Page 10 of Accidentally Kidnapping the Biker

I hear the rumble of a motorcycle. I’m covered in dirt and grime, but Wylie may as well meet this side of me. He’s met the lawyer-Kat and date-Kat, it’s time for grubby-Kat to make an appearance.

He laughs when I peel a cobweb from my T-shirt sleeve. “Are you ready to break for lunch?”

“I’m starving,” I say.

He holds out a helmet. “Jump on.”

He didn’t flinch at my dust, but I’m not going out in public like this. “Give me a minute.” I knew what I’d be getting into today, so I threw a second shirt into my car this morning. I duck into the spa’s bathroom to change and do some repairs to my hair and make-up and I’m out a few minutes later. Wylie just smiles and hands me the helmet.

I don’t know where we’re going, but I trust him. We end up behind the large building beside the Lonesome Bar and Grill. It’s the last building before Lonesome’s Main Street peeters out and the highway resumes. “What is this place?”

“My clubhouse. The guys are firing up the grill since the weather is still decent. I thought you might want a burger or hot dog.”

My stomach growls in response. Unfortunately, it’s after he turns off the motorcycle, so he stares at my loud tummy in shock. “I’ll take that as a yes.”

“Burger, please.”

“Duck, throw on a couple burgers for us, will you?” Wylie calls to the silver fox manning the barbecue. “Tolk, this is Kat.”

A tall, long-haired blond man steps forward. “Your kidnapper.”

“You know what they say. You only have one chance to make a first impression,” I quip.

Tolk grins. “We’re going to get along just fine.”

Two more men are sitting at the picnic tables scattered around the concrete patio. Everybody but me is wearing a leather vest with a Lost Souls patch on the back, with another patch showing “Lonesome” at the bottom. I recognize JD, but I can’t read the name patch on the chest of the last guy. “That’s Picnic. You already know JD. I know that it’s a little early for introductions to my friends, but I knew that Duck was cooking and several of them would be here. Do you mind?”

“Not at all. You already know my girls. Turnabout is fair play.”

The burgers are excellent, the water bottles cold, and the company as sexy as ever. I haven’t had a hamburger that tastes this good in ages. Wylie fills me in a little about his motorcycle club. It sounds like mostly former military men and their family members who banded together for support and fun. I was a little nervous at first, but when I find out they own the bar and grill next door, plus a couple other businesses around Lonesome, my worries ease. Liquor licenses and business registrations come with background checks, so these guys either have wicked legal representation or they aren’t the complete badasses that they appear at first glance. Even knowing that, I still don’t want to mess with them.

“I don’t mean to rush you, but I do have that staff meeting this afternoon. Are you ready to go back.”

“Unfortunately,” I say. I raise my hands with obviously fake enthusiasm, “Yay, dirt!” I wave to the guys. “Thanks for lunch.” Ispy a little mustard on my pinky finger and lick it off. I see Wylie watching me. “Don’t say anything.”

He looks away, shaking his head. “Not a word.”

“Will I see you again tonight?” I don’t want to push, but I don’t want him to think I’m not interested either.

“I’ve got a bartender shift tonight. But I’ll let you know if we learn anything about your arsonist,” he promises.

“Why are you looking into it?” I ask. “I mean, we’d appreciate any information but it’s not your responsibility.”

“If it’s related to our little adventure the other day, I’m already involved. We won’t know if it is unless we ask some questions.”

“Do you think it’s related to the court case? They wanted the property back. Burning it down seems counterproductive.”

“I don’t know. Yet,” Wylie says. “Come on, I’ll drive you back along the scenic route. It’s longer.”

More time snuggled up to Wylie on a vibrating machine? Sign me up.

Chapter 8

Wylie

Ididn’t lie. Not exactly. I do have a staff meeting, but it’s just to confirm with Duck, the bar’s manager, that he’ll be telling the staff to submit their requests for time off by the end of the month. Business picks up in November and December with work parties and folks coming home and getting together with old friends. I want to ensure everybody including me has some days off during the holidays.

A sit-down with the boys is what I really wanted. I need to link Jefferson Cross to the assholes who took potshots at me and Kat. Unlike her, I don’t need court-approved proof, but I do need to make sure that he set things up and that it wasn’t just some buddies acting on his behalf without his knowledge.

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