“Yes, you are.” Her voice was getting louder.
“Look, Shannon. I appreciate the fact that you want to thank me and all, but—”
“Are you telling me you couldn’t use that money?”
“I don’t need your charity, lady!”
“It’s not charity! Don’t you think you earned it? Are you trying to tell me you didn’t risk anything helping us that day?”
Cole looked away, shaking his head.
“I know that you did. You risked a great deal, and you didn’t have to. We were nothing to you, but you helped us anyway. Please, take the money.”
“It’s your money, Shannon. Your parents gave it to you. And not so you could give it to some biker like me.”
“Don’t you know that if I told them what happened to me, that they’d want you to be rewarded for saving their daughter?”
He shook his head. “This is insane. You’re insane. Hell, your parents hear you’re trying to give away that kind of money to some biker, and they’ll have you committed to a mental institution.”
“Do you want me to tell them? I’ll call my father right now and tell him to come down here for a little chat.”
He glared at her. “The hell you will.”
“I have more than enough, Cole. I have everything I could ever need or want.”
“It’s your money. Keep it.”
“For what? So I can spend it on more useless designer handbags? Of which I already have a closet full.”
“Yeah. If that’s what the fuck you rich bitches do with your money.”
“Why are you being so stubborn? Please, take it. I want you to have it.”
“What would I do with it?” he asked softly.
“Whatever you want. Start a business. Buy a house. Buy a bar. Whatever you’ve always wanted.”
He thought of how that money could change not only his life, but also his kids and Angel’s. He thought of all the medical bills that had been piling up, and all the care that Melissa would continue to need. He felt like he was being tempted by the devil himself. This was insane. Things like this just didn’t happen. He laughed, “Hell, if I even tried to take that to the bank, they’d call the cops, thinking I’d stolen it or something. I’d probably end up in jail for my trouble.”
She smiled and nodded toward the check. “I know the president of the bank it’s drawn on, personally. Take it there. Open a new account with it. I’ll call and tell him you’re coming. Better yet, I’ll go with you to make sure there are no problems. Come on, we can go right now.”
“Just hold your horses. I didn’t even say I’d take it, yet.”
She knew she had him then. She smiled. “You need another drink.”
He nodded. “I’m gonna need more than one, darlin’.”