I’m tottering around in my heels and dress and I don’t miss the way many of the middle-aged men browsing for motorcycles look at me appreciatively. Ogling women half their age seems to be linked to the motorcyclists’ midlife crisis.
My favorite customer of the day must be one of Walter’s regulars because his name is already in the database. Kade is around thirty, with gorgeous blue eyes, blond hair that is shaved at the sides and long on top, and a tattoo sleeve filled with images and symbols from the sea. He asks me if I’ll accompany him on a test drive on the new motorcycle he’s interested in purchasing, and I agree because I’ve never ridden one before. I know it’s clichéd to associate tattoos and motorbikes with bad boys but I can’t help myself. I have to wriggle my dress up around my thighs to get on the thing, and then hold on around Kade’s taut abdomen as he fires the bike up. I squeal as we take off down the road, the motorcycle like a rocket between our legs, and Kade laughing at my enthusiasm. It’s exhilarating and freeing in a way I never would have thought of before. When we’re back, Kade is convinced enough to buy. I slide off the back, wriggling my dress back down my thighs, and I catch Kade’s eyes on my bare legs. “I’ll go get my uncle to help you with the purchase,” I say.
Walter takes over with Kade, giving me a grateful wink. When the paperwork if finished, Kade finds me outside, tidying up the refreshments table. “So, I just wanted to say thanks for your help today,” he says, his broad smile revealing a chipped tooth that makes him look even wickeder.
“That’s no problem,” I say.
He slides his hands into his pockets, widening his stance and cocking his head to one side. “If you ever want to take another ride, we could go somewhere.” There’s no nervousness in his request, just a smoothy cockiness that comes with age and experience. Internally I giggle, wondering how willing he’d be to take me out if he knew I was pregnant.
“Thanks,” I say. “That’s a nice offer but…”
“You gotta boyfriend?”
The wind whips around me, blowing curls across my face. Around ten feet away, Donovan is watching our exchange with an indecipherable look on his face. “I do,” I say. “But thanks for the offer. I loved riding with you.”
Kade shrugs and smiles. “Shame. I had a good feeling about you.”
I should tell him that I’m only nineteen and a man his age has no business having any kind of feelings about me. I should tell him that I’m about to start sporting a huge baby bump and swollen feet like Danna’s. I should tell him that my foster brothers are offering to give me a whole lot more than a ride on the back of a bike and some hot nasty sex in a motel room. That’s pretty much where I think Kade’s good feelings would have taken us. Instead, I smile again. Maybe I’m not as bad at making good choices as I thought I was. “It’s been great helping you today.”
That’s called excellent customer service in action.
Kade nods and straddles his new motorcycle, tugging on the large black helmet. When he’s disappeared in a loud rumble, Donovan finds his way toward me. “Boyfriend?”
I turn toward him, taking a glass of juice from the tray he’s holding. “It’s the best excuse in the book.”
“If he had pushed you any more, he would have felt my fist in his face as the next excuse. Sick fuck. He was practically old enough to be your daddy.”
“I don’t think he was that old, but that isn’t the point.”
“No, it isn’t. We want you to be ours, Maggie. I’m not going to let any douchebag on a bike threaten that.”
Donovan walks back into the store and I turn to watch, noticing the straightness in his back and the determination in his stride. Not long after, Daryl appears to let me know they’re going to practice. I stay to help Uncle Walter as the store is still busy and I want time with him to find out what he knows about the man who came to make an offer on the house.
When it finally quiets, I find Walter at his desk. He’s intensely studying the computer in front of him, and I get the feeling he’s praying that Jolene will come back from practice to help him. My shadow crosses his desk, and he tears his eyes away from the screen, squinting at me over his glasses. “Maggie, thank you for coming today. You know Kade was really raving about you. Said I should hire you full time.”
“That’s sweet,” I say. “He asked me out after he bought his bike, so I think it was less about my customer service abilities and more about my little black dress.”