Chapter 14
FOURTEEN
MCKENNA
“I guess it’s a good thing we didn’t take your bike,” I utter, staring up at Heat as he takes the big bear from the carnival guy.
“You think?” Heat grunts, holding the bear for me while I hold both our drinks and the cotton candy he’d bought me.
His snarky response has been typical for today, yet anything and everything I’ve wanted to do, he’s done with me.
I giggle and walk next to him as we make our way through the rest of the games.
The sun had set over an hour ago, and we’ve been here for hours.
This was after we spent time at the farmers market, where I found some of the cutest jewelry pieces, handmade soaps, candles, and fresh produce.
All of which Heat bought. Not once would he let me pay for anything, and I tried more than once to do that.
I think the best thing was the leather bracelets I thought would look perfect on him. I’d been right, considering he allowed me to put them on him. They matched the leather necklace I now had on.
“You ready to head out now?” Heat asks, looking ridiculous holding the huge bear. I know it was cheap, but hewon it for me, and I intend to keep it.
“Sure,” I tell him, smiling.
“Thank fuck,” he grunts.
I throw my head back, laughing at his response, and move to the trash cans.
I was done with my drink and the half-eaten cotton candy.
I filled up on a smoked turkey leg and loaded cheese fries.
I also indulged myself on homemade fudge and a caramel apple.
Thankfully, Heat had helped with some of what I had on top of what he’d eaten.
He drew the line at the cotton candy, though.
When I sober and meet his gaze, my heart seizes in my chest. He wasn’t laughing, but his eyes held laughter in them.
I liked that he’s staring at me as he is.
His sunglasses weren’t shielding his emotions from me, as he typically keeps them in place.
He hasn’t worn them at all today, and I’ve loved it.
“Come on,” I say, moving in close, tucking myself into his side. “Let’s get you out of here. You’ve appeased me enough.”
Heat chuckles and wraps his arm around my shoulders. With the height difference between us, I barely come to his shoulders.
Together, we make our way through the fairgrounds toward where he’s parked. An idea hits me, and I find myself blurting it out as I’ve done other things all day. “Have you ever had a girl in your truck?”
“Nope,” he says, with that matter-of-fact tone of his in place.
“Never?” I don’t know if I believe him.
“Like my bike, I don’t put women in the passenger seat of my truck. My brothers and I all have a rule, no one but our ol’ ladies gets the pleasure of riding bitch.”
“I don’t get it, why the rule?”
Heat stops us at his truck and turns to look at me.
“To ride bitch on the back of my bike or in the passenger seat of my truck is meant for one woman. The one I see as my ol’ lady, my woman.
Being an ol’ lady is an honor to have in my world.
You get the respect of my brothers. They know you have my ear and I’d talk to you about things.
You might not be a member of the club, but that doesn’t mean you won’t know things that are happening within.
That’s what being an ol’ lady is about. That and having your man’s back. ”
“Oh,” I whisper and lick my lips.
“Yeah, oh.” He smirks and tugs me flush against him.
“You’re that to me. We have a lot to talk about, and today has been about us spending time together.
You getting to know me. Me getting to know you.
It’s been light and easy all day, but we’re gonna have to talk about the heavy.
You gotta know what you’ve got ahead of you when it comes to me.
Same goes for me, knowing what I’m getting into with you. ”
“But . . .”
“No buts about it, Trouble, you’re mine as I’m yours.
That shit with Chellie in my office was just bullshit.
I’ve never had a woman of my own. Never wanted one, however, when it comes to you, I can’t help wanting you as mine.
So, that’s what you’re gonna be. Mine. Means you have nothing to worry about me stepping outside of what we have to get something.
That’s another thing Chellie said that’s shit, but you were right, not one of them alone could satisfy me.
” He tugs me even closer than I already am to him and grins.
“You, however, I have no doubt will do more than simply satisfy any of my needs.”
The breath in my lungs whooshes out of me, leaving them burning with the need for oxygen.
“I am?” I manage to get out. Why? I’ve no clue. Heat made himself crystal clear. I don’t think he could be any clearer.
“Yeah, Trouble, you are.”
Whoa.
“Now, let’s get you in the truck and get back to the clubhouse. We’ve had a great fuckin’ day, but I don’t like you being exposed to whoever the fuck is after you.”
At his reminder of my stalker, I nod. He’d given me today, and he’s right, it was the best.
Heat picks my bear up. I hadn’t even realized he’d dropped it, and he opens the passenger door for me.
I hop in, and he closes me in before opening the door behind me and tossing my bear in.
When he rounds the hood of the truck, I notice the way he scans the area, as if he’s on alert to someone possibly popping up out of nowhere.
The moment he’s behind the wheel, he reaches for my hand and places it on his thigh before starting his truck.
Words aren’t needed for the ride back to the clubhouse as I find myself in a comfortable silence. The drive isn’t as long as I thought it would be, as he takes back roads all the way there.
Heat takes the turn onto the rocked lane leading to the gated fence that surrounds the clubhouse and comes to a stop halfway behind another car parked in the middle of the lane.
“Take my phone, baby, and call Brimstone. Code’s nine-four-two-six. Tell him to get his ass down here with my brothers,” Heat commands and throws open his door. “Don’t get out of this truck,” he orders before slamming the door shut.
My heart races as I tap in the code and find Brimstone’s number.
Before Brimstone can say a word when he answers, I blurt, “Heat needs you down the lane, halfway to the gate.”
“Right,” Brimstone grunts and disconnects.
Watching the scene through the windshield, I run my palms over my knees, trying to stop the panic from overriding me.
Three men step out of the car and surround Heat. One of them gets in his face while the other two close in. I scream, seeing what they’re about to do. My voice carries loud, breaking all the windows as my vision blurs.