Page 58 of Talk Wicked to Me

“We don’t do any of that shit. That’s not what the club is about. If a guy strays, it’s not because of the club. I was talking about the types of issues we handle. We aren’t allowed to talk about club business outside of the club, even to girlfriends or wives. I’m sure my mother is privy to a little more than other wives since she’s married to the VP, but for the most part, if my old man says he’s got to take care of something, she doesn’t ask questions.”

“But anyone who gets involved with a Dark Knight must know that.”

“Yes, but knowing it is one thing. Seeing your man come home bloody, with his eye swollen shut, or worse, and knowing he can’t tell you why or how or anything about what went down is a whole different ball game.”

“That’s how it is in the biker books I’ve edited. I think that would be hard for anyone, but the way I look at it, if you’re with someone who’s helping others, how can you not respect and support that? Now, if you were with a one-percenter, that would be a different story.”

“That’s just one reason you’re so special.”

He was always doing that, complimenting her so casually, it was hard not to believe him and get caught up in it.

“Hi, Baz,” said a cute waitress with kinky blond hair and tattoos on her arms as she set two glasses of water on their table.

“Hey, Starr,” Baz said. “This is Emerson and her little boy, Brennan.”

“I figured as much. It’s not every day you bring a woman and a baby in for lunch.” Starr smiled at her. “Hi, Emerson. Ginger is in love with your little boy. He’s adorable, and you look amazing. I looked like death warmed over for months after Gracie was born.”

“Thanks. How old is your daughter?”

“Four and a half going on ruling the world.” Starr laughed. “Mads said you might come to the book club meeting. I hope you do, so we can get to know each other.”

“You’re in the book club, too?” Emerson asked with surprise.

“Sure am. Mads wrangled me in a few years ago. If you go, we can bond over the trials and tribulations of being a single parent.”

“I’d like that. It would be nice to get to know another single mom.”

“Great. Then let’s get you guys fed while your little one is sleeping. I know how precious these quiet moments are.” Starr went over the lunch specials and took their lunch orders—shrimp tacos for Emerson and a burger and fries for Baz. “I’ll bring these out as soon as they’re ready.”

As she walked away, Emerson said, “I haven’t had shrimp tacos since I vacationed here with my parents.”

“Did you come every summer?”

“No. My parents loved visiting small towns, so most years we went someplace new, but we came here a few times because it was my favorite. I remember going to the beach and making sandcastles with my dad and going to a drive-in theater, which is probably long gone by now. But my favorite part of the whole summer was the fires we had in the firepit behind our cottage. We’d roast marshmallows until we were too stuffed to eat another bite, and then we’d lie on a blanket and look up at the stars. My dad used to pretend to see all sorts of crazy animals and shapes in the stars, and I remember trying so hard to find them.” She smiled at the memory. “Eventually I always found some group of stars that formed whatever shape he’d called out. I’m sure it was a stretch for my parents to act like they saw the ones I pointed to, but I believed them, and it made me happy.”

“That’s the magic of the Cape. It’s the simple things that bring families together.”

“I love that. It’s what I want for Brennan to grow up with.”

“Then he will. The Wellfleet drive-in is still open. I’ll take you and Brennan there sometime.”

“I’d like that. What were your family vacations like?”

“Usually we went to see family, like our cousins in Salvation Falls, which is in Upstate New York, and we’d go to rallies with other Dark Knight chapters and hang with the kids.”

“Did you like it?”

“Hell yeah. I still do. The coolest guys I know are Dark Knights.”

“It must be nice to have that big a circle of friends.”

“It is, and hopefully one day you’ll have it, too.”

The thoughtful way he was looking at her made her wonder if he meant it the way it came across, implying they might be more than friends one day. But this was the same man who twisted the things she said into sexy jokes. He probably hadn’t realized how it came across.

Pushing away that thought, she tried to keep the conversation light, so her overactive imagination would settle down. “It’s nice being out like this. I haven’t been to a restaurant since before I got pregnant.”

“That’s a damn shame. If I’d known you during your pregnancy, I would’ve taken you anytime you wanted.” He turned in his seat, those piercing blue eyes stirring butterflies in her again. “Why did you turn me down for the last few weeks when I asked you to meet me for lunch?”