1. Davis

It’s a crisp morning as I pull into the parking lot of the Wild Riders Motorcycle Club. I park my Harley by the workshop, making sure to tuck the sidecar in and allow room for the rest of the bikes which will turn up later in the day. Hercules licks my hand as I slide off the bike, impatient this morning to get out of the sidecar.

I slip my helmet off and insert my hearing aids. There’s a moment of feedback that makes me wince before the sounds of the morning form clear and sharp in my ears.

Across the parking lot, Danni is getting out of her Cadillac with a duffel bag that she hands to Badge. He’s with Grace, the woman I met yesterday, although she’s ditched the wedding dress. I don’t know what the story is with her. I’ll have to ask Badge later.

Someone else gets out of the passenger’s side of the Caddy and Hercules whines.

I take his goggles off and unclip his harness.

As I’m grabbing my gear out of the saddle bag, Hercules vaults out of the sidecar with an excited yelp.

He’s a strong and solid St Bernard and usually far too lazy to get excited about anything. I turn to see what’s got his attention but he’s already careening across the parking lot.

“Hercules!”

He’s gone before I can grab him, a happy bark the only warning before he plunges into the group of people standing around Danni’s Caddy.

I race after him and hear a female screech. He’s got his paws up on someone, and by the time I reach him he’s pushed the poor woman backwards till she’s leaning against the door of the Caddy with Hercules’s paws on her white shirt, boxing her in.

“Hercules, get down!”

The big animal has his tongue hanging out in a silly doggy grin and is about to drool all over the woman’s no longer white shirt.

“I’m so sorry.” I tug on Hercules’s collar. “He’s never done anything…”

As I pull Hercules away, my eyes travel up the woman’s body, from her tight-fitting blouse showing off generous curves to the shocked pink mouth and brown eyes wide with surprise. Her dark hair falls over her shoulders and a breeze catches it, making the tendrils swirl like chocolate.

Her eyes meet mine, dark as the woods at twilight.

My mouth goes dry, and my mind blank.

I stare at the woman in front of me, not able to break the eye contact.

Hercules gives my hand a slobbery lick and whines, but I can’t take my eyes off the beauty before me.

“It’s okay.” She looks down at the muddy prints staining her shirt. “It’s only a shirt…” Her lip trembles and she blinks quickly, her voice wavering. “Only an Armani shirt…”

“Oh no,” Danni mutters.

I watch in horror as tears spill from the corners of the woman’s eyes. The most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen, and I’ve made her cry.

“I’m so sorry.”

Damn Hercules. He’s on half rations for this. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”

Danni slides an arm around the woman’s shoulders.

“It’s not you, sweetie,” she says to me. “Mel’s going through…a hard time.”

Mel. The goddess is called Mel. Standing together, I see the resemblance. Danni’s got her hair pinned up and her customary red lipstick, but they have the same shaped face, the same color hair and full lips. This must be Mel, her sister who I’ve heard her talk about. The big sister from the city.

Her sister who’s now crying because my big beautiful dumb dog scared the hell out of her and ruined her Armani blouse.

I watch her walk away, enjoying the sway of her generous hips.

“Nice one, Hercules,” I mutter as Danni leads the tearful Mel into the clubhouse.