7. Emma #2
That settled it. A ride around Willow Creek had to happen.
I opened the garage door. The saddlebags I had ordered were probably sitting in the stack of boxes in my foyer. However, I didn’t want to spend the next hour figuring out if they worked for the sporty Ducati or not. My current bag could double as a backpack.
After stuffing it with some makeup, hair supplies, and some paperwork, I slung it over my shoulders. Everything else could wait. After a last double-check of all the locked windows and the front door, I grabbed the garage door clicker and my helmet, then settled over the bike.
It started right up, and I grinned as I lowered the visor.
Once the garage door closed behind me, I zipped away.
Shannon’s and Riley’s cars were already at Vixen’s by the time I arrived. The ride had been great. Perfect weather for it. I tucked my helmet under my arm and strode in.
Sheila mixed a drink behind the bar, and she nodded toward me as I crossed the dining area.
Shannon laughed at something Riley said, and Riley’s face split in a smile I hadn’t seen since we’d saved her from Acheron. It did my heart good.
I placed my helmet on the table, shaking the surface enough so that the ice clinked in our three water glasses. One for each of us.
They both stood and threw their arms around me. “Emma!”
Their enthusiasm spread to me, and laughter bubbled up and out. “Gah. I’ve missed you two.”
“We’ve missed you,” Shannon said as they both took their seats.
I turned to the younger woman. “How are you, Riley?”
“Better than I was a few weeks ago,” she said. “I don’t know what kind of funk I’d gotten into. Oh, I haven’t seen your friend around either.”
“Who’s that?”
“The sus peachy redheaded Viking. Though he had lost the beard jewelry by the last time I saw him.”
“Oh, Flynn?”
If Flynn wasn’t still coming around, then he probably thought Riley was doing well enough to not need checking on… or he was doing a better job of hiding his keeping track of her. I’d ask him when I made my way to Red Tail.
Sheila stopped at our table. “Y’all ready to order?”
“I want whatever you think’s good,” I said.
“Make that two,” Shannon agreed.
“Make that three,” Riley added.
“You three are going to be my best table of the day.” Sheila beamed at us, the star tattoos around her eyes crinkling.
“How’s Sully-Boy?” I asked her.
“He’s still the same asshole barn cat he always was, but that’s how Callie loves him. At least he’s settled in and isn’t trying to escape all the time.” Sheila nodded toward the table. “Want anything to drink besides water?”
I shook my head. “Not this time. I’m driving home.”
“What about you girls?”
They both declined, and Sheila went on her way.
Shannon pointed to the helmet. “Got your bike out of mothballs?”
“Feels good,” I said with a grin.
We made small talk and briefly caught up on each other’s lives.
Finally, I said, “I’m sure you both suspected, but I have some news to share.”
Riley squealed. “You’re pregnant?”
My jaw slacked, and I didn’t know what to say.
Instead, Shannon guffawed. “No, I bet not, Riley.”
“I bet so,” Riley countered.
“If she’s pregnant, I’ll buy lunch.”
I waved off their impending argument. “No, I’m not pregnant. It’s news about the clinic.”
Riley’s face fell. “Oh, that.”
I scrunched my nose. “Did you really think I was pregnant?”
She shrugged. “Meet guy. Guy sweeps you off your feet and takes you to the country. This is Louisiana. Babies come next. I mean, you’re not working, so…”
“I guess that’s true.” I laughed at her youthful take on the order in which things had happened. Torbin had softened Riley’s memories and sealed them behind a mental block, so Shannon knew more about what was going on in my life than Riley did.
I turned serious. “No, I wanted to tell you that you’ll get a lump-sum payment through the end of quarter one of next year. You can take another job if you’d like. It’ll be at least spring of next year before I’m ready to reopen.”
They both nodded.
“You don’t have to pay us that long,” Shannon offered.
“You two are worth it,” I assured her.
“And Logan’s loaded,” Riley quipped.
Shannon’s eyes widened. “Riley!”
I shrugged. “She’s not wrong, and it was his idea.”
“Have you heard from your mom?” Shannon asked. “She stopped texting and calling all the time.”
“Oh, she’s moved out to Logan’s place. She’s staying out there.”
“Is that awkward?” Riley asked.
“Not any more awkward than anything else,” I murmured.
Riley would faint dead away if she knew how often we all walked around completely naked.
Our food arrived, and we returned to catching up on each other’s lives. The lunch rush came and went, and Sheila brought the bill. At two o’clock, my phone buzzed and buzzed again.
I checked it, expecting something from Logan. Two missed calls and a text. Not from Logan but his beta. Stupid phone hadn’t rung at all. I checked the text.
Olivia: Have you seen Logan?
Me: No.
Olivia: Then you’re about to.
Me: What?
Olivia: I’d like to apologize in advance. Good luck.
As if summoned, Logan exploded through the door of Vixen’s, his heaving bare chest out of place in the nearly empty restaurant. At least he had pants on. Even if he didn’t have a shirt.
“Emma.” He marched to our table. Sweat slicked his skin. “I’ve been looking all over Willow Creek for you.”
“Why? You could have texted.” I waved my phone back and forth, trying desperately to ignore the way heat was already building between my legs.
“Someone could have been texting on your behalf.”
“Well, I haven’t been hiding.”
He tipped his head, and his gaze dropped to my lap. His nostrils flared. Your scent says you’re pleased to see me.
Not here, Logan. God, not here.
But if he asked, I wouldn’t be able to say no.
It started here.
I’m on my motorcycle, so we can’t have sex in the front seat.
I brought a Tahoe. He growled, long and low. His upper lip curled. We could reenact our meeting at the bar. Complete with Animal Doctors and a make-out session. If you’re not careful, I will devour the real one. On that table. In front of your friends.
Holy shit, Logan. My cheeks flamed, and desire rushed over me.
Shannon and Riley stared at both of us, their mouths agape. From their perspective, we’d been staring intensely at each other for at least a minute. Neither one of us had spoken aloud.
I took a deep breath and gestured between my two companions. “Shannon, Riley, this is Logan Blackwood.”
They both peered up at him. Riley stared at his muscular chest, chewing her bottom lip as though she hadn’t seen so much of a hulking man chest before. She probably hadn’t.
Shannon was the first to recover and offer her hand. “Hello, Mr. Blackwood. Nice to finally meet you.” She turned to me. “That’s more of him than I expected to see when you introduced me to your boyfriend.”
He shook her hand. “Shannon. Call me Logan.”
“You got it,” she answered.
“And I’m more than her boyfriend,” he said. Shannon laughed as he turned to Riley. “Hello.”
“Uh, I’m Riley. Nice to meet you,” the young redhead stuttered. She didn’t offer her hand. Instead, she twisted her fingers together in her lap. A shadow filtered across her expression. Probably bits of a memory I hoped she’d never completely recall.
“Emma, we do need to get home,” he said. Where you’re safe. Where we can protect you.
I’m taking my Ducati back to Six-Mile. Not riding in the Tahoe.
Emma… His tone became a warning.
I winked at Riley and Shannon. “Guess he’s my cue to get back. I’ll try to come back for a visit around Thanksgiving. Maybe I’ll bring green bean casserole.”
Shannon hugged me, followed by Riley.
I turned to Logan and put my hands on my hips. In for a penny, in for a pound. “Race ya home. You can gripe at me when you get there, or whatever else comes to mind. Maybe a good tongue-lashing for your favorite animal doctor?”
Riley and Shannon shared a look and then giggled.
“This is great,” Shannon added.
Then I wagged my eyebrows at Logan, scooped up my helmet, placed it on my head, and marched out of Vixen’s with his curses and Sheila’s laughter echoing behind me. Catch me if you can.