Chapter 1
Chapter 1
Danielle
ISTARED DOWN at my dashboard console and willed the check engine light to stop the internal red glow. How I got where I was, I had no freaking clue, which meant Hud no freaking che how to find the freeway entrance to get home. You are an idiot, Dani,” I whispered out loud.
As if on a mission from the devil, my nineteen ninety–nine Blog shuddered, then back–lined, slowing to a crawl as finched forward down a non–descript side street. Why Portland didn’t have better signage was beyond me.
I jumped as my cell phone pealed in the silence of the car. Without looking at the screen, because really, I
end up dead in some obscure place I’d never been before. I flipped it open. “Hello,” I whispered
“Why are we whispering?” Kim, my best friend of more than ten years, whispered back.
I cleared my throat and took a deep breath. “Tim kind of lost and my stupid car won’t go over nineteen miles an hour.”
“So, no different than any other day,” she quipped. “How did the date go?”
“Sucked
“How bad?” she asked.
“Getting my eyeballs plucked out by crows, while my fingernails were ripped off one–by–one would have been much more enjoyable kind of bad.” I ground out.
“Ew, sorry honey,” Kim commiserated. “Did you stay and have dinner with him?”
No. I endured one drink and an appetizer and then faked a phone call. Seriously, Kimmie, the guy was a douche.”
“So, online dating’s not for you?”
“Dating, period is not for me.”
Kim chuckled. “Where are you!”
“I have no freaking clue, I admitted. “Somewhere in Arbor Lodge I think?”
“Holy crap, girl, you don’t
don’t want to
be lost there when it’s almost bark.
“Thanks, Captain Obvious” I leaned forward to get a better view out of the windshield. “It’s totally deserted, and I can’t find a street sign to save my life.”
“What’s around you?”
“Nothing.” I squinted trying to make out the light in front of me. The area was heavily commercial, so I wasn’t sure what business would be open past
st eight on a Wednesday night. “I think I see something. Crap. My contacts are killing me.”
“Pull over and take them out, silly. You have your glasses with you, right?”
“Yeah, but I don’t want to stop, Kimmie… what if I can’t get started again?”
“What if you can’t see what you’re about to hit!”
“Stop being so logical” I ground out
Kims
sighed “Please, Dani, be safe. Pull over, put on your glasses, and call your brother.”
He sobered, but his eyes were still sparkling with humor. “If that what you want.”
I rolled the window back up and grabbed my purse and keys. Il a feeling I’d regret this sudden trust I was feeling toward him, but I didn’t really have much of a choice other than to let in help me, so unlocked my door and climbed our of the
He held it for me and slammed it closed once I was on the sidewalk. I’d locked it before he closed it, not that it mattered no one would steal a piece of crap car like mine and I kept nothing of value in it.
The wind had picked up since I left the restaurant, and I pulled my coat further around me as we walked down the street. Tm Danielle, by the way. Un, Dani, actually!
“Booker
“Nice to meet you, Mr. Booker”
Just Booker.”
“Oh. Okay.”
He smiled.
You mentioned your club’s yard.” I frowned. “What kind of yard”
“This location’s our wreck ‘n‘ tow yard. Got other businesses in other locations,” he said vaguely. “Anything with an engine, we can tow, fix or build
1 nodded. “And you said ‘club. I’m assuming it’s not a sewing club, right?”
Booker smiled. “Motorcycle club”
I stopped. It took him a minute to realize I was no longer beside him, which gave me a partial view of the back of his jacket. Dogs of something. Dogs of Wonder? No, that wouldn’t be right a badass motorcycle guy wouldn’t hanings of Wonder on the back of his jacket.
Well, crap!
He walked back toward me. “You okay!”
“Motorcycle club?” 1 asked.
He nodded.
“Like Hell’s Angels
Booker smirked. “In theory.”
“Crap.”1 glanced up at him. “I really should go.”
