The Switch by Debra Kayn (desktop ebook reader TXT) 📗

he walked over to the sink and dumped them down the drain. Turning on the faucet, he turned to Trip.

"They're making us sick. Until we figure out why it's happening, I don't want to take something that will make me weaker." Prez came back to the table. "We'll see what happens now."

"Jesus," muttered Johnny. "It's suicide."

Trip burst from his chair, grabbed his container, and strode over to the sink. His loyalty to Avery Falls Motorcycle Club forced him to throw away the new pills.

Chapter Twenty Two

Bonnie zipped the pouch with the day's profits. Since working at The Shack, today's rentals exceeded all other days.

"It's a good thing the new bicycles you ordered are coming in tomorrow." She looked around the room. "At noon, we only had the tandem bike and two of the junior bicycles left to rent."

"They're coming today." Johnny looked at his phone. "At any time, in fact."

"Seriously." She smiled. "That's great."

"Yep." Johnny raised his gaze and set his cell on the desk.

"It seems like so many tourists ride. I mean, they talk like they're season cyclists. But they don't bring their bike with them. I find that strange. Maybe because at my old job in Boise, I worked in sales. I had no idea there was such a demand for rentals."

"People don't want to lug their bikes along with their camping gear into the mountains. There's only so much room on a car." Johnny shut the desk drawer. "The same thing happens with the kayaks and paddleboards. Once the water warms up, tourists will clean us out."

"Why haven't you expanded?"

Johnny stood from the chair. "No room."

"Build on."

"Too much trouble." Johnny walked to the door. "In the winter, we're lucky to get one or two people a week to rent the snowmobiles."

"Hm." She joined him at the door. "They won't haul bikes here, but they'll pull their huge trailers through the snow to get their machines here. Seems backward to me."

"You've obviously never ridden a snowmobile."

She laughed. "Nope, and don't plan on it."

"You keep hanging around Trip, and I bet he changes your mind." Johnny's gaze flickered until he looked out the door. "Looks like the shipment is here. Want to check them out?"

"I would love to." She stepped outside with him. "This is so exciting."

Knowing the boys were invited to camp at the river with the local kids tonight after the get-together at the clubhouse, they probably wouldn't notice if she was a few minutes late getting home.

Besides, she needed to stop at the store after work. The boys were supposed to bring marshmallows and pop to the campout.

It was the first time since moving that she'd be alone without the boys. She was thankful to Hank and Steven for chaperoning the fun outing for the kids in Avery Falls.

She held the pouch of money in the crook of her arm as a truck and trailer pulled into the gravel lot.

Recognizing Trip as the driver, she smiled clear down to her toes. She'd looked forward to tonight in hopes of seeing him again.

The truck came to a stop. Trip hopped to the ground. She walked to him but stopped before touching him.

"Hey." She smiled, having missed having any quality time with him over the week. The two pickups at the end of the day weren't enough. He'd came and gone without barely two sentences.

His gaze intensified. Her cheeks warmed under his appraisal.

"How are you doing?" he asked.

"Great." She held up two fingers. "I have the weekend off, so I'm looking forward to that."

Johnny walked past them. "Did everything arrive?"

Trip stepped away from Bonnie, dragging his gaze away. "Yeah. It's all in the back. Let me get them for you."

Left on her own and vibrating from Trip's lack of...whatever was going on, but something was off with him. She hadn't expected him to swoop in and kiss her.

Okay, she had.

Last weekend was fabulous. She'd enjoyed the time at his house.

Because of the iffy cell service and his job with the club, she hadn't expected to see him unless he picked up the cash at the end of the day.

Disappointed that he wasn't as happy to see the weekend and he hadn't asked if she was going to the get-together, she stayed back as they unloaded the bicycles—most of them e-bikes to keep up with demand.

A motorcycle rider approached. She stepped away from the truck and waved, recognizing Franco.

The Avery Falls MC member stopped beside her. She handed over the pouch.

"Thanks." Franco grinned.

Franco was like a flash of sunshine compared to the other bikers who usually picked up the money. She grinned back at him, caught up in his good mood. "You're happy today."

"I'm going to fill my stomach, go to bed early, and hit the river early in the morning. The only thing I need to do is balance the pole in my hand and crack open a beer." Franco winked. "Or, two."

"That's what my sons are doing in the morning—minus the beer. They're with the other kids, planning on camping tonight. It should be fun for them."

"You're not going to join them?"

"Me?" She laughed, pressing her hand to her chest. "I don't fish."

"Ever?"

"No." She wrinkled her nose. "The only fish I like to be around are missing their head and fried to a crisp by someone else."

"Women." Franco chuckled. "Well, you have a good time doing whatever you'll be doing."

Franco rode off. She turned toward the trailer and found Trip watching her. Afraid he'd called her over, and she hadn't heard, she hurried over to him.

"What did Franco want?"

"He's on pickup tonight."

Trip grunted. Confused about his mood, she put her hand on his arm. He moved away.

"Look at this beauty." Johnny wheeled an e-bike over to her.

She shook off the odd behavior coming from Trip and looked over one of the new purchases. "No way. Is that a thousand watts?"

"Yep." Johnny tore the tie-strap off the cables with his bare hands. "And disc brakes."

She cringed, knowing that had to hurt, but her excitement at The