Chapter 7
Seven
DARCIE
The feeling of a body next to me had me bolting upright, my heart racing as I panicked. Where was I? Who was I with?
I searched for something familiar in the dark room but came up empty. My breathing became choppy as I tried to recall what had happened last night.
I glanced at the bare chest next to me and suddenly remembered.
Cowboy . I found my Shy Cowboy last night.
Placing my hand on my heart, I took deep breaths as I tried to regain some sense of calm. I vaguely remembered talking late into the night and snuggling down, confident I wouldn’t fall asleep in here.
The fact I had was more shocking than anything.
Since Maddox, I hadn’t slept next to anyone, let alone another man. Waking up to someone new was strange and not an activity I was used to. Did I get up before he did and pretend I wasn’t here? Did I wake him up to let him know I was leaving? Would the others see me? What would that mean?
“Wake up call,” a voice shouted, followed by banging on the door. “Your turn to make breakfast.”
Brooks moved next to me, his eyes opening slowly as he woke. When he spotted me, his hand reached out, cupping my face.
“I thought I’d dreamed you, but here you are, more beautiful than I could’ve imagined.”
His words melted me on the spot, and I leaned down, my eyes searching his. It was strange to know this man intimately in a way but not in others. The touch of his hand against my face was new. The way his green eyes shifted back and forth and the few freckles I could spot on his nose were too.
I was discovering who he was all over again.
“Good morning,” I whispered, smiling at him. “I hope I didn’t do anything embarrassing in my sleep.”
He smiled, shaking his head, his chestnut waves moving against the pillow. “I don’t think that’s possible. What are you doing today?” he asked, sitting up and stretching.
My eyes trailed over his torso, matching the visions of his abs cemented in my head. My pulse raced for a different reason this time.
“I was going to help out at Tattooed Hearts.”
He nodded, throwing the covers off and standing. As he stretched, I could watch him a little more, taking in all the dips and curves as I placed them on his tall frame.
My brain was still struggling with knowing parts of his body and realigning them with reality.
“Do you mind if I grab a shower first? It’s my turn to make breakfast.”
“No, go ahead. I need to head back to my room and get my stuff. Just knock on my door when you’re done.”
Brooks smiled, walking over and taking my hand. “I really want to kiss you. Hell, my body really wants to do more. You’re a walking aphrodisiac to my cock.” His face turned red, but he continued. “I want all those things and so much more, so I will wait and earn them the right way. I just wanted you to know that.”
Warmth spread through me, his acknowledgment of his feelings and what he wanted from me, taking me by surprise.
“I want that too.”
“Plus, I need to share something with you before any of that happens. Can we talk again tonight?”
“Yeah. You can come to my room this time,” I teased, giving him a wink.
“It’s a date.”
Going up on my tiptoes, I kissed his cheek and headed to the door. I stopped, glancing back into the room when I got to the door, spotting him with his eyes closed, a hand to the spot I’d just kissed. It was enough to make my heart burst as I continued toward my room.
I thought coming here would be a temporary stopping ground, a place to reset and organize my next move. It had already turned out to be so much more than that, and I’d only been here two days.
Sorting through my clothing items, I picked out a dress that would work with my cowboy boots and grabbed some clean underwear. A few minutes later, Brooks knocked on my door to let me know the shower was free as he headed to the kitchen.
It was weird living with roommates since I’d been on my own for the past few years. But it wasn’t completely awful. Especially when they made me food.
Once I was ready for the day, I headed into the kitchen, finding all three men sitting around the bar. It made me wonder if they ever used the actual dining room.
Grayson spotted me first, whistling as I neared. “You’re going to cause a few heart attacks today, sweet stuff.”
I wrinkled my nose, shaking my head at his latest nickname. I glanced down, not understanding what he meant, though. It was just a dress.
“Should I change?” I asked.
“No,” all three guys said quickly in unison, then shuffled uncomfortably on their stools. Smiling to myself, I filled my plate with pancakes and bacon, taking the stool between Brooks and Grayson. They both seemed to stop what they were doing, watching me as I took a bite.
“Oh man, that’s good,” I said around a mouthful of pancakes.
“Thanks,” Brooks said, his lips turning up at the corner.
I focused back on my plate, the others finally returning to theirs. It was quiet in the kitchen as we all ate; the only sound was the forks scraping against the plates.
“Let’s go,” Bubba said into the quiet, making me jump.
I quickly shoved the last of my pancake into my mouth and grabbed my bacon to go. Grayson was giving Bubba a look I couldn’t decipher, but I ignored it, used to the gruffness of his words toward me.
That was alright, though. He was about to be hit with the Darcie special.
I leaned over and kissed Brooks on the cheek, taking my plate to the sink and waving over my shoulder. I could hear Grayson saying something to Brooks, whining about the kiss, making me chuckle the whole way to the garage.
Bubba was already straddling a bike, a smirk on his face. I didn’t know if it was because he thought I’d be intimated or impressed. I walked around the motorcycle, taking in all the upgrades he’d done to it.
“Nice bike. Though, I probably would’ve gone with a V Twin engine instead. I like the sound they make.”
Bubba’s smile dropped, his cheeks turning red as he shoved a helmet toward me. Taking it, I pulled my hair back first, then placed it on. I easily climbed on the back of the bike, tucking my dress in and tying it so it wouldn’t fly up.
I didn’t know what he expected, but I was apparently doing the opposite. I’d told him about my father being the president of the Mavericks. But I guess, like most men, he expected me to know little to nothing about bikes.
The joke was on him. I knew more about motorcycles than the truck I’d driven the day before. I wondered how confident he would’ve been if he’d known that. Chuckling to myself, I wrapped my arms around him, laying my head against his back.
His muscles tensed at the touch, and I felt him take a deep breath. I smiled, hoping it meant I was getting to him.
Ideas of how I could push his buttons filled my mind as he started the engine, the familiar feeling vibrating through me.
It had been so long since I’d been on a bike that I’d almost forgotten how alive it made me feel.
My legs shook as he drove, and I took a deep breath as we rode through the streets. With each turn and tilt, I got back a piece of myself I’d long forgotten—a part I hadn’t realized I’d been missing until it smacked me in the face.
When we slowed, I was overwhelmed with joy from that simple ride. I could only imagine what a proper one would do to me.
Bubba parked, kicking out the kickstand. The engine shut off, allowing the world to return around us. Everything felt more. More vibrant, more intoxicating, more seductive.
He pulled off his helmet and stood from the bike, looking back at me. I didn’t know what he expected to find, but it seemed it wasn’t what he saw on my face.
“Are you okay? I’m sorry if I scared you. I should’ve taken the truck.”
Holding up a hand to stop him, I pulled off the helmet, touching my cheeks in the process. I hadn’t even known I’d been crying.
“I needed that more than I realized. Thank you.”
Bubba swallowed, his eyes searching my face. I shook out my hair, tilting my face up toward the sun. My grin widened, and I spread my arms wide as a laugh bubbled out of me.
“God, I’ve missed the open road. Please tell me you have an extra bike? I need to be on two wheels. It’s where I belong.”
I placed my hands together in a prayer motion, hoping he’d have an answer for me.
Bubba’s face changed from concern to intrigue before he blanked it, shoving all emotion away. He only grunted in response, taking both helmets and tucking them under his arm.
“Come on. Time to get to work.”
Rolling my eyes, I was determined not to let his mood get to me. I would get my own bike even if it meant sacrificing the car. I’d find a way. It had felt too good to ignore how much I needed it.
Riding was part of my blood, and it was time I embraced that.
Walking in behind him, I took in the view of the shop. I hadn’t been to this one, having met Lennox at the Nashville shop. Though, that store no longer existed since it had been blown up. Slade had remodeled this shop, renamed it Tattooed Hearts, and given Lennox her own suite. I was sad to be here without her, but I was happy she was living her dream.
“Wow, this place is incredible. Slade went all out,” I said, taking in the chairs and lights. Bubba grunted, heading to a station in the middle. I followed, taking in the pieces of art around the place. He started to pull out some things, ignoring me, so I opened a black binder and flipped through it.
“These yours?” I asked, looking up at him.
He stopped what he was doing and looked at what I held. His jaw ticked, but he nodded, returning quickly to his setup.
“They’re amazing, Bubba. You’ve got a lot of talent,” I said honestly.
He snorted but didn’t say anything else, continuing to ignore me. Rolling my eyes, I walked to the front and stopped at the front desk. The computer turned on when I moved the mouse. I glanced at the calendar, finding it similar to the program we used at the bar.
Thoughts of The Wild Horse Saloon filled me, hating how I hadn’t been able to give them any notice. By this point, I’d be a no-call no-show, and my job and reputation would be in smithereens.
I’d worked hard there to be the manager and enjoyed dancing. I hated that it was all gone now.
Part of me knew I wasn’t meant to work at a bar, but it had been my home for several years, and it was hard to let it go.
Clicking on a few of the tabs, I located all the appointments for the day, who they were with, and whether they’d confirmed. I hit print so I could look at it better and make some notes since this was a new environment.
While the details printed, I found an inventory list and opened it. I hit print just as Bubba charged around the corner, a scowl on his face, his fists clenched. I’d never seen the happy-go-lucky ginger so angry before. It was such a change that it took me by surprise. Before I could think about it, my back tensed, my arms raised, and I cowered as I waited for the blow.
My body shook as I waited for the pain. When nothing happened after a few seconds, I lowered my arms. Bubba stood before me, his face stricken as he stared at me. Our eyes met, grief and anger swirling in their midst.
He turned on his heels, my arms lowering the rest of the way now that the threat of danger was gone. A door slammed in the back, causing me to jump, and I held my arms across myself as I tried to calm down.
Focusing on the things I’d printed, I looked at the first appointments and found their stations. Glancing at Bubba’s, I copied the setup, pulling out the tools and utensils the artist would need. By the third station, my heart rate was back to normal, my breathing even, but there was still no sign of Bubba.
Once I had the stations completed, I took the inventory list and counted the ink bottles. It was tedious, but I found it soothing as I zoned out, singing to the song in my head as I counted. The door opened a few hours later, and I blinked, realizing how dazed I’d been.
A guy with a blue mohawk, a septum piercing, and several tattoos on display stopped in his tracks when he spotted me.
“Who are you?” he asked. He raised an eyebrow, and I realized it had a piercing in it as well.
“Darcie. Who are you?” I asked, piling on my accent.
He opened his mouth, but Bubba stepped out of the office, his eyes fixed on the man. “You’re late, Dan. You’ll need to set up your own station.”
“No, he won’t,” I said, drawing the attention of both of them.
Bubba’s face was hard like he was eating something difficult to chew, his jaw flexing.
“Yes, he will. I didn’t show you.”
“No, you didn’t. But I set it up, nonetheless. Plus, the other two. I’m also done with the first page of the inventory. I’ll finish the back once I call and confirm the few people who haven’t yet.”
Bubba blinked, his face relaxing. I smiled, twirling around and heading toward the front. I stopped, looking over my shoulder.
“I managed one of the busiest bars in Nashville, Suga. I might be blonde, but I’m a quick study.” I turned to Dan, finding his eyes on me. “If you need something done differently, just let me know, and I’ll make a note. I’ll be here a few days a week helping out while Lennox is gone.”
I smiled sweetly, then turned, walking the rest of the way to the front desk.
If anyone asked, I most definitely did not sway my hips or shake my butt. Nope. It wasn’t something I’d ever do.