Page 22 of Raging Fires

“Hey, Tiny.” Jake waved his hand.

“Hey, man.” Tiny lifted his chin at Jake and carried the box into the house.

Tyler turned and hustled over to Kelli. He was wearing a tan t-shirt picturing a big snake on the front, along with the slogan Save the Snake. Who would wear a shirt that said Save the Snake? This guy, apparently. Was it a particular snake? A pet snake? A movie? Jake ‘The Snake’ Roberts, the old wrestler? He had so many questions.

“I think we’re just about done here, Kell,” Man-bun said.

Why was this guy calling her Kell? That was his. Jake bared his teeth in a smile and held out his hand, “Hi. I’m Jake. Kelli’s husband.”

The other man looked taken aback, but reached out a little tentatively to shake his hand. “Ah, yes, the fake one.”

“No, I’m pretty real,” Jake replied and curled his arm about Kelli’s shoulder. She shrugged it off.

Tyler gave a little chuckle that actually was fake. “Ha, yes, of course. Well, um, I’ll be taking off. I’d stay and hang out, but it’s a little early to throw back a brewsky with the boys.”

Jake gave Kelli a small poke in the back. She refused to look at Jake, keeping her gaze firmly on Tyler. Jake had always admired her ability to keep a straight face.

He nodded toward the image on Tyler’s chest. “What’s up with your shirt? Save the Snake?” He winced when Kelli pinched him in the side. “Ow.”

“Oh, yes, the ridgenosed rattlesnake. It’s an endangered species,” Tyler said.

“I can see why you’d want to save that.”

Tyler began to gush about the snake and where it lived, which, thank God, was not Phoenix. “It’s a very elegant snake, with that long ridge along its head. Hence the name.”

“Mm, right.” Jake was beginning to understand why Kelli had pinched him.

The guy kept on talking about the stupid snake until Jake was thinking about picking him up and putting him on that Vespa, but finally Tyler shut up.

Kelli hastily said, “Well, thanks again, Tyler.”

“I can come back tomorrow to paint those posts.” The man gestured toward the porch. “And that step still squeaks a little. Maybe I should pull out the nails and—”

“No, no, that’s fine,” Kelli said hastily. “It’s all good. Really. You’ve done so much already. I couldn’t ask you to do more.”

“Oh, I was happy to help you out. Anytime. Just call me. I’m pretty busy, but I can always find the time to help you, Kell.”

“Thanks.” Kelli grinned brightly. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

Tyler nodded again and left, waving at her when he reached his Vespa. Settling a white helmet on his head, Tyler put-putted off.

“Where did you find him?” Jake asked.

“He’s one of the bar’s patrons.”

“That guy thinks he’s a biker? On a Vespa?” Jake began to laugh.

Kelli nodded. “It’s kinda embarrassing, but he’s a very nice man.”

“Good thing the Blue is a ‘safe zone.’”

“Yeah. So far, at least, no one’s punched him.”

“Give ‘em time. I felt like punching him when he wouldn’t shut up about that snake.”

“You’re the one who started it.”

“Yeah, well, I couldn’t figure out what Save the Snake meant. I thought maybe it was something dirty. Or the name of a band. I didn’t know he was going to ramble on for half an hour about poisonous reptiles.”