“I designed everything in here to be able to be used while in motion but also to be stored away out of sight,” he said. He proceeded to show her all the features. Besides all the storm chasing items he’d need, the converted van had a small kitchenette.
“Let me show you what I had added. This area used to be where we’d store clothing and extras. It was basically a big dumping ground for stuff. I added this bed that pulls down from the ceiling and this, which is a shower and a separate toilet,” he said.
The smile on his face brought one to hers. The wind picked up and his hair blew across his face. He slipped his hand into his pocket. He had a hair tie he used to twist his hair into the sexiest man bun she’d ever seen. None of the men she’d seen hanging aroundthe bar with long hair had ever looked as sexy as Twist did with his hair up.
“I’d love to make sure Storm Sweeper sounds okay. How about I drive, and you show me around the town?” Twist asked.
Showing Twist around would at least keep her busy and not make the mistake of sleeping with him. She had multiple reasons screaming in her head of why she shouldn’t sleep with him, but her body wasn’t listening. It had been years since she’d actually cared about the person she was having sex with. After she got out of the military when they’d lost Charity, she’d forced herself to pick up a guy or two just to remind herself that she was in charge and she would choose who she had sex with. It was something she needed to prove to herself, but it didn’t really give her any satisfaction, though the second guy had considered ita challenge. When she hadn’t come from having sex, he’d gone down on her until she faked one to get him to stop. It wasn’t that she couldn’t come with someone else; it had just been a really long time since she had.
She nodded. She let Mace know they were leaving for a while. With what they did, they didn’t take chances. When someone left the property, they let someone know.
Chapter Eleven
Twist finished his last bite of Annie’s applesauce bread and knew he’d be coming back for more. He could completely understand why people ordered from all over to have it delivered.
“That was so good. How do you all not weigh five hundred pounds with that available every day?” he asked.
Raven chuckled. “Oh, it’s really hard because what I like about it is it’s sweet but not overly sweet. To be a part of the quests, we have to participate in our physical training. If any of us skip more than three trainings in a week and there isn’t a reason why, we’renot allowed to participate in the quest. I have a need to find the man who hurt Charity. Less sugar for me helps me survive training. Plus, my family has a history of diabetes. I would like to hold that off as long as possible. Now, let’s head to an institution of the town before we swing by Honey Creek. It’s right on the highway. Melvin’s Thrifty Bargains.”
Twist was interested in getting to know Raven more, but she’d been on edge since Remi and Beth had brought Storm Sweeper. He wasn’t sure what was going on. It’s why he’d offered, under the guise of checking out his vehicle, to get to know the town. If there’d been anything wrong with his vehicle, Beth would have said something. He turned back onto the town’s main drag and saw the green and tan sign. The day had been warm but had cooled down now.Four men were sitting out front. Two had an oversized checkers board between them. One was holding a cat with a dog sitting by his feet. The fourth man was Britt’s dad.
Twist pulled into a parking spot and got out. He would have liked to open Raven’s door, but she was already out and waiting on the sidewalk for him.
“Looks like things turned out okay,” Samuel said, smirking.
Twist nodded and walked forward with his hand out. “It’s nice to meet you. Sorry for the confusion,” Twist said.
Samuel chuckled along with the other men at the table.
“Samuel was telling us about your excitement today,” one of the men by the checkerboard said.
“Twist, I’d like to introduce you to half of the Honey Creek Sentinels. Melvin ownsMelvin’s Thrifty Bargains and is in the overalls. My dad, Samuel, you’ve met. Hank is holding the town cat and runs the co-op, and Leroy is currently losing to Melvin at checkers,” Raven said.
“Honey Creek Sentinels?” Twist asked.
“We and our wives have watched out for Honey Creek for years. Now, with what the MC is trying to accomplish, our job is a little more. Let’s face it. No one worries about what they say around four men in their eighties drinking coffee, hanging around the co-op, or talking about cars,” Melvin said.
“We saw Gladys at the café, but where are the other ladies that make up your group?” Raven asked.
Melvin nudged the two bowls toward them, taking a wrapped peppermint puff candy out as he did. “They’re over at theschool. One of the newer families who moved to town didn’t have the money for costumes. You know my wife and your mom can’t let that happen. They offered to make all the costumes for the kids so the ones who didn’t have money wouldn’t feel different,” Melvin said.
Raven grabbed one of the red-and-white wrapped candies and cocked an eyebrow at him. He nodded his head. He’d try either candy. He remembered one of the guys getting care packages with the butterscotch candies while in the service. A sweet peppermint taste filled his mouth. Not too strong.
“I imagine sitting out here, you see a lot of what goes on,” Twist said.
All four men nodded. The cat finished the small bowl of cat food in front of her, swished her tail, and jumped down. The dog stood up from where it had been lyingand followed the cat as it walked down the sidewalk.
“Aren’t you worried about your animals getting hurt being loose like that?” Twist asked.
“That’s BamBam and Pebbles. They are the town’s animals. Strays that showed up one day. Everyone feeds them, and they spend the night in whoever’s house they show up to, or I have a door that their collars can trigger if they want to just have some time alone,” Melvin said.
Twist was starting to wonder what he’d stepped into. The town that wasn’t just a town. At least four couples knew and supported the MC’s quests. He wondered if that was all or if there were more. A dog and cat that basically did their own thing was something new for him.
“We’re going to head over to Honey Creek so Twist can see it. Mace has decided we’ll all have dinner together, so we’re on a time limit,” Raven said, tugging his arm toward his vehicle.
“Would’ve liked to check out his vehicle, but I understand, girl, if you need to visit Lover’s Lane with him,” Samuel called as Twist held the door for Raven to get in.
Raven leaned out a little. “I believe you have more experience there than I do, Dad,” Raven called out, then smirked. Twist shut her door and walked around Storm Sweeper to laughter from all the older men but Samuel.
