Page 147 of Heartbeats & Highways

“I sure will.”

I rolled up my window and waited for the cop to get into his car before slowly getting back on the road.

Savage hadn’t been lying. Mentioning the club’s name had gotten me out of a ticket.

If you can’t beat ’em, join ‘em.

I stopped at the gate of the clubhouse and waited for the two young men in jeans and leather cuts that said Prospects on them to open it for me.

They waved me through, and I turned the car toward the gravel lot. I parked next to a motorcycle and cut the engine.

I was barely out of the car before Savage was standing in front of me.

“Jesus, woman, what took you so damn long?” he demanded, wrapping his arms around me and kissing me in greeting.

When I could catch my breath, I said, “I got stopped by a cop.”

“What?”

“Relax.” I pressed a hand to his chest. “I told him I was your Old Lady. He let me go with a warning. You weren’t lying about the club’s influence with law enforcement.”

“We know people,” he agreed. He stepped back and took my hand. “You hungry? The grill’s hot and there are about seven different types of salad. Bean salad, potato salad, coleslaw, fruit salad, and other salads I don’t recognize.”

I laughed. “Yeah, I’m starving. Feed me.”

“Oh, I’ll feed you,” he quipped, leading me toward the clubhouse.

There were two bikers on the porch who I hadn’t met yet.

“Crow,” Savage introduced. “And Acid.”

“Nice to meet you,” I said.

“We’re gonna get Evie some food. Catch you guys later.” Savage ushered me into the clubhouse.

“So that was Acid, your sparring buddy?”

“Yep.”

“He doesn’t look very friendly,” I remarked.

“He’s been through shit.”

“As we all have,” I remarked.

“Yeah.” Savage frowned. “His best friend was a prospect at the same time he was, but he died. It changed him. This life changes you.”

I squeezed his hand in understanding.

“There’s sodas and sparkling water in a cooler outside,” he explained with a roguish smile. “For all the pregnant and non-drinking Old Ladies.”

We walked down a hallway past several closed doors. I was reminded of the first and only time I’d been here. It felt like so long ago, but it really wasn’t.

Savage pushed open the screen door to the backyard. Kids and dogs ran around while women sat in a circle of camp chairs, holding babies and plates of food.

The bikers congregated near the grill and there were at least three tables laden with food and desserts.

The bonfire was already lit, giving off a welcoming heat.

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