Page 56 of Fallen Flame

Ever winked at me. “Never thought either of us would be saying those words, but yeah.”

I glanced toward the front door.

Oliver stood with his arms folded over his chest, listening to Jude. His expression was serious, his eyes still moving over the windows every few seconds.

“Girl, I never thought we’d have two hot bikers guarding the front door either.”

Ever followed my gaze. “How are things going with you and Oliver? His rejection still stinging?”

I looked at him and sighed. “Girl, that man is…” I closed my eyes and laughed under my breath. “That man is a puzzle I am dying to put the pieces together.”

“Oh,” Ever whispered.

I opened my eyes.

She was staring at me.

“What?”

“I don’t think I’ve ever heard you talk about a guy that way before.”

“Because a man like Oliver has never been in my orbit before.” My gaze drifted back to him. “Even though he’s being forced into my orbit because your hot biker pew-pewed someone.”

Ever rolled her eyes. “I would prefer to never think about that again.”

“Is that why you told your parents it was a cow?”

Ever laughed. “Yes, and I don’t think my parents would be cool with what really went down.” She grabbed a rag and wiped the counter. “I love my parents to death, but can I say I love them more when they’re at the cabin?”

I nodded.

“Same. Yesterday your mom told me I was filling the napkin holders too full and that I shouldn’t be on my phone when we don’t have customers. I’m supposed to be finding things to do during the lulls.”

Ever laughed. “Yeah, she told me that too.”

“She owns the place. She can’t boss me around.”

Ever gave me a look. “She definitely can.”

“Okay, fair.”

She sighed. “One more day, and they’ll be back on the road to the cabin.”

Jude called from the front door. “Ready for me to unlock the doors?”

Ever straightened and looked around the shop. Everything was clean. The machines were running. The chairs were down. “Open ‘em up.”

She held out her fist and I bumped mine against it. “Let’s do this.”

Chapter Thirteen

Oliver

Three days later, life had settled into something that almost resembled normal.

Almost.

The Dairy Bar had closed a half hour ago, and by the time we made it back to the clubhouse, it was pushing nine-thirty. More than half the club had headed over to the Social Club for the night, leaving the clubhouse surprisingly quiet.