Page 28 of Ironside
“Your girlfriend is late,” Jenny said, juggling two plates for her kids.
“She’ll be here.”
My gaze strayed to the main road again, but I saw no sign of Lena’s car. Did she change her mind? Did she chicken out? Maybe we had moved too fast…
Jenny made a skeptical noise.
“I bet you just made her up, so I’d stop pestering you about getting on dating apps.”
I scooped two hot dogs off the grill and deposited one on each of Jenny’s plates.
“If I did, you would sniff out my lie in a heartbeat.”
Jenny arched an eyebrow with amusement. Then Hades came up behind her, settling his hands on her hips as he nuzzled into her neck. She swatted at him.
“Hands off. You’re still in the doghouse.”
He let his arms drop with a groan.
“Jenny, come on. I said I was sorry.”
She sniffed indignantly and marched off, calling for her kids to come get their food. Hades scrubbed the back of his neck, watching her go.
“Did you get her flowers?” I asked.
“Three days ago,” Hades replied, nodding. “And her favorite chocolates. The expensive ones.”
I gave a sympathetic hum, flipping the burgers. Then I closed the barbecue’s lid.
“The only thing left to do is grovel. And do it properly. No half-assing it. Jenny is a smart woman. She knows when you’re not being sincere about it.”
Hades started to speak, but I didn’t hear a word he said when I spotted Lena in the distance. Since the parking lot was crowded, she must have had to park somewhere else and now she was making her way here on foot.
She held a large floppy straw hat in place to shield her from the sun. The pale lilac sundress she wore draped like silk over her curves, swirling just above her knees in the breeze.
I shoved my spatula into Hades’s chest.
“Keep an eye on the meat so it doesn’t burn.”
“But—”
Ignoring his protest, I headed straight for Lena, striding across the parking lot to meet her. She saw me coming and her face lit up with a tentative smile.
“Hey, I was wondering where you were,” I said.
She slid her arms around my shoulders with a quick kiss. I could feel a slight tremble shiver through her.
“I couldn’t figure out what to wear to a biker charity ride,” Lena replied. “And now it looks like I’m overdressed.”
I shook my head, guiding her arm through my elbow. She was here and this was really happening.
“You’re perfect, petal. They will love you.”
Lena cast a grateful glance at me and rested her cheek on my shoulder for a brief moment, hugging my arm.
“This is a first for me, you know.”
“A biker charity ride? I figured as much. You don’t strike me as the type to venture into those circles very often.”
