“What are you doing?”

“Let’s go see if we can find Bo and Lacey.” He found the light, switched it on, and immediately wished he hadn’t. Her lips were puffy from his kisses, her hair messed up and out of its ponytail. She looked as wild as he’d imagined she’d been, her eyes a little glassy, her ni**les tight points against whatever flimsy bra contained them.

Damn. And his c**k was in no mood to be contained.

He cleared his throat and held out her jacket. “Ready to go?”

She lifted her chin, looked hurt. “Yeah, sure.” She stood, took the jacket, and put it on, wrapping it around herself like armor.

He hadn’t meant to hurt her, but he knew better than to push a woman into something she wasn’t ready for, even if she thought she was.

And God knows he shouldn’t have been doing this in the first place. It was probably a good thing something had happened to slap him back into reality.

This was work time, not playtime, and he needed to remember that.

They went back downstairs and found Bo and Lacey in the kitchen. Ava went to Lacey right away, huddled with her to talk. It was like she didn’t want anything to do with him.

He’d keep his distance for now. More watching, less touching. Safer that way and would make him less likely to get too deeply involved in this assignment. Or at least the woman of this assignment.

Ava was mortified, hoped that her mortification didn’t show on her face.

She’d all but thrown herself on Rick in the bedroom, which was totally unlike her. She just didn’t do things like that. She didn’t have sex—or almost have sex—with strange guys. But she would have, if Rick hadn’t been the one to put an abrupt halt on things.

So while she’d been busy throwing herself at Rick, he’d obviously been busy wondering how he could politely change his mind and get himself out of the bedroom and away from her. God, how embarrassing.

Lacey, on the other hand, had pink cheeks, mussed up hair, and looked like she might have had really great sex. And judging from the stupid smile on her face, there was no might about it.

“You’re grinning like an idiot.”

Lacey’s smile widened. Then she giggled. “Really?”

“Yes.”

“Sorry. I can’t help myself. I’m in love.”

Ava sat at the kitchen island with Lacey and shook her head. “You’re really gone over this guy, huh?”

Lacey sighed. “Yeah. I am. He’s wonderful, Ava.”

Ava swiveled around on the barstool and caught sight of Bo and Rick drinking beers and engaged in conversation with a couple other guys in the living room. She turned back to Lacey. “Okay, so tell me what’s so wonderful about him.” So wonderful that you quit school and completely changed your life.

“Everything. He’s romantic, gorgeous, sexy . . . he really pays attention to me, Ava. It’s like I’m the only woman around when I’m with him. I’ve never met anyone like him before.”

“You hadn’t really dated a bunch of guys, either.”

“I dated enough. All losers more interested in themselves than in me. Believe me, Ava, I know the difference between someone who genuinely cares about me and someone who doesn’t.”

“Do you?” She hated saying it out loud, but it was important that Lacey knew Ava cared about her, worried about her. “You gave up school to chase this guy around.”

Lacey frowned. “I didn’t chase him. He came after me. We met at a party and he started calling me and we went out. We just clicked, Ava. There was nothing and no one but the two of us after that.”

Didn’t she know it. Lacey had all but fallen off the face of the earth after she’d met Bo. “But, Lacey . . . school. It was so important to you. To just walk away from getting your master’s when you were so close . . .”

Lacey waved her hand in the air. “I can still get my master’s. You make it sound like my whole life is over just because I’m taking some time off.”

“Are you though? Just taking some time off? You’ve changed so much, Lacey.”

“Have I? I think I’m still the same. Maybe I’m not the way you want me to be and you don’t like that.”

“No, that’s not it at all.”

“Isn’t it?” Lacey put her elbows on the countertop and leaned forward. “Look, Ava. I love you. We’ve been best friends forever—we’re so close we’re like sisters. But we both have to grow up. I know you like your life orderly, where nothing ever changes. But everything evolves—including relationships and people. Life comes along and we have to roll with it. I had a chance at adventure and I grabbed it. There’s nothing wrong with that.”

“Of course not.” She made Ava sound selfish. Was she? She hadn’t thought so. She was just worried about her best friend.

“And I’m thrilled you’re here and experiencing my new life with me. Maybe it’ll—I don’t know—take you out of your regimented lifestyle and teach you how to bend a little.”

“Excuse me?”

Lacey laid her hand over Ava’s. “You like your life the way it is, the way it’s always been, where you follow the same pattern that’s been laid out for you your entire life. You’re very . . . controlled.”

“What? I am not.”

Lacey laughed. “Yes, you are. You have to be in charge. That’s not a bad thing. It’s just the way you are and always have been. You like everything orderly and in a way that you can control it. I used to be the same way. And it worked fine for me for a while, but now it doesn’t. After I met Bo I realized how much I was missing—how much life I was missing. Now I want something different. I want this life. Maybe later, I don’t know. And maybe this will give you a chance to experience something unique and new and who knows what will happen to you because of it. It’s a chance to let your hair down a little—get a little messy. Give up a little of your control. You could use it.”

Now Ava felt like she was defending her own life and her own choices. “There’s nothing wrong with my life. I’m doing exactly what I’ve always wanted to do.”

“Of course you are. School, more school, and becoming a social worker. You have a flowchart with every step—every day, every month, every year—mapped out so you know exactly where you’re going. No deviations. I know it’s what you’ve wanted forever. But it’s okay to step away from academia now and then and experience a different side of life, Ava. There’s a whole real life out here that’s not in textbooks.”

Ava blew out a breath, tried to hold in her irritation. “Of course there is. I know that.”

Lacey smiled. “Good. Then let’s just have fun this week.”

Lacey made it sound so simple, when Ava knew it wasn’t. Lacey hadn’t just decided to go on vacation, or even sabbatical. She’d tossed everything about her life into the trash to do . . . what exactly? Hang with a biker? Did she even have a job?

Lacey had planned on becoming a psychologist. She wanted to help people. Her entire life had been focused on her studies. Her goal was her career, her future. Just like Ava’s had always been.

And then just like that she’d tossed it all away. Years of education, the momentum of undergraduate and graduate school. Lacey was going to be so far behind now. Ava just couldn’t fathom it. Not the Lacey she knew.

But this Lacey didn’t want to talk about school or what she’d given up. This Lacey only wanted to have fun.

It was a lifestyle Ava simply couldn’t comprehend. And that’s why she was here, to see if she could figure out what the lure was that would account for Lacey tossing aside her education in favor of a romance with a biker.

And maybe, just maybe, convince her best friend to turn the corner and come back home—back to school—where she belonged.

“Hey, baby, how about we ride on outta here?”

Lacey lifted her head and her whole body perked up as Bo entered the kitchen and rounded the island to put his arms around her.

“I’m game. Wherever you want to go.”

Bo tilted her back in his arms and planted a long, passionate kiss on her lips. Ava turned away at the intimacy and her gaze landed on Rick, who stood next to her, smiling.

“You ready to ride, Ava?”

“Sure.” Not like she had a choice since she couldn’t very well call a taxi to this remote location.

They climbed on the bikes and headed back into town. One thing about the desert—no matter what time of year it was, it got cold at night—especially in the fall. Ava had no choice but to snuggle up against Rick’s back to keep the chilly wind from penetrating through her jacket. Next time she was definitely dressing warmer.

Though she doubted there’d be a next time, at least not with Rick. Not after tonight.

Once they’d returned to the Strip, they pulled into the hotel parking lot and got off their bikes.

“I need to go get my bag from my car so I can check in,” Ava said.

Lacey looked to Bo, who had a tight hold on her hand, obviously eager to drag her up to their room.

“I’ll walk to your car with you,” Rick said. “You two can go on ahead.”

“Great.” Lacey waved to Ava. “See you in the morning.”

Nothing like getting dumped by your best friend. “’Night.”

Ava pushed the elevator button. “My car’s on another level. You really don’t have to stay with me.”

“I’d feel a lot better if you weren’t wandering around in a parking garage at two in the morning by yourself. If that’s okay.”

She managed a smile. “Yes, that’s okay. Thank you.”

Once on the next level she retrieved her bag from her car and they rode up to the lobby. “Have you already checked in?”

He nodded. “Earlier today.”

“Okay. Well, good night then.”

She went to the desk and once she’d checked in, headed to the elevators. Rick was standing there. She cocked her head to the side.

“Again, I don’t like the idea of you wandering around by yourself. I’ll walk you to your room.”

Okay, chivalry definitely wasn’t dead. At least not in Rick’s case. Why did he have to be so freakin’ charming? Especially since it was obvious he didn’t want her? “Thanks. Again.”

They rode the elevator up to her floor. Rick grabbed her bag and took the key from her hand, then led her down the hall to her room. He slid the key card in the lock and opened the door for her. She flipped on the light and turned to face him, but Rick walked inside. Ava shrugged and closed the door, followed him while he flipped on the bathroom light as if he were looking for . . . something.

He pulled the shower curtain aside, then moved out of the bathroom and into the bedroom, checking things out.

Checking for what, she wasn’t exactly sure. He finally set her bag on the bed and handed her the key.

“Okay, you’re good to go.”

“What were you doing?”

“You can never be too careful about hotels. I just wanted to make sure you were safe.”

She melted just a little bit. “Thank you, Rick.”

He seemed to want to linger, as if there was something he wanted to say. Or do.

She wished.

But then he took a step back. “I’ll let you get some sleep.”

She walked him to the door and opened it.

“Rick.”

He paused, turned around. “Yeah?”

“Where’s your room?”

He cocked his head to the left. “Just a few doors down. Room 238. Call me if you need anything.”

“Okay. Good night.”

He paused, then leaned in and brushed his lips against hers. Soft, easy, and oh she wanted so much more.

“’Night.”

She closed the door and locked it, leaned against the wall and sighed.

This night could have been a lot different, if only . . .

If only what? If only she were more like Lacey? More adventurous, less rigid? Wasn’t that what Lacey had suggested?

She wasn’t that rigid.

She also hadn’t been the one who had stopped things in the bedroom at Joey’s house. Rick had.

But why?

She unpacked her bag and pondered the situation, thinking back to the two of them kissing, how Rick’s mouth had felt on her. She placed her hand on her neck where his mouth had been, shivering at the remembered contact, how it had made her insides dissolve in a puddle of want and need.

A shower would dissolve any remnants of his touch. She slid under the warm spray and closed her eyes, imagining Rick in the shower with her. His hands soaping her body, cupping her aching br**sts and torturing her rigid nipples. She lifted her hands and did just that, which only served to fuel the flames even hotter. She let her hand drift down, over her belly and between her legs, cupping her sex. Her gasp made her eyes shoot open.

With a sigh of frustration, she finished her shower and dried off, brushed her teeth and slid na**d under the covers, figuring it was late enough she’d fall asleep right away.

No such luck. Not with her body throbbing with the incessant need for an orgasm. An orgasm she was denying herself.

Why, exactly? She’d certainly seen to her own needs before, so why not tonight?

Because you’d had your chance to be with a rockin’ hot biker guy, and somehow you blew it.

And that’s what bothered her the most. She didn’t know what she’d done to turn him off so abruptly. Maybe if she found out the answer, she could go to sleep.

She reached over and flipped on the switch for the lamp on the nightstand, and stared down at the room number she’d hastily scrawled on the pad of paper.