Nine
“You sure you’re gonna be all right? Don’t like leaving you here.” Meat stared down the dreary street with a scowl. “Mama ain’t gonna like it neither.”
“He made your plate, Meat. Be at your doorstep by now. Biker Babe is too hot.”
Meat’s gaze flicked down to her legs and back. He grinned. “Can’t argue with that, sweet thing.”
Dani smiled, but it wavered at the edges, then faded. “I can’t thank you enough, big guy.”
He looked down, shuffling his feet. “You ain’t gonna get mushy on me are you?”
“Yeah. Deal with it. It’s the price you pay for being there for me. Now give me a hug.”
“Well,” he opened his arms wide, “if you insist.”
When his arms closed around her, she closed her eyes, absorbing comfort from his hug, drawing strength from his sturdy man body while the iron rings of
