Coasting in, p.1
Coasting In, page 1
Coasting In
Wall Street Journal & USA Today Bestselling Author
Winter Travers
Copyright © 2021 Winter Travers
All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduction, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges
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For questions or comments about this book, please contact the author at winter@wintertravers.com
Also by Winter Travers
Devil’s Knights Series
Loving Lo
Finding Cyn
Gravel’s Road
Battling Troy
Gambler’s Longshot
Keeping Meg
Fighting Demon
Unraveling Fayth
Forever Lo
Devil’s Knights 2nd Gen
Passing the Torch
Riding the Line
Royal Mess
Changing Lanes
Bucking Tradition
Skid Row Kings Series
DownShift
PowerShift
BangShift
Fallen Lords MC Series
Nickel
Pipe
Maniac
Wrecker
Boink
Clash
Freak
Slayer
Brinks
A Fallen Lords Christmas
Kings of Vengeance MC
Drop a Gear and Disappear
Lean Into It
Knees in the Breeze
Midnight Wreckage
Thrill Seeker
Livin’ on the Edge
Blacktop Freedom
Powerhouse MA Series
Dropkick My Heart
Love on the Mat
Black Belt in Love
Black Belt Knockout
Nitro Crew Series
Burndown
Holeshot
Redlight
Shutdown
Royal Bastards MC: Sacramento, CA
Playboy
Six-Gun
Monk
Rebel
Sweet Love Novellas
Sweet Burn
Five Alarm Donuts
Stand Alone Novellas
Kissing the Bad Boy
Trapped with the Bad Boy
Daddin’ Ain’t Easy
Silas: A Scrooged Christmas
Wanting More
Mama Didn’t Raise No Fool
Tangle My Tinsel
Mr. Motorcycle
Oral Communications
Coasting In
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
About the Author
Coming Soon
Excerpt from Nickel
Chapter 1
Stone
“Haven’t seen one of those before.”
Those were the six words you never wanted to hear a mechanic say.
“Uh, what?”
The tall, balding man stroked his chin.
“It’s a Harley.” I didn’t think I was in the middle of nowhere that the mechanic wouldn’t know a Harley when he saw one.
“I know it’s a Harley. I saw one of these new ones in a magazine the other month.” He nodded to the waiting area. “I could probably find the magazine in one of those stacks if you want me to,” he offered.
I shook my head and ran my fingers through my hair. “Uh, I think I’ll pass.” I had the real thing right in front of me. I didn’t need to look at a picture of it in a magazine. “Do you think you can fix it?” I looked at the name on his chest. “Hans.”
“I’m sure I can. The problem is I don’t have the parts on hand. I’ll need to order them in.”
I wasn’t really surprised by that. My hopes of there being a bike dealership in town were dashed when the closest one was over a hundred miles away. “Well, if you can figure out what parts it will need, I think you should get them ordered.”
“More than likely won’t be until next week that they get here.”
It was Wednesday morning. How was it going to take that long to get whatever parts I needed? “Uh, you don’t think they can overnight them or something?”
Hans shrugged. “I’ll try, but I’ll be shocked as hell if they get here before Monday.”
I was going to be stuck in Kismet Cove for the foreseeable future thanks to my bike deciding to sputter and die on the side of the road. “Is there at least a motel or somewhere I can stay until the parts come in?”
Hans pointed down the street. “Hotel Serendipity is two blocks that way.” He turned and pointed the other way. “And Goodnight Inn or Honey Bee Bed and Breakfast is that way.”
“So the town has three places to stay, but you’re the only mechanic?” I drawled.
Hans pulled a greasy rag out of his hand and blew his nose into it.
Sweet Jesus.
He wiped his nose and not surprisingly smear grease above his top lip. “Well, you’ve got a hotel, motel, and a bed and breakfast. Options are good.”
It would have been good to have more options when it came to mechanics.
I closed my eyes and tried to keep my cool. It was nice to have options, but I didn’t care where I stayed as long as there was a place to lay my head. “Which is the closest since I’m going to be walking to it?”
Hans reached into his pocket and handed me a card. “You can call Bill. He’ll drive you wherever you want to go.”
“You think he can drive me to go pick up the part I need to fix my bike?” I joked.
“Well, I would assume he could, but he does have some restrictions on his license due to that coma he was in three years ago.”
This day just kept getting weirder and weirder. I should have stayed in bed instead of deciding to head off on a spontaneous road trip to visit my dad and brother. “I think I would just prefer to walk.” I didn’t need to add any more excitement to my day.
“Well, I guess if you’re looking to get some exercise and fresh air, I would go with Hotel Serendipity, though if it were me, I would rather sleep in the beds at Honey Bee,” Hans suggested.
I shouldn’t ask, and just be on my way to the hotel, but I had a morbid curiosity to know just why he would rather sleep at Honey Bee. “Any particular reason why that would be?”
Hans smiled wide and bared the large gap where his front tooth should be. “About three years ago Milly Bottom got into the moonshine and decided to show me just why the Honey Bee is the highest rated place to stay in town.” Hans winked and clicked his tongue. “And she also showed me how she can put her legs behind her head.”
And that was my cue to get the hell out of here. I gave Hans a card with my number on it, and told him to call me when the parts came in. I was hoping he was wrong about it not being until next week, but something told me things ran on their own pace in Kismet Cove.
I headed in the direction of Hotel Serendipity and tried not to think about ol’ Hans and Milly getting it on at the Honey Bee.
After a ten minute walk I stood in front of Hotel Serendipity and wondered if I should just call my dad and ask for a ride. Though I would have to leave my bike in Kismet Cove which was something I did not want to do.
The long brick building was shaped like an ‘L’ with the main office in the bend of the ‘L’. To the right was a large inground pool with a playground and lounge area.
It would be more than acceptable for the next few days, I just wished I could be at my Dad’s and not some small town on the coast.
The only thing I could do was the make the best of it, and the only way to make that possible was to suck it up with a beer in my hand.
*
Chapter Two
Rory
“This isn’t normal, mom.”
Mom rolled her eyes at me in the mirror and fluffed her light amber hair. “Why? What’s wrong with going on a girl’s trip?”
Now it was my turn to roll my eyes. “You failed to mention that the girl’s trip we were taking was in a small coastal town that also happens to be hosting a single’s weekend.”
“Did I?’ she purred. She grabbed her lipstick and applied another coat of pale pink. “I could have sworn I mentioned it to you when I called.”
I didn’t know why I was surprised. This wasn’t the first time my mom had sold me one thing and then delivered something completely different. “You didn’t mom. You know you didn’t.” I flopped onto my bed and raised my hands over my head. “This is not a long weekend at a winery where we can recharge out batteries and become one with nature.” Last I checked being one with nature was not staying in Hotel Serendipity and attending awkward and lame mixers trying to meet Mr. or Ms. right
“This is for your own good, Rory. You need a father figure in your life.”
I jackknifed up and glared at mom. “You do know that I am twenty-nine, right? I think that father figure ship has sailed.” I loved my mom to death, but damn was she manipulative sometimes. There was always love behind her crazy schemes, but still manipulative. If she wanted to be out here chasing after men, then she needed to just own that and do the damn thing.
Mom tsked and twisted the cap on her lipstick. “You need to get dressed, Rory. We’re going to be late for the kickoff lunch at Lettuce Eat.”
I flopped back on the bed. “Not going, mom. I’m not going to be your wingman at these awkward…” I flitted my hand in the air, “things. I’m ordering lunch, gonna take a nap, and then I’m going to find a place to get a drink.”
“You can’t abandon me,” she gasped. “I can’t go into this lunch by myself.”
I leaned up on one elbow. “Mom, you’re trying to find a man, I don’t really think your idea of dragging me along behind you is great.”
“I suppose,” she sighed. “I don’t want to introduce you to a bunch of men, and then you never see them again. What kind of mother would that make me?”
Dear Lord. “Good thinking, mom.” I held up my thumb. “I’ll stay here while you search for a new dad for me.” Sometimes it was just better to go along with my mom’s crazy thinking instead of trying to show her she was off her rocker.
“Hopefully you can meet him or a small selection of candidates tomorrow at Heart Baker for the cupcake tasting,” she chirped hopefully.
Under normal circumstances I could tell her that wasn’t going to happen, but I could maybe suffer through being her wingman if it meant I was going to get cupcakes. “Sounds like a plan. You weed out the losers, and I’ll meet the cream of the crop tomorrow.”
She patted my leg and smiled down at me. “Get some rest and I’ll see you later. I’ll need to come back to get dressed for the masquerade party at Lush Vine.”
I held my breath, and prayed she wasn’t going to suggest I go with her.
“I’ll see you later, sweetie.” She flitted out of the room in a flurry of sweet perfume and a finger wave before the door shut.
“Thank god,” I whispered. I had managed to dodge going to lunch with her, but I might not be out of the woods with the masquerade party. I was going to need to conveniently be out of the room when she comes back.
A plan was what I needed.
I grabbed the hotel phone and called the front desk. I didn’t think that they would have room service, but I was hopeful they might know of a place that delivered.
“Hi! I’m in room seventeen, and I was wondering if there might be a place that delivers.” I paused. “Food. Deliver food.” See, I didn’t need to go to mom’s singles weekend to be awkward. I was doing a bang-up job of it right here in our room.
The woman on the phone chuckled. “Bella’s and the Pickle Jar both deliver, but Bella’s doesn’t open until four. If you are looking for lunch, go for the Pickle Jar and make sure you order the special. Whatever it is, I guarantee it will be amazing.”
I thanked the woman after asking for the number to the Pickle Jar and quickly ordered the special to be delivered.
If I ate now, took a nap, and then ventured out into Kismet Cove to wander around to find a drink and dinner, I should be gone while mom got ready for the masquerade party.
That was my plan.
Hopefully.
*
Chapter Three
Stone
This wasn’t so bad.
The beer was cold, and they even had a menu of burgers and appetizers to order off.
Not bad at all.
By the time I had checked into my room, I faceplanted on my bed the second the door closed, and I didn’t surface till five hours later. I had managed to sleep right through lunch and was well on my way to missing dinner. Thankfully to Untapped, the dive bar I had stumbled upon, that wasn’t going to happen.
The place was pretty dead. Not that I had thought the small town of Kismet Cove was going to be a hub of entertainment, but I did expect there to be more than me, the bartender, and two other people bellied up to the bar.
“You guys always this slow?” I asked the bartender, “Or is it just because it is Wednesday?”
The guy shook his head and grabbed a pint glass. “Not this bad. There’s a singles weekend going on, and they all are over at the local winery. “I’m hoping people will come in after the masquerade party.”
I curled my lip. “Singles weekend?” That sounded horrible. A bunch of desperate people all milling around hoping the person of their dreams is also desperate and ready to mingle? No thanks.
“Yeah. The mayor thinks it will help drive customers to local business.” The guy motioned to the empty bar. “Working like a charm, huh?”
I chuckled and shook my head. “Well, I’ll be here till next week, and if you’re telling me this is the place none of the single’s events are going to be, then this is where I’ll be.” I was very single, and I was okay with it staying that way.
The bartender nodded toward the door. “Looks like you’re not the only one looking to avoid the single’s events.”
I turned on my stool and saw a beautiful brunette walk in. “Or she’s lost and looking for the masquerade party,” I murmured. She was wearing dark blue jeans, strappy sandals on her feet, and a white flowy tank top. Not exactly dressed for a masquerade party so maybe she wasn’t with the single’s weekend.
“Please tell me you have food,” she called.
The bartender smiled and nodded. “And ice cold beer.”
The woman clasped her hands together and closed her eyes. “Thank you, jesus.”
“No need to call me Jesus. I’m good with Mick,” the bartender chuckled.
“You’re a slinger of beer and burgers, you deserve a name like Jesus since you’re dolling out miracles to some.” The woman moved to the bar and sat a barstool away from me.
Mick handed her a menu and asked her what she was drinking.
“I’ll take whatever local you have on tap and a water.” She laughed and looked at the menu. “I walked here, but I need to be able put one foot in front of the other.”
“You got it,” Mick laughed.
She glanced at me and smiled. “Did you order food?”
I took a sip of my beer and nodded. “I went with the double bacon cheeseburger with onion rings.”
She snickered and shook her head. “I’m going to assume that you are not here for the hub bub since you’re eating onion rings.”
“Just passing through.” I set my beer down and turned toward her. “What about you?”
“Well,” she drawled. “I was hoodwinked by my mother.”
Mick set her beer and water in front of her. “Need some more time to look at the menu?”
The woman laughed and shook her head. “I’m going to go with what he’s having.” She nodded to me.
“All right. Should be up in fifteen minutes. We’re good food, not fast food.” Mick grabbed her menu and tucked it under the bar. “Holler if you two need anything.” Mick moved down the bar to the other two customers.
“So,” I mumbled. “You said you were hoodwinked?” I asked.
“By my mother,” she clarified. She took a sip of her beer and sighed. “I really should have known she was up to something when she sprung this trip on me.”
This was a story I wanted to hear.
She held her hand out to me and smiled. “I’m Rory by the way. Rory-Lee if you’re yelling at me.”
I chuckled and gently shook her hand. “Stone. Stone whether you’re yelling at me or not.”
A rosy pink crept up her cheeks. “Nice.”
“So, back to your mother.”
She flitted her hand at me. “It’s really not as dramatic as it sounds. She just told me we were coming here for a quiet girls’ weekend and then she tells me we’re actually here for some single’s weekend the town is putting on.”
“Well, seeing as you are here and not at the masquerade party you must have been able to feign her off.”
Rory smirked. “For tonight. It seems that tomorrow I am going to some cupcake tasting with her.” She leaned towards me. “Just between you and me, I will pretty much do anything for a cupcake.”
