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)
From the angry glitter in Mama’s eyes whenever her father was mentioned, Arden tried to stave off another round of anger directed at her absent father.
“If that is all, I better get back—”
“That is not all. Going back to what we were discussing before. The customer suggested he could hire you for the night to deliver the food and set it up. Andrea could work as hostess Friday, if you are willing…? I had Andrea tell him he would have to be charged an extra fee for me to give you up on our busiest night of the week.”
Arden tried not to laugh at the devilment on Mama’s face.
“How much did you charge him?”
“One thousand dollars.”
Arden gaped at her. “Are you serious?”
“I never, ever joke about money. The thousand is yours, of course, but only if you want to do it. If not, Andrea will call and tell him no.”
The thousand would go a long way toward the deposit on the car she wanted to buy for Luc.
“I’ll do it. Thank you, Mama.”
Mama’s face went stern. “I’m not happy you’re working at a motorcycle club. Please be careful, and if you need my help—”
“You’re the first person I’ll ask,” she promised.
“You won’t.” Mama gave a long, suffering sigh. “But I’m here if you need me.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.” Arden gave her a cheeky smile then reached to the side to swipe a cannoli Mama must have just made before she came to the kitchen.
“By the way…” Mama gave her another cannoli. “I better not see you riding on the back of one of those motorcycles. They are very unsafe.”
“Mama—you’ll never see me on the back of a motorcycle.” Arden laughed. “There are prettier girls at the club than me, who they would prefer to ride with over me.”
“You know I don’t like it when you put yourself down.” Mama frowned.
Arden bit her lip, her hurt feelings about what Doom had said the day before still stinging. She wasn’t going to ask for any of their votes, anyway. Especially Doom, who was the biggest jerk in The Last Riders.
Avoiding Mama’s probing stare, she hastily left, telling her she needed to get back to the hostess stand.
She was already dreading Friday…
Giving Andrea the extra cannoli, she went back to work, forcing a polite smile onto her lips.
At the end of the evening, she went back to the kitchen to clock out. Only Mama and she were left in the restaurant. Arden washed her hands then pulled a kitchen stool to the high-top metal table. She started to reach for a pair of disposable food gloves when Mama moved the box away.
“What are you doing?” Mama asked.
“I’m going to roll out some meatballs with you.”
“No, you are not. Go home!”
Arden snatched the box of gloves away from her. Putting on a pair of the gloves, she started rolling out meatballs.
Mama gave her a frustrated sigh then continued making them with her. “I should fire you.”
“You won’t.” Arden took a lump of seasoned meat, rubbing it between her hands. “I wasn’t going to leave you alone here, anyway, so it’ll be quicker if I help.”
“How long do you think you’re going to be able to keep burning the candle on both ends?”
Arden raised frank eyes to meet Mama’s. “As long as I have to.”
CHAPTER 14
THE BET
Arden opened the trunk of her car, carefully stacking three trays together before lifting them out.
“Need some help?”
Turning, she gave Jesus a thankful smile. “You won’t get in trouble leaving the door?”
“No. I texted Buck when I saw you pull in,” he replied.
“Then yes, please. You can take these.”
Placing the trays in Jesus’s hands, she stacked three more. There were still eight left in the car.
“Be careful,” she warned. “Mama put extra sauce in those.”
Jesus lifted the trays to get a whiff of the appetizing aroma. “Dammit. There won’t be anything left by the time I’m off duty.”
“I’ll make you a plate and bring it outside for you,” she offered.
Giving her a grateful glance as they went inside, Arden nearly stumbled at noticing the amount of people. Correcting her step, she looked around.
Originally, she had planned to set the food up at the largest table in the bar, but it was filled with Wizard, Doom, Puck, Burn, and Hawk. Wizard sitting with Lola on his lap wouldn’t appreciate being asked to move.
She looked over at Jesus. “Where should we put them?”
“The bar?” Jesus suggested.
“I guess.”
Left with no other option, she went behind the bar and started setting the trays out.
“I’ll get Puck, and we’ll carry in the rest for you,” Jesus offered.
“Thank you. I appreciate your help.”
Doom got up and made the people sitting at the bar move.
“I forgot we don’t have paper plates and forks. When Puck comes back, I’ll send him to the convenience store.”
“No need. I brought them.” She blithely opened the large bag she had hanging over her shoulder, pulling out two large bundles of paper plates. Then she removed a big container of plastic utensils. She opened everything and set them to the side before taking the metal lids off the food.