“We’re supposed to be an established couple, and that’s the information that will trip us up when we’re questioned by the Blackthorn Riders and we come up blank. Plus, I want to know to satisfy my curiosity.”
“All right.” Iona tightened her hands around the steering wheel. “I want to write a book someday.”
He was silent long enough that she glanced over at him before returning her gaze to the asphalt ribbon unwinding in front of them. Was silence good, bad, or neutral? One good thing? He wasn’t laughing, as she’d feared he would. Instead, Elias looked thoughtful.
“What kind of book?”
Her cheeks burned. She wished she’d chosen another dream to share instead of being honest about this one. “A romance.” There. She’d owned up to it. What would he do with the information?
“Ah, so you’re a closet romantic.” He fell silent again.
“You won’t ask why a black ops soldier wants to write romance?”
“I don’t need to. You view the world in black-and-white when you’re on the job, and the endings aren’t always good. If you write a romance, your characters will go through a tough time, but the ending will be happy. It’s a requirement of the genre.”
“Insightful. All right. It’s your turn. What your biggest dream, Elias?”
“I want to learn to play the piano.”
Huh. Not what she’d expected of Elias. “Are you taking lessons?”
He snorted. “When would I have time to do that?”
“If you have the right teacher, he or she will accommodate your strange schedule.”
“Maybe.”
“We know someone who plays the piano.”
“Who?”
“Darcy Kincaid. She was a concert pianist until her health forced her to change careers.”
“I’d forgotten that Rio’s wife was a pianist. She lives in Otter Creek, though. I don’t see how she can help me learn to play.”
“We can ask. Perhaps she’d be willing to teach you over a videochat or recommend a teacher for beginners in this area.”
“I don’t know, Iona. She’s busy running her deli.”
“It doesn’t hurt to ask.”
“Before I do that, I’d have to buy a piano to practice on.”
“We can definitely ask for Darcy’s input on purchasing a piano. She has to have played on many pianos and must have opinions on the best brand. Send Rio a message and tell him you’d like to contact his wife and why. I’m sure he won’t mind. You can do this, Elias. I know you can.”
He was silent for a beat, then burst into laughter.
“What is it? Share the joke.”
“Not a joke, really. I was thinking how ironic it was for me to learn to play the piano when I grew up in a motorcycle club known for delivering death to people who didn’t fall into line with my father’s rules.”
“You said you were on the road frequently, that the MC didn’t stay in one place for long. Where did your love for piano music come from?”
“Radio. I was riding my motorcycle on this country road and flipping from one radio station to another. I landed on a classical music station where they were playing a recording of a piano concert. It mesmerized me.”
“Do you know the name of the piece?”
“Moonlight Sonata by Beethoven. The pianist was amazing.”
