“Nope—just me.”
She pulled out a laminated menu and came out from behind the counter. “Same booth?”
“Yeah,” he replied, following close behind her.
A table of three women in their early twenties smiled and whispered among themselves as he passed their table. When he winked at them, they tittered, and one of them threw back her shoulders and thrust out her breasts.
“Is your motorcycle a Harley?” she asked in a breathy voice.
“Yeah,” he said without stopping.
“I bet you get that a lot,” the cashier said, looking over her shoulder at him.
Chains shrugged. “Chicks dig bikes.”
Loretta put the menu down on the table. “And the men who ride them.”
“I guess.” He slid into the booth facing the front door, then shrugged off his leather jacket. Like most outlaws, Chains always sat where he could see who was coming in and out of a place. In his world, a split second of unawareness could change everything in a bad way.
“Water and coffee?”
He looked up at the dark-haired hostess. “Yeah, thanks. Is Tammy working tonight?”
“She is. I’ll send her over in a few. Be right back with your drinks, handsome.”
He watched Loretta walk away, positive that the exaggerated sway of her hips was for his benefit.
When she disappeared into the kitchen, Chains settled back into the booth and looked at the clock on the wall above the food window: 8:50 p.m. He rummage through the pocket of his jacket and took out the phone.
“Highlands Animal Care Center.” It was the same man Chains had spoken to earlier.
“Chains here. How’s Thor doing?”
“Good. He’s resting peacefully. Dr. Stanford just left. She came by to check on him and another patient.”
At the mention of the veterinarian’s name, the image of her in the white lab coat and nothing else streaked through his mind. “Thanks,” he mumbled, then ended the call.
“Hiya, sugar. You solo tonight?” Tammy asked as she approached the booth. She was one of the club’s favorite waitresses at Leroy’s, and Chains and the other members admired her tenacity in providing a good home for her kids after her asshole husband ditched her for another woman. Chains could definitely relate to the sense of betrayal and anger that consumed the spouse of a cheater. When he’d found out Krystal had fucked Crossbones, rage had been his constant companion for a long time.
“Yeah, I just came back from a ride. How’s life treating you?”
“I can’t complain. In a couple of hours my shift will be over, then I can go home and soak in a hot tub.” She laughed. “Believe me, that’s the only thing keeping me going tonight.”
“One of those days?”
“Busy as all hell. How’ve you been?”
“Good.”
“Did Loretta tell you about the specials?”
“Nah. Whatcha got?”
“Chicken fried steak, meatloaf, and pot roast.”
“What do you recommend?”
“They’re all good, but the pot roast is awesome—even better than mine.” Tammy glanced over at the kitchen, then lowered her voice. “Don’t go tellin’ Chubby that. His ego’s big enough without any more help from me.”