Page 72 of Small Town Firsts
Relief rolled through me. “Maybe you can make me a drink.”
“I just may.” She ran up the stairs and inside.
I threw one last look out at the orchard that had been my solace for so long before following her into what I hoped would be my future.
EIGHTEEN
RONAN
I NEED ALCOHOL FOR THIS
The rumbleof a motorcycle broke the peace of my quiet spot off the beaten path. The A-line style cabin was a work in progress, but I liked it well enough to figure out if this was where I wanted to plant myself for the future or find something else.
I opened the sliding door to my porch. I’d had time to take my coveted shower and polish off a few more pieces of chicken along with about a gallon of water. I was definitely pre-gaming for my liver to be demolished by Kain’s arrival.
Half of the cider was on ice beside the two oversized Adirondack chairs on my deck. I’d found them at a furniture store on one of my trips into Crescent Cove for my current chicken obsession. The fact that the chair was sturdy enough for a big man like me had been worth the price.
Now I was glad I’d bought a pair.
The back tire of Kain’s bike kicked up dust as he flew down the winding dirt road to my house. I had a feeling it would be a bitch in the winter and the wet. Good thing I’d been researching an ATV with a plow hitch along with those chains Hayes had mentioned for my tires.
The idea of hibernating also didn’t seem so bad if I had Kira here.
I quick stepped it down my stairs and met him in the driveway. “I can’t believe you’re here, man.”
“Brah!” Kain’s tanned face crinkled up into a wide smile. He released the chin strap of his helmet and tucked his goggles inside. His green eyes were bloodshot with fatigue and…something else. Not many would pick up on it, but I knew him far too well. His long dark hair was wild around his face and fell well past his shoulders now. He’d shaved the sides and had a few braids like my own. I was surprised to see my mother’s rune beads in his hair along with a few Hawaiian shell beads.
The more he connected with his ancestors, the closer he was to the edgy Kain of my youth. There was no hint of the businessman he’d become.
He swung his leg off the bike, then hooked his helmet on the handle before lumbering at me full speed.
“Oh, shit.” I cringed as he lifted me off the ground in a bear hug.
“It’s been too long,Boa!”
I rolled my eyes. A true testament to Kain’s love is if he gave you a Hawaiian nickname. He’d given me the name “warrior” a damn long time ago, but it had stuck. I had a feeling Kira would get a kick out of it when she found out.
I hugged him back. “Put me down, you idiot.”
He whaled me on the back with one of his massive paws. Kain was a few inches taller than me with his motorcycle boots. The buckles on his jacket jangled as he shrugged it off and tossed it back toward the bike. “Look at you. I figured you’d be all corporate by now. You’re still wild like me.” He tugged on one of my curls, then threw an arm around my shoulders. “You even showered for me, I’m honored. I could use one of those.”
I coughed. “Yeah, you could.”
“Road baths only do so much. The hot blond I met in Winchester Falls didn’t seem to mind.”
“I just bet she didn’t. I thought you were staying with Shane.”
He shrugged. “I did for a few days, but I got restless. The B&B is always full these days.?Anelahas turned that place into a destination spot. Between her and her mom, I couldn’t handle all the poking at me.”
Shane’s wife, Kendall—also known as angel to Kain—wasn’t exactly a super caretaker sort, which immediately got me wondering what was going on with my friend. I’d get it out of him soon enough.
“Well, it’s just you and me and the woods.”
“A-fucking-men.” He went back to his bike and unstrapped his saddlebags from the back then tossed it over his broad shoulder. “Shower and food and one of those brews. Any order.”
I laughed. “That I can handle.”
He climbed the steps two at a time. “This place is…interesting.”
