Page 67 of Royal Shark

She holds up a palm, still jogging at a brisk pace. “You don't wannna hear what I gotta say.”

I speak through my teeth, keeping up with her. “Yes, I do.”

“Okay, you're being a drama queen. You've got a whole crew of brothers to help you figure this out. They're not going anywhere, are they?”

“No.”

“Then take this for the opportunity it is, bring them in on everything, and make it more successful than it's ever been.”

“That's your advice?”

She nods once. “That's my advice.”

I think about this as we run. “That's actually good advice.”

“See? I'm not just about stunning beauty.” She winks, and I find myself smiling.

I like her. Really like her. And she's home for the first time in years. By herself as far as I can tell. “Your husband get you something nice for Christmas?”

She purses her pink lips. “Is that your way of asking if I'm single?”

“Yeah.”

“I'm divorced, happy?”

“You okay?”

“It was mutual. Shoo now.” She brushes a hand through the air. “Don't get any ideas about asking me to ride on the back of your Harley or get a drink or whatever you do with your women because you could be the very last man standing in the apocalypse—I'm talkin' just down to you and me to keep the human race going—and I'd sooner eat you for dinner than hook up with you again.”

I blink. What a bloodthirsty woman. To think I used to call her Airy-Fairy for being such a girly girl.

I like her even more now. “You still mad at me for that one time?”