Chapter 26
twenty-six
DARCY
The non-stop beeping of a forklift breaks the tranquil music from my playlist. Freakin’ Keebler. He does this all the time. Instead of walking into the warehouse, he props the door open with his foot and yells over the noise, making the soundproofing useless. My noise cancelling headphones are dead, and they are being so noisy.
I have to turn in payroll today, something that requires attention to detail. The civilian employees in the supply store and warehouse are easy, but the bikers? They aren't exactly known for sticking to schedules. They also don’t like to clock in or out, leaving me stuck checking to see when they came and left.
Lucy came over earlier to teach me how to do everything and gave me an understanding sigh when I gawked at the red flags that notate a missed punch in and out.
Guess I have this to look forward to every other Thursday.
With frustrated steps, I pace across the room to the cracked door, hating that I have to shut it. A closed door is a message to not disturb, and I don’t want to keep it that way every day all day just because of noise.
As the metal door to the warehouse bangs against the frame, Dane’s rumbly baritone travels down the hallway to my office, echoed by Keebler’s laugh. As I reach the entryway, a pair of icy blue eyes catch mine through the opening.
My Viking.
It’s not fair he’s this good looking and strolls around Earth with us mortals. His hair is loose and wild around his face, his beard, two shades deeper brown than his hair, deliciously scruffy. Just like that, I forget all about my grouchy mood.
“Hey you,” I say in greeting, a smile automatically growing on my face. I swing the door open further in an invitation he takes. Sauntering toward me, he closes the door behind us. The lock clicks as Dane’s eyes dance with mischief.
Wrapping a burly arm around me, he rests the wide palm on my bottom. Pulling my hair back he exposes the mark he left on my neck last night, kissing it gently. It tingles my skin and sends warmth straight to my core.
I wrap my arms around his denim clad waist and burrow into his chest.
“Why were you grumpy when I came in?”
“Payroll.” Remembering Dane mentioned he’ll be away all day, I ask, “Are you off?”
“Yeah, wanted to check in with you before I leave,” he says, nuzzling my neck.
“You saw me less than an hour ago at the house,” I remind him. “Then when you had to unlock my computer because someone still won’t give me the password…”
“I already turned off the password security, but just for today. I won’t be around much. Flinch and Band-Aid are staying with you. ”
I lift a surprised eyebrow. While Flinch and Keebler have been the main two people to babysit me, there are others who fill in when needed, but never Band-Aid. When I asked, my jealous, outrageous savage of a lover had no issues telling me why. I’ve hugged Band-Aid and therefore he’s committed the unforgivable crime of touching me before. He roared out “and before I even did,” as if it was the final verdict on Band-Aid’s guilt.
Absolutely ridiculous. “Why the sudden change?”
In a displeased grumbly voice he admits, “Most everybody else is needed for a run.” I wait for him to dictate some sort of rules, since it’s Band-Aid he’s leaving me with, but he doesn’t. Dane is fully aware that any special dictates he made just for myself and Band-Aid would be met with an argument. He’s already taken things up with the prospect directly.
Dropping his hands, Dane reaches over to the side table, holding up a blank wedding invitation. “Planning already?” he teases.
Nope, shooting this one down real quick with the way Dane likes to go in our relationship. “Lucy’s engaged,” I inform him in a no bullshit tone.
He flips the pearlescent cardstock between his fingers. “Not this shiny,” he decides, and something deep in my soul tells me that Mr. Zero-to-Sixty in one second flat isn’t talking about my friend’s wedding.
I pull the heavy cream paper from his fingers. “Lucy,” I announce, emphasizing my friend's name. “Is going with an off-white that was a bit more traditional.”
He snickers, places a kiss on my temple, and mutters something about “whose tradition.”
“Text me while I’m away,” Dane says in a silky voice. It reminds me of the adoration he whispered into my ears only hours ago. God, how I love it. The mere brush of his breath against the delicate skin of my neck brings me back. As sweet as his words, the sex beforehand was not. It was filthy and desperate, his tender caresses replaced by feral movements as he teased my pussy. An orgasm rolled through my body so strong that I thought I was going to black out. My nails dragged down his back, teeth grazing delicate flesh as he fucked me with savage thrusts. It was absofreakinlutely amazing but left us both collapsed in a pile of limbs in bed together.
We can’t keep our hands off one another. It’s probably a good thing I went to the pharmacy to refill my birth control as soon as it opened up. It’s hidden in the house, far outside anywhere he’ll look for it. It’s extremely unlikely I’m pregnant, especially since I’m nursing, the only reason I’m not furious right now.
Still, the number of people with two babies born in one year isn’t lost on me. One of those days is on me, I’ll admit, but the other…
The man is lucky I’m in too much of a happy euphoria to consider homicide. I don’t consider ending things with Dane when I’m angry. I think about throwing things at his head.
“I need to run some errands in town today, but I’ll be sure to give Band-Aid and Flinch plenty of notice,” I mention. Dane said he needs to know where I am at all times for now. I’m now the old lady of Odin, the president of the Bayou Dogs, and there’s safety issues at times. There’s a difference between the jail my parents held me in and the protective bubble Dane wraps around me. One is selfishness, the other complete adoration.
With another nuzzle he says, “No more tracking down hours for the men. They need to learn to respect your time.”
His breath is warm against my ears when he leans in and whispers, “I have much better use for it.”
He saunters away with a confident strut, knowing my mind is going to be on him every second he’s gone.
Just as he wanted all along.
* * *
Band-Aid doesn’t stifle his grimace as he notices the display window, staring directly at a mannequin dressed in a leather getup too risqué for Main Street in Parran. His voice dripping with knowing apprehension he insists, “Think I’ll watch the door,” he tells Flinch.
Shooting Band-Aid a teasing look, I tsk. “Afraid of a little boutique?”
“It’s not the store I’m afraid of Darcy. It’s what your man would do if he knew I went in there with you.”
I don’t get their overreaction. I mean sure, there’s a section of dainty lingerie, but it mainly stocks beautiful clothing intended to be worn in public.
There are two boutiques in town. The other one primarily sells Hurricanes’ tee shirts and trendy stuff that’s out of style a month later. Then there is Leather and Silk, the store that LaShawna and Brittany own.. It’s beautiful clothing, some edgier than I’d like, but others are sexy and feminine.
After sorting through my selection of tops to wear with the leather pants Dane bought for me, I decided to use it as an excuse to shop.
There’ve been few occasions in my life I’ve felt attractive. The clothing my parents made me wear was meant to deter male attention, and after that, it was uniform polos for my receptionist job or a maternity top.
Flinch swings open the glass door, holding it open for me as I call out a “Hello.”
LaShawna’s head jerks up from a display table. “Hey, girl! We wondered when you’d show up.” She makes her way to me on heeled boots, giving me a hug that feels genuine. “You caught us on a day we’re both here. Brittany’s just in the back.”
“Good. I can have two opinions. I need something to go with the pants Dane bought me to ride in.”
LaShawna nods, a secret smile growing on her lips. “I have a couple of ideas.” She starts rummaging through the racks, glancing back at me from time to time appraisingly. “Any idea what you want?”
“Sexy, but in a subtle kind of way. Feminine.”
Lashawna holds up a pink ruffled crop top for inspection before placing it back on the shelf with a huff. “We can’t even layer that one with your man. The bail fund for the club would be drained.”
I give her a knowing laugh. “I kinda want to keep my belly hidden anyway. I still have stretch marks from Owen.”
“Oh you know, why don’t we mix a little something form fitting in….” She heads over to another long rack, looking for something specific.
We comfortably chat as she pokes through the racks helping me search, oblivious to Flinch’s presence in the nearby armchair. LaShawna, and later Brittany kindly guide me to clothing that flatters my new post baby figure.
They’re acting weird, having me try on outfits so I can “experience the look” whatever that means.
There is so much I want, but I’ll have to replace my pitiful wardrobe slowly. Even with my windfall, I still need to watch my spending. Something can easily happen, and I’ll need every dime of my savings. With a thoughtful pout, I settle on a nude body suit that fits like a second skin, and a black silky camisole. “I’ll take these two in the medium for now. I’ll be back for the rest though.”
Brittany’s smile is eager as she takes the two scraps of soft fabric from my hands. “Good choices. Is there anything else you want to look at?”
“Nope, I’m good for today.”
I go to change, my pilled leggings and tunic looking cheap under the fluorescent lighting as I slip them over my nursing bra. I’ve always been jealous of the girls who dress pretty. Dad never liked it when we spent money on clothing. The way Dad hoards money you’d think we were impoverished.
My mind wanders back to Dane, and I let myself worry about what he’s doing today. Picking up my phone, I send Dane a kissy face emoji, surprised when I receive a set of emojis back. I glance at the combination…peach, eggplant, a slapping hand, and the smirking devil.
Darcy
Suggestions for tonight?
Dane
No, memories. These however…
The next set of emojis leaves me wide mouthed as I stare at the screen putting the pieces together. Bed, rope, water droplets, tongue, eggplant, and…is that…a pregnant woman emoji.
This man is shameless.
Darcy
Well we know those aren’t your plans since I refilled my birth control.
His sign-off, another smirking devil, makes me roll my eyes. I’d love another baby, Dane’s baby, and a sibling for Owen, but some things are just too fast. We’re just beginning and a baby is a permanent tie.
Still, there’s something comforting in Dane’s determination to hold me tight like a treasure.
LaShawna puts on an uneasy smile when I mosey over to the register, bouncing her leg as she sits on a wooden stool behind the counter. “What’s going on?”
Like one of Santa’s elves, LaShawna reaches at her feet and places a large stack of clothing on the glass top that holds the register. My “come back later” pile. Her face splitting grin tells me something’s up. “Prez texted early to throw in a few extra things.” She’s biting on her lip, nervous at my reaction.
My voice is uneasy. “Is this why you made me put the whole look together?”
Brittany nips over to the counter, pushing a rolling rack she’d been adding and taking away from the entire time I was shopping and pulls clothes off the rack, stacking it next to LaShawna.
My mind starts to whirl as I stare at the array of beautiful garments.
“We can exchange anything…” Brittany says uneasily.
They look back and forth, concerned. My lover just did something sweet for me and I’m not acting excited. “It’s so sweet of you to go through all the trouble. It just took me by surprise,” I confess.
“You are one lucky girl,” LaShawna says as she organizes the different pieces into cute outfits. “He came in before to buy the riding gear, but didn’t want to buy more because he wanted you to have what you liked.”
Dane told me in a roundabout way this is how he shows his affection, providing for us.
I’m done fighting, letting my pride get the better of me. After everything I’ve gone through, I’m going to allow myself to enjoy being spoiled. What am I supposed to do, text him to say go to hell for giving me everything I want, again?
It’s not like I don’t love the clothing, or that he’s forcing me into stuff that isn’t my taste. Along with some basics like jeans and tees, there’s a couple of cute blouses and flirty skirts. Brittany and LaShawna take their time, showing me how to style them differently for work and going out.
I have them exchange a few things that I just wouldn’t feel comfortable in, but for the most part, the girls nailed exactly what I like. My favorite is a skater dress in deep cranberry with lace patterned tights. It’s comfy for the office but still feminine.
“I’ll text you a picture of all the outfits we put together so you can remember what goes where,” LaShawna promises.
As they’re bagging up the ridiculous stacks of clothing, I pull out my phone, “I don’t know what to say to Dane as a thank you.”
“When Couyon does something nice for me, I show him how much I love it,” LaShawna says with a fake eyelash wink.
Not a bad plan at all.
Giving LaShawna a playful look, I walk over to the racks of lace and satin lingerie.
Now to find just the right getup to tell Dane thank you.