“I don’t know any debt-collectors.”
“This one is short, happy, and loud. He’ll be standing in front of the bakery eating a stolen muffin.”
“Why am I paying this debt alone? What do you owe?”
“Who do you think is supplying the muffin?”
Her voice was heavenly...and sexy...heavenly sex. “Do I get to steal a muffin?”
“Yes. And you’ll get a whole meal for your service. Now, get down here, while it’s early.”
“Fifteen minutes.”
Dylan could have done it in ten, but he wanted to check on Jake. He left his brother snoring and switched rooms around midnight. He was still snoring while Dylan got dressed and ready. Dylan didn’t bother with a note. Rain wasn’t big enough to get lost in.
The bikes were still parked in front of the cafe. Dylan rounded the corner and found the imp perched on his CV Ultra. He went with it. “How do you know that one is mine?”
“I asked Nile. She told me not to touch it but I didn’t listen.”
“I see that. What time do you have to be at school?”
“Eight-thirty.”
“That’s over an hour from now. Why am I up?”
Mackey made kissing noises.
“All right,” Dylan conceded. “Wait here.”
“Where are you going?”
“To get a muffin.”
“The Berry-Berry is beasting this morning.”
“Noted.”
Nile met Dylan at the door with a hot muffin in her hand. “Good morning.”
“Good morning.” In a lower voice, he said, “Damn, you’re beautiful.”
Mackey made more kissing noises.
Dylan took the sweetbread and thanked her loudly.
“Get out of here. Tigris is on her way and she is not fooled.”
“Yes, ma’am. I’ll take him to school and come back after.”
“He’ll love it. Thank you.”
“I’ll love it. The coming back after part.”
“Do I need to make myself clear?” Mackey asked.
“Do I need to box your ears, you little blackmailer?” Nile told him.
It took Dylan two minutes to scarf down his muffin—the Berry-Berry was beasting. Another minute to adjust the spare helmet to fit Mackey’s head and to put on his own. He stored the kid’s bookbag and then they were off. He toured the town of Rain with an excited twelve-year-old behind him.
Mackey whooped and yelled and threw his arms in the air. He waved at the early risers and laughed with pure joy. Dylan made the bike swerve and lean just enough for a kid-thrill. He let Mackey drive—while it was in neutral—for about six or seven feet. He let Mackey pump the gas, and he revved the engine—as only a Harley could—when he pulled up in front of the school.
Mackey climbed down and traded Dylan’s helmet for his bookbag.
“Are we square, now?” Dylan held his hand out.
Mackey shook it. “It’s been a pleasure saving your...” he looked left and right before whispering, “ass.”
“It’s been a pleasure driving your...” Dylan looked left and right before whispering, “ass.”
He gave Mackey a high-five and watched the little shit strut into school.
BACK AT THE CAFE, THE warm reception surprised Dylan. Rain only had two main streets, he expected to be seen, but the approval was a bonus. Nile led him to a booth and poured him a large cup of coffee while she explained. “People could guess how things would work out for Maya and Jake. But, to see you hauling Mackey around after the fact was heartwarming. You know, no hard feelings and whatnot. They weren’t expecting that given your brother’s reaction. One cream, no sugar.”
He nodded, pleased with her memory. “Thank you.” He sipped. It was perfect. “I’m not my brother and my pursuit hasn’t been thwarted. Not yet, anyway.”
“Oh, it’s thwarted. Your buddy will be released within an hour. At which point, my fairytale will be over.”
“Never.”
“Keep thinking that. You’re getting out of town.”
“But I don’t want to leave.”
“I was wayyy too open to look you in the eye after today.”
“I want to stay because of what you said...and because of the way you look...and because you live here.”
“You can’t.” She didn’t sound convincing to herself.
“Could you two be more obvious?” Tigris came up behind Nile. She didn’t appear to mind. It seemed everyone was more relaxed now that the meeting was over. “Are you ordering food, or are you just going to drool over my sister?”
“If I get a choice, the latter.”
The girls laughed. Dylan wondered if maybe race wasn’t the problem. He tucked that thought away and enjoyed the pleasantness.
“What food do you want to eat, hot-guy?”
That was the second time she called him that. “I don’t even know how to answer.”
“How about quickly so the rest of us can eat?” somebody called out.
“Do you need them both?” another patron teased.
Dylan raised his hands in the air. “I would like to meet the man who would say no to this royal treatment.”
They laughed. He laughed. Today, he liked it in Rain.
“Wild Thing or Young Guns, who is it going to be?” JB stood up. “I’m taking bets.”
Nile shook her head. “Living here is like having twenty-seven obnoxious uncles everywhere I go.”
“Knock it off,” Tigris said to the laughter. “I’m not in the running. He can’t think past Nile.”
“It’s true,” Dylan said.
More laughter.
And then Sonny pulled up. He parked his bike—still missing the Confederate flag—and walked in.
The talking stopped as everyone watched him shuffle over to Dylan’s booth. “Excuse me.” He didn’t look at either of the girls but slid into the seat opposite Dylan. “Where’s Jake?”
“Sleeping it off.” Dylan sipped his coffee.
“You had breakfast?”
“Waiting on you.”
“Am I going to get served today?” Sonny looked up and then away.
Nile pursed her lips. “Have you missed a meal, yet?”
Tigris added, “Why don’t you start with ‘good morning.’ See where that gets you?”
“Good morning.” Sonny’s voice was loud and sarcastic. “I would like a menu, pl-ease.”
The girls left, Nile returning a moment later with a cup for his coffee, place settings, and a menu.
He didn’t say anything as she filled his cup.
“Thank you,” Dylan said.
“I’ll be back for your orders.” Nile left them.
“How did it go?” Sonny asked.
“As expected. We failed the interview. My understanding is the meeting was a routine no.”
“Your understanding? Weren’t you there? You left him?”
“I was there for some of it. I wasn’t allowed to attend the...uhh...verdict.”
Sonny huffed. “Allowed. Who do these people think they are?”
“The people who live here according to whatever rules they made up.”