A Summer in Sonoma Read Free

“Um, he know where you live or anything?”
    â€œWell…I never gave him an address, but he knows my last name, where I work and the general vicinity in which I live….”
    Walt reached inside a breast pocket in his vest and pulled out a business card. He passed it to her and she read it. His name was on a card for Riders, Inc., a motorcycle dealership. Sales and Maintenance, it said. “In case you need a witness or some backup of some kind. Don’t hesitate. Really. I wouldn’t mind another crack at him.”
    â€œYou work on motorcycles?”
    â€œYep. And other things. Bikes are my specialty.”
    â€œHow many motorcycle mechanics have business cards?” she asked.
    â€œProbably more than you think. Motorcycles—big business. People are very fussy about their machines.”
    â€œAnd you fix ’em, huh?”
    â€œI’ve been fooling around with bikes for about…gee,I guess sixteen years or more. Since I was just a kid.” He frowned as he watched her lift her coffee cup to her lips. “Looks like you might’ve hurt yourself there.”
    She put the cup down and looked at the back of her hand. One of her knuckles was bluish and puffy. She smiled sheepishly. “I socked him in the face. I think I got his eye.”
    â€œGood for you.” He smiled.
    â€œListen, if it’s all the same to you, I think I’d like to get out of here now.”
    â€œSure,” he said, reaching for his back pocket and pulling out his wallet.
    â€œNo, let me get the coffee,” she said, her hand in her purse. “It’s the least I can do….”
    â€œTaken care of,” he said, cutting her off. “I’ll just get you to your car—”
    â€œUm, please don’t take offense, but I think I’d almost feel safer alone.”
    â€œI get that,” he said. “But, hey, I know the owner here. Want me to ask one of the managers or bartenders to walk you out? Just to make you more comfortable?”
    â€œNo. Really. But thanks for everything.” She scooted out of the booth.
    â€œCassie,” he said, picking up his card from the table and pointing it at her. “In case you change your mind about the police. Or just in case he gives you some trouble and you need a little help, or want a witness to back you up. Huh?”
    â€œYeah,” she said. “Sorry, I wasn’t thinking. I just forgot.”
    â€œNot a problem. Be careful now.”
    She gave him a wan smile and walked out of the bar. She was barely outside when the darkness and the silence just freaked her out. She turned around, went right back to his booth and said, “Um, sorry, could you please take me out to my car? It got really… It just got so quiet out there.”
    â€œSure. Be glad to. You have a cell phone?”
    â€œI do,” she said, nodding.
    â€œOkay, you’ll be fine.” He slid out of the booth and cupped his hand under her elbow, escorting her out in a very chivalrous manner. “You’re just going to lock the car doors, get your cell phone handy, watch the rearview mirror. But I guarantee you, he’s going to leave you alone. I mean, come on—he left you with me .” And then he chuckled. “And remember, Cassie, I know the plate number.”
    â€œYou didn’t write it down or anything….”
    â€œXKY936, teal-blue Tahoe,” he said. “I think it might be good to go see a friend, talk it out, be around people where you feel safe. But really, your bad date—he’s going to pretend none of that ever happened. Just the same, if he calls you or drops by, no excuses. Call the police first. Then call me—I’ll tell them everything.”
    â€œThat’s very nice of you.”
    â€œYou’d do the same thing,” he said. They arrived at her car and she used the remote to unlock it. He held the door for her. “You’re still a little