Chapter Twenty-Two
JULIETTE HAD BEEN a little nervous about riding on Seeley’s motorcycle, but her nerves didn’t stand a chance against the thrill of being wrapped around his back, the vibration of the engine working its magic as the world sped by. The feel of his muscles flexing against her chest and beneath her hands was intoxicating.
Heck, the man himself was even more so.
When she’d seen him straddling his shiny black bike in faded jeans, wearing his leather cut over a black T-shirt, tattoos snaking out from beneath the sleeves, her entire body had ignited. She’d seen enough hot guys in her life to know it had less to do with his incredible looks and more to do with the heart that beat within his broad chest.
The heart that had welcomed their son without hesitation and had never fully closed to her.
The crisp evening air whipped over her skin as they turned off the main road, heading for the Roadhouse. Seeley had told her his siblings would be there. He said he wanted to give her a chance to get to know them again before introducing Lucas to everyone next weekend. She was excited and nervous to see everyone again.
By the time they arrived, she felt freer and lighter than she had in years. The rustic building hadn’t changed. It still had a long front porch and an orange neon Roadhouse sign above the front door.
He cut the engine and took off his helmet as he climbed off the bike, raking a hand through his thick hair. He set his helmet down and helped her take off hers. As she shook out her hair, the lascivious look he gave her made her body vibrate anew.
“ Mm-mm . You on my bike is too hot to pass up.”
As he straddled the bike, facing her, she laughed. “What are you doing?”
“Getting a taste of what’s mine.”
He pushed his hands into her hair, drawing her mouth to his in a penetrating kiss. His tongue slid over hers, possessing more of her with every stroke. She was arched forward, kissing him harder.
“Now, that’s a kiss. No wonder Juliette got pregnant.”
Seeley broke the kiss on a curse, and it took a minute for Juliette’s brain to catch up. When it did, she was flooded with embarrassment. Doc was glowering at Birdie, who was standing beside the bike smirking. She looked like a cute Madonna throwback in a white lace bustier and denim microskirt, with jagged layers of lavender tulle hanging from the hem to just below her thighs. A pearl choker circled her neck, along with several long necklaces, and she wore fingerless, elbow-length white gloves.
“Hi, Birdie,” Juliette said.
“Hi! Are you guys coming or what? I mean coming into the bar . I don’t want to know about—”
“ Birdie ,” Doc warned, climbing off the bike.
Birdie held up her gloved hands. “Hey, I’m not the one inspecting her tonsils with my tongue.”
Juliette laughed as Doc helped her off the bike.
“Don’t encourage her,” Doc said as he locked the helmets to the bike.
“Damn, girl,” Birdie said. “You look hot.”
“Thanks.” She’d worn her favorite jeans and boots and a short-sleeved copper shirt that laced up between her breasts, making her boobs look amazing.
“That’s a killer shirt. I don’t blame Doc for wanting to take you right here and now. I’m surprised you made it out of your house. If I had boobs like that—”
“ Jesus , Birdie. That’s enough,” Seeley scolded, and draped his arm over Juliette’s shoulders as they headed inside.
Juliette couldn’t help laughing. Birdie had been so young when they knew each other before, but she’d always pushed Seeley’s buttons. “You look great, too, Birdie. I love your skirt.”
“Thanks. I made it.” She wiggled her hips. “Hopefully it’ll be a man magnet tonight.”
Seeley turned a dark stare on Birdie. “Can you pretend you’re not out to find a guy for one night?”
Birdie planted a hand on her hip. “I don’t go out to find guys. I go out so they can find me. Now, if you’ll excuse me.” She threw open the door and strutted into the bar.
“I swear that girl’s gonna give me gray hair.”
Juliette laughed. “She’s a grown woman with a vibrant personality. Don’t try to tame her.”
“I don’t want to tame her. I want to protect her.”
And there it was, one of the things she loved most about him.
As they made their way inside, the music and the din of people dancing, playing pool, gathered around the bar, and cheering on a girl riding a mechanical bull brought a rush of adrenaline.
Seeley kept her close as they weaved through the crowd and around packed tables. Juliette noticed a large number of men wearing cuts with Dark Knights patches scattered throughout the bar, like there had been way back when, and memories rushed in. She’d been so young and in love, their lunch dates at the Roadhouse had felt like a dream, and the few times they’d had dinner there, the bar had been hopping, and she’d felt the same sizzling energy then that electrified the air tonight.
But one thing had changed.
Back then the other Dark Knights had been watching over them. Now it was Seeley’s keen eyes trailing over the crowd, slowing for a beat when he spotted Birdie chatting up two guys. Juliette could feel tension rising in him, his arm tightening around her as he shot those men a warning glare, and they took a step back. She felt bad for Birdie, but she was also in awe of Seeley and how hard he loved the people in his life.
She noticed a few people looking at them with curious expressions, and her nerves flared. Given what Seeley had told her about his dating history, she assumed they were wondering if she was his fling for the next few weeks. Her stomach twisted at the thought of him with other women. But they’d both lived full lives, which had included other men and women. More importantly, their hearts had stayed connected through unbearable heartache. There was no room for jealousy in a love like theirs.
She spotted his siblings sitting at a table just ahead. Cowboy had his arm around a petite beauty with shoulder-length golden-brown hair and a warm smile. She looked to be about Birdie’s age and was gazing at Cowboy adoringly. Sasha was cozied up to a handsome man with jet-black hair, olive skin, and chiseled features, and Billie stood beside Dare’s chair holding a tray of glasses and chatting with them.
Dare looked up, catching Juliette watching them. He pushed to his feet and called out, “There’s the man of the hour and the beautiful birthday girl!” sparking a round of happy birthday s from everyone.
Juliette looked at Doc in elated shock. “You told everyone?”
“You deserve to be celebrated, darlin’.” He kissed her, and she couldn’t stop smiling.
“Get over here.” Dare pulled her into an embrace. “I’m glad you’re here.”
“Thanks. Me too.”
He put his hand on Billie’s back and said, “You remember my beautiful wife, Billie?”
“I do. It’s good to see you. I always knew you two would end up together.”
“This one didn’t give me a choice,” Billie said, eyeing Dare lovingly.
“Yes, I did,” Dare said. “I said you could marry me or I could marry you, but either way, we were gettin’ hitched.”
They all laughed.
“Jule, you know Cowboy and Sasha.” Seeley pulled out a chair for her and said, “This is Cowboy’s fiancée, Sully, and Sasha’s fiancé, Ezra.”
“It’s nice to meet you both,” Juliette said, a wave of awkwardness moving through her as her gaze connected with Sasha’s. Sasha had been there when she’d yelled at Seeley about Lucas at the ranch. She had been the calm, centered sibling years ago, and she had that aura about her now as she watched them settle into their seats. Juliette tried to break the ice. “I can’t believe all of you are getting married. Congratulations.”
“Thanks,” the four of them said at once.
Billie said, “I have to get back to work. Doc, Juliette, what can I get you? I’m bringing these guys appetizers and drinks.”
Seeley put his arm around Juliette’s. “Do you still like loaded potato skins and wings?”
“I love them. Finger food is life ,” she said, parroting what they’d said as teens, earning a laugh and a kiss, which also made her a little nervous in front of everyone. She wasn’t sure how much his family knew about their current relationship, and she wanted to clear the air with Sasha. She also didn’t want to have too much alcohol since they’d taken the motorcycle, but she needed a little liquid encouragement and allowed herself one drink. “I haven’t ordered a drink in forever. What’s good but not too strong?”
“Margaritas!” Birdie said as she plopped down into a chair beside her.
“Yes!” Sasha and Sully agreed.
“I guess I’m having a margarita,” Juliette said.
“I’ll have my usual,” Doc said.
As Billie walked away, Juliette bit the bullet and gazed across the table at Sasha. “Sasha, I’m a little embarrassed and wanted to apologize for making a scene that day at the ranch when I yelled at Seeley about Lucas.”
Sasha waved her hand dismissively, her dirty-blond hair hanging loose over her shoulders. “Don’t worry about it. I’ve seen worse, and this guy”—she pointed to Seeley—“needed a kick in the ass.”
“Especially after the way he spoke to you at the hospital,” Birdie said. “I wanted to kick his butt.”
Seeley pulled Juliette closer. “Birdie gave me hell for it, and Sasha gave me crap for what I said that day at the ranch.”
“Thank God,” Juliette said with a sigh, and everyone laughed. “I thought you guys might hate me for it.”
“No way. He told us what you guys have been through, and I’m so sorry,” Sasha said. “That’s awful.”
“I’m sorry, too,” Birdie said. “You know, for all those years, we weren’t even allowed to say your name, because Doc would lose his shit, and we never knew why. Now that I know the truth, I want to kick your father’s butt.”
“You and me both,” Juliette said, noticing Seeley and the guys exchanging serious glances she couldn’t read. But she sensed they were in agreement of wanting to do the same.
“I’m really glad I finally got to meet you,” Sully said. “I grew up in a cult, and I know how it feels to have the person who should protect you not only fail to do so but put you in harm’s way. I know your situation was different, but they’re kind of the same. If you ever need somebody to talk to, I’m a pretty good listener.”
“You’re a great listener,” Cowboy said, and kissed her temple.
Juliette didn’t know the extent of abuse Sully had suffered at the cult, but Seeley had alluded to enough for her to guess, and she knew that even admitting as much as she did probably wasn’t easy for Sully. “I appreciate that, and one day I just might take you up on it.”
“We’re all here for you and Lucas,” Sasha said. “He’s a cutie, by the way. I met him the other day when he and Doc came by the ranch. He looks so much like Doc did at his age, it made my dad’s head spin.”
“Sash, Lucas thinks you’re hot,” Doc said.
Ezra hugged Sasha against his side. “The boy has good taste.”
“I heard he’s got a thing for Layla Braden,” Cowboy said.
“He does, and I’m not ready for it,” Juliette said as Billie brought their drinks. “Thanks.”
“Your food will be right up,” Billie said.
“Give me some sugar, Wildfire.” Dare pulled Billie down for a kiss and slapped her ass as she walked away, earning a glower over her shoulder.
“Layla’s a cutie, too. I could see them together,” Sasha said.
“She’s a sweet girl,” Juliette said. “Lucas spent the day with her and her family at the Real DEAL, that total immersion exploratory park. It’s supposed to be educational, but they had so much fun. They were there all day. Apparently the place has everything you can think of from hands-on survivalist activities, marine biology labs, and a bunch of other things that all have to do with science. Of course Lucas’s favorite part was the race track. He’s such a speed demon.”
“He gets that from me,” Dare said.
“Where is Lucas tonight?” Sully asked.
“Spending the night at his friend’s house,” Seeley answered. “Which means I get Juliette all to myself.” He kissed her temple.
“Not yet, you don’t.” Birdie popped to her feet. “Girl time! Let’s go dance!”
Sasha and Sully got up in a flurry of excitement.
“Juliette, stop ogling my brother and get your butt out of that chair.” Birdie took Juliette’s hand, tugging her up to her feet.
“Oh! I didn’t know you meant me ,” she said.
“We can’t do girl talk in front of the guys,” Birdie said.
“ Birdie ,” Seeley warned.
Birdie rolled her eyes, tugging Juliette toward the dance floor with Sasha and Sully.
“Tell us everything,” Birdie said.
“What was it like for you out in California? It must have been so hard,” Sasha said.
“What’s it like being back after all this time?” Sully asked. “Does Lucas know about you and Doc?”
And so it began.
They danced as they talked, and while it started out sounding like an interrogation, it quickly morphed into something else. Something she hadn’t realized she’d needed. The girls were empathetic and asked questions that only other women would know to ask, and they seemed to genuinely care about what she and Lucas had been through. Birdie and Sasha shared the worries they’d had about Seeley over the years. They explained that they really hadn’t known what had happened, and they told her how they’d known he’d harbored love for her for all this time because he’d become so closed off after that summer.
Their serious conversations were interspersed with laughter and hugs as they teased each other, and the girls joked about how possessive the guys were, watching them like hawks while they danced. Juliette knew that, at least for Seeley, it wasn’t because he didn’t trust her, but rather because he didn’t want anything to happen to her or any of them. She loved that about him, but with the girls, she saw the humor in it, too, because the guys’ eagle eyes were peeled.
They danced and laughed until they were too hungry to keep going. Then they joined the guys at the table, chowing down on finger food, enjoying easy conversation, fun banter, and smooches from their men. Which Birdie never failed to comment on, and wow , did Juliette feel good. She’d lost touch with her high school girlfriends after moving to California, and it had been hard to find new friends there, because she was a seventeen-year-old married mother, and most girls her age were still in high school or out partying. She hadn’t realized how much she’d missed having girlfriends until now. She felt like she’d found a true sisterhood. A tribe of women friends who talked about real things and understood that life could be treacherously hard but also irresistibly beautiful. And they not only believed in deep, soul-searing love, but they were rooting for her and Seeley and Lucas as hard as she and Seeley were.
As the night wore on, her new girlfriends convinced her to ride the mechanical bull, which was an embarrassment but fun as hell. Seeley and everyone else cheered her on for the five seconds she lasted. She couldn’t stop laughing after falling off, and Birdie hollered, “Attagirl! Show that floor who’s boss!” making her laugh even harder.
Seeley helped her up and pulled her into his arms. “I think you’d better stick to riding your cowboy.” He smothered her laughter with a merciless kiss that drew whistles and shouts from the crowd.
Now she was in his arms on the dimly lit dance floor, dancing to “What if I Never Get Over You.” His hands were warm on her back, his body brushing sensually against hers. They were surrounded by couples, but he was looking at her like she was the only person in the entire room. Her heart was so full, she was sure he could feel it beating between them.
“Are you having a good time, darlin’?”
“I’m having the best time. I love being here with you, getting reacquainted with your brothers and sisters, and getting to know their partners. This is what I’d always imagined for us.”
“Me too. I still can’t believe you’re right here in my arms. And I get to have you all to myself tonight.” He kissed her softly, his gaze moving slowly over her face.
“What?”
“You’re so beautiful, it almost hurts to look at you.”
She rolled her eyes, shaking her head.
“I’m serious, darlin’. When we were apart, even when I was trying not to think of you, I’d wonder how you’d changed over the years. No matter how I pictured you, whether it was heavy or thin, short hair or long, you were always beautiful in my mind’s eye. No one could ever hold a candle to you.”
Not for the first time, and she knew not for the last, the honesty in his voice took her breath away. “Seeley Whiskey, are you telling me that at sixteen I ruined you for all other women? Because I’m thinking there should be a trophy for that.”
“Oh, there is, and you’re going to get all nine inches of it.”
They laughed, and he kissed her again.
“But I do have a little something for you. I hate that I missed so many birthdays and Mother’s Days, but I look forward to being here for all that are yet to come.” He pulled a small velvet bag from his pocket, and there in the middle of the dance floor, he presented her with the most beautiful white-gold diamond-studded infinity necklace that hung vertically, with a heart-shaped aquamarine at the bottom. “Happy birthday, darlin’. I hope I got Lucas’s birthstone right.”
She teared up. “You did. It’s beautiful.” He put it on her, and then he kissed her. She choked out, “Thank you,” and he held her a little tighter.
She rested her head against his chest, holding him tighter, too, as they danced through the end of the song. When “Ready to Be Loved” came on, it was a faster song, but they continued swaying to their own silent beat. They gazed into each other’s eyes, and he whispered the lyrics to her. As he sang about how he was used to hiding his feelings and wanted to risk it all with her, how he’d been hurt and had never let anyone in, and how he was ready to let it all go to be loved by her, every word made her heart feel even fuller.
It was no wonder she’d never been able to connect with any other man. She and Seeley were soul mates. Two halves of the same heart, and their beautiful son had all the best parts of both of them.