“Who would ever think to name their kid that?” He was full blown laughing now as the hilarity of my unfortunate name really sunk indeep.
“A deadbeat and ahooker.”
The bartender practically jogged down the bar after my name hit the air and gave Abel a stern look. “Table.Now!”
“Everything all right,Bucky?”
The gruff old man narrowed his eyes. “The meeting was supposed to start fifteen minutes ago, son. I’ll be up in a second. Rich is looking forya.”
Another bartender without a cut on slid behind the bar and all of the bikers filed through a door at the back of the bar. Abel was gone in a flash, without the slightestgoodbye.
The young guy—who couldn’t be much older than eighteen judging by his patchy beard mixed with peach fuzz—walked over to me. “Miss? Care for another?” He pointed at my almost empty bottle and Inodded.
After taking a sip of the fresh icy cold amber goodness, I looked up at the guy playing on his phone. “Do you know a good motel closeby?”
He smiled, glancing up from the screen. “Oh yeah, we have one just a block north of here, right off the main road. Can’t missit.”
“Great, thanks. What’s your name?” I felt chatty, even bored, and I was great at flirty small talk. I figured, why not chat up this cutie and hopefully get some details aboutAbel?
“Me? I’mHolt.”
“Oh crap, I almost forgot.” I dug the koozie out of my purse and placed it on mybeer.
Holt’s eyebrowraised.
“What? You don’t want cold hands or warmbeer.”
“Yeah. I guess you’reright.”
“Are you from around here, Holt?” I twirled a long curl between my fingers and stared into his dark browneyes.
“Born and raised.” His drawl was thick as he wiped the bar top with a wet towel. “What aboutyou?”
“I’m from a few states over. Making a break for it.” I chugged half mybeer.
“Running ain’t always a bad thing. Vilas is a good town. Hopefully you’ll like ithere.”
“How much do I owe you forthese?”
I bit my lip slowly and watched Holt’s cheeks flare as he rubbed the back of his neck and stuttered a bit. “It was taken care of.” He held up his hand to stop me from taking my wallet out of mypurse.
I raised my eyebrow at him. “Really?”
He nodded. “Abel told me to put it on his tab. So you’re good togo.”
Wow. Sweet, mysterious, and hot. I might have to give this town and Abel a trialrun.
“Thanks, Holt. Maybe I’ll see youaround.”
He nodded. “Hope you get somerest.”
“I look that bad,huh?”
Holt smiled sweetly as he shook his head. “Nah, you just look like you’ve been traveling for a while and need a hot shower and abed.”
“Well then I look the way I feel. That Abel guy, he’s all right?” I should have been more subtle, but I was worn out and beating around the bush seemed more draining than what it wasworth.
“Yeah, he’s one of the best guys I know. Tough skin but a fucking heart ofgold.”
“Good to know.” I chugged the rest of my beer and threw a couple dollars on the bar. Holt’s sweet smile spread wider as the guys came back out from the backroom, or abyss, or wherever they’d all run off to in such a hurry. To my dismay, Abel was not in the group that filed back into their bar seats. I waved goodbye to Holt and made my way to finally get the shuteye that I desperatelyneeded.
