Page 4 of Talon
When his bike started, he lifted his hand high enough Madison would see it and gave her a thumbs up gesture.The light from her headlights shifted telling him she was on the move.
Talon waited while she pulled out then made sure that no one was coming and eased his bike onto the road and followed the pickup.It didn’t take long until she pulled off and parked in a small lot beside a building that looked more like a house than a business.He pulled in behind her then walked his bike backward into a space before killing the engine and dismounting.
“I thought for a minute there it wasn’t going to start.”Madison’s voice came from behind him as he tugged off his helmet.
“I wasn’t worried.I just had to work the air out of the lines.”Talon stowed his helmet then turned to face her.
She watched him with a look that he wasn’t sure how to interpret.Was she confused?Did she want something more from him?He motioned for her to go inside, then fell into step beside her.When they reached the door, he opened it and let her go in first, then followed.
Inside, it took a moment for his eyes to adjust from the bright sunshine to the darker interior, by the time he could see clearly, Madison had already moved farther into the place.Talon followed her, weaving in between tables just as she’d done until she stopped in the corner of the next room and slid into the seat of a booth in the corner.There were a couple of other people in the room, but not close enough they would be overheard unless they were shouting.
He sat across the table from her and watched her for a moment, wondering what to say next.Before he had a chance to say or do anything, a girl who couldn’t be more than seventeen approached, a glass of water in each hand.She set one in front of each of them then pulled menus from where she’d tucked them under her arm.
“Hi, my name is Arianna.I’ll be your server today.Can I get you something more to drink?”
Talon looked at Madison.“Anything you want.My treat.”
She glanced up at him and one corner of her mouth lifted before she turned to the waitress.“I’ll have an iced tea.”
“No problem, lemon?”
“No thanks.”Madison turned her attention back to the menu while Arianna turned to him.
“I’ll have the same.”
“No lemon?”
“No lemon.”
“I’ll give you a minute to look at the menus while I get these.”Arianna turned and left.
He turned his attention to the menu, scanning it for a moment before glancing up across the table.“What’s good?”
“Everything.But my favorite is the country fried steak.”
“That does sound good.”
“Are you sure?It’s one of the most expensive things they have.”
“I’m sure.Get whatever you want.If you want the steak, get it.If you want prime rib and lobster, get it.You did me a huge favor and I want to pay you back for that.I’m not worried about the money, I have plenty of that.”
She frowned at him for a moment then shook her head.He wished he knew what she was thinking.
After a little bit, Arianna came back and took their order and left again.
“You were telling me you’re from South Dakota and you’ve been here a few months.Did you spend all your life in South Dakota, or did you move there from somewhere else?”
“My parents moved up there when I was a baby.So while it’s not the only place I’ve ever lived, it’s the only place I remember.”
“And are your parents still there?”
She shook her head.“Mom’s been gone since I was little.I only have a few amorphous memories.”She didn’t tell him that her mother had taken off, leaving both her and her father behind or that her father’s sudden death was far more recent, far more painful.She’d learned long ago not to overshare.
“That’s sucks.I’m sorry to hear that.Were you close with her?”
Talon wanted to know more about her.He didn’t know why but he was enjoying talking to her more than any woman he’d been around in a long time.Well, aside from some of his brothers’ old ladies.But they were more like siblings than anything else.He could smart off and be silly, but they all knew he wasn’t looking for more than a little fun banter.
“I was.It was rough for a while, but it’s getting easier.”
