“He still around?”I ask out loud even though I already have Dice doing a deep dive on Lucy.
“Wants to be.Lucy just recently started taking his calls.”
Trouble.I twist the cap off the water bottle.“She seemed nervous with the stranger at the bar, but even before that.She was on edge.”
“She probably has reason to be.Plus Lindsey says Lucy is as sweet as they come and the woman doesn’t have a wild side at all.She could be a Sunday school teacher according to my sister.”
We both stand there quietly for a second.Then Nitro wipes his hands again and nods toward the road.“She works mornings at the diner until Lindsey opens up at noon.”
I can’t stop the way my head turns to the diner on instinct.He smirks.“What?”I question.
“You’re not subtle.”
“I didn’t ask about where she works.”
“You didn’t have to.”
I shake my head and take a long drink of water.“You’re all assholes.Every brother giving me shit over this woman needs a life or to find pussy to get lost in so you can all stop worrying about what I’m getting into.Fuckin’ assholes, the whole lot of you.”
“True.”He laughs, “But helpful assholes.”
I toss the empty bottle into the trash.“Give me the part for the fork lift so I can get back to work.”
Nitro hands it over.“Now what ya gettin’ into?”
“Whatever I want.”
He leans against the counter again.“Which might include breakfast.”
“Maybe.”
“At the diner.”
“Maybe.”
Nitro grins.“Try not to break any more furniture.”
“No promises.”
Ten minutes later I’m parking in front of Freedom Falls Diner.The place looks exactly like every small-town diner should—red vinyl booths, big windows, a faded neon sign in the front window that says OPEN.
I sit on the bike for a moment.Thinking.This is stupid.I don’t even know if she’s working today.And if she is?Walking in might freak her out.Last time she saw me I was throwing a man through a table.Not exactly a charming introduction.
Still…My eyes drift to the window.And there she is.
Behind the counter.Hair pulled back in a loose ponytail, wearing a pale blue diner uniform and pouring coffee for a pair of old men at the bar.She laughs at something one of them says.
The sound doesn’t reach me through the glass.But I can see it.
Bright.
Real.
Not scared at all.Something in my chest loosens.She’s okay.That should be enough.I should leave.Instead, I swing off the bike and walk toward the door.The bell over it jingles when I step inside.Lucy turns automatically.Our eyes meet.And the smile on her face freezes.
Not fear.Not exactly.
More like surprise.Intrigue even.
