed to open it with shaky hands. Rick pushed her inside, shut the door, dropped her backpack, and turned her around, his mouth on hers before she could draw her next breath.