Austin Murray is fifty years old, owns a bookstore, and loves to walk on the beach at sun-up. He's a beachcomber, too, always in search of something unique to add to his collection. One such winter morning, an unkempt, sad-looking stranger roars into his life on a motorbike and his heart turns over for the first time, ever.<br><br>Murphy Vickers is world-weary, hurting, and unable to connect with anyone. He travels from place to place looking for work, but never stays anywhere very long. He's trying to outrun a painful event in his past that haunts him to this day. When he stops in a seaside town, he meets Austin, who offers him a job and a bed for however long he needs them.<br><br>Murphy is surly and reticent, But Austin won’t let that stop him from breaking through his barriers, and maybe getting a biker of his very own.

Happiness Is a Warm Bum

Murphy shrugged. “I dunno. I like cooking, and I don’t have anywhere to be, but I can take it or leave it.” He drank some iced tea, and the wetness of his lips was distracting.


“Keep an open mind,” I replied. “Not too many places like this around. And you have a friend here in Leonard, and me, too, if you’d like.” I focused on my plate and wondered if he heard the undertone.


“You thought I was asleep this morning when you untangled from me, didn’t you?”


I almost choked on my food. “What are you talking about?”


He smirked. “I pretended to be asleep when you got up. It was nice to wake up with someone in my arms. Hadn’t had that since the army, and being on the road is damned lonely.” And just like that, the mood changed.


“Is that what you want? To be with someone again, in a relationship, or some such? Would that make you feel human again?”


Chapter 12