“What the hell is going on here?” Jonas demanded.
“Go away, Jonas,” Preacher said. “I mean it. The last thing I need is for you to come in here and make this more difficult. And take this horrid little fairy creature with you. If you don’t, I’m going to have to tie her up and put her in the back room with a gag on her.”
“Preacher, I swear I’m going to shoot you,” Jonas said. “Let go of Sabelia right now, and Hannah, it would be best if you stop massaging Player’s arm.”
“Put the gun away,” Hannah said.
“Go away,” Preacher repeated simultaneously with Hannah.
Hannah burst out laughing, the sound filling the shop with genuine merriment. At once the mood seemed to change dramatically. The sun seemed to shine brighter.
“I’m not putting the gun away, Hannah, until you stop massaging Player’s arm.”
“I’m working,” she clarified. “What are you doing here?”
Player would have liked to pull his arm out from under Hannah’s hands. That gun hadn’t wavered, not one inch, steady as a rock, and it wasn’t pointed at Preacher, which technically wasn’t in the least bit fair. He was the one with his fist locked in the clerk, Sabelia’s, hair. That should have gotten him the gun.
“Just what kind of work are you doing, Hannah?” Jonas demanded.
“Jonas,” Preacher hissed through gritted teeth. “Leave now and take this . . . this person with you. You may not be aware, but your wife just happens to be a genius. A true genius. A fuckin’ goddess. I need to talk to her without interruption. Take Player with you, even if you have to remove him at gunpoint. Take everyone, but just leave.”
“He’s crazy, Jonas,” Sabelia informed Jonas in a haughty tone. She rubbed her scalp when Preacher released her. “Certifiably insane. Arrest him and put him in jail.”
“For what?”
She wiggled her fingers. “For not recognizing the difference between sex education and anatomy, for one. And he thinks I’m the moron. He should be jailed for that alone.”
Jonas holstered his gun, which Player thought was a good idea since the man was beginning to look harassed, not that he could blame him. He wanted to ask if it was always like that around his wife’s shop. Hannah’s blue eyes sparkled at her husband.
“What the hell are you talking about, Sabelia?” Jonas demanded and then held up his hand. “Don’t tell me. I don’t want to know. Hannah.” He stopped. Shook his head. Turned and walked out.
Sabelia smothered a laugh with her fingertips over her mouth.
“Sex education and anatomy, Sabelia?” Hannah asked.
“Apparently, Preacher isn’t aware of the difference, so I was trying to educate him,” Sabelia said, reaching around Preacher’s body to try to collect the packaging that was strewn all over the table.
Preacher’s hand slammed down over the paper, locking it in place. “I told you I was buying that. Don’t touch it. I’m in a discussion here. Run along and find your broomstick. Sweep the shop or do whatever it is you normally do.”
“Don’t be rude to my help, Preacher, or you will be leaving,” Hannah warned.
“She was rude to me, and she tried to have me arrested. She called Jonas just because I’m a biker. Not for any other reason. She deserves to have someone put her in her place.”
Hannah looked at her employee. Sabelia met her eyes and then looked away. “I’ll start cleaning the store, Hannah.”
Hannah nodded. “I would like to finish with Player before we talk, Preacher. He’s here for a specific reason, and I’m working with him. If you’d like to wait, I’ll be happy to talk with you after we’re done. You’re welcome to sit at one of the tables and have a cup of coffee or tea.”
“Try some tea, Preacher, something soothing,” Player suggested.
Preacher glared at Player. “I don’t suppose you—”
“No,” Player cut him off, exasperated.
“I’m going to annoy the hell out of that little she-devil,” Preacher said. “So you’d better make it fast, Player. Otherwise she’ll call Jonas back here. If he catches his wife with her hands all over you again, he’ll shoot you for sure.”
He started back toward the main counter.
“Preacher.” Player stopped him.
Preacher swung around, looking hopeful.
“Take your things. You may as well pay for them. And don’t rile that girl up.”
“You’d better not,” Hannah echoed. “Just for your information, she’s apprenticing.”
Preacher looked horrified as he gathered up the various products and the wrapping.
“It would never have occurred to me to take on an apprentice, but she’s special,” Hannah said. “Instead of fighting with her, you might want to make peace with her.”
Preacher grinned at her. “Having way too much fun getting her all riled up. She tried to kick me. Haven’t had a woman try that ever that I can recall.”
Player shook his head. “I’m sorry, Hannah. He really isn’t crazy. In fact, usually Preacher’s the one we can count on. It’s just that”—he looked around the shop—“I love music and working with wood. He loves this kind of thing. He needs it. The rest of us don’t have a clue what he does. He has his own chemistry shop, and we give him a bad time about it, but we don’t have a prayer of understanding what he does in it or the things he whips up in it. I can’t imagine what it would be like to meet someone like you after years of never talking to someone who could understand him.”
He didn’t want her to think Preacher was insane or that he might harm Sabelia. Preacher was a good man and much more stable than the rest of them—most of the time. He always held it together for Lana. Player glanced across the room at him now as he dumped the paper and products all over the countertop in front of Sabelia.
She made a face, glanced at Hannah and reached down to get a box.
“I’d prefer one of those really nice baskets like Hannah gave Player,” Preacher said.
Sabelia regarded him with narrowed eyes, gritted her teeth, as if she knew he was deliberately trying to provoke her. “You have to pay extra for the baskets.”
“Are you implying you don’t think I have the money?”
“No, sir, I’m not implying that at all. I’m informing you of the extra cost just in case you weren’t aware of it,” Sabelia replied in a bit of a superior tone.
Hannah’s head came up, and her fingers ceased moving on Player’s arm.
“He’s deliberately provoking her,” Player said. “He can be a real ass sometimes. The fact that you said she’s apprenticing under you probably made him jealous. Who knows what the deal is, but don’t embarrass her when he’s already poking at her. I think she’s handling herself quite well under the circumstances.”
Hannah shook her head. “Once you work the cream in, using a deep tissue massage, let her rest for about fifteen minutes. Just keep her legs on your lap. At that point she should be feeling very good, all aches gone, and very connected to you. After fifteen minutes, offer her this drink.”