Page 54 of Desert Heat

“You didn’t restrain me,” Brandi bit her lip.

“That’s because you enjoy that shit,” he snorted.

“I’m not sure if I will anymore.” A lone tear streaked down her face.

“Ah, shit babe. You will.” Tank, hauled Brandi across his lap and started peppering her with kisses.

“I don’t even know you,” she hiccuped through tears.

“Yes, you do,”he insisted, taking her palm and placing it over his meaty pec so she could feel his heartbeat.

“I think I’m gonna be sick,” Savvy snarled, turning her head from the couple.

“I’m still me, babe. I ain’t ever been an actor. Call me Tank, call me, Rogan, or you can still call me your ‘Papa Bear.’”

“Now I’m gonna be sick,” I shook my head, pulling the truck off the side of the road and cutting the lights. Six Sheriff vehicles, a firetruck and an ambulance went tearing by.

“I thought Attitash had this handled?”

I met Tank’s eyes in the rearview, shrugging. “Who knows how they do shit up here?”

After another five, I pulled back out on the road and headed north.

We sat in the dark each of us lost in our own thoughts. Tank found a med kit and gave the girls some pain killers and anti inflammatories.

“There’s sleeping pills in here but you ladies gotta stay awake even if we gotta sing for over an hour.”

“Fuck me,” Savvy manned into her palm.

“Be nice or I’ll stick my road scarf in your mouth to gaga ya’.”

“I hate you too, Tank.”

He shrugged. “I really don’t give two fucks, Savannah. But You sure as shit better tell me what’s up. My job is to protect my Prez and whatever is coming your way is going his.”

“I’ll think about it,” she muttered. “If you take these off…maybe I’ll think really hard.”

“No can do, babe. You’d prob try to stab my Prez in the head with the heel of your boot.”

“It did smash that shit outta the Beamer’s tail light,” she popped a shoulder.

“Keep your eyes on the road,” Tank groaned as the truck swerved.

“I saw a Moose or some shit. Scared the fuck outta me,” I muttered, steadying the wheel.

“Moose my ass,” Tank breathed…, “more like a stubborn, sexy brunette who has ya’ by the balls.”

“I’m scared.” Brandi, sniffled still unsure what the fuck was going on. She hadn’t completely relaxed in Tank’s arms, despite his best efforts from all the sweet fucking nothings he kept mumbling under his breath while Savvy and I pretended not to hear.

We ate up miles on the road stuck in this suspend awkward moment until my burner cell connected to the bluetooth.

“Sup, this is River.”

“River! We just heard some major shit went down! Are you okay? Mouse was worried.”

“Hi, Regan,” I smiled for the first time all day.

“Is the Outlaw Princess safe?”

---