“I’ll find me a sweet little sugar who wants a ride. Don ya worry ‘bout dat, son,” Cajun explained confidently.
Cole snorted.
“You comin’?” Crash asked him.
“Hell, it’s only four. That shit’s not gonna start until nine at the earliest.”
“So?” Cajun asked.
Cole laughed, and shook his head.
“We might make a few stops on the way over there.” Crash grinned.
Cole took a hit off his beer. “Yeah. I’ve got to stop at Red’s. See if that tire I ordered is in. Gonna need it.”
“Why?”
“Road trip.”
Crash gave him a knowing smile. “Arizona?”
Cole nodded. “Yup. Next week.”
“Shit. You sure?”
“Gotta give it a shot.”
Crash nodded. He and Cajun got up to leave. “Well, maybe we’ll see you over there, tonight?”
“Yeah. I’ll try to make it.” Cole laughed. He watched them walk out. He sat, and finished his beer, and then he headed out as well.
Cole pulled into a gas station on his way back from Red’s. He pulled his bike up to a pump, and got off, pulling his helmet off, and setting it on the seat. He unscrewed the gas cap on the tank, and swiped his credit card at the pump. He was reaching for the nozzle when he heard someone behind him.
“Excuse me.”
He turned around. A pretty blonde woman, in her early twenties he guessed, was standing next to a silver Mercedes convertible. She shut the driver’s door, and walked over to him. She pulled off her sunglasses, and looked at him, and smiled.
“You don’t remember me, do you?” she asked.
He looked her up and down, and glanced back at the expensive car. She wasn’t exactly the type of woman that ran in his circle. “No, ma’am. I’m pretty sure I don’t know you.”
“It’s been a few years.”
He looked at her sideways, and shook his head.
“My name’s Shannon. You pulled me out of the back of a van. Remember?”
His eyes widened, and he whispered, “Holy shit.”
She smiled. “Remember me now?”
He nodded. “Yeah. Yeah. I think I recall threatening to kill you,” he admitted, smiling sheepishly. “Sorry about that.”
“If I recall, I was not being very appreciative at the time for what you’d done for me.”
He nodded. “Glad to see you’re doin’ okay.”
“Yes. I’m doing well. Hey, could I buy you a drink or coffee or something?
“Aw, that’s okay. You don’t have to do that.” He began pumping gas into his tank.
“Please. I want to. It’s the least I can do. Please.”
Cole studied her a moment. “Sure you want to be seen with the likes of me, darlin’?”
“Yes. I’d be proud to be seen with you.”
His eyebrows shot up. “Proud? I think you’ve been out in the sun too long. Maybe you need to put the top up on that pretty convertible you’re driving.” He finished filling the tank, and replaced the nozzle.
“I know a place a few blocks from here.”
“Sweetheart, any place you frequent, wouldn’t let me in the front door.” He stared at her, and could tell she wasn’t the type to give up. Hell, rich girl like her was probably used to getting her way. He blew out a breath. “If you want to buy me a drink, it’s gonna have to be my kind of place. Can you handle that?”
She nodded. “Okay.”
“Okay. Follow me.”
She turned, and walked back to her car.
He got on his bike, and fired it up, and pulled out, wondering why he’d agreed to this. She’d probably get back in her car, and come to her senses.
He looked in his mirror. Nope. She was pulling out behind him. Well, I’ll be damned, he thought.
He pulled into a dive bar a few blocks down the street. He parked, and she pulled in next to him.
She got out, and followed him to the door.
He held it open for her.
The place was dimly lit, but there was a large picture window that let in daylight. They sat at the bar.
The bartender walked over to them. “What can I get you?”
Shannon opened her clutch, and pulled out a credit card, and laid it on the bar. “Would you start us a tab, please? She instructed the bartender.
Cole turned, and looked at her questioningly. “A tab? How long you plan to be here?”
She smiled at him. “Well, just in case we decide to have a second drink.” She turned to the bartender. “Chardonnay, please.”
The bartender looked at her, and raised his eyebrows.
Cole smiled. “Darlin’, this ain’t exactly a white wine kind of place. If you’re gonna drink with me, you’re gonna have to have a real drink.”