CHAPTER THREE
One month ago
Blue—
It’s a beautiful night, perfect for riding.
The club heads out for Rio’s surprise engagement party. We ride in formation, two by two. Rio will join us once he picks up Shelby.
We pass row after row of pecans and slow as we approach a driveway. The arched sign above reads, Sanchez Family Pecans.
Coming up the long drive, I see twinkling lights hanging from some of the trees.
We park our motorcycles at a distance from the area that’s been set up for the party.
Our prez hired a company to make everything perfect for his ol’ lady.
Glancing around as I dismount, I don’t think she’s going to be disappointed.
The place looks good. Some invited guests are already milling around, drinks in their hands.
My brothers and I join them.
There’s a bar set up, and we each get a drink.
Whiskey in one hand, I shove the other in my hip pocket and covertly scan the area for Luisa. I don’t see her, but her father is here talking to some of the guests.
I spot several of the merchants from town, as well as some women who must be friends or co-workers of Rio’s ol’ lady, Shelby.
“You heard from prez?” I ask Zig over the rim of my glass.
“Yeah, he was taking Shelby on a ride and giving us all time to get here.” Zig checks his watch. “Should be here any minute.”
It’s not long before we hear the rumble of Rio’s bike rolling in. He parks and leads Shelby over to where we all stand.
Music plays in the background as she scans the twinkling lights and floral decorations.
Everyone circles around them, and suddenly Rio drops to a knee before his ol’ lady.
Her hands fly to her cheeks. “Oh my God.”
The look on our prez’s face is one I’ve never seen before. He looks nervous—something he never seems to be.
He clears his throat and begins speaking.
“Shelby, since the moment I saw you, standing in line at Blitzy’s, our lives have been intertwined.
I think I’ve been yours from that moment.
I think my heart knew it before I did, and even when I told you to go on and live your life, that you were too young to waste it waiting for me, deep inside, I didn’t mean a word of it.
Life gave us a second chance, and I’ll be forever grateful you gave me another shot, gave us another shot.
“During the lowest point of my life, you were there for me. When I saw you again, I realized I’d never meet another person I could foresee taking this ride called life with. No one else will ever hold my heart the way you do.
“In your letters, you used to talk about how all you wished for was a happy home. You deserve that, baby. You and Bella. And I’m going to make it happen. I’ll do everything in my power to make the best life for you both. I love you, Shelby. Will you marry me?”
He opens a ring box to reveal a diamond ring.
His ol’ lady’s head nods like a bobblehead, tears in her eyes. “Yes, yes, yes. I’ll marry you, Rio.”
He slips the ring on her finger, then comes to his feet, and she throws her arms around his neck. He kisses her, then lifts her off her feet and twirls her around.
A cheer erupts from the crowd, and we lift our glasses in the air.
After we all congratulate our prez, dinner is served, and then champagne.
Rio tugs Shelby to her feet, leads her to a vacant area of the patio, and takes her in his arms for a slow dance.
Watching them, I know the wedding won’t be far off.
They make a nice couple, and though some of us had our doubts about her at first, I think Shelby will make a fine ol’ lady for our prez.
It’s dark except for the candlelight on the tables and the twinkling lights hung around, as well as the glowing cigarettes from some of my brothers.
Several of them get up to visit the bar and get another drink other than the champagne not many of us have a taste for.
“You want another whiskey?” Zig asks, rising from his chair.
“Yeah, thanks.” I light a smoke while he’s gone. When he returns, he slides it across the linen tablecloth.
“Here you go,” he says, sitting between Bagger and me.
“Thanks, VP.”
Zig leans and starts a conversation with our Enforcer.
We’re sitting outside in the open air, and there are a million stars overhead.
Sipping my drink, my eyes stray over the many tables as well as those couples up dancing, and I spy Luisa standing on the edge of the patio where darkness takes over.
Her eyes connect with mine, and she gestures with a nod toward the large storage building in the distance, then crosses the grounds to it and disappears around its corner.
My jaw muscles work. She’s trouble, and I need to stay the fuck away. I know better than to mess with her, especially when we’re guests at her father’s home—a man who is good friends with my club president.
I don’t want to piss Rio off, especially not at his engagement party. I’ve got a million reasons to stay away from this girl. All of this runs through my head. But the pull of her is strong, and I give in, setting my glass on a table and fading into the shadows.
Following her to the building, I find she’s waiting for me just around the corner, and the moment I reach it, she grabs me and drags me into her arms, her mouth desperate for mine.
Her lips are heaven, her kiss the epitome of desire and want and every erotic thought I’ve had about her all these past weeks. Her delicate, intoxicating scent envelopes me, and like a drug, it pulls me under her spell.
I’ve stayed away, even when she texted me a million times, begging me to meet her. I ignored every damn one.
But now, seeing her tonight, I can’t fight it. My willpower crumbles with just one look into those dark brown eyes.
I’ll be damned to hell for this, but I don’t fight it. I give in to her, wondering if I’m signing my soul over, or if I even have one left to give up.
Finally, I break the kiss to gasp in a breath and press my forehead to hers. “Goddamn, girl.”
“I missed you so.”
And then she’s pulling my mouth down to hers again.
We’re next to the door, and I try the handle, finding it unlocked. I pull her inside the dimly lit interior lined with metal shelving and big equipment. The emergency exit signs are all that light the space.
I spot several low pallets of straw and lead Luisa to it, taking her to her back and claiming her mouth once again.
My hands stroke all over her body. She’s wearing a Spanish-style outfit with a teal skirt, leather belt, and white blouse with a ruffled flounce around the neckline that falls off her shoulders. Her hair is down and flowy.
I breathe in her scent. That damn perfume she’s wearing has me instantly addicted.
My palm moves over her hip to her waist and up to her ribs and then covers her breast.
She stutters in a gasp when my hand squeezes and lifts her tit. I brush my thumb across the peak, and her nipple hardens to a pebble beneath the fabric. All I can think about is how much I want to close my mouth over the tight bud.
I don’t give her time to object, instead just plow forward and slip my hand inside the elastic neckline and find a strapless bra.
Dragging the lace cup down, I expose her glorious breast to my gaze. “Gorgeous. Just like I knew you’d be, baby.” Dipping my head, I capture her engorged nipple in my mouth, lave it with my tongue, and then suck hard.
Fucking heaven.
Luisa’s back arches, her head throws backward, and she clutches me to her.
“Oh, God,” she moans, her neck rolling.
I can’t get enough of her, and I give her nipple lots of attention, then move to the other. My palm slides down her hip, and my fingers gather the fabric of the hem of her skirt. Once I’ve got my hand under the flounce, I stroke up her bare thigh.
Suddenly, her hands are pushing me away. “Blue—”
I pause, coming to my senses. She’s innocent, and I’m moving way too fast.
“Sorry, sweetheart. I didn’t mean to frighten you.”
“I’m not frightened. It’s just…”
“Too fast?”
She nods, and I content myself with her phenomenal breasts, burying my face in the silken skin of her cleavage.
Her fingers thread through my hair, and her nails rake my scalp. I go back to the first nipple, and then the other.
The sound of the door has me instantly lifting my head, yanking her shirt up and putting my finger to my mouth. “Shh,” I whisper, then glance across the dark room. There’s a tractor between us and the door, but I hear Bagger’s voice.
“You in here, Blue? VP sent me to get you. Her father’s looking for her. You both better get out of here now.”
“Shit,” I hiss, climbing to my feet and pulling Luisa up with me. I pull the straw from her hair and study the panicked look on her face. Her cheeks are flaming with embarrassment. “It’s okay. Bagger’s my club brother. He won’t say anything.”
“I have to go. I wasn’t supposed to come down to the party. I was told to stay at the house.”
Tilting her chin, I give her a last kiss and nod toward the man who interrupted us. “This was for the best, Luisa. You know that, right?”
She doesn’t nod or say anything, but I see her eyes glaze and then she’s dashing out the door.
I stroll over to Bagger, and he and I both watch her dash toward the lighted house on the hill.
“She’s gonna get you killed, brother,” Bagger says.
I slap his chest. “Forget you saw this.”
“Zig knows. Not sure if prez does.”
“Fuck.”
He grins. “You already won that bet, ya know?”
“This ain’t about a bet, Bagger. This is something else. Hell, I haven’t been able to get her out of my mind.”
He chuckles. “Is she the reason you punched a hole in your door?”
I grin. “Maybe.”
He shakes his head. “She’s trouble. The kind you don’t need, Blue.”
“I know that. Tell it to my fucking dick.” With that, I push past him and out the door.
When Bagger and I return to the table, Zig gives me a look and shakes his head but says nothing.
I down what’s left of my drink, and lean in my chair, knowing if he hadn’t sent Bagger to stop me, I probably would have taken Luisa right there in the straw.
“You fuck up this party for prez, he’ll beat you bloody,” Zig hisses. “This is his night, Blue. Don’t pull that shit again.”
I stand. “I’m gonna get another drink.”
“Don’t make me come find you again,” Bagger says, and I flip him off.
His laughter follows me.