6. Bones
BONES
Stitch and Wrath had a long talk with Daniels, and he’d assured them both that there was nothing going on.
He made light of the fact that he and his partner had been following some of us around, saying they were just looking out for us.
Cotton wanted to believe him. We all did, but something about the whole thing felt off.
Not ready to let it go, Cotton ordered Big and me to monitor the police database—not just for Daniels and Harris, but for any unusual arrests or suspicious activity.
It wouldn’t be hard to spot. There was little to no crime in our small town, and if there was, it was usually a simple speeding ticket or a drunk and disorderly at one of the local bars.
I understood the thought process but worried we were setting ourselves up for another wild goose chase.
Regardless, we spent the better part of the day going over all arrests that had taken place over the past two months, searching for any red flags but found nothing.
I was about to start going through their work emails when there was a tap on the door, and Lacy stepped into the room. “Hey, Bones. You got a minute?”
“Yeah, what’s up?”
“Elsie just called... She asked me to come to pick her up, but my car won’t start.” She grimaced as she asked, “Do you think you could go get her?”
It had been less than an hour since she left with her date, which left me wondering why the hell she was calling Lace for a ride. “Isn’t she with her date?”
“She was, but I guess something happened.”
“What do you mean something happened?”
“I don’t know.” Lacy shrugged. “She just sent me a message asking me to come to pick her up.”
“Go get her,” Big ordered. “I’ve got things covered here.”
“You sure?”
“Yeah, I was about to call it a night anyway.”
“Okay, I’ll check back in with you in the morning.”
“Not gonna be here. We’ve got the run tomorrow. Just take a break and catch up with me later.”
“Sounds good.”
I grabbed my things, then stood and made my way out the door. As I started down the hall, I asked Lace, “Where is she?”
“Angelo’s on the square. Just text her when you get there.”
“Got it!”
I rushed out to my truck, and within seconds, I was pulling through the clubhouse gate.
Concerned that Elsie might be in some kind of trouble, I hammered down on the accelerator and sped towards downtown.
My mind was racing a mile a minute. I knew when that asshole showed up at the clubhouse something wasn’t right about him.
I figured it was just my jealousy talking, but now, I realized it was something more.
As soon as I got to the pizza place, I whipped into a parking spot at the door and messaged Elsie.
My knee started bouncing as I gripped the steering wheel and stared at the front door.
Relief washed over me when Elsie finally stepped outside, and I could see that she was okay.
She looked surprised as she made her way over to the passenger side of my truck.
As soon as she opened the door, she said, “Hey.”
“Hey.”
“I thought Lacy was coming to pick me up.”
“She had car trouble, so she asked me to come.”
“Yeah, I bet she did.” She rolled her eyes as she got in and shut the door. She buckled her seat belt, then dropped her hands to the hem of her skirt, inching it down her slender thigh. “Thanks for coming to get me.”
“No problem.” I kept my focus on the road ahead as I asked, “There a reason why you’re so anxious and your date couldn’t bring you home?”
“Let’s just say things didn’t work out.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I’m not.” She glanced over at me with a grimace. “He ended up being a jerk.”
I can’t say that I was all that disappointed that Elsie’s date didn’t go well.
I could tell by looking at him that the guy was a douchebag, and I didn’t want him anywhere near Else.
Hell, I didn’t want any guy around her. She was my true north.
The light that guided me through the darkest shadows.
The calm to my chaos. The place my mind went to whenever I needed to regain control.
And I would do anything in my power to keep her out of harm’s way.
She was all I could think about, and I wanted to make her mine.
But I loved her too much for that.
Elsie deserved someone who could give her the world—not a world of disappointment and heartbreak. She’d had enough of that to last a lifetime, and I refused to give her any more.
We were almost back to the clubhouse when Elsie announced, “You know, we still haven’t talked about the other night.”
“That’s because there’s nothing to talk about.”
“Of course, you’d say that.” She turned to face me as she said, “You never want to talk about anything.”
“That’s not true,” I argued. “I’ll talk about whatever you want.”
“Okay, then tell me what you were doing at the club the other night.”
“I was just having a drink.”
“You drove all the way into the city for a drink?”
“It wasn’t exactly planned... I just needed to get away for a while.”
Her eyes narrowed as she pushed, “You weren’t wearing your cut.”
“No, I wasn’t.”
“You’re being intentionally vague.”
“I answered your questions. What else do you want from me?”
“Nothing.” She turned and stared out the window. “I’m done wanting anything from you.”
We pulled up to the clubhouse, and I’d barely gotten parked when Elsie opened her door and jumped out.
I didn’t move. I just sat there watching as she headed inside the clubhouse.
Eventually, I got out of the truck and started after her.
I was just about to reach for the door when Stitch appeared out of the darkness.
There was no missing the surprise in my voice when I asked, “Hey, Pop. Where’d you come from? ”
“I was out in my truck when you and Elsie pulled up.” He gave me one of his looks as he said, “Figured you two might need a minute.”
“Nah, not so much.”
“Maybe if you’d pull your head out of your ass?”
“Maybe.” I shrugged. “I’m just trying to do right by Elsie.”
“Holding back isn’t doing right by her.”
“We both know she deserves better than me.”
“That’s bullshit. That girl would be lucky to have you.”
“I wish I could believe that.”
“You’re the only one who doesn’t.” His brows furrowed, and his tone grew stern. “You gotta stop thinking you’re not enough, son. You’re more than enough. You always have been.”
Before I could open my mouth, he reached out and pulled me against him, hugging me briefly.
Then, without saying anything more, he turned and headed inside the clubhouse.
That was Stitch. The man who had found me all those years ago at the diner had turned into the father I never really had and the one I so desperately needed.
He was a man who didn’t waste words. If he said them, he meant them.
I considered his words, and deep down, I knew he was right.
I was the only one standing in the way of what I wanted, and I was making a real fucking mess of things.
Elsie was going on actual dates, seeing and talking to other men, and more importantly, she was growing more and more frustrated with me.
My window of opportunity with her was closing, and that rattled me.
It was at that moment that I realized my fear of losing her was stronger than my fear of not being good enough. It was that fear that had me charging into that clubhouse and down the hall to Elsie’s room.
When I rounded the corner, I spotted her talking with Lace. I called out to her, and she didn’t look pleased to see me. She whispered something to Lacy, and as soon as she turned to leave, Elsie started walking towards me and snapped, “What do you want, Wyatt?”
“Just a second to talk.”
“I gave you a chance to talk.” The fire in her eyes nearly knocked me on my ass as she sassed, “And you had nothing to say.”
“You asked me crap about what happened with the asshole at the club... Ask what you really want to ask.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Yes, you do,” I pushed. “Do it. Ask the question you’ve been wanting to ask.”
The blood drained from her face, and for a moment, I thought she was going to chicken out. After what seemed like an eternity, she finally mustered the courage to the courage to ask, "Do you like me?”
"You know I do.” Her back stiffened when I added, “That's not the question."
"O-kay.” She swallowed hard, then continued, "How about... have you ever thought about us being together? Not as friends, but as something more."
“I have.” She looked up at me with doe eyes, so full of love and hope, and all my walls started crumbling around me. I lifted my hand to her face, cupping her cheek as I trailed my thumb across her lower lip. “I think about it all the time.”
Unable to resist the temptation any longer, I gently pressed my mouth against hers, feeling my world rock beneath me. I wasn’t prepared for the simple touch of her lips to set me on fire, and if the little whimper that escaped her lips was any indication, she wasn’t expecting it either.
Her soft, delectable lips called out to me, begging to be devoured. Our tongues met, and I became instantly addicted to her intoxicating taste. She wound her arms around my neck, and her fingers tangled in my hair as she inched even closer.
My hands drifted down her back and over the curves of her ass.
Damn. I couldn’t believe how incredible she felt in my arms. We were both becoming lost in the moment when Elsie placed her hands on my chest and stepped back, breaking our embrace.
A light blush crept over her face as she looked up at me and whispered, “I have to go.”
Before I could stop her, she turned and rushed down the hall, quickly disappearing into her room.
I didn’t move.
I couldn’t.
I needed to get my manhood in check before I could take a fucking step. It wasn’t easy. That fucking kiss was everything I knew it would be, and it left me wanting more—much more. It’s one of the many reasons why I’d waited so long to do it. Now that I had, there was no going back.
With newfound determination, I followed after her.