Thirteen

“Morning boys. Did you sleep well?” asked Mai who was standing at the kitchen bench slicing some freshly baked bread.

The aroma in the kitchen had Frost and Beetle salivating before their bums hit their chairs.

“Would you like bacon and eggs, scrambled, fried, boiled, easy over ...?” she asked walking back and forth from the fridge grabbing more ingredients each time.

“We’ll ma’am I’d appreciate them any which way they came to be honest”, offered Frost. “Like my bacon crispy if you don’t mind”.

“That bread smells too good to pass up, I’d just like some bacon, delivered the same as Frost, urmm Gabe, thanks Mai”.

“Suck hole”, whispered Frost.

“Brown nose”, said Beetle even lower.

Mai heard their words but chose to ignore them, smiling as she prepared their food.

“Kamryn is not very happy this morning, her bike will not start”, Mai said, broaching the subject out of curiosity. “My husband cannot find the problem, they are in the garage if you can offer some assistance, or not hmm”.

“Seems to me they may need a hand”, said Beetle getting up from the table and moving towards the back door he’d only just entered moments before.

“I’ll leave it with you mate, I might share a coffee with Mai”, he said, getting more comfortable. His grumblings letting Mai know her breakfast would be more than appreciated.

“Then let me share some fresh bread with you and that coffee”, she said smiling to herself as Beetle disappeared.

**

Walking on the stones that were placed strategically for someone with shorter legs, Beetle shortened his stride on purpose, missing the grass all together, heading for the side of the garage which was attached to Kamryn’s workshop.

Beetle smiled to himself when he heard Bob and Kamryn’s frustration.

“I’ve checked all of the spark plugs, and the leads, you have plenty of fuel, the oil is clear, lights all work, nothings loose sweetheart. I can’t imagine what the problem might be”, Bob said, scratching his head with a rag in his hand.

“Problem?” asked Beetle, his towering presence overwhelming Kamryn as soon as she saw him.

“Hmm. Can’t get my bike started”.

“Heading off somewhere?” He asked nodding at Bob.

“I was ... going ... to get an early start. Take you up on that offer of visiting the club now that I’m permitted”, she said looking back at her bike, so Beetle didn’t see how rosy her cheeks had become.

Wearing her full set of leathers, Kam bent over further to check everything methodically, again.

“Is it turning over? Getting any kick?” He asked coming over and squatting next to Kam a little closely.

“I can’t seem to find the problem, all the electricals look fine to me”, said Bob taking a step back, looking almost relieved someone else was taking a look.

“Dials moving when you turn the key?”

“Nothing. It’s ... not happy. Blackguard has thrown in the towel”, she said dejectedly.

“Shame, real shame”, said Beetle standing to his full height.

Kam looked up from her lowered position and gave him an evil eye, very much like what her mother gave her the night before. He wouldn’t dare she thought!

“You know anything about Japanese bikes?” she asked tentatively.

“Heaps! Had one before I decided on the Hog. Want me to take a look?” he asked a little too cheerily thought Kamryn feeling a bit sus if she was being honest.

“You got off the wall alright last night, yeah? No hard feelings?” she asked slowly standing to her feet.

“Yep!” Beetle said looking down at her bike. “Want to move over so I can take a look?”

“Yes, yes of course”, said Bob shuffling out of the way. “In fact, I might leave you two and go and have some breakfast”, he added, taking his leave.

“You did this didn’t you?” Kamryn seethed, the penny finally dropping when her father was out of sight.

“Yep!” he said looking over her bike.

“You ... you ... you imbecile!” she finally said, stomping her foot.

“Yep!” he said again, pushing the cushion on her seat with his pointing finger, giving the throttle a little toggle then kicking her front tyre very, very softly. His actions infuriating Kamryn all the more.

“Tell me! What did you do?”

“Nup!”

“Why?” she asked shoving her hands on her hips in defiance.

“Thought me and Frost could take you for a ride, a lot safer than going from zero to hundred Ryn”.

“For Goodness sakes. Fix it! Put it back the way it was”, she demanded. “You big kid!”

“Yep!”

“Why? Why are you doing this to me. What did I ever really do to you? This ... I need my bike. God you are such an adolescent”, she added, seething again.

“Yep!” Beetle added looking at her plates ATH-039, smiling to himself.

“What! Yep! That’s all you have to say?”

“Frost’s already asking your mum and dad if we can ride you to our club, show you around, as we speak actually. Seeing’s how your bikes ‘not working’...” Beetle said using italics with his pointing finger “... figure it’s safer than getting bugs in your eye”.

He just stood taller and crossed his arms, looking down at Kamryn waiting for her reply.

Her hair was all spiky and sexy looking, her fringe swept across her shiny skin, still damp from having had an early shower. She smelt like incense and spice, delicious... It was her eyes that held Beetles attention, dark and glossy now spitting fiery daggers at him. Yep! Fucking gorgeous.

“Huh! Me as a pillion. In your dreams Big Guy!” she said smiling. “I ride on my own”, she said nodding at her bike. “Now fix the bloomin’ thing”.

“Nup! You ride on my bike today, then I’ll bring you home and fix your toot toot”, he said pushing a few buttons knowing nothing worked.

“You are unbelievable. It’s because of the wall isn’t it?” she asked smiling at the image of Beetle being stuck.

“Sweetling ...” Beetle said puffing out his chest and then exhaling very slowly “... knowing it was you who had me locked up had me in knots I'll admit. Just gave me more incentive is all”.

With that, Beetle turned on his heel and headed in the same direction Bob had just gone.

Kamryn was left behind, her insides all squeezing together making her feel ... turned on.

**

“Good, good, good”, said Mai waving both of her hands excitedly. “Your dad and I will be out having dinner, take your time, take your time”.

“Khó tin!” (Unbelievable!) huffed Kamryn, sliding her jean clad leg over Beetles wide seat, having changed from her riding pants. She was still wearing her leather jacket and boots as she shoved her visor down before holding on to the side of Beetles waist with her gloved hands.

“You’ll pay for this you big jerk!”

“Bye Mai, see ya Bob”, he said ignoring Kamryn’s protests, kickstarting his bike. Big Hog coming alive with a loud rumble, revving the engine a few moments later after it had warmed up.

His bandana now wrapped around his throat, his shades covering his eyes, both he and Frost rolled off the front lawn and gunned it down the street.

“Nice men. Kamryn đã gặp đối thủ của mình”. (Kamryn has met her match) Mai said flicking her husband adoringly with her hand towel.

“How do you know Darling?” Bob asked a little worriedly.

"Cô ấy đang làm những gì cô ấy được bảo" (She is doing what she is told) "Reap what you sow", she said laughing ... Walking back inside the house.

**