Total pages in book: 130
Estimated words: 125517 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 628(@200wpm)___ 502(@250wpm)___ 418(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125517 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 628(@200wpm)___ 502(@250wpm)___ 418(@300wpm)
CHAPTER 11
THE TWINS
Yawning, Arden pulled up in the drive-thru. She glanced at the clock on the dash and saw she had fifteen minutes to spare. She was wasting precious minutes, but she couldn’t take another day of the swill the coffeemaker at The Last Riders’ clubhouse spit out. Not only was the coffee pot older than her, but the coffee it put out tasted like it was, in fact, old.
She placed her order and moved ahead in the line. Giving a smile to the barista, she grabbed her coffee then drove off.
Would she be the only one working today, since yesterday was Siren’s last day, or would there be another woman to help out? If it was as slow, maybe not. One person could easily handle the bar on her own. Siren had also mentioned that the men had been out motorcycle shopping for a member who used to belong to the club, so it was up in the air if today would be slow or busy.
Either way, she had dressed down. Wearing a plain gray sweatshirt, which was as roomy as it was comfortable. With matching gray pants, she looked more like she was on her way to the gym than to tend bar.
She had made sure to watch Siren when a few of the men had trickled in for a mixed drink, but if anyone asked for anything other than a beer or a shot of something, she was going to be screwed.
The closer she drove to the club, the more nervous she became. With Siren gone, she wouldn’t be able to come up with an excuse to leave the bar area like she had the day before.
By the time she pulled up to The Last Riders’ clubhouse, her stomach was tied in knots. At least her nervousness had woken her up. At this point, she was basically going on the steam coming from the coffee cup in her hand.
Locking her car, she made her way to the door. “Morning, Legion. How are you doing today?”
“Been better.”
His bloodshot eyes and grayish complexion told her he might be having a terrible morning, but he must have had a hell of a night.
When she opened the door, she was surprised to see the bar was completely empty and a complete mess. She went behind the bar, rolled her sleeves up, and got to work. Pulling out the trash can sitting under the bar, she started swiping all the debris over the side, leaving the bottles and glasses. She then made a circuit around the length of the bar before she put the trash can back where it belonged and started dealing with the glass items.
Her arms were elbow deep in the dishwater when Buck came down the hallway, bare-chested, wearing only blue jeans. He hadn’t even bothered to put shoes on.
“Have you made coffee yet?”
“Yes. Want some?”
Buck nodded, taking a seat. Then he reached over the counter and nabbed the television controller to turn it from Unsolved Mysteries to a football game. “Why you watch that shit? It’ll just give you nightmares,” he commented.
“Why you watch the shit you watch? It’ll just give you an inferiority complex.”
Buck’s dour expression turned appreciative. “I used to play football.”
“Really?” Arden went back to washing the glasses. “What position?”
“Offensive lineman.”
“How long did you play?”
“Until I graduated from college.”
“You still play any?”
“Not for a while.”
“The school Luc attends needs a new coach. The one they have is leaving in two weeks. His wife got a job in another state.”
“Hmm… I might check it out. Would be something to do in my free time.”
Arden dried her hands off then started drying the glasses. “You should. All Luc does is talk about you, Jesus, and Puck. You must be good with kids.”
He gave her a strange look. “You not worried I’d be a bad influence on high school kids?”
She shook her head. “Not at all. How could I be? You kept Luc from getting beat up by bullies. You got involved more than most of the parents at that school.”
After asking him if he wanted a refill on his coffee, she went to get the broom and started sweeping the floor. She had just finished when Puck and Jesus showed up with Kat and Lola. All four seemed to be in the same condition Legion had been.
The two women gave her friendly smiles as they took over one of the round tables in the middle of the room.
“Mind bringing us some beers?” Puck called out.
Arden took them their drinks.
Kat made a face. “I hate this brand. I’m regretting not splurging for my own when we went to the liquor store.”
Lola wasn’t any happier.
Arden left the table with the women still complaining about their choices.
As the hours went past, she made small talk with the men when they sat around the bar. The nerves she had started the day with had eased, and she was gradually relaxing her guard.