Wild Desire: A Curvy Girl Steamy Romance (Wild Heart Mountain: Wild Rider’s MC Book 14)

My satin dress clings to my thighs as I pace the pavement in front of the vineyard where the party is being held. Specs said he’d meet me here, and my stomach is in knots as I await his arrival.

I have no idea what my parents will make of the big biker.

As I look at the fairy lights adorning the vineyard’s courtyard and the elegant women arriving in SUVs with tinted windows, I wonder if I’ve made a mistake.

The roar of a bike has my stomach churning, and I clench my fists together on my sweaty palms. A Harley weaves its way through the line of SUVs.

The valet eyes the bike warily and speaks into his headset, no doubt warning security there might be trouble.

Specs pulls the bike into a small space, and I get to him just as the valet does.

“I’m sorry, sir, there is a private function on this evening.”

I hasten forward and put a hand on Specs’s leather-clad arm. “He’s with me.”

The valet gives me a curt nod. “Apologies, Miss Roper.”

He turns to Specs, and if he has any doubts about the big biker, he doesn’t show it. “Would you like me to park your bike for you?”

“Hell no.” Specs slides off the Harley. “No one touches my girl.”

As he says the words, his eyes dart to me, and a delicious shiver races down my spine.

The valet steps back to assist another arrival, and Specs’s gaze remains on mine. He’s trimmed his beard into a neat style, and the scent of masculine cologne reaches me. Heat pulses through my body, and my stomach does a double flip.

“I’m sorry about the valet. That was rude.”

Specs shrugs. “That’s what I’m here for, isn’t it? To cause a stir?”

He’s right. This is a fake date, I remind myself. Nothing more.

We head to the covered walkway that leads through to the terrace where the party is happening. Lanterns hang in the walkway, their soft light absorbed by the stone walls.

On the other side of the passageway is the hustle and bustle of the party. I hear the sound of glasses clinking, chatter, and high-pitched laughter.

I take a deep breath. My parents are in there with every single one of their business partners and associates. Am I really doing the right thing?

Specs stops before we get to the end of the passage and step into the light.

“Hey.” He turns to face me. “I can leave if you want me to.”

In the dim light, his face looks softer. His kind eyes peer at me, full of concern. Even if we weren’t doing this for show, Specs is exactly who I want to be by my side.

“No,” I say. “I invited you. Let’s go to the party.”

He takes my hand, and warmth shoots up my arm. “Let’s do this.”

We step out the other side of the walkway and into the party.

Soft light illuminates the paved area in front of us where guests mingle. Fairy lights run along every pathway, and torches blaze in iron torch holders.

A string quartet plays classical music, and the strains of a violin ring out across the vineyard. Beyond the paved area, the ground dips to a walled rose garden, and beyond that, the lines of grape vines fade into the darkness.

I take a deep breath as I scan the crowd, looking for my parents. People close to us stop and stare at Specs. Soon, the entire party is looking at us.

I tense. This is what I wanted, right? To make a scene. But I hate the attention on us.

Specs squeezes my hand. He doesn’t look bothered at all, and that makes me mad. He should be bothered that these snobby assholes are staring at him because he looks different from them.

Instead, he nods toward the bar in the garden. “Let’s get a drink.”

He walks casually, and the crowd parts for him, eyeing his Wild Riders MC patch as we pass.

Ladies frown at me in disapproval. I hear the words whispered: “That’s Cassie Roper. That’s Ian and Lynn’s daughter.”

There are disapproving looks from the women, but not all of them. One woman, sucking on a cigarette with thick wrinkles around her eyes, looks Specs up and down and raises an eyebrow in appreciation. She winks at me and smiles, and I smile back at her. The gesture gives me confidence, and I square my shoulders and lift my chin.

Why shouldn’t Specs be here? I was invited to the party, and he’s my plus one.

I tilt my shoulders back and hold my head high.

We get to the bar, and Specs leans casually on the counter. If he’s feeling self-conscious, he doesn’t show it.

“What can I get you to drink, Cassie?”

I don’t usually drink, but tonight I need something strong.

“Rum and Coke, please.”

The bartender frowns at me. “You sure you wouldn’t like some champagne or a cocktail?”

I’m about to change my order. It would be the right thing to do. But I’m tired of pretending with my parents. I’ve been the good daughter for so long. I’m wearing a dress they would approve of. I’m here at their party. But I just want to be myself for once.

“No,” I say firmly. “A Rum and Coke, please.”

“Certainly.” The bartender turns to Specs, and he rubs his beard.

“Don’t suppose you serve beer at a party like this?”

The bartender motions to a fridge behind him. “Of course we do, sir. I’ve got some of the finest craft beers. I recommend this local one from the Wild Taste Brewery.”

Specs chuckles. The Wild Taste Brewery is the brewery that the Wild Riders MC runs. I know he’s thinking exactly what I am. If the vineyard is good enough to serve their beer, then why is everyone looking at him like he doesn’t belong?

“I’ve heard that’s good beer,” he says with a chuckle.

The bartender takes a bottle from the fridge and slides a glass along the counter.

Specs holds up his hand. “I prefer drinking it from the bottle.”

“Certainly.”

The bartender hands over the bottle. Specs takes the beer and turns around to lean his elbows on the bar as he faces the party.

There’s a tap on my shoulder, and I spin around to find my dad. He’s got a smile plastered on his face, but his eyes burn with anger.

“Hello, Cassie. I didn’t know you were bringing anyone.”

I give him a bright smile. “This is Specs. He’s my plus one.”

My dad, aware that every eye in the vicinity is on him, offers a polite hand to shake.

“Specs. That’s an unusual name.”

Specs takes his hand and I tense, worried Dad is going to do something stupid like try to assert dominance with a power handshake. If he does, Specs doesn’t show it.

“It’s my road name,” he says. “But you can call me Paul.”

I glance around at Specs, or Paul. In the years I’ve known him, this is the first time I’ve learned his real name.

“Paul,” I say softly, trying it out.

His eyes flick to mine, and something smolders in them.

“Cassie,” my dad says. “Can I speak to you for a moment?”

Specs’s look turns sharp. “Will you be okay?”

He’s been playing it casual, but I can tell he’s ready to protect me if I need it.

“Yeah,” I say. “I’ll be back in a minute.”

Dad takes me by the arm, and his fingers dig into my forearm as he leads me a few steps away to a quiet part of the garden. He’s smiling at people and saying hello as we walk past, but as soon as we’re in the shadows, he drops my arm and the smile fades.

“What the hell are you doing, Cassie?”

I take a sip of my drink and feign innocence. “Enjoying the party.”

“You know what I mean. Why did you bring a patched member of a motorcycle club to our party?”

His disapproval is like a pang to the heart. This is what I wanted, isn’t it? I wanted to get my parents’ attention. But now that I have it, it feels all wrong.

I wanted them to be shocked that I brought Specs along. But now that they are shocked, I’m angry. I’m angry that they can only see a biker. They don’t see the man that he is.

“He’s my date,” I say, sticking my chin out.

“Since when are you dating?” Dad runs a hand through his hair. “This is Isabella’s influence, isn’t it? Ever since she married that biker, you’ve been running with a bad crowd.”

I scoff. “If you mean a group of veterans who served this country, then yeah, I’ve been hanging out with them.”

“He’s a patched member of a motorcycle club, Cassie. He’s wearing the jacket, and these are all our most important business partners. Don’t you know how much this means to your mother and me?”

And there it is. The only thing my parents care about: their business.

Dad isn’t concerned I might be hanging out with a bad crowd; he’s concerned about how it reflects on his business.

“I’m sorry if your business associates are snobs, Dad, but if you want Paul to leave, you’ll have to chuck him out.”

Dad will never cause such a scene, and we both know it.

He glares at me, and I casually take a sip of my drink. He glares at my tumbler, no doubt willing it to turn into an elegant champagne flute.

I swirl the ice around in the bottom of the glass and knock the drink back. It burns my throat, and I school my features so he doesn’t notice.

He glances over to Specs, and I follow his gaze. Specs is leaning on the bar, deep in conversation with a man in a pale blue suit. He’s also drinking a Wild Taste beer straight from the bottle.

It seems not everyone here is a snob like my parents.

Dad frowns and starts back toward the bar.

The man looks over as we approach and raises his beer bottle to dad. “I didn’t know your daughter was so well connected.”

Dad’s eyes widen in surprise.

“Paul’s the financial director for the Wild Taste Brewery.” The man stares at his beer bottle thoughtfully. “His MC runs the place.”

There’s irritation behind Dad’s eyes, but he hides it well.noveldrama

“Is that so?” he says coolly.

The man sips his beer and smacks his lips. “We’re looking to add craft beer to our offering. One of our big distributors in France is asking for it.”

Specs nods sagely. I’ve never seen this side of him, the businessman. Whenever I’ve been at the club, he’s either got his head in a spreadsheet, his bike engine, or a book.

“Here’s my card.” The man pulls a card out of his breast pocket and hands it to Specs. “Let’s arrange a meeting.”

“I’ll have Quentin give you a call.” Specs pockets the card. “He’s the man to speak to.”

The man offers his hand, and they shake.

I turn to my dad, whose smile is plastered on. My smile is genuine. Specs was meant to shock my parents, and he has, but I’m pleased not everyone is as judgy as my dad.

“Is that your Harley outside?” Another man comes up to Specs, and they get into a conversation about bikes.

Dad huffs away, and I order another drink. Specs was meant to shock, but he fits into my world easier than expected, except with my parents.