Page 24 of Rainshadow Road

“Like a kiss from an iceberg, isn’t it?” the bartender, a blond woman named Marty, asked with a grin.

Draining the glass, Lucy nodded and set it aside. “Another one, please.”

“That’s pretty fast. You want some munchies? Nachos or jalapeño poppers, maybe?”

“No, just another drink.”

Marty gave her a dubious look. “I hope you’re not driving after this.”

Lucy laughed bitterly. “Nope. My car just broke down.”

“One of those days, huh?”

“One of those years,” Lucy said.

The bartender took her time about getting her the next drink. Turning on the bar stool, Lucy glanced at the other patrons at the bar, some lined up at the other end, others gathered at tables. At one table, a half-dozen bikers knocked back beers and made raucous conversation.

Too late, Lucy realized they were from the biker church, and that Justine’s boyfriend, Duane, was among them. Before she could look away, he glanced in her direction.

From across the room, Duane motioned for her to join them.

She shook her head and gave him a little wave before turning back to the bar.

But the big, kindhearted biker lumbered over to her and clapped an amiable hand between her shoulder blades.

“Lucy-goosey,” he said, “how’s it going?”

“Just stopped for a quick one,” Lucy replied with a halfhearted smile. “How are you, Duane?”

“Can’t complain. Come sit with me and the guys. We’re all from Hog Heaven.”

“Thanks, Duane. I appreciate the invitation. But I really, really need to be alone right now.”

“What’s wrong?” At her hesitation, he said, “Anything bothers you, we’ll take care of it, remember?”

As Lucy stared up into the broad face swathed in oversized sideburns, her smile became genuine. “Yes, I remember. You guys are my guardian angels.”

“So tell me your problem.”

“Two problems,” she said. “First, my car is dead. Or at least it’s in a coma.”

“Is it the battery?”

“I don’t think so. I don’t know.”

“We’ll take care of it,” Duane said readily. “What’s the other problem?”

“My heart feels like something that should be scooped up with a folded newspaper and dropped in the trash can.”

The biker gave her a sympathetic glance. “Justine told me about your boyfriend. Want me and the boys to take him down for you?”

Lucy managed a little chuckle. “I wouldn’t want to encourage you to commit a mortal sin.”

“Oh, we sin all the time,” he said cheerfully. “That’s why we started a church. And it sounds like your ex could use a little righteous ass-kicking.” A grin connected his extended sideburns as he quoted, “‘For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward thee.’”

“I’ll settle for the car being fixed,” Lucy said. At Duane’s prompting, she told him where her car was, and gave him the keys.

“We’ll have it back to Artist’s Point in a day or two,” Duane said, “all fixed and ready to go.”

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