Chapter 1

CHAPTER ONE

“What would it take to convince you to go out with me?”

The deep bass voice flowed over her, flowing down her spine like warm molasses – dark, full bodied, and delicious.

Jayne Sawyer looked up and froze for a few seconds at the sight of the tall, broad, leather and denim clad biker standing in front of her table. She wasn’t sure if she should run, scream for help, or throw herself over the card table that stood between them and beg him to take her, take her now.

So enthralled by the pitch of his voice, his words barely registered. Not wanting to appear a brainless twit for not paying attention, she answered the question that she’d been asked three times since setting up at the Havelock Chili Festival.

“The festival doesn’t open for another hour. The tastings begin at noon.”

She expected him to walk away so she finished tossing the crocheted yellow ducks into their basket. Turning, she jumped in surprise. He was still standing three feet behind her, his feet planted wide and his arms crossed over his chest.

His broad, powerful, black T-shirt and black leather-covered chest.

A biker.

A shiver of fear ran through her even as her body and face grew warm and needy. Why would a biker want to talk to her? She was a newly retired nurse selling soft toys at the local chili festival. Then she took a good look at him.

Tall, dark, and yummy. Just the kind of bad boy vibing manly-man she always dreamt of being with. His hair flowed back from his face like a lion’s mane. It was the darkest auburn she’d ever seen but definitely had a glow of red to it. His closely trimmed beard was even darker, but still with a reddish glow to it. The early morning sun glinted off the strands, causing them to glow with reddish-gold fire. His eyes were hidden behind super dark sunglasses.

He smirked down at her before dropping his arms and sliding his hands into the front pockets of his jeans. That move drew her eyes to his jeans and the almost obscene bulge pressing at the zipper between the pockets.

She swallowed hard and forced her gaze back to his face. Now he was grinning, looking devilishly sexy, and making her wish for a moment that the day, which had just begun, was already over. She needed to go home so she could wear out her vibrator to memories of this sexy beast and all the things she wanted to do to him.

“I know the festival starts in an hour, sweetheart. I’ve been here since before dawn getting our chili pot going while the rest of the club helped other vendors with shlepping and setup. My question was, and still is, what will it take to convince you to go out with me?”

Jayne inhaled at the slight tone of rebuke. “Sorry. It’s been a long day already.”

Though his appearance ticked every one of the boxes on her list for a future man in her life, he also appeared younger. At least ten or fifteen years younger. Or more. She’d never been good at guessing ages. Though everyone told her she looked ten years younger than her fifty-five years. And in society these days, age did not seem to matter anymore.

Instead of laughing at his question, she turned back to the table and began to empty a large trash bag full of quilted teddy bears she’d made from denim, camouflage, and canvas she’d salvaged from the thrift shop trash bins for being unsaleable.

“Would you like me to come back and ask again once you’re finished setting up?” he asked after nearly a minute of silence.

“Why?” she finally asked.

“Excuse me?”

“Why? Is this a dare or something? You’re trying to win a bet? Why would you want to go out with me?”

Jayne knew her questions were blunt to the point of rudeness, but her history with men wasn’t anything to brag about. She had a feeling a date with this hot hunk of biker would be another disaster to add to the pile of past mistakes. Either that, or he would ghost her before the date. That had happened in the past as well.

Jayne stared at the pile of teddy bears, hoping the biker could not see the blush now burning on her cheeks.

She knew what she looked like. No makeup, collar-bone-length brown hair pulled back into a high ponytail that exposed the more than a few white hairs that had begun showing up a few years ago. Her jeans and long, loose t-shirt covered by an oversized denim jacket that would come off later as the day warmed up, hid the extra twenty pounds she carried in abundant curves. She was hardly a prize, but she was here to sell stuffed animals, so looks weren’t all that important.

This man was a god, why would he be interested in a date with her?

A warm hand settled on her shoulder, gently pulling around so she could no longer hide from him. With a sigh, she tilted her head back and looked up at the face that had to be a foot higher than her own. She fought the wince when she saw her reflection in his sunglasses.

Like she had done moments before, he did not answer her question. Instead, he asked one that had her sucking air and swallowing hard. “Are you married, engaged, gay, or otherwise spoken for?”

Jayne slowly shook her head side to side. “No.”

“Good. Then back to my original question. What would it take to convince you to go out with me?”

King knew he was pushing hard, but the woman had caught his attention from the moment she had arrived in the park. After watching her for the better part of an hour, he could tell she was strong, independent, and didn’t fool around. She also seemed to glow with vitality in the early morning sunlight.

The only time she had accepted assistance from anyone was when she put up her gazebo tent that would provide her with welcome shade later in the day. Every other time someone offered help, she smiled and shook her head.

She intrigued him though he could not explain why. He wanted to learn more so he could understand what drew him to her.

He wanted to take her out on a date.

And more.

So much more.

All he had to do was figure out how to convince her that he was worth her time.

She finally turned to him and looked up into his eyes. Her cheeks were pink and he could read a wariness in her eyes. “Come back later and I’ll try to have an answer for you, though I’d also like answers to my own questions.”

He nodded. “Good enough. I’ll see you later.”

“Uh-huh,” she responded, not convinced that he would return.

He would just have to prove to her differently.