Chapter 13
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Maggie—
A tall Bloody Mary is set before me.
Evelyn, Lola, Isabella, and I are at a table on an outdoor patio.
Evelyn drags a fry through a blob of ketchup. “So, tell us how you know Keno.”
Right away, I’m wondering if he’ll have a problem with me telling them about his past, even though there’s nothing to hide. So, I keep it simple. “Like I told Lola last night, he was best friends with my two older brothers.”
“Guess where?” Lola elbows Evelyn.
“Where?”
“New Orleans.” Lola grins.
My gaze moves between them. “What’s the significance of that?”
Evelyn huffs a laugh. “Nothing really. Lola and Memphis just have some history with that city. It’s where they first met.”
“Sounds like a story,” I muse, taking a sip of my drink.
“Oh, it is,” Isabella says. “Lola ran off after her brother—”
“Who’d stolen my money,” Lola interrupts.
“Right. Anyway, Rock was pissed when he found out and called the nearest patch to bring her back. That happened to be Memphis.”
“Lucky him,” I say with a grin.
“Turned out that way, yeah.” Lola chuckles. “But I gave him a run for his money. He had to chase me down.”
“Sounds exciting.”
“It was… until my brother robbed a bank.”
My mouth drops open. “What?”
“Anyway, that’s enough about me,” Lola says. “Tell us about growing up in New Orleans.”
“I loved it, but we weren’t well-off.”
“I thought your dad was a racing champion?” Lola frowns.
I shrug. “Guess it didn’t make him rich. I think he blew any sponsorship deals he could have had with his drinking.”
“That’s too bad,” Isabella says with a sad expression.
“I love that you race,” Evelyn says. “I like to ride Harleys, but I think I’d be scared to death to get on one of those motocross tracks.”
Lola elbows her. “I told Maggie we’d go watch her practice this afternoon. You in?”
“Hell, yeah,” Evelyn replies. “But I’ll have to call Rock first.”
“How about you, Izzy?” Lola turns to Isabella.
“I’d love to. It sounds exciting.”
Evelyn calls Rock, and after speaking with him, she holds the phone out to me. “He wants to talk to you.”
I stare at the phone, wondering what he wants with me. Reaching for it, I swallow. “Yes?”
“Hey, Maggie. Keno told me about this race you entered, and the reason for it. If it’s about the money, I want you to know that if you need more time, I can give you that.
I don’t want you risking your neck just to pay me back.
But if you want to run this race, I want you to have time to practice, so I’m putting a couple of guys in charge of the bar.
They’ll get it up and running again, and you take the next two weeks to prepare. Okay?”
I’m stunned. “I’m sure that’s not necessary, I—”
“It’s all decided,” he cuts me off. “Don’t worry about it. Now put my ol’ lady back on the line.”
I hold the phone out to Evelyn, my mind reeling.
While she talks to him, Lola notices my expression and frowns.
“What did my father say?”
“He’s putting some of his guys in charge of the bar, so I’ll have time to practice for the race.”
She grins. “That’s my father for you. Why aren’t you happy about it?”
“I appreciate the gesture, but that’s my bar. It’s hard to have strangers in there. What if they mess everything up?”
“Then their heads will roll. Rock will make sure of it.” She tilts her head. “You want to race, right?”
“Yes, I do. I didn’t realize how much I missed riding. This may be my only shot at seeing if I’ve got what it takes, if I inherited my old man’s skills.”
“I think the part about the only shot may be true, because once Keno makes you his, he may not want you racing, that or he’ll knock you up.” Lola lifts a brow, grinning.
I hadn’t thought of it that way.
“I’m getting excited,” Isabella says. “How far is this track we’re going to today?”
“Not far. But I’ll need a trailer to bring my bike up there.”
Evelyn is still on the phone with Rock and overhears me. “Babe, we need a trailer to haul her bike to the track.” She puts the phone below her chin and speaks to me. “He’s on it.”
When she disconnects, she polishes off her drink, then waves a waiter over and orders another round. “He’s sending one of the guys up here with his F350 truck and trailer. We’ll ride up there in style, girls.”
“No way,” Lola exclaims. “Dad’s letting us take his baby?”
“I drive that truck all the time,” Evelyn says.
“I call bullshit on that one. I know my father.”
“Okay,” she admits. “I’ve driven it twice.”
“And he’s letting you drive it?” Lola asks.
“Okay, maybe he’s sending Memphis with it.”
“Why not Keno?” Lola asks.
Evelyn shrugs. “Guess he’s busy.”
Thirty minutes later, Memphis shows up, and we stop by The Gaslight Pub to get my bike and gear.
When we get to the track, Memphis helps me unload the bike and gas it up.
I smile at the girls and put my helmet on.
“Girl, you look badass,” Evelyn says, taking me in from head to toe. “I may have to take up this sport. I especially love those boots with the buckles up your leg.”
“Thanks. Wish me luck.” I climb onto my bike and roar out onto the track. I make four laps before I stop.
The girls jump up and down.
“Oh my God, babe. You flew past those guys!” Lola shouts, giving me a high-five.
“You rocked it, Maggie,” Memphis says. “Those dudes had nothing on you.”
I pull off my helmet, grinning, happy these women are here cheering me on. I’ve never had close girlfriends, and it feels so good to be part of this group.
I ride for another forty-five minutes before calling it quits.
When we arrive back in Durango, Memphis drives straight to the bar, and Keno is waiting in the alley, next to his bike, his hands shoved in his pockets.
“Did you call him?” I ask Memphis.
“I texted him. Told him we were on our way.”
Memphis stops the truck, and we all get out. Then he and Keno unload the bike, and Lola tugs on my arm.
“Show us the bar. I’ve never been inside.”
I give the girls a tour, even though I know Evelyn has been here with Rock once or twice.
“I like this place,” Lola says. “We should all come up here and have a girls’ night sometime.”
“Sure,” I say, shrugging.
“You live above the place, right?” Evelyn asks.
“Yes. There’s an apartment upstairs.”
“Oh, cool. Show us your place,” Lola says.
“Lola, that’s her private space.”
“I don’t mind. Come on.” I lead the way up the staircase across from the office, and we all troop in the apartment.
“What a cute little place,” Isabella says. “I love it.”
Lola walks to the window overlooking Main Avenue. “You’ve got a great view. Do you have access to the rooftop?”
“Yeah, from the fire escape.”
“It would be a great place to watch the fireworks on the Fourth of July, wouldn’t it?” she asks. “Ever been up there?”
“Just once. There’s really nothing up there.”
She lifts a brow, plotting. “Maybe you need some patio furniture.”
“Maybe Rock needs to make sure the roof will hold the weight of a bunch of people before you start planning a party, Lola,” Eveyln says.
Lola sticks her tongue out. “Don’t spoil my plans.”
We return to the bar and find the guys sitting at it having a beer.
We end up shooting a round of darts, and then Memphis herds the girls out the door.
“Well, ladies, this has been fun, but I’ve got to get back to the clubhouse.”
I walk them out, and the girls make me promise we’ll do this again. Waving them off, I turn to find Keno grinning at me.
“You look happy.”
“I am. I really like them.”
“Good. It’s great to see you fitting right in.”
“Are you staying?”
He tugs my body against his. “Thought I might. You gonna invite me upstairs?”
“Maybe.”
“Hmm. I guess I need to change that maybe to a yes.” And his mouth comes down on mine.