Page 90 of The Belle and the Biker

“But Mae…” Beauford protests mournfully.

“Why are you holding a newspaper over your privates?” Mae stares rudely at his concealed crotch area. “Did you wet yourself?”

“No!” he squalls. “You…I…” But Mae’s already returned her attention to Carlisle.

“Shall we, my dear?” he asks. He gives me a nod, and they stroll off together.

Beauford looks at me hopelessly. “Savannah?” he whines.

“Told you,” I say with a shrug. “You should have picked one and locked her down. Too late now.”

“Waiiit a minute…I don’t know if I like this,” Daisy protests. “What are his intentions toward my grandmother?”

“Purely physical, I hope!” Gramma Mae calls over her shoulder. How did she do that? She’s almost half a block away.

“How did you hear me?” Daisy yells back.

“I have ears in the back of my head!”

“That’s not how the saying goes,” Callie says primly.

“What is your hearing aid even for?” Daisy shouts.

“Camouflage!”

And then Mae and Carlisle walk around a corner, and they’re gone.

Callie, Daisy, and I head back into the diner.

“So,” I say. “How about them Blue Devils?”

We sit and jaw for a few more minutes. Rhett is deliriously happy with the scraps that keep dropping his way.

“Pig,” I scold him. He thumps his tail in agreement and burps loudly enough that people turn to look from several tables away. Okay, my aunt is right. Tiddlywinks does have more class.

“Open the box, for heaven’s sakes,” Daisy orders me. “I want to see his apology present. The suspense must be killing you. I know it’s killing me.”

“I couldn’t care less,” I say, but I’m already ripping the wrapping paper. I lift the box top off and look inside.

Silverware. Piles of random silverware and six carefully wrapped water glasses.

Tears fill my eyes.

“Bad present?” Daisy peers into the box. “Uh…cheap silverware? Yep. Bad present.”

“No, it’s a private joke. Very good present.”

“He grand-gestured you,” Chase observes. “That’s a good sign.”

“It is?”

“It means he paid attention to what you like and put a lot of thought into doing something meaningful for you. I did that for Daisy. And now look at her. All knocked up and totally trapped.” He smiles at her fondly and blows her a kiss.

“Daisy, you’re in a disgustingly happy marriage. What’s your advice as far as Crash goes? What should I do? Should I give him another chance?”

“You want me to make the decision, so whatever comes next is my fault?”

I nod vigorously. “Yes, please.”

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