Page 25 of Hellfire

She giggled. “When are you going to teach me how to make a lei?”

“Soon, I promise. I have a job to do tomorrow night. After that I’m yours.”

“Pinky promise?” Her face was serious as she stuck out her tiny pinky.

“Of course.” Tank grinned and wrapped his giant pinky around hers. “I never break a pinky promise. Cross my heart,” he said as he made an X across his chest.

My heart warmed at their interaction. Leona had never had someone like Tank in her life. Then again, neither had I.

“Now, can I have a moment alone with your mama? I owe her an apology.”

Leona looked at me for a moment before looking back up at him.

“What did you do?” she demanded.

“I hurt her feelings and was a really big jerk.”

Tank looked over at me when he said that, and my cheeks flushed. I wasn’t used to anyone apologizing to me.

Leona was quiet for a moment as she thought. “Do you promise not to do it again?”

“I promise,” Tank answered.

“Are you going to give her a pinky promise, too?” she asked in a serious voice.

“If she will give me another chance, I’ll do anything she asks.”

Leona nodded. “Good. Okay, I’ll go see what Molly is doing.”

Leona reached up and puled on Tank’s shirt, as far up on his chest as she could reach, pulling him down to her level and kissed him on the cheek. I watched her skip off to the kitchen, leaving me alone with Tank. I fiddled with the hem of my shirt as I waited for him to say something.

“Wanna get out of here?” A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

Did I?

My stomach somersaulted.

Yes, but I found myself feeling guilty too. How could I have feelings for another woman’s boyfriend?

Tank growled, interrupting my thoughts. “Whatever’s going through that head of yours, pretty girl, stop it right now.”

“Okay,” I said. For a moment, Tank just stared at me. His nostrils flared.

“Good. Now, do you want to get out of here?” he asked again.

“Yeah, I want to go with you,” I admitted as I felt my cheeks start to turn red.

Reaching out a hand, he pulled me to my feet and led me toward a side entrance. His much larger palm engulfed mine. My heart pounded with excitement.

“Where are we going?”

“It’s a surprise,” he said, grinning at me over his shoulder.

Tank led me over to a row of motorcycles, and my steps faltered. Tank’s brow furrowed in confusion.

“What’s the matter? Having second thoughts?”

“No, it’s just, I’ve never been on a bike before,” I admitted, my cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

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