CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Blue—
It wasn’t easy getting Luisa to answer, and when I pushed for her to meet me today, she resisted. It’s been a week, but she finally caved, and I’m waiting for her in the driveway when she pulls in.
I open her car door and help her out.
“Thanks for coming,” I say.
She nods but makes no move to kiss me or indication she wants a kiss from me. Her arms cross, and she stares at the horizon. “So, what was so important?”
“Come inside. I want to show you something.”
For a split second I think she’s going to refuse me, and I’m prepared to throw her over my shoulder and carry her ass inside if that’s what it takes.
Our eyes connect, and she sees the resolve in mine.
Her arms come uncrossed. “Fine. But just to talk. Nothing more, Blue.”
I grin. “Sure.”
I don’t plan to jump her bones, but I’m not taking it off the table.
We move inside, and I hold the door like a gentleman.
She stops ten feet in and spins to face me. “What is it?”
“I got you something. It’s in the living room.”
She gives me the side-eye, suspicious about what this is about. “You already bought me a gift.”
“I know, and you left it here.”
She trails behind me and pauses when she spots her painting hanging over the fireplace. “You hung my painting.”
“Of course I did. It’s beautiful. Looks good there, doesn’t it?” I shove my hands in my hip pockets, mostly to keep from taking her in my arms. “You should enter that art contest. You’re good, babe. Real good.”
“I could never do that. I’d never win,” she murmurs.
“Why not? You’ve got to believe in yourself, Luisa. I believe in you.”
“Do you?”
“Of course.” When she doesn’t reply, I gesture toward the boxes on the coffee table. “That’s for you.”
It’s a large box.
“I don’t need gifts, Blue. I certainly don’t need you spending all your money on me. You’ve got to save up for that move you’re planning to make.”
I catch the edge in her voice. “Can we forget about that for the moment? Just open the box, Luisa.”
She huffs and sits on the couch, yanking the lid off. At the sight of the contents, her eyes lift to mine with a frown, so I clarify for her.
“I guessed the sizes.”
“I don’t understand.”
“You said you wanted a ride on my motorcycle. A girl’s gotta have a pair of good biker boots, and you can’t ride in that.” I lift my chin to the sundress she wears. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her in jeans before. Maybe this is her first pair.
Her head tilts to the side. “You want to take me for a ride on your motorcycle?”
“Isn’t that what I just said?” I nod toward the bedroom. “Go try them on. We’re burnin’ daylight.”
“Blue—”
“Just try the damn things on for me, will you?”
She gets up with a huff and marches to the bedroom, slamming the door.
I drag a hand through my hair and blow out a breath, cursing myself for fucking this up before I even get her out on the bike.
When she finally emerges, I’m pacing, but one look at her stops me in my tracks. She looks badass, and the jeans fit like a glove, showing off her perfect ass.
“Goddamn,” I murmur.
She spins. “How do I look?”
“Like I want to take you in the bedroom and strip you naked and fuck your brains out.”
“Well, that’s not happening.”
“Right. Come on.” I hold out my hand, and she slips hers in mine. I lead her outside to my bike and pass the helmet I got her. “This is for you.”
“You got me a helmet?”
“Gotta have one, babe.”
“For one ride?”
“Hopefully not just one ride.” I strap it on her.
“I thought you said you don’t put just any girl on the back of your bike.”
“Do you want to go or not?”
“Yes.”
I throw my leg over the seat and lift the bike off its kickstand. “Then climb on and wrap those arms around me already.”
She does, and it feels right the moment she presses against my back.
I fire up the bike and roar down the street.
We stop at a light, and I glance back and rub her thigh. “You good?”
“Yes.”
“Well, what do you think? You like riding?”
“I love it. This is amazing.” Her smile lights up her face, and the sight of it fills me with happiness.
I take her on a long ride out of town and up into the mountains. I pull over at a spot with a good view of the town below. Shutting the bike down, I climb off and take Luisa’s helmet, hanging it on the handlebars with mine.
“Let’s sit over here,” I say, leading her to some boulders.
“It’s so pretty. I’ve never been up in the mountains.”
“Never?”
“No.”
I grin. “I guess you’ve never done a lot of things until me, huh?”
She blushes, and I like that.
“So, do you like riding enough that you’d go for another ride with me sometime?”
“Maybe.”
She’s still pissed and not ready to get over it yet.
I stare out over the horizon. “I know I told you not to get serious, that this was just fun we were having, but…” God, why do the words stick in my throat.
“But, what?”
“I was wrong. Guess I didn’t plan for this to get serious, but it has. You’re not just some piece of ass, Luisa.”
“Wow, way to make a girl feel special.”
“I didn’t mean it like that.” I drag a hand across the back of my neck. “Guess I’m not good at this.”
“Just say it.”
“You’re different, Luisa. Not like any girl I’ve met. You’re sweet and beautiful, but you’re also smart and you don’t take my crap. I like that.”
She huffs a laugh. “You sure?”
“It’s true. In this life, guys like me need a strong woman, one who’s going to call us on our bullshit.” I search her eyes. “I hurt you the other day. I’m sorry. All that stuff I’ve been planning… it was all before you came along, before you came to mean something to me.”
“And what do I mean to you, Blue?”
“Everything,” I say with no hesitation. “You’re right when you said I don’t put just any girl on the back of my bike.
Only special ones. Only the ones who mean something to me.
What I’m trying to say is you’re important to me, and I’m not just playin’.
Not for me. I’m in this now.” When she doesn’t reply, I swallow. “You on the same page?”
She giggles. “Yes, Blue. I’m on the same page.”
“Told you I wasn’t very good at this.” I cup her face. “I’m better at this.” Then I kiss her. She responds and leans closer, her arms sliding up my leather cut.
She glances at her hands covering my patches. “What about the club? Your president? My father?”
“They’ll just have to deal with it.”
“You say that like you’re so sure of it.”
“I am. I’m not goin’ anyplace, Luisa.”
“What if they order us apart?”
“They can try.” I see the lines on her forehead. She’s really worried about this. “Luisa, I’ll deal with Rio. Your father, too.”
She looks panicked at the thought of me talking to her father. “Can we keep it a secret a little longer? Please?”
I’m not happy about it, but she isn’t asking for much. “I suppose, but every day we keep it hidden, it’s like I’m lying to my club.”
“They don’t know? None of them?”
“My VP suspects. Bandit, too. But they haven’t made trouble for me yet. I’ve been warned to stay away from you. I think they suspect I haven’t been keeping to that.”
“What will happen to you if your president finds out?”
I shrug. “Not sure. I suppose if Rio gets pissed enough, he could take my patch.”
“What does that mean?” she whispers.
“Means I’d be out bad.”
“Out bad?”
“They’d take my colors, take my bike, take every damn thing I’ve got that says Saints Outlaws on it.
I’d be dead to them.” I can see the way her emotions are torn.
I’m sure on one hand she’d love for me to be rid of the club.
But on the other, I think she must suspect what the club means to me.
“Those guys have been my world for a long fucking time, Luisa.”
“I imagine it would be really hard to lose them.”
“They’re my brothers. It’d tear my heart out.”
“I don’t want that for you.”
“I’m not giving you up, girl. So, I guess we’ll find out what happens. Somehow, I’ll make it right.”
A chill breeze blows over us, and I notice the sun sinking low. “In another hour it’ll be dark. I better get you back.”
When we pull up at the house, I figure she’ll go inside and change into her sundress, but she doesn’t. Instead, she heads to her car.
“You wearin’ that home?” I nod to the jeans and boots.
Her chin lifts, and she gives me a smile. “I am.”
My brow lifts. “You sure?”
She walks to me and kisses me. “Your confidence in us makes me brave.”
“Don’t be too brave. I don’t want you getting grounded. Then I’d never see you.” I smile and tap her nose.
She kisses me again, then I open her car door, and after she pulls out, I stand there watching, a strong wind blowing over me.
I can’t help but know that things have changed. Our relationship has taken a turn, and there’s no going back. Not for me. I hope not for her.