“Don’t care, Axel.”
His older brother made a quick stern face, but then laughed as he walked away. “Bye, Ria,” he called over his shoulder.
Cam exhaled loudly and his shoulders dropped an inch in obvious relief. “That was close.”
“He’s nice, your brother.”
“He’s okay.” Cam looked down into her face. “He’s right about one thing.”
“What’s that?”
He held out a hand. When she took it, he pulled her to her feet to face him. “Your face is extraordinary, not average or similar to anyone else.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” They were standing very close together. Their lips were only a few inches apart. She wanted to kiss him. Hadn’t they been about to kiss when Axel showed up?
“I meant to thank you for coming to my rescue earlier at the biker bar,” she said, placing her palm on his chest. His hand covered her fingers and squeezed gently.
“I think you already thanked me on the way out of the biker bar, didn’t you?”
“Still, I should say it again because I was really scared, but I knew you’d protect me.”
“Of course. What else could I do?”
Cam moved closer. Ria met him halfway for an achingly sweet kiss. Their lips barely touched for single sizzling second…
“Cam, I forgot to tell you something.”
They broke apart like they’d been set on fire. Axel stood two steps behind Cam, wearing a smirk.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Cam said under his breath. “What is it?” he asked louder and in a more curt tone.
His brother smiled at his back. “Did I hear you say something about a biker bar, Ria? Did you go out for a ride on Cam’s motorcycle today?”
Cam practically growled. “What does that have to do with anything?”
“It doesn’t. I’m just collecting gossip.”
“Tell me what you came to say or get lost. I guess you know which choice I’m leaning toward, right?” Cam turned and took a step in Axel’s direction.
Axel pushed out a sorrowful sigh and closed his eyes as if about to impart something difficult. “It’s Aunt Dixie.”
Ria thought this sounded serious, but Cam seemed more resigned than worried when he said, “What about her?”
“She took a trip out of town for the next week and a half or so.” Axel’s eyebrows went up and down a couple of times, as though trying to convey a coded message.
Cam straightened and his doleful expression disappeared. “Really? Where’d she go?”
Axel shrugged. “Don’t know, but she took Miss Penny with her.”
Who’s Miss Penny?
“Miss Penny? Juliana’s old neighbor?” Cam was surprised.
Juliana had basically brought the elderly woman with her to Alienn when she moved in with Diesel. Miss Penny was an interesting character with a few untold stories in her past. She had moved into the Starlight Old Folks’ Home, which was also Aunt Dixie’s pet project, though she rarely seemed to stay there. More often than not, she could be found traipsing around Alienn with his aunt, getting into trouble.
