Page 31 of His Loyal Rebel

He only talked when he wanted to speak, never when Twyla wanted him to answer her questions.

She swallowed, spotting more customers coming in and Rhonda jumping to help them.

Walking over to the counter, she inhaled deeply, trying to expel the warmth on her cheeks. Last night, sleeping without Whip, she'd tossed and turned all night.

She stayed up as long as her eyes would stay open, and he never came to bed. When she got up, he was outside the cabin. She wouldn't have known that he even slept in the same bed as her during the week, except there was nowhere else to sleep in the cabin. Not even a couch for him to stretch out on, only two wooden chairs that he barely fit on.

Not once had they had sex or even kissed.

But her body held the warmth of him when she woke up. The side of her cheek had the imprint of his vest.

The fact that he slept with her fully clothed, and she'd obviously cuddled with him through the hours turned her on more than if he would've tried to fool around with her.

Goosebumps covered her arms. She rubbed her limps, trying to shake all thoughts of Whip out of her mind.

He was gone from her life.

Their chance encounter turned mini-kidnap-vacation was over. He would go wherever it was safe for him.

Picking up the order pad and grabbing the full coffee pot, she walked across the room to check with her customers. She would never find out if Whip survived Big's attack. She would never know if he got back to riding with his club. She would never know if he gave her a second thought once she left him.

She approached the booth and smiled. "How are you folks doing?"

The older woman slid her coffee cup toward Twyla. "Just a little."

Twyla poured, topping off the mug, and looked at the gentlemen. "How about you?"

Coffee was endless at the restaurant. Many customers spent hours visiting, slowly eating their pie, and coming back time and again.

"I'm good." The older man leaned back in the booth and patted his stomach. "Two pieces of pie tells me it's time for a nap."

She laughed. "Well, you sit back and take a catnap. If you change your mind, my name is Twyla. I'll help you."

"Don't you dare fall asleep, Herb." The woman pointed her fork across the table and glared.

Herb winked at Twyla. "She's the boss."

"Well, it looks like she's got a tough job." She smiled at the couple and stepped away.

Older couples were hilarious. She admired their ease around each other. Probably married for decades, they had a deep friendship and connection.

Glad to be back at work, she moved to check on the new arrivals and hit a brick wall at the sight of Big and another Cusclan member entering the door. She sidestepped to hide. Her heart beat faster, knowing Whip wasn't here.

Although confident she could take care of herself, she panicked. Whip's belief that if Big failed to get him arrested, he'd come after her made her paranoid.

Big walked over to her. She held her ground. They were inside the restaurant. All of her co-workers were here. The room was full of customers.

He couldn't hurt her.

"Long time, no see, baby." Big kept walking, forcing her to back away from the customers.

Afraid he'd bowl her over, she stepped away as soon as she reached the counter. "What do you want?"

"Besides you?" Big glared. "I want what you stole from me."

She tilted her head up and pressed her lips together, making her neck ache. There was no way she'd give him back his pistol and box of ammunition she'd taken the day she left his house for the last time. She wasn't a fool. He had a club who would give him a new one.

No, she was going to keep the gun because as long as Big knew she had it, the pistol would keep him from touching her.

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