Page 1 of Ball Buster

Chapter one

Vada

I pull into the parking lot not sure what to expect. Nearly twenty years without a word. Not so much as a call to say happy birthday and the man dies, leaving half of his bar to me. I don’t understand why. All this time he was here in Drag Creek, Kentucky pissing his life away on booze and women. Not one thought of his daughter he walked out on when I was three. Not until I received a call from his partner asking me to sell my half of the business. That was last week. Which leads me to now.

To a biker bar called The Brew. I snort. How original. I stare at the sign hanging over the door. The letters appear to be made from horseshoes and hand tacked up there. I’ve been on the road for six hours and the last thing I want to do is be doing this, but I’m not a pushover. I know the guy is lowballing me on the offer even if the place looks like a dump.

Off the bat I can tell the outside needs some curb appeal. Maybe some type of outdoor seating. A nice patio would be perfect for the summer. With it being right on the lake practically there is a lot of potential to turn this place into a money maker.

As it sits now it reminds me of the last stop in a horror flick when you meet a dead-end road with only one gas station and a creepy caretaker or whatever.

Digging into my purse, I pull out my makeup bag and do a touch up on my lips and freshen my mascara. Not that I’m trying to impress this geezer. If he’s anything like my sperm donor I’m sure he’s fat, balding, and well old. As I rub my lips together, I make note of the Harley parked near the front door. Sleek and black with the word Solo in orange script painted on the gas tank. Nice bike.

What kind of name is Solo anyway? I turn off the ignition and stick my keys in my purse. Exiting my car, I square my shoulders and speed walk to the bar. I’m ready to get this over with. Before I enter, I smooth my hands over my hips and dust the chip crumbs off my skirt. I wonder if they serve food here. I could go for a big greasy burger.

The moment I step inside I’m met with classic rock music and metal signs on the walls like everywhere. A total dude place that isn’t friendly to families who may be looking for somewhere to grab a bite and a drink after a day at the lake or on their way there.

I stop dead in my tracks when I see a young guy behind the bar. A black ball cap turned backwards on his head, black tee fitted snug across his chest, dark jeans with some wear and tear around the pockets. Tattoos snaking up his forearms.

He’s tall and muscular.

Dark hair and even darker eyes that seem to swallow me whole as his gaze pierces me in place. Dang he’s hot. HOT. As in make your panties wet by simply smiling. Slight stubble on his jaws and the beginning of a goatee. I’m placing him in his early to mid-thirties. This definitely can’t be the guy.

“We’re closed on Sundays,” his deep, gritty voice reverberates down my spine giving me a tingle in my nether regions.

Sweet lord. Heat washes over me and my nipples harden. I pray he can’t tell that I’m having such a physical reaction to him.

“Um.” I clear my throat. “I’m looking for your boss.”

“You Vada?” It doesn’t escape me that he’s fully checking me out. Likely thinking I don’t belong in this establishment in my skirt, long sleeved silk black blouse, and heels.

“How do you…” There was only my car and the motorcycle in the lot. “You’re Solo?”

“One and only.”

“Oh.” I offer a weak smile.

“Not what you were expecting?”

“Well, my…fa—Les was old.”

He folds his arms over his chest. “You didn’t have to come all this way to accept the offer.”

“I wanted to see it for myself. Look at the books.”

“Place is bleeding money, babe.”

“That doesn’t mean I want to just hand over my half without second thought.”

With a slight shake of his head, he moves from behind the bar. “Take it you’ll be in town a while?”

“Depends. But at least the next week or two. I still have his trailer or whatever to contend with. Do you know where it’s located?” What I don’t tell him is that I kind of quit my job and came here hoping for a new start.

“Yup. Can show you once we’re finished here.”

“Great. You can get back to whatever it is you were doing, and I’ll have a look around the place.”

“Doing inventory. I’ll be in the basement if you need me. Lock the front door if you don’t mind. Don’t want stragglers wandering in.”

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