Page 41

Maddie

“I’m sorry, Maddie.”

I grabbed my purse from the hook by my desk in the back office and slung it over my shoulder. “Um, you just clocked in, Bonnie. The only thing you need to be sorry for is if you’re sick or quitting.” I gave her a warning look, half-joking and half-praying that wasn’t the case. I was dead on my feet, and if she bailed, I was about to work a double.

Bonnie shook her head quickly. “It’s that biker.”

I tipped my head to the side. “Biker?”

She waved her hand vaguely. “The guy that’s built like a brick shithouse. Huge.”

Ah. That narrowed it down to exactly one person. “It’s fine you told him Diamond and I owned this place. It’s not a secret. I just don’t advertise it with flashing lights and a billboard.”

Bonnie looked behind her, like she didn’t want anyone else to overhear—even though it was just the two of us in the office. “No, I mean… yes, I did tell him that, but that’s not what I’m sorry for.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Then what are you sorry for, Bonnie?”

She was ten years older than me, and it always felt weird when I had to switch into “boss mode” with her. But right now, I needed her to spit it out.

“I didn’t know he was stalking you.”

I reared back. “What do you mean?”

She took a step closer and lowered her voice. “He’s outside. And Drew said he saw him here when he drove by to take James to school. That was an hour ago.”

I tilted my head. “He was outside?”

Bonnie nodded. “He’s just sitting on his bike. I nodded to him when I got out of my car, but he didn’t leave. I thought maybe he’d just stopped in for something.”

“Well, he had stopped in at the beginning of my shift,” I admitted, but I’d assumed he left after we said goodbye.

“But he’s still here,” Bonnie whispered like Tank might hear her through the walls.

I sighed and grabbed my keys. “Well, then maybe I should figure out why that is.”

“Maddie,” she said, surprised. “That man is huge, and if he’s stalking you, I don’t think you should go out there. At least take Drew with you.”

I rolled my eyes and stepped past her. “Drew weighs barely a hundred pounds soaking wet, Bonnie. I’m six inches taller than him. I can handle myself.” I paused at the doorway and looked back at her. “Besides, I talked to Tank last night. I wasn’t the least bit afraid of him.”

She didn’t say anything, just followed close behind me like she still might try to stop me.

I walked out of the office and into the store, my boots clicking softly on the tile. The overhead lights flickered slightly as they always did during the morning transition, like even the electricity knew I wasn’t meant to be awake at this hour. Bonnie trailed behind me.

“Well, if you’re sure,” she called after me. “Just scream really loud if you need us.”

I waved over my shoulder and smiled at Drew behind the front counter. “Have a good day, guys. Call if you need anything.” They rarely did, but I liked to remind them I was always a phone call away.

The morning air hit me the second I stepped outside—cool, dry, and calm. I squinted against the early sun that cast long shadows over the concrete lot.

At first glance, there was no sign of him. The usual few cars rolled down the road. A truck pulled into the pump on the far end. But no Tank.

I walked around the side of the building toward where I parked, and then—there he was.

Tank’s bike sat parked directly next to my car.

He sat astride it like he hadn’t moved all night. He wore sunglasses even though the sun wasn’t fully up, and somehow, that only made him look more dangerous. But I knew better. I could tell he was looking at me.

“Too tired to make the ride back to wherever you’re staying?” I called.

Tank shook his head once. “Nope. I’m right where I wanted to be.”

I squinted at him. “The side of a gas station is where you want to be?” I let out a small laugh.

He nodded slowly. “It was, until you walked out the door, mama.”

The way he said mama—God, it did something to me. Made me feel warm, wanted, seen in a way I hadn’t felt in years.

“And now?” I asked, my voice catching just a little. “What happens now since I walked out the door?”

A slick smile slid across his face. “Well, probably head to the hotel and get some sleep.”

I chuckled. “You didn’t know you were going to work the night shift, huh?”

He shook his head, the smile never slipping. “Nah.”

“Well, I need to get home,” I said and inched toward my car.

He nodded again. “Drive careful, mama.”

I smiled, pulled open my car door, and slid into the driver’s seat. I glanced at him once more before starting the engine. There was a big part of me that wanted to walk over to his bike, wrap my arms around him from behind, and take off down the road without looking back.

But I had Tucker waiting at home.

I rolled the window down and leaned out a little.

“You good?” he asked, his voice gentler than I expected.

I’d been working night shifts for years. I was more than good. “Yeah. I won’t crash until ten or so.”

He nodded and tapped a couple fingers against the gas tank of his bike. “You gonna be working by yourself tonight?”

I shrugged. “I probably won’t know until closer to midnight. I know Diamond will try to be here, but I really don’t want her around if she’s sick and contagious.”

Tank nodded slowly, like he was already making a decision I didn’t know about. “Well, maybe I’ll see you around, mama.”

Part of me wanted to say, As long as you don’t wander too far. But I didn’t. I just smiled instead. “Have a good day.”

I started the car, backed out of the parking space, and headed toward home. The drive was quiet. The streets were familiar and sleepy, with the sun starting to shine brightly.

But my thoughts?

They were all tangled up in him.

Tank.

The hot biker who’d stayed outside all night long just to make sure I was okay.

I shouldn’t have been thinking about him. I knew better. He told me straight out—he was a wanderer. The kind of man who didn’t stick around. Who didn’t set roots. Who didn’t build a life, he passed through them.

That was the opposite of what I needed.

Tank was no good for me, but that didn’t stop me from thinking about him all day. And when I finally managed to catch a nap, he was all over my dreams.

Oh boy.