“Just got to get the floors laid and repaint the rest of the walls,” he said, looking up from where he sat at one of the workspaces.
“Catch you then. I’ll lock up this side, so just set the alarm on your way out.”
“No problems. I won’t be that far behind you.”
“So, can I come?” Jez asked the minute I stepped back onto our side.
“I’m dropping his keys off to him, that’s it,” I said. Gabe had taken the Lexus back to the rental mob and forgotten his.
“You’re going to his shop, where beautiful men work on beautiful machines. It’s like heaven on earth. Why don’t you want me to come?”
“You can!” I said with a smile, “I just don’t want you to get your hopes up. What if they’re all old and crusty?”
“They wouldn’t be, they can’t; the universe wouldn’t do that to me.”
“Some wrinkled old dero with a beer gut and jeans that haven’t been washed for a decade leering at you?"
"Not going to work. I'm coming."
“Fine, follow my car, so I do
n't have to drop you back here."
"Can't wait to jump in the sack with lover boy?"
"Can't wait to lie face down on my bed and sleep because last night I was having too much sex with lover boy. Anyway, if your wish comes true, you might end up riding something else altogether all the way home."
"Keep saying that," Jez said with a grin. “Maybe it’ll direct some of your Nan's crazy magic at me."
Which was how I found myself on Collin’s Crescent, peering at industrial shed after shed as I slowly puttered down the road. I went around the corner and then I saw it. Cars and bikes were parked all over the curb and up the driveway, people wandering in and out of the open shed doorway. Above it, a sign said, ‘Browning Custom Motorcycles.’ I pulled the car on the opposite curb and got out.
"You didn't tell me there was a party on," Jez said, adjusting her clothes, so her lowriders and top sat a little lower. "You were totally holding out on me."
"Not on purpose. Gabe just said to bring the keys by, not a slab of beer. Have you seen him?"
"Hmm?" she asked, her eyes following a very fit-looking guy in a wife beater and a pair of overalls. The sleeves had been tied around his waist to reveal an acre of tattooed muscle.
"Gabe . . . have you seen him?" I asked as we walked to the entrance. There were people everywhere, drinking or working. There was a guy right at the back using an angle grinder, but no Gabe.
"I was wondering when you two were getting here." A tall guy with a mane of unruly brown hair and a beard with a few flecks of silver in it had appeared in front of us, arms crossed over a broad chest that was barely encased within a worn raglan sleeve t-shirt.
"Really? Gabe told everyone we were coming?"
"Of course, can't get the show on the road without you. Come this way." He turned and started to walk towards the most beautiful bike I'd ever seen, sitting in a pool of bright light. "I need one of you over here for a few light tests and then you're into makeup."
"Wha–?"
"Shut up, Ash," Jez hissed while jabbing me in the ribs with her elbow. "Sure, where do you want me?"
I watched her saunter over and straddle the bike in a fluid movement, a couple of wolf whistles coming from the hangers-on as she slid into place. "Beautiful darlin'," the guy said and pulled out a small device, obviously measuring the light. I considered waiting for Jez, but she was perfectly capable of looking after herself. I turned and stepped away from the spotlight.
"Where ya going, love?" A bloke with a shaggy mop of black hair, deep-brown skin and a huge grin stepped out of the small group of blokes leaning on an older black car, watching the proceedings. He had a tight black t-shirt on, stretched over an impressive chest and some worn denim jeans that fit like a glove. "The makeup girls are over there."
"I'm not here to model, I'm looking for Gabe."
"Gabe? You don't look like the kind of girl satisfied by a Milky Bar, you look like you need some rich, dark chocolate," he said, gesturing to his body as I looked for my guy.
I laughed, "Dark chocolate is indeed an awesome thing, but I'm currently very happy with Milky Bar right now and need to drop his keys off."