Page 73 of 12 Months of Mayhem

She took a step closer and lowered her voice. “He’s outside. And Drew said he saw him here when he drove by to take James to school. That was an hour ago.”

I tilted my head. “He was outside?”

Bonnie nodded. “He’s just sitting on his bike. I nodded to him when I got out of my car, but he didn’t leave. I thought maybe he’d just stopped in for something.”

“Well, he had stopped in at the beginning of my shift,” I admitted, but I’d assumed he left after we said goodbye.

“But he’s still here,” Bonnie whispered like Tank might hear her through the walls.

I sighed and grabbed my keys. “Well, then maybe I should figure out why that is.”

“Maddie,” she said, surprised. “That man is huge, and if he’s stalking you, I don’t think you should go out there. At least take Drew with you.”

I rolled my eyes and stepped past her. “Drew weighs barely a hundred pounds soaking wet, Bonnie. I’m six inches taller than him. I can handle myself.” I paused at the doorway and looked back at her. “Besides, I talked to Tank last night. I wasn’t the least bit afraid of him.”

She didn’t say anything, just followed close behind me like she still might try to stop me.

I walked out of the office and into the store, my boots clicking softly on the tile. The overhead lights flickered slightly as they always did during the morning transition, like even the electricity knew I wasn’t meant to be awake at this hour. Bonnie trailed behind me.

“Well, if you’re sure,” she called after me. “Just scream really loud if you need us.”

I waved over my shoulder and smiled at Drew behind the front counter. “Have a good day, guys. Call if you need anything.” They rarely did, but I liked to remind them I was always a phone call away.

The morning air hit me the second I stepped outside—cool, dry, and calm. I squinted against the early sun that cast long shadows over the concrete lot.

At first glance, there was no sign of him. The usual few cars rolled down the road. A truck pulled into the pump on the far end. But no Tank.

I walked around the side of the building toward where I parked, and then—there he was.

Tank’s bike sat parked directly next to my car.

He sat astride it like he hadn’t moved all night. He wore sunglasses even though the sun wasn’t fully up, and somehow, that only made him look more dangerous. But I knew better. I could tell he was looking at me.

“Too tired to make the ride back to wherever you’re staying?” I called.

Tank shook his head once. “Nope. I’m right where I wanted to be.”

I squinted at him. “The side of a gas station is where you want to be?” I let out a small laugh.

He nodded slowly. “It was, until you walked out the door, mama.”

The way he said mama—God, it did something to me. Made me feel warm, wanted, seen in a way I hadn’t felt in years.

“And now?” I asked, my voice catching just a little. “What happens now since I walked out the door?”

A slick smile slid across his face. “Well, probably head to the hotel and get some sleep.”

I chuckled. “You didn’t know you were going to work the night shift, huh?”

He shook his head, the smile never slipping. “Nah.”

“Well, I need to get home,” I said and inched toward my car.

He nodded again. “Drive careful, mama.”

I smiled, pulled open my car door, and slid into the driver’s seat. I glanced at him once more before starting the engine. There was a big part of me that wanted to walk over to his bike, wrap my arms around him from behind, and take off down the road without looking back.

But I had Tucker waiting at home.

---