"Where would we go?" I heard myself ask.
///
"Anywhere, everywhere."
I shook my head again. "My bag is upstairs. My car is here."
"Yeah . . . but you want change. That's the old you. Climb on, and we'll find the new Lila Kate Carter."
I stood there. My head was telling me how ridiculous this was and that I needed to march inside and slam the door in his face, but my feet began moving toward him. I had nothing but the clothes I was wearing and the purse on my shoulder. I stopped beside his bike and he put the helmet on my head. Then his hand closed around mine. "Get on."
And I did.
Cruz Kerrington
SOMETIMES YOU DO shit and you don't think it through. That's what got me here. I had just reacted. Now I had Lila Kate on my bike headed west to New Orleans. Once her daddy found out, I was damn sure I'd need to be put in protective custody. Grant Carter was going to kill me. But until then, I was going to be there while Lila Kate liberated her sweet little uptight ass.
At least she'd loosen up. I didn't want her to start dancing on bars topless or anything, but this was a step in the right direction. Just leaving all her shit. No explanation. Just driving out of there. I didn't think she'd do it. I hadn't been able to sleep. I'd gotten up at three and went outside with a backpack that held a change of clothes and a toothbrush then climbed on and drove off.
But dammit they'd just let her take off on her own. I didn't give one fuck that she was a grown woman. She was so sheltered that it didn't matter how old she was. I loved the fact she wanted to spread her wings some. She just needed a little guidance. That's why I was here. Grant should be thanking me. He wouldn't. He'd likely try to kill me.
We'd be in New Orleans by the time everyone woke up and realized she was gone. I'd have her call her momma, and I'd call Nate and tell him. I wasn't going to let everyone worry.
I pulled into a Wal-Mart parking lot and drove her up to the door before cutting the engine. "This is the best we'll find this early. Get some jeans and closed toed shoes. Change and come on back out."
She didn't move. "You want me to go in there and buy jeans and shoes?"
I turned around and pulled her helmet off. "You want to ride all the way to New Orleans dressed in those shorts and a pair of sandals?"
She looked down at her bare legs then lifted her eyes back to me. "I guess that's a bad idea?" It sounded like a question.
I nodded.
With a sigh, she got off the bike. "I should have at least got some of my things."
"Did you have jeans and boots packed?" I asked her, and she shook her head. "Didn't think so."
She walked inside, and I tried not to admire her ass. That was not what this was about. I'd been drunk when I kissed her. I wasn't going to play with her emotions. I cared too much about her to just make her one of the girls I'd fucked. Lila deserved romance. I didn't do romance.
I did ropes, and handcuffs, and strippers. That was my speed. Girls who knew I liked some rough play, and they wanted it too. Lila was breakable. Definitely, not my speed.
I thought about calling Nate now and decided not to. They were asleep. No need to let them all know I'd run off with Lila just yet. They'd know soon enough. She'd get her fucking adventure. Then she'd come back home safely.
Holy fuck.
I hadn't told her to find the tightest pair of jeans available and put them on. Lila Kate walked back to the bike. She was wearing black fake leather boots, but that didn't matter because the tight ass jeans she had on was all anyone could see. That and the equally tight tank top she was now wearing. It said "Speed" on the front and looked ripped at the neckline to show off her cleavage.
"What the hell?" I asked.
She grinned. "I think I look like a biker now."
She looked like she was going to get me in a damn fight. "Jesus," I muttered then handed her the helmet. She slid it on and then climbed on the back. "It's the best they had," she explained.
"What, they didn't have your size clothing?" I shot back.
"This is my size!"
"It looks a few sizes too small," I argued.
"It's supposed to be tight."
"Where are your other clothes?" I asked.
"I left them in the dressing room. Those where the old Lila Kate."
I didn't say any more. This adventure was what Lila Kate wanted to do. She was right, she was nothing like the old Lila. Nothing like her at all.
I pulled back onto the road and headed toward I-10. We needed to get some road behind us. Lila's arms were wrapped around me and her body wasn't pressed to my back exactly, but it was close. Close enough for me to feel it. Damn, I had to think about something else. This was about me getting the hell away from the club and all the responsibilities my dad wanted to throw at me. It was also about making sure Lila Kate came back alive.