Page 27 of Jag

“Should you be doing that?” I asked and felt his body shaking. “Are you laughing at me? It isn’t funny. You should keep your hands on the bars.”

“Whatever you want. You ready for a pit stop?”

“Sure,” I said and noticed as I looked around that we seemed to be heading into civilization again as we started to pass by a few spaced out houses and an occasional building.

We rode a few more miles when Dom slowed and pulled off the road into the lot of a gas station. Next door to it sat an aged building that was evidently a restaurant if the sign hanging on the front of it was correct. He pulled up to the pump and shut the bike off.

“You can let go now, River,” Dom said and patted my arms that were still wrapped around his waist.

“Sorry,” I said and released him.

“Hold onto my shoulders and slide off until your one foot is on the ground, then swing your other leg over. Make sure you keep hold of me until you get your legs under you. You’re going to be a bit stiff at first.”

I did as he said, and when both my feet were on the ground, I groaned.

“Oh my God, I can’t feel my legs or my butt,” I said while I pulled off the helmet.

Dom smiled, pulled his own helmet off, and hook it on one handle. He then proceeded to get off the bike with an ease that had to come from years of riding.

“Normal for first-timers. Once you walk around it will work itself out. I’m just going to top off my tank, then we’ll go to the restaurant and have lunch. It doesn’t look like much, but the food is excellent. Brothers and I found this place when we were out riding one time,” Dom said as he started filling his gas tank, and I stood off to the side.

“It’s already lunchtime?” I asked and looked at my watch.

“We’ve been riding for a couple hours.”

“Wow, it didn’t feel like we’d been gone that long. I guess with all the scenery to look at you don’t think about how much time you’ve been riding.”

“No, you don’t. Well...unless you get stuck in rain, then you either tough it out or look for a place to get out of it and hope it blows over.”

It didn’t take long for the tank to fill and Dom was ready to move the bike. I looked at the bike, then over to the other building. It wasn’t that far away.

“I’ll meet you over there. Maybe walking will bring the feeling in my butt cheeks back. Besides, it will be quicker than me getting back on and off again.”

I hadn’t expected it and was caught off guard when Dom leaned in and kissed my forehead.

“Meet you there,” he said and mounted the bike.

I stood there a second before I turned and started toward the restaurant. For an out of the way place, there were quite a few vehicles in the parking lot. So, either other people passing by were taking a chance on the place, or the logical answer was the foliage probably hid homes from view with its thickness, and this was one of the local dives.

By the time I reached the entrance, Dom was backed into a spot in the front and was getting off his bike.

Once inside we were seated and given menus to look at while the older lady went to retrieve our drinks. The outside wasn’t in the best of shape, and though the inside was old, it was clean. Plus, if the aroma in the air were any indication, the food would be good.

The waitress was back and after she set the drinks down, she pulled a pad out of her apron. “What can I get you?”

I told her what I wanted and handed her the menu, then Dom followed suit. When she left to place our orders, I looked at Dom.

“Tell me about your club?” I asked before he had the time to speak. I wasn’t ready to answer questions about myself. Not because I had anything to hide, I hadn’t lived a very exciting life. But from the small amount my dad had shared with me on Black Hawk MC, Dom and the others had.

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