Faux Vows, True Desires

"My helmet."

The woman retrieved her helmet, secured it back onto her head, and swung her leg over her motorcycle. With a wave and a grin at Keith, she called out, "Catch you later." "Hey!"

Keith wanted to ask for her name. She was skilled and mysterious, and curiosity aside, she had helped him out. It was only polite to ask for a name.

But he had barely let out a 'hey' when she had already sped away on her motorcycle.

She loved the thrill of the ride, her bike roaring away in an instant.

"What's your name?" Keith shouted after her.

Her laughter was the only response, drifting back to him on the wind.

He never did get her name.

The six thugs sprawled on the ground.

Pinehurst really wasn't the place for an ambush.

They into a woman, and she turned out to be a master.

The police arrived, and the six thugs had the misfortune of following in their seniors' footsteps, getting hauled off by the cops.

Lately, they all seemed to have the worst luck. No matter where they tried to strike at Keith, they ended up in police custody.

Keith must have been the darling of the gods lately, such good fortune!

He followed the police to give his statement.

By the time he was done, it was well past three in the afternoon.

His stomach was protesting fiercely, reminding him that he hadn't eaten, and his sister had called him a dozen times.

During his statement, he had picked up Lucinda's call, but hadn't dared to tell her about the trouble. He just said he was out for a ride and wouldn't be back for lunch. Now, Keith headed straight for his sister's coffee shop, the Serendipity Cafe.

His brother-in-law was there.

help find the mysterious woman who had done him a huge favor, practically saving

just about fifteen minutes to reach

both helping out at

was even humming a

Yates' for lunch, which had nearly made him jump out

kept piling his plate with food, building a

cooking, to him it tasted like the most exotic

nearly to

stopped him that he didn't

Cecilia got him.

worried he'd hurt

was

to the shop in the afternoon, his smile was brighter than the sun. The customers who came in for a coffee ended up ordering much more

"Lucy."

walked in, calling his sister, "Get me a couple of pastries, will

hurried

a warm glass

seat at the table nearest to the

came over

Owen asked Keith. Without waiting for a reply, he teased, "That's the single life for you.

him a look. "You talk like

Keith. He didn't rush to ask, waiting until Keith had devoured the pastries and downed two glasses of water before asking with concern, "Did something happen?" Lucinda also chimed in, "Bro, you

glanced around the

leaving. Now, there were only a couple

I'm good with the pastries, not hungry

in a

bro?" Lucinda had a feeling her premonition

answered

he was hurt, would he be sitting here chowing down on pastries

tongue for a man, all chatter and no substance. You'd better think it over,

Hayes Brooks, for