"As confident as I can be." He thought about Team Red Dragon, about Marcus Steele's predatory smile, about all the ways this could go wrong. "It's a good bike. We've done everything we can to prepare."
"But?"
"But there are always variables you can't control."
She nodded like she understood. Maybe she did. Loss taught you that lesson better than anything else.
The waitress appeared at his table across the café, setting down plates of food, and Colby caught his eye with a pointed look.
"I should go," Hank gestured toward his friends, "they're waiting."
"Of course." But she looked almost disappointed. "Thanks for coming over."
He stood, then hesitated. The words came out before he'd fully thought them through.
"We're going to the pier for lunch later. The guys and I. If you wanted to join us."
Bree's eyebrows rose. "Is this a peace offering? For yesterday?"
"Maybe." He allowed himself a small smile. "We can take my truck."
She bit her lower lip, considering, and Hank found himself holding his breath waiting for her answer. When had he started caring so much about whether a woman he barely knew wanted to have lunch with him?
"I'll think about it," she said finally.
It wasn't a yes, but it wasn't a no either. Hank would take it.
"Think hard," he said, then walked back to his table before he could say something stupid.
Brian and Colby were grinning like idiots when he sat down.
"Smooth," Brian said. "Real smooth."
"Shut up."
"Did she say yes?" Colby asked.
"She said she'd think about it."
"That's basically a yes," Brian declared. "In girl speak, 'I'll think about it' means 'yes, but I don't want to seem too eager.'"
"How would you know?" Colby asked. "When's the last time you talked to a woman?"
"I talk to women all the time."
"Your sister doesn't count."
While they bickered, Hank let his gaze drift back to Bree's table. She was talking to Carmen again, but even from across the café, he could feel the moment she glanced his way. Their eyes met, and she smiled.
Just a small curve of her lips, nothing dramatic, but it hit him like a punch to the chest.
"You're doomed," Colby said quietly, following his gaze. "Completely and utterly doomed."
Hank picked up his fork and focused on his breakfast, ignoring the knowing looks from his friends.
The problem was, Colby was probably right.
Chapter 7
