CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Luisa—
Carmen is with me at the diner, and I’m in a mood. We ordered sundaes, but I’ve barely touched mine. I spent the night at her house last night, and today I dressed in the jeans and boots he bought me. I’d packed them in my overnight bag. Just wearing them makes me feel closer to him.
“Okay, kiddo. Spill. What’s wrong?” she asks, scooping up a spoonful of ice-cream.
“It’s been days since I’ve seen Blue. He hasn’t texted me once.”
“What happened? Come on, Luisa, why won’t you tell me about the other night? Didn’t Blue like that sexy black lace number?” She licks her spoon.
“We had a fight,” I whisper, twisting my napkin and staring out the window.
She lowers her spoon. “A fight? About what?”
“Everything was going great. I made him my Carna Asada street tacos. We’d just finished eating after… well, you know.”
“Chica-chica bang-bang?”
“Yeah.”
“So, he had sex and a full stomach. What did he have to get mad about?”
“Alba showed up at the door.”
“Your cousin?” Carmen frowns. “No way. How did she know where to find you?”
“She talked to Blue at the door while I hid in the bedroom. We didn’t know who was at the door, so he sent me in there while he answered. He said she told him she’d followed me. He told her I wasn’t there, and that she had the wrong house.”
“What the hell did she want?”
“She told Blue I was promised to another man. She told him Mateo, and I had a future planned.”
“What the hell? Why would she do that?”
I shrug. “Because she can’t mind her own damn business. Maybe she was trying to look out for me, but I’m so pissed at her.”
“I’ll bet. What a bitch.” Carmen tilts her head. “I take it you never told Blue about Mateo.”
“No! Of course not. And now it's ruined everything. The night we met, I let him think I was older than I was; now this. I don’t know if he’ll ever trust me again.”
“So, are you broken up?”
“We fought and then had angry sex.”
“Angry sex?”
“He was pissed, but he still wanted me. It was almost like he was trying to prove I was his and only his.”
“How was the sex?”
“Oh my God, Carmen, it was so hot.”
“You’re in deep, aren’t you?”
“I told him I loved him.”
“You did? Wow. That’s big. Did he say it back?”
I shake my head, and my eyes glaze.
“Oh, sweetie. I’m sorry.”
“After he fell asleep, I slipped out and left. He’s pissed about that, I guess. He hasn’t texted me once.”
“What are you going to do?”
My lip trembles. “I don’t know.”
“Have you texted him?”
I shake my head. “I’ve been afraid to.”
“Luisa, just text him. If he’s pissed off, then he needs to get over it. If not, then fuck him.”
“Easy for you to say, but it’ll break my heart.”
She pushes my phone toward me. “Just do it and get it over with. Then we’ll deal with it.”
I take a deep breath and tap out a text.
ME: Can I see you? Can we talk?
We wait a long time, and there’s no response.
Carmen finishes her sundae and signals for the check. Her eyes connect with mine, and she reaches out to squeeze my hand.
We settle the check and are about to slide out of the booth when my phone chimes.
Carmen and I freeze, and she watches as I check it.
BLUE: Where are you?
I lift my eyes to Carmen. “He wants to know where I am.”
“Tell him.”
I text him back.
ME: The diner
His reply comes in almost immediately.
BLUE: Stay there. I’m headed to you.
“He’s coming here,” I whisper, panic flooding me.
“Do you want me to stay?” Carmen asks.
“I don’t know.”
“Tell you what. I’ll wait in my car, and text if you need me. Okay?”
“Okay.”
She leans over and hugs me, then walks out.
I watch through the window as she climbs into her car. It’s not long before I hear a motorcycle.
Blue is alone and backs his bike to the curb right in front, then climbs off and heads to the door.
My back is to it, but I hear the bell jingle and then, a moment later, I feel a presence and know he’s standing next to me.
When I look up, he slides into the seat across from me.
The waitress appears before we even say a word.
“You want coffee, doll?” She gives Blue a big smile and cracks the gum she’s chewing.
When he waves her off, her smile fades and she retreats.
“Took you long enough,” he says softly, pinning me with his eyes.
I frown, and he clarifies.
“Been waitin’ three damn days for you to text me.”
I lift my chin. “You were so angry.”
“I was. Don’t like bein’ lied to, but I thought we worked it out. Did you mean what you said when you told me you loved me?”
I nod, my eyes starting to glisten.
He blows out a breath, his eyes moving around the diner before coming back to mine. “Then I guess I better show you what you’re getting yourself into. Come on. Let’s take a ride.”
I slide out of the seat, and he takes my hand, walking us to his bike. We pass Carmen sitting in her car. Blue doesn’t seem to notice her, but she gives me a thumbs up.
Blue climbs on his bike, reaches into his saddlebag and passes me the helmet he got for me.
I put it on and climb on the back. A moment later, he tugs my hands around his waist.
“Ready?” he asks.
“Yes.”
He hits the throttle, and we roar off down the street.
I have no clue where we’re going. I’m still a little shocked by what I’ve just done. I just walked out holding hands with a Saint’s Outlaw on Main Street in broad daylight and climbed on the back of his bike.
Riding off with one of them is bound to attract attention, especially in this town. People know me, know my father, and I wonder if word will get back to him.
It seems like Blue is done hiding.
Soon, I realize he’s headed toward the Saint’s clubhouse, and sure enough, he turns in, and we roll across the crushed gravel lot.
A bunch of other motorcycles are parked out front, and the minute we climb off the bike, I smell food cooking on a grill.
Blue takes my helmet. “We’re havin’ a cookout today. It’s Zig’s birthday. The party might last all night.”
“Oh.” When we walk through the door, it's dim inside, and my eyes take a moment to adjust, but I’m immediately bombarded by the music blasting.
The place is crowded with both men and women, and some turn to look at Blue and me as we walk inside.
I see the eyes flare on some of the men at the sight of me with their brother. Blue told me he’d been warned off me, and given his president’s friendship with my father, I can’t help wondering what’s going to happen.
We move through the crowd, and Blue stops to greet a couple of men, then leads me to the bar and sets me on one of the few open stools. He stands next to me, squeezing in between me and a woman on the next stool.
When she turns, I recognize her as the woman who came and found us that night in the pecan grove. The one who warned Blue I was just seventeen at the time.
Her smile fades when she sees me, then her gaze connects with Blue’s.
A look passes between them.
“Blue,” she whispers. “Does Rio know?”
Instead of replying, he introduces us. “Luisa, this is our president’s ol’ lady, Shelby. Shelby, this is Luisa Sanchez.”
She extends her hand. “Luisa.”
“Where is he?” Blue asks Shelby.
“In his office, giving Zig a fifty-year-old bottle of scotch for his birthday. I imagine they’re sharing a drink.”
“Nice.” He motions over one of the guys behind the bar and orders two bottles of beer. After they slide in front of us, he presses a kiss to my head. “I’ll be back in a minute.” Then his eyes shift to Shelby. “Keep her company, will ya?”
“With pleasure,” Shelby says.
“You’re not leaving me, are you?” I snag his hand before he disappears, panic bubbling up.
“I won’t be long. Don’t worry. No one will bother you.”
“How do you know that?”
“Because you walked in with me, and if they do, I’ll kill ‘em.” The way he says it, sounds like he one-hundred percent means it.
“I’ll take care of her, Blue. Don’t worry,” Shelby says, patting my knee.
Blue gives me a wink, then the crowd swallows him up.
In the mirror behind the bar, I see several sets of eyes on me.
“He’s right, you know,” Shelby says. “No one will dare bother you.”
“If you say so,” I murmur, not convinced, and drag my sweaty palms across my jeans. I barely touch the bottle of beer.
“Luisa, may I be blunt with you?”
“Yes.”
“I’m not sure why he’s brought you today, but I—”
“He wants me to see what I’m getting myself into.”
“I see. Have you been seeing him since I caught you together at your sister’s wedding?”
“Not exactly.”
“I take it you’ve been keeping it under wraps?”
“Yes, but don’t blame Blue; I wouldn’t leave him alone.”
She laughs. “Blue’s quite capable of saying no. Don’t worry about trying to protect him. Blue wouldn’t have brought you here if he weren’t ready for it to be out in the open.”
“Maybe this was a mistake. What will his president do?”
“Rio? It’s hard to say. He won’t be pleased.”
“He’s friends with my father.”
“I know. And he cherishes that friendship. One of his own men sneaking around with the man’s daughter? He won’t take it lightly.”
“My father doesn’t know. He won’t tell him, will he?” I really start to panic.
“I honestly don’t know. But I’m betting he’ll make Blue make a decision.”
“A decision?”
“He won’t let this go on without Blue talking to your father. That or give you up. Which do you think it will be?”
“Blue already said he was prepared to go to my father, but that’s the last thing I want.”
She eyes me, absorbing my words. “Are you ashamed of Blue? Is this not serious for you?”
“It’s complicated.”
“These things always are. One thing usually uncomplicates matters.”
“What’s that?”
“Either you two are in love or you’re not.”
Spinning my stool away, I stare at the bar top and give her no response.
“Well?” She tilts her head. “Which is it?”
There’s so much she doesn’t know. “It isn’t just about my father accepting Blue.”
“What else is there?”
I can’t tell her about Mateo. She’d never understand.
When I don’t reply, she drops it, and we sit quietly until one of Blue’s brothers comes over. His eyes hit me, then move to Shelby.
“You got a new friend?” he asks.
“Hi Mauler. Actually, she came with Blue,” Shelby replies.
“Really? So, the rumors are true. Blue’s got himself a little honey.” His eyes narrow. “Now, why do you look familiar to me?”
“She’s Sanchez’s daughter,” Shelby informs him.
His eyes widen, and he snaps his fingers. “That’s it. His daughter’s wedding. You’re the reason I lost twenty bucks that night.”
I frown. “Excuse me?”
He chuckles. “Shoulda known it was a loser bet.”
“What bet?” Shelby asks.
“I bet him twenty bucks he couldn’t get one of the bridesmaids to dance with him. Then he pointed at her.”
My blood boils. I was a bet? The only reason he approached me that night was a twenty-dollar bet?
Shelby’s look speaks volumes, and oh, shit is what it says, but she grabs my hand. “I’m sure it’s not what you think.”
“Where’s the restroom?” I feel like I’m going to be sick.