“Drunk?”
The laughter stopped. “No, I’m not drunk, and I don’t have to listen to you insult me. I pass this club every other day, and besides a few whistles, they’re like giant teddy bears.”
This did make him burst out laughing. He just couldn’t help it. There was no way the guys would accept her calling them all teddy bears. Not with the shit they did on a daily basis.
“You’ve got it so wrong,” he said.
“They’ve never harmed me, and I’ve been walking this street for the past year, or at least whenever my friend forgets to pick me up, which is often.”
“You have a friend who picks you up?” he asked.
“Sometimes. It would seem her date was far more enjoyable than she expected.” She shrugged. “I don’t mind.”
Tank glanced behind her and then down the road. “Where did you come from?”
The young woman laughed, and he couldn’t help but like the sound. It was a soft, beautiful sound.
“About a mile back. There’s a shortcut that takes you to a diner. I work there. It’s a nice place. This is off the beaten track, so not a lot of motorists come down here, but back at the diner, it’s on the main road, so it’s busy all the time. That’s what it’s called, Main Road Diner. They have the best milkshakes.”
“I’ll have to take your word for it.” He’d never heard of the place, but then again, he didn’t make it a habit of riding on main roads unless he had to handle club business. When they had jobs to do, it was rare for Lord to want to take any main roads and risk catching the suspicious eye of a local cop.
The fewer people they had to pay off, the more money for the club.
“I still don’t think this is a road for women,” Tank said. “Too isolated. Don’t you know lunatics and psychos still drive around looking for unsuspecting victims?”
“Which one are you?” she asked.
“What?”
“A lunatic or a psycho?”
“Are you trying to have fun with me?”
“Just lightening the mood. I’m Bell,” she said.
“Is that short for anything?” he asked, taking her offered hand.
“Not that I know of. It’s just Bell. I’m pretty sure it was all my mother could spell when she had to register me.”
There was something in her tone, and he hated to be so damn curious about it. He wanted to know a lot more about her.
“Tank.”
“Is that short for anything?” she asked.
“It’s my road name.”
“What about your real one?”
“A lady has to earn that name,” he said.
“Fine, my road name is … Attitude.” She pouted her lips, and he couldn’t help but chuckle.
“Okay, Attitude. How about I give you a ride home?”
“Not on that death trap. Thank you for the offer. It was sweet of you.”
“I’m not going to leave you to walk alone,” he said.