Total pages in book: 158
Estimated words: 144908 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 725(@200wpm)___ 580(@250wpm)___ 483(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 144908 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 725(@200wpm)___ 580(@250wpm)___ 483(@300wpm)
Sabelia’s laughter was infectious. Ambrielle found herself smiling, and she didn’t even know what kind of game had been played between Preacher and Sabelia. Whatever it was, it amused Hannah and took the shadows from her eyes.
“Don’t be a sore loser, Preacher,” Sabelia said. “You were the winner three weeks in a row.”
“Yeah, but you didn’t have toad crap and slime all over your truck.”
“Only because I don’t own a truck.”
Seychelle and Savage came up behind Preacher. “Don’t tell me that woman figured out how to get toads in your truck, Preacher,” Savage said.
“She did,” Preacher affirmed. “Filled the cab with them.”
Ambrielle looked at Sabelia with an entirely new respect.
Savage’s hand shaped the nape of Seychelle’s neck. “That’s the end of you taking any of those crazy lessons with your Purple Hat Club or whatever your ladies call themselves.”
Seychelle laughed, her amusement melodious, perfectly pitched. “Have you forgotten that you’re a member of the Red Hat Society, Savage? You even have a Red Hat Society symbol right on your bike to prove it.”
Savage groaned. “Never speak of that sacrilege, woman. Never. Talk about sacred. A man’s motorcycle is sacred. Preacher, these women are out of control. Hannah, I’m blaming you.”
Hannah turned her blue eyes on Savage. “I didn’t put the toads in Preacher’s truck. I put them in Jonas’ bedroom when we were kids and maybe in his patrol car a few weeks ago. And his truck. But he deserved it. I had nothing at all to do with your beautiful red hat with all the diamonds and rubies sparkling so beautifully in the sun, the one on your motorcycle. I think it’s the envy of all the other bikers who see it.”
Ambrie desperately wanted to see the little sparkly red hat that made Savage a member of the Red Hat Society.
“I don’t believe this,” Savage said. “There isn’t one ounce of remorse in your voice, Hannah. All this time I held out hope that you were a sweet, kind woman who would show leadership qualities to those out-of-control rebels.” To Ambrielle’s shock, Savage seemed to indicate a group of four older women sitting at the large table watching the exchange with interest. All of them were wearing purple or red hats. “Instead, you’re teaching them how to put toads in men’s sacred trucks.”
“Don’t forget to include the worst one,” Preacher muttered, gesturing toward Sabelia, who had gathered up menus to bring to the women seated at the table.
“Sabelia is by no means the worst,” Savage declared, “or the scariest. Take a good look at the women seated at the table over there.” He gestured toward the four older women talking animatedly at the large table, dressed in their bright clothes and brighter, large-brimmed hats. “Hannah is giving them lessons as well.”
“Technically, I’m not, Sabelia is,” Hannah denied.
“Can anyone really do that?” Ambrie asked. Who knew when learning how to manipulate toads into doing whatever you wanted them to do might come in handy someday? At the moment, Master was being truly sweet, but he might develop a penchant for being overbearing. It looked to her as if several of the members of Torpedo Ink had that trait. She could see how tempting it might be to dump toads into their sacred trucks. How anyone would dare put a sparkly red hat on Savage’s motorcycle was beyond her. That seemed as if they were taking their life into their hands.
“One has to have an actual talent for it,” Hannah said, as if being able to fill someone’s truck with toads were the most natural thing in the world.
Ambrielle choked back laughter. Hannah looked normal. Everyone did, but they’d all gone a little bit crazy. She wasn’t certain the toad part was real. She took the basket Hannah extended to her.
“Thank you so much. I really appreciate it. Please let me know how much I owe you.” It occurred to her she hadn’t checked to see if she had her credit cards or cash on her or even asked if it was safe to use her cards.
“It’s a gift, Ambrie, a wedding gift,” Hannah assured her. “I’m going to make a large bottle of soother for Master. Preacher, would you like to see how it’s done? You can teach Ambrielle later if need be.”
Preacher saluted Ambrie and followed Hannah around the displays, behind the counter and then behind a closed door before Ambrielle had the chance to properly thank her again.
“Come meet my friends,” Seychelle invited. “You’ll really like them, Ambrie.”
“I’ll just be sitting at the table across from you, hoping you aren’t figuring out how to put frogs in my coffee,” Savage informed Seychelle.
“Savage.” Seychelle looked shocked, even a little outraged. “I would never hurt a frog. Hot water would burn them.”
Keys grinned at Savage. “Notice she didn’t seem to worry about using frogs to get at you. You might consider they could be jumping down your shirt.”