“Later.” He moves toward Darlene and throws an arm over her shoulder and they disappear going toward the tents. It’s getting late and the party is winding down for the night.
“Guess you’re gonna need a ride home, huh?”
“You offering?”
Last thing I want to do is get on my Harley right now. I’m dead tired, but I’m sure she would like to put this night behind her. “Where do you live?”
“You familiar with Jackson’s Dairy?”
“The old farm on Blaine Road?”
“Yeah. Andrew was my father.”
“No shit? How old was he when you were born?”
“Like fifty-five. Long story.”
I nod. “Heard that. Let’s get you home.”
Chapter 2
Patience
The motorcycle rolls to a stop right at my front porch. Jagger drops his kickstand. I climb off and hand him back his leather jacket. “Thanks for everything tonight.”
“No problem.”
I thought for sure tonight I was going to get raped by that asshole, Jason—Choke, or whatever his stupid name is. He was nothing like his profile online. What a dummy I was. I shouldn’t have gotten on the back of his motorcycle, but I thought he appeared handsome in his photos. Cropped blond hair, light green eyes, trimmed beard, and the messages we exchanged made him seem like a chill guy. Boy did I judge his character wrong.
When he pulled up on his Harley excitement warmed inside me. He said he had been invited to a cookout at the lake. To be fair he did ask if I would rather go to the movie, but I figured this could be a good way to meet more people. Drag Creek isn’t exactly a social hub. It’s a small Kentucky town with a teeny tiny population. The town is mostly made up of bikers it seems. I remember seeing them around when I’d come to the lake with my dad as a young girl. I was always fascinated by their tattoos and loud motorcycles. I signed up for this dating app after my divorce. It’s a community for people who are interested in the same kinks as you. I have a fetish, well fantasy about being choked during sex. After meeting my date, I no longer have that problem. He squashed any curiosity I harbored.
Though Jagger isn’t like him. He came to my rescue without even knowing me. Things could have gone worse for me. Not everyone is as lucky to have a sexy badass come to the rescue.
“Do you think he’ll show up and try anything?”
“Hard to say.”
“Would you…could you come in and check my house for me just as a precaution.”
“You live out here alone?”
“Yeah, I only moved in two weeks ago. It’s sat empty for a few years. There’s—it’s just me and my cat.”
“All right.” The bike cuts off and he throws his leg over.
“Watch your step.” The walkway to the cement, four poster porch is uneven. The motion sensor kicks on illuminating the doorway. I dig my key out and unlock the front door. Jagger follows me in, and I flip on the entryway light. “Hey. Mr. Puss,” I greet my furbaby as he rounds the corner coming from the living room.
“You named your cat Mr. Puss?”
I look at my hero. Dark hair, long enough to have that unruly appearance and perfect for running one’s fingers through. An angular jaw in perfect proportion to his nose and piercing cobalt eyes. Tattoos on his neck and arms. I can’t make them out from where I’m standing but he’s hot. Better looking than that dickhead I thought about hooking up with until he started downing heavy liquor and getting rapey. I can’t believe I was so damn stupid.
“His name is Whiskers.”
“Right. I’m gonna do a walk-through. Stay here with Puss.”
“Thanks again.” I bend down and scoop up Whiskers, stroking my fingers through his fluffy white hair. “Momma missed her baby,” I coo and take him into the kitchen for a treat. He’s a big fan of the chicken flavor.
Jagger’s heavy boots sound from above echoing through the big house. The two-story farmhouse is too damn big for me, but my father left the property to me when he passed away. He upkept the place. Even after being closed up for a few years, it’s in great shape. The historical home was built in the 1940s. I thought about selling it a few times, but the buyers never felt right. Maybe fate was at play.