Page 3 of Goose

I clenched my fists and gazed at the ceiling.

I love you, my brother.

Lost in the recollection of a funeral I’d attended mere months before, I shuffled to my seat. One by one, the remaining members of the club took their position in front of the crowd, each offering a respectful tribute to our brother.

I heard little of what was presented, choosing to mentally place myself on a ride along the PCH with the ocean at my side for as far as the eye could see.

“Come on, Brother.” Baker tapped me on the shoulder. And pointed the aisle. “Let us out.”

My eyes came into focus. In a mind-numbing daze, I stood and stepped aside. The remaining members of our club filed past me and into the aisle. I gazed blankly at the throngs of saddened souls as they made their way to the exit. They’d return to their respective lives before the sun set.

I wondered if a day would come when I could do the same.

Someone brushed against me. A wisp of jasmine tickled my senses. I lifted my head and scanned the departing crowd, hoping for a glimpse of the blue-eyed beauty.

I stopped on the church’s stoop beside my remaining brothers. The sweet smell of a winter rain shower lingered. I searched the crowd. Disappointed that I couldn’t find her, I reached in my jacket pocket for the keys to my only hope of salvation. I desperately needed a ride along the coast.

Instead of keys, the tips of my fingers found delicate lace. Befuddled, I pulled the material from my pocket.

A pair of red lace panties dangled from my fingertips.

Cash coughed out a laugh. “Knock off a piece of ass before you came?”

Intently searching through the sea of those in mourning, I paid little attention to his comment. I hadn’t been with another woman since my divorce. Other than me, the only one who knew about my near celibate status was Ghost.

I had no desire to share my lack of sexual promiscuity with the rest of the club, especially Cash.

“Yeah,” I muttered. “Banged a little hottie I met in the bar.”

I shoved the panties into my pocket and shook my head in disbelief. I may have been confused, but I wasn’t crazy. My fling with the pouty-lipped beauty was nothing more than a daydream.

Finding the pantyless Cinderella would now become priority number one.

Determining whether or not she could live up to my dreams would be number two.