Chapter 24
Eagle
After visiting Dad, I headed to the grocery store. As much fun as it was last night, one condom wasn’t going to cut it again. After grabbing a couple of boxes, I went to get her some diet sodas. She always had one in her hand, and there weren’t many in the fridge at Jeannie’s. Before going to checkout, I stopped by the produce section where all the flower arrangements were. There were some with all red roses, mixed roses, and different bundles of mixed flowers.
My eyes landed on the brightly colored flowers. They had to be fake. They looked like a rainbow, but they were pretty and colorful, just like her. She loved frilly shit and had a different color of lipstick for every day of the week. I grabbed the bundle and looked at the cellophane wrapping. Carnations. But they were cut and sitting in water. Maybe just the colors were fake. Either way, they were pretty. I hoped she liked them. I felt a presence behind me and looked back. A little woman with short grey hair and a fair share of wrinkles seemed to be waiting to look at flowers.
“Excuse me, ma’am,” I said with a smile as I moved to the left so she could see the arrangements. She seemed hesitant to come closer so I turned and asked, “Do you think these are nice flowers?”
She cocked her head a little but answered, “I do love carnations but some women find them to be cheap. Is she high maintenance?”
Nothing like an old Southern woman to give it to you straight. “No ma’am. She’s pretty low maintenance but she’s worth all the money in the world. Should I go with roses?”
“Son, if those were the ones that caught your eye when you thought of her, trust your gut.”
“I like your thinkin’, ma’am. I’ll stick with these. You have a fine day,” I said with a wink. The apples of her cheeks pinked as she moved closer to the flowers.
Since I told Lacy to be dressed and ready after work, I grabbed a vase so she could keep them in water in the truck. There weren’t any registers with people working, so I went to the self-checkout and rang up my stuff, adding a bottle of water in for her flowers.
Checking the time, I needed to move my ass. Traffic would start getting bad the closer I got to the club and it was only a little while before she got off. It was hot outside but the humidity was lower than normal, so I rode with the windows down. I hadn’t driven the cage so much in one week in as long as I can remember. It was worth it to have her with me, but I could use a ride on the Harley soon. I’d love to have her with me on it. She’d been on my bike before, but that was only when we first rescued them from Tony.
I never invited a woman to ride. They took that as proof you were together. And before her, I never wanted to be with anyone besides a few fun fucks. And most of the time, I didn’t have to drive anywhere for that.
But as much as I tried to ignore it, the time she rode with me, I loved it. She’s so petite I barely noticed the weight on the bike, but she was holding on tight the long ride back down to Georgia. Every time we stopped at a red light, her sweet scent would swirl around me and she tucked herself as close as she could.
Time and time again, I told myself it was nothing and decided it best to not have her ride. I had been lying to myself. Deep down, I knew something was different about her…with her. But I didn’t want to accept it or admit it. Now I was head over heels and I didn’t give a fuck who knew, including myself. I was beginning to see why Falcon carted Daisy around everywhere with him. I wonder if we can make up some new job at the tattoo shop?
Shaking off the thought, I focused on the ride to Destiny’s Desires. She’d be getting off soon and I didn’t want to make her wait. The parking lot wasn’t empty, but it was lighter than yesterday. Hopefully everyone was busy, because Mama Hen’s SUV was parked and I knew Butch would be around.
I shot off a text to let her know I was there, then sent another to Jackal. He would keep an eye out on the Trans Am the next couple of nights so I could handle business with Lacy. Once I got her the car, I’d feel better about her getting home, even though I wanted that home to be where I was. For now, knowing she wouldn’t have to ride with a stranger if I couldn’t be around would have to be enough. After texting Falcon and Hawk that I’d be with Lacy, I put the phone away and watched the door.
Several minutes later, my beautiful blonde bombshell came strutting outside. Annoyance filled me when I noticed the DJ with her again, but I guess he was just being a decent guy and walking her out. After all, he played for the home team, so it wasn’t like he was trying to fuck her. Still, any man near her made my skin crawl.
I opened the door and got out to greet her. “Hey, doll. You look good enough to eat.”
Rayne said, “Well hello to you, too.” After rolling his eyes he looked at her and blew a kiss. “Good night, hon. See you this weekend.”
“Thanks, man,” I called out, trying to hide my sneer. At least she was getting walked outside. If Butch wasn’t a punk, I could walk her out. But I didn’t want to further piss off Hawk, so some other man was doing my job.
I grabbed her hand and guided her to the passenger side, trying to hustle so Butch didn’t catch me in the parking lot. But after I opened the door, I spun her around and pressed her against the cab. She grinned and reached for me, tugging me by my cut. I pressed my lips to hers, cupping her face as I brushed my tongue against hers.
“I missed you,” I said as I peppered kisses across her face and down her neck.
She giggled and scrunched her shoulders. “I missed you. Let’s get out of here.”
Pulling back, I leaned into the truck, holding her in place. “Here,” I said as I handed her the carnations.
Her blue eyes sparkled up at me as she took the bouquet of bright flowers. “Eddie,” she gasped.
Brushing her cheek as I watched her face light up, I asked, “Do you like them?”
She nodded and grinned. “I love them.”
God, I could almost hear her say she loved me, and I realized how badly I wanted to. Hopefully in time, she would. I nearly told her then and there. But I needed it to be right. Perfect for her. I couldn’t blurt it out in the strip club’s parking lot. Especially when she probably wouldn’t believe me.
But I knew. I loved her. I had since I first had her on my bike, I just tried to fight it. But no more. Instead of saying the words I wanted, I kissed her once more, then helped her inside the truck.
I drove us to a steakhouse closer to our side of town and helped her out. Grabbing her hand, I stopped and stepped in front of her. Raking my eyes over her, I licked my lips. “You really look beautiful, Lacy.” She was wearing a blue sundress with white polka dots and spaghetti straps. The dress hugged her breasts and waist then flared out, flowing from the breeze coming off the road.
She did a little pose with her free hand on her hip. “You like it?”
I stared at her like an idiot, taking in her perfection.
“Eagle? You alright?”
“I am now. Let’s go inside, doll.”
The restaurant was dimly lit with plenty of booths with backs that went to the ceiling. I hadn’t been here in a long time but remembered it to be a private dining experience, thanks to the setup of the dining room and tables.
The host sat us quickly in a booth near the back. A server was there almost immediately to take our drink orders. “Just sweet tea for me,” I answered.
“Diet soda for me.”
The man with a black dress pants and a black vest over a white button up smiled and hustled off.
“I noticed the sodas in the truck. You drinking those now?” she asked.
“No. Your fridge seemed a little low.”
“I noticed other things, too,” she said with a smirk.
“Once wasn’t enough.”
I was watching her as her chest started to pinken, loving the way I affected her, when the server came back with our drinks and some bread. I dismissed him since we hadn’t looked at the menus. She grabbed hers so I picked up mine and looked it over.
We quietly decided on our meal and I waved over our server. He collected our orders, both ribeyes cooked medium with loaded potatoes and salad, then rushed away again.
I put my hand on the table, palm up, and she put hers into it. I brushed my thumb over the back of her hand, then looked up at her. “Lacy, I know you’re still sorting out feelings, but I need to talk to you.”
She straightened in her seat but didn’t pull her hand away. “Well that doesn’t sound good.”
“It’s just…we still got a lot going on with the club and I can’t always be there, even if I want to be.”
Her brow creased. “Okayyy…”
“I need to know if you’re okay with that. That you understand.”
She gave a humorless laugh. “Eagle, I never had a problem with club business. I had a little knowledge of club life, but not firsthand. And I learned a lot from Mama Hen and the bunnies. That was never an issue.”
“I’m glad. But I still need to know you understand how important you are to me. And I’d always be there if I could. Especially now.”
She squeezed my hand. “I’m not going to bolt just because you take off at weird hours and come back in a questionable state.”
“Then why won’t you come back to the clubhouse?”
She sat up straighter, her grip loosening but I squeezed so she couldn’t let my hand go. She let out a heavy sigh. “I appreciate the effort you’re putting in, but it’s only been a few days, Eagle. You can’t expect me to forget everything.”
“I get it. I just can’t be with you all the time and you’d be safer there.”
“I’m perfectly safe at Jeannie’s.”
My jaw ticked for a beat then I said, “Nothing is safer than the clubhouse. And I want you there.” I didn’t want to scare her, and there was some stuff I couldn’t tell her.
“I’d be lying if I didn’t say I missed it, but I’m scared I’ll go back too soon and things will be just like they were.”
“I can’t go back to that, Lacy. I’ll never take you for granted again. I won’t be able to ignore you or shut you out. Once I admitted to myself you were everything, you’ve consumed me fully. It’s probably selfish. You deserve better than me but I can’t live that way. I can’t live without you.”
She whispered, “Eddie.”
“I know it’s not fair to say all of this, but it’s how I feel. I drove you away by fighting my feelings and not telling you any of it, so I have to tell you all of it now.”
“I’m right here. And I’m with you. I just need to know for sure. A little time is all I’m asking.”
Nodding, I said, “Okay. I’m sorry. I’m just fucking this all up, but I don’t know what I’m doing here, Lacy. I’ve never needed anything like I need you.” I sounded like a chump but I didn’t care. She needed to know.
She took my hand in both of hers and shook it until I looked at her. “You’re not fucking it up. And don’t apologize for sharing your feelings with me. I know it’s probably uncomfortable to a man like you, but it’s what I need from you. What I was missing. And you’re making it really hard to hold my ground.”
“So you’re saying there’s a chance?” I joked.
“Maybe.” She grinned.
“Also, before I forget, tomorrow I want to take you to dinner at my dad’s. And I have a little surprise. Well, Dad and I both have a little surprise for you.”
“Your dad? You want me to meet your dad? You really did a ??? you know?”
“I told you, Lacy. You’re everything.”
Her eyes glistened again and our moment was broken by the food runners and the server checking on us. The rest of the meal was quiet as we ate, but neither of us finished our food. Being so close to her, I didn’t care about food. I just wanted her.
We got boxes for our leftovers and I handed a few bills to the server and whisked Lacy away from the booth and into the truck.
I couldn’t get us back to Jeannie’s fast enough.