Read Online Hidden Flames by Kennedy Layne - Free Book Online Page A

sit alone, and said that one of them had to always stay behind with their Harleys. The other option would have been to travel by car, but those types of engines would have failed an hour into the ash cloud. They’d made the right decision, even though their visible supplies did make them targets.
    “He knows how to use them, too.” Prue flashed a smile and turned to go. She’d made it to the door before stopping, something keeping her from leaving. She turned back, scanning the counter for what she’d missed. She finally spotted the hat with a Korean War Vet label on the front. “You’re a veteran.”
    “Yes, ma’am,” the older man said, modest pride filling his features for the sacrifice he’d made for his country. “What’s coming our way can’t be fought like the enemies we’ve known in the past, but the desperation in the people will be the same. True colors shine through and that’s when we’ll need to watch our backs. Desperations breeds disaster.”
    “My friend said nearly the exact same thing.” Prue pulled down her cap and gave the gentleman a nod of good fortune. “Be careful.”
    “You too, young lady.”
    Prue opened the door and let it close behind her as she made her way to the bikes. She fought the urge to go back inside and ask the veteran if he’d like to go with them. He’d just say no anyway, his mind set on staying in a place that was home to him. Owen was just putting his phone in one of the side pockets of his cammies, giving her a curious look at what had taken her so long.
    “Everything okay?” Owen asked, closing the distance and reaching for the handle on the pump before she had a chance to pick it up. Prue unscrewed the gas cap on both machines so that he could top them off. “Your worry lines are showing.”
    “Worry lines?” Prue raised an eyebrow at his statement. She liked it better when they worked together at the shop. He pretty much left her alone. “I don’t have worry lines.”
    “Yes, you do,” Owen countered with a smile. He lifted the nozzle from her bike and slid it into his. He caught her stare. His smile widened. “There are two lines that deepen in between your eyebrows when you’re fretting over a job.”
    “Fretting?” Prue definitely liked it better when there was a clear line in between their relationship. Owen was somehow invading her personal space without doing anything other than talking. She reminded herself that they both had bigger worries than what was happening between them, which there wasn’t. Her lips tingled, telling her something entirely different. “I don’t have worry lines and I certainly don’t fret .”
    Prue screwed the gas caps back into place while Owen secured the handle on the pump with a grin attached to his attractive face—too attractive and too distracting. She didn’t give him time to respond as she walked back toward the station, letting her next words carry in the wind.
    “I’m using the restroom before we start another leg of this trip.” Prue strolled back through the door, giving a wave to the veteran before she made her way to the back of the store. She quickly used the facilities and then washed her hands, all the while grateful that they would be back on their bikes shortly. The roar of the engines made it so they only spoke to one another when necessary. The older man was standing and looking out the window when she passed by, making her curious as to what he was watching. She pushed open the door and instantly saw what had spiked his interest. Four motorcycles had pulled up behind Owen and she didn’t like the looks of them. “You ready?”
    Prue had purposefully kept her voice low. She had her helmet secured within seconds, while Owen took his time. She figured he did that to indicate that the four other men and their interest didn’t bother him. It was more than apparent who the leader of this little group was. He was bigger than the others, with biceps larger than her thighs. His long,