Cole studied her. “So, what’s this about, sweetheart?”
She looked up. “You’re right. We come from two different worlds, I suppose. And I guess there’s not much chance that we’ll ever see each other again.”
“No. Probably not,” Cole agreed. “You said you had something to show me.”
She reached down for her purse, which lay on the seat next to her.
Cole watched as she pulled a long white envelope out, and laid it carefully on the table. He looked at her face, wondering what this was about, but she was staring at the table.
He waited.
She finally looked up at him. “I want you to have this. It’s my way of saying thank you.” She slid the envelope across the table toward him.
Cole looked from it to her face. What the hell was it? He wasn’t even sure he wanted to find out.
“Go on. Open it.” She nodded toward the envelope.
He felt like he was reaching for a rattlesnake as he picked up the envelope, and turned it over, and pushed the flap up. He pulled out the item inside, and looked at it. It took a moment for it to register that he was looking at a certified check for…
He looked up at her, and then down at the check. His eyes had to be playing tricks on him. There couldn’t be that many zeros. His eyes slid across the line where the amount was written out in words.
Five million dollars.
“What the hell is this for? Is there somebody you want me to kill?” he asked, only half joking.
“No. No, of course not. It’s for saving my life. My way of thanking you.”
Cole stared at her. “Are you out of your mind?”
“No. I assure you. I’m not.”
He stuffed it back in the envelope, and pushed it back across the table. “I can’t take that.”
“Yes. You can,” she insisted.
He downed his drink, and started to slide across the bench seat to leave.
“No. Please. Don’t go.” She grabbed at his arm. “Please. Let me explain.”
He hesitated. “Explain?”
“Please. Just hear me out.”
He sat back, and looked at her.
“I want you to have this. You saved my life. My life. Don’t you understand?”
Cole looked around the bar, and leaned closer to her, speaking softly, so no one would overhear him. He pointed at the envelope. “That said five million dollars. Nobody gives someone that kind of money.”
She leaned closer, and lowered her voice. “Look, my parents are very wealthy. I inherited a great deal of money. More than I could ever spend. Much more.”
Cole shook his head.
“You may not think my life is worth that much, but I do.”
“You bought me a drink. Let’s call it even.”
“What, so you don’t think my life has any value? Is that what you think it’s worth? The price of a drink?”
Cole noticed she was starting to sound indignant. “I’m not saying that.”
“Yes, you are.” Her voice was getting louder.
“Look, Shannon. I appreciate the fact that you want to thank me, and all, but-”
“Are you telling me you couldn’t use that money?”
“I don’t need your charity, lady!”
“It’s not charity! Don’t you think you earned it? Are you trying to tell me you didn’t risk anything helping us that day?”
Cole looked away, shaking his head.
“I know that you did. You risked a great deal, and you didn’t have to. We were nothing to you, but you helped us anyway. Please, take the money.”
“It’s your money, Shannon. Your parents gave it to you. And not so you could give it to some biker, like me.”
“Don’t you know that if I told them what happened to me, that they’d want you to be rewarded for saving their daughter?”
He shook his head. “This is insane. You’re insane. Hell, your parents hear you’re trying to give away that kind of money to some biker, and they’ll have you committed to a mental institution.”
“Do you want me to tell them? I’ll call my father right now, and tell him to come down here for a little chat.”
He glared at her. “The hell you will.”
“I have more than enough, Cole. I have everything I could ever need or want.”
“It’s your money. Keep it.”
“For what? So I can spend it on more useless designer handbags? Of which I already have a closet full.”
“Yeah. If that’s what the fuck you rich bitches do with your money.”
“Why are you being so stubborn? Please, take it. I want you to have it.”