Q
She was looking up at me with doe eyes when I pushed, “Can you do that for me? Can you take a chance?”
“I can try.”
“That’s all I’m asking.” I leaned down and kissed her on the forehead. “Now, do you want to go down to the water, or do you want to keep riding?”
“Can we go down to the water and then take a ride?”
“Absolutely.”
I reached down and took her hand in mine, then led her down the walking trail. As I knew it would be, it was quite the sight. The sun was dancing along the water’s edge, and the rocks were glistening as the waves broke along the coast. It was beautiful.
The trail was worn and uneven, but we managed to make it down to the beach without any mishaps. When we reached the ocean, I released Jules’s hand and watched as she knelt and put the tip of her fingers in the water. “Oh my! It’s freezing!”
“Yeah, and it’s only gonna get a lot colder.” The wind continued to whip around us, making her hair dance around her delicate face, and I’d never seen a more beautiful sight. I couldn’t take my eyes off her as I added, “Won’t be long before we get our first snow.”
“I loved the snow when I was a kid.” She stood and shook the water from her hand, then started walking along the edge of the water. “Now that I have to drive in it, not so much.”
“Yeah, it can be rough.” I followed Jules down the beach and picked up random shells as we talked. “Have you given any thought to what you’ll do when Smokey shuts down for the winter?”
“The hours will be shorter, but he’s planning to keep us on helping out with day-to-day chores. He’s keeping the gift shop open, so I’ll get some hours in there. If it’s not enough, then I’ll find a part-time job somewhere. I’m sure Caroline will have to find something, too.”
“You could always pick up a couple of shifts at Danver’s. I’m sure Flynn could use an extra waitress or two.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.” We walked a little further, then Jules said, “So, what do you do?”
“The club runs a construction company. I work there when they need me or at the garage.”
“So, you’re pretty involved with the club?”
“Yeah, you could say that. We all are.” I stopped to pick up another shell as I told her, “When the club does well, we do well.”
“How long have you been a member?”
“Patched in right after I turned twenty-one.”
“Oh, wow. That’s really young.”
“Would’ve done it sooner if I could.” I turned to face her as I said, “The brothers have been more of a family to me than my own flesh and blood ever was. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for them.”
“Sounds really nice.”
“Not sure nice is the right word, but becoming a brother was the best decision I ever made.”
We went on about our walk, stopping now and then to look out at the water, and when the beach became too rocky, we turned and headed back. We hadn’t gotten far when Jules looked over to me with a troubled look on her face. “Can I ask you a question?”
“Yeah, what’s on your mind?”
“How are you still single?” It was a reasonable question.
I wasn’t getting any younger and still hadn’t settled down, but her question caught me off guard—winded me even.
I had no idea how to answer. My facial expression must’ve startled Jules, and she quickly started backpedaling.
“I didn’t mean to overstep. It’s just...
you’re a great guy. I can’t believe someone hasn’t snatched you up. ”
“I find it hard to believe myself.”
“I bet... I’m sure you have women coming at you in droves.”
I chuckled as I replied, “Surprisingly, that’s not the case.”
“Well, I’m sure you have plenty to choose from. You got that smoking hot thing going on, and you’re smart and funny...” She stopped herself, then looked up at me with a strange expression. “I just can’t believe you aren’t seeing anyone.”
“Well, sorry to disappoint, but I’m not.
In fact, I haven’t in quite a while.” I continued walking up the path up to my bike as I told her, “I was hung up on a chick for a while. Thought something was there that wasn’t and ended up gettin’ burned.
Haven’t had an interest in getting tied down since. ”
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked.”
“It’s fine. You had every right to ask. Besides, it was a long time ago.” I picked up her helmet and offered it to her as I said, “And, things have a way of working out.”
“Yeah, I’ve heard that, but as far as I’m concerned, the jury is still out.”
“Your day will come. Just wait and see.”
“I certainly hope so.” She gave me one of her bashful smiles, then watched as I kicked my leg over the seat of my bike. Once I was settled, she asked, “Can I ask one more question?”
“Yeah, shoot.”
“Why does everyone call you Q?”
“It’s my road name. It’s a play off of Quinton, and God knows what else. You can’t ever tell with the brothers.”
“Quinton?”
“Yeah. My ol’ man was a real tool for passing the name down to me, but sadly, I didn’t have much say in the matter.”
“What? I don’t think it’s too bad.”
“You’re clearly not thinking straight,” I scoffed as I helped her get on behind me. Before I started the engine, I asked, “You had a long night last night. I’m sure you’re wiped.”
“Maybe a little.”
“You ready to call it a day?”
“I’m okay. I mean, I could use a little break. Maybe a quick nap and a cup of coffee, but I’m not really ready to call it a day.”
“I think I can manage that.”
Without saying anything more, I started the engine and headed home.
I expected Jules to give me a hard time when we got to my place, but she didn’t say a word as she followed me inside.
When we got to the living room, she took off her coat, then sighed with relief as she plopped down on the sofa and curled into one of the pillows. “That’s what I’m talking about.”
“Can I get ya anything?”
“I’m good.”
“You sure?” I grabbed the throw from the back of the sofa and laid it across her. “How ‘bout something to drink and a couple of Tylenol?”
“Now that you mention it...”
“You got it.”
I went to the kitchen to grab her a cold drink and some Tylenol, and by the time I’d made it back, she’d already dozed off.
Not wanting to wake her, I placed them on the coffee table, then made my way over to my recliner.
I turned on the TV and muted the sound as I flipped through the different channels.
As soon as I found the game of the week, I tossed the remote on the table and nestled back in my chair.
I watched a couple of plays, and the next thing I knew, I was out.
I wasn’t sure how long I’d slept, but the game was over, and it was dark. I looked over to the sofa and found Jules staring back at me with a smile. “Hey there, sleepyhead.”
“Hey.” I arched my back, stretching the muscles in my back as I asked, “How long was I out?”
“I don’t know, but it’s been a while.” She motioned her hand over to the clock. “It’s almost seven.”
“Damn.” I sat up and said, “I had no idea it was so late. Are you hungry? You wanna order a pizza or maybe some Chinese?”
“Pizza sounds good.”
“Great.” I grabbed my cell phone and placed the order, then I offered Jules the remote, “Wanna see if you can find a movie or something?”
“You want me to pick?”
“Well, yeah.” I placed the remote in her hand as I asked, “There a problem with that?”
“No,” she smiled nervously. “No problem at all.”
I could tell there was something she wasn’t telling me, but I didn’t push. I simply waited patiently as she searched for a movie. We spent the next couple of hours eating and watching some chick flick she’d found. Jules was searching for a second movie when I asked, “You got plans for tomorrow?”
“Not that I can think of. Why? Did you have something in mind?”
“Thought we might hike out to Marymere Falls. It’s a cool spot, and the weather’s supposed to be nice.”
“Yeah, that sounds like a lot of fun.”
“Then, that’s what we’ll do.”
When the movie was over, I took Jules back to her car, and the following day, I picked her up at her place and we headed to the falls.
The next day it was dinner down by the water, and then the next, it was another night of watching movies at my place.
One night Jules made pasta, and one night I grilled burgers.
In a blink, the week was over, and the fact that we’d spent every night together hadn’t gone unnoticed. “So, what’s going on with you and Smokey’s girl?”
“She works at Smokey’s.” Cotton was a man who knew how to press buttons, and he'd just pressed one of mine. "She's not his girl."
"That good, huh?” A knowing smirk crossed his face as he said, "Guess that means you finally got through to her.”
“Or she got through to me. Either way, things seem to be going in the right direction. We’ve spent a lot of time together this week, and she’s finally started opening up to me.”
“Things as bad as you thought?”
“She didn’t share the full story, but I got the impression that her ex was a grade-A asshole with a short fuse.”
“You think he took things too far?”
“Yeah, he gave her a real time of it. Her ol’ man, too. They’re the reason why she ended up here. She needed a fresh start.”
“And what about you?” Cotton cocked his brow. “She knows what she needs to know?”
“She knows enough.” I’d told her more about the club and how certain things worked.
There were some things she struggled with, but I was able to make her understand.
I’d also opened up a little more about Lauren and how she’d ended up with Flynn.
“I gotta tell ya, Prez. I have a good feeling about this girl.”
Even as I said the words, I knew it was more than just a hunch. There was something about Jules that got to me in a way no other woman had, and I couldn’t get enough of her. Cotton, being Cotton, understood exactly what I meant. “Then, you best do what you can to hold onto her.”
“I’m planning on it.”
The words had barely left my mouth when Rooster showed up at the door and announced, “Hey, brother. Your girl’s here.”
“Thanks, man.” I got up and started out of the bar as I told Cotton, “I’ll catch up with you later.”
“I’m gonna hold you to that.”