Page 94 of Love, Lies, and Whiskey

“I know. Doc told me about their friend,” Lucas said more seriously. “Do you ride?”

“Kenny’s been riding for more than a year,” Seeley said. “He’s doing an exhibition at the Ride Clean event next weekend.”

“You should come check it out,” Kenny said. “It’s really cool. I did my first exhibition at the event last year after I finished going through one of the programs here.”

Surprised, Juliette glanced at Seeley, who nodded almost imperceptibly.

“You were in a program?” Lucas asked with a furrowed brow.

“Yeah, look.” Kenny pulled out his wallet and withdrew a gold card, handing it to Lucas.

Lucas read it aloud. “Member of the Redemption Ranch Family.” He turned it over. “If Lost, Please Return to.” He looked up and handed it back to Kenny. “I don’t get it. It has the address and phone number of the ranch.”

“Everyone who goes through our programs receives one, so they know they always have a safe place to come back to,” Seeley explained.

“Oh.” Lucas seemed to mull that over. “Kenny, what did you do to end up here?”

“I took a neighbor’s Beamer out for a joyride with their daughter. It was stupid, because my parents had already taken away my license. But I did a lot of stupid stuff back then.”

“Why?” Lucas asked.

“I don’t know. I was pissed. We had to move for my dad’s job, and my girlfriend back home broke up with me, and then she hooked up with my friend. It was a lot.”

“So you came here?” Lucas asked.

“I didn’t want to come here. My parents forced me to. I was pissed, but it was either that or get arrested for stealing the car. Looking back, I’m glad I ended up here. If I hadn’t, I’d probably still be doing bad shit.” He looked at Juliette. “Sorry.”

“It’s okay,” she said, glad he was sharing his story with them.

“Anyway, this place saved me from myself,” Kenny explained. “Dare was my therapist. His family, and the rest of the people here, they’re the best. I didn’t want to leave when I finished the program. Now I’m going to community college, riding with Billie, and working with Cowboy. It’s awesome.”

Billie and Dare were speeding toward the finish line, nose to nose. “Hold on a sec,” Kenny said. “They’re wicked competitive.” His gaze moved between the stopwatch and Dare and Billie as they crossed the finish line. “They’re so frigging fast.”

Their bikes fishtailed, kicking up dirt, causing Sadie to bark.

Lucas petted her. “They’re so cool.”

Dare and Billie climbed off their bikes and took off their helmets. “I nailed you, Mancini,” Dare said.

Billie smirked. “Yes, you did, but that was this morning, and I just beat your sorry butt.”

Dare laughed and smacked her ass. She scowled, and he tugged her into a hard kiss. “I love you.”

“You still lost,” she teased. They headed over, grinning like they were on top of the world.

“Hey, Juliette. Hey, Lucas,” Dare said. “Did you see me beat Billie?”

“You guys were incredible,” Lucas said.

“I was incredible.” Billie leaned closer to Lucas like she was sharing a secret. “Dare was mediocre, but don’t tell him that.”

Lucas laughed.

“I’m Billie, by the way. Mediocre’s wife. It’s nice to meet you, Lucas.”

“You too.” Lucas looked a little awestruck. “What do I have to do to learn to ride?”

“He’s got the Whiskey adrenaline bug, huh?” Dare asked, giving Seeley an approving nod.