Page 9 of Wrath’s Nightingale
“I’m not sure my ass or gut could take a twelve-hour ride. My parents retired to rural Indiana. There’s a ton of places to ride. Lots of hills and curves. The daffodils are in bloom. So are the dogwood trees.”
“Do you miss home?”
“Sometimes, but I love New Orleans. It’s nice going home, but my family is too damned complicated to live there.”
“You can fill me in on the drive.”
“You really want to go?”
“I do. We can take things as fast or slow as you want but it would be a good way to get to know each other. Plus, you already know my family.”
Her smile widens. “That I do. I love your family.”
“They like you too. My mom is still talking about that pretty nurse.”
Someone knocks on the door at the same time. I have an idea.
“Nightingale, can you get the door? It’s likely the prospect delivering food. I’m going to grab my laptop.”
“Sure,” she says, getting up.
I head in the opposite direction, grabbing my laptop from my nightstand. We meet back in the living room. She has a tray loaded with covered dishes and plastic-wrapped dessert. And a bottle of Pappy Van Winkle aged ten years.
I can’t believe this woman drinks the same bourbon as me and my brothers. I don’t have any because Saber and I drank the last of it two nights ago, and I haven’t had time to replenish the stock. I didn’t want to tap a prospect, as we were all busy gearing up for the poker run.
I grab two glasses and pour one for each of us as we settle back on the couch. I turn the movie back on while we eat. Then I fire up the laptop and look at the route.
“We could leave a day early and spend the night in Nashville, Tennessee.”
“Oh, I love Nashville. Big and Little.”
“Big and little?”
She nods. “We call Nashville, Indiana, little Nashville.”
“Makes sense.”
We spend the next couple of hours planning while the movie plays on in the background. Talking to her is easy, and I find myself pouring more bourbon as we talk.
Millie
Two days later
I can’t believe I’m in an SUV on my way to Nashville, Tennessee, towing Wrath’s sled. He has kick-ass Indian Roadmaster Elite. I called my dad and stepmom the day after the poker run and told them I was bringing a friend. My dad and stepmom are thrilled.
“Tell me about your family?” Wrath asks.
“I’m closer to my stepmother, Lisa, than I am to my own mother, Felicity. I’m also close to my dad, Brian. My parents split when I was three. The court awarded my mother custody. Even though she was a known substance abuser, and my father didn’t have a record. He was a hardworking craftsman with his own small business.”
“What kind of business?”
“He makes furniture. It’s beautiful if I do say so.”
“I can’t wait to see some of his pieces.”
“The house is full of them. By the way, I know we have a hotel booked, but my parents want us to stay there. It’s up to you completely.”
He smiles and nods his head. Then says with a wink. “I’ll keep the reservations in case we want to have freaky sex.”