"Rocked your world."
She smirked. "That you did, big man. I don't think it was smart."
He ran his fingers through her hair. "Why not?"
"Because it confuses everything. I was trying to draw lines."
His heart sank. "Draw lines? Is that what you want?"
"Isn't it what you want?" she countered, her voice so soft he had to strain to hear her.
"Did I say that?" He tucked his pointer finger beneath her chin and forced her to look at him.
"That day after we first kissed you left without a word," she said with a shrug.
"I wrote a note."
"Yes, and we never spoke about it again. I thought maybe you regretted it."
"This shit I'm knee deep in has had me all twisted up and distracted. If I had thought for one second you doubted me … " He trailed off sucking in a deep breath. "I want everything you're willing to give. I'm trying like hell to pace myself. Neither of us has had a real relationship in a long time, and I know you're not fully healed yet. I can't be a rebound."
She blinked up at him owlishly. He cursed the way he'd put himself out there.
"You want me?" she whispered.
"Sprite, if you haven't realized this by now, I already have you. What I want is more."
"I-I don't."
"So you'll buy a house for me, decorate, help me raise my child, and be placed on my bank account, but won't try for a relationship?"
"I didn't have a choice there. You sprang that on me."
"You always have a choice, Sprite."
She narrowed her eyes. "I wanted to help you."
"Why?"
"Because you needed me."
"Why did that matter?"
She pursed her lips.
"Go ahead, say it."
"Because I care about you."
"And I care about you. We'll go at snail's pace. But I'll be kissing those lips more, and if you try to pull back, I'm going to remind you of all the reasons why the risk is worth it."
"You came straight to me?"
"Drove the entire trip through Mother Nature's temper tantrum and made the prospects wait in the van."
"Oh no. That's awful, Snake."
He laughed. "There's the sweet girl I left behind."
§
Estelle
Es scanned the crowded club, searching for a familiar face. When she came up empty, her spirits sank. She's not going to come.
"What's going on with you tonight?" Kali asked.
"I invited my sister-in-law here tonight. I thought if she came out and saw me on the job it might smooth things over."
Kali sighed. "Honey, when you throw in with the Wild Ones, there are people you'll lose because they don't understand."
"It shouldn't be that way, Kal," Es said, refusing to give up her best friend or her … man? Boyfriend sounded too silly as old as they were.
"No, but if wishes were fishes, the world would be an ocean."
"You're not helping."
"What? You're nicer than me extending that olive branch. You screw me over, and I might forgive, but I won't forget." She shook her head. "That's how you get screwed repeatedly, and unless you're my man, I'm not about that life."
"She's not just anyone. This woman saved my life a million times over and refused to give up on me when the rest of the world turned their back or tried to get their pound of flesh."
"The real test comes when you no longer do the things they expect of you. Or can no longer do the things they want you to. If they stick around, the friendship is true. If they jump ship, you're better off seeing them for who they've always been. They save you the trouble of removing them from your life."
"Jesus, Kal. Is it all so black and white with you?" Es asked.
"Once you're betrayed enough, you grow a thick skin and learn to see the signs on the wall for what they are. Good-byes are never easy. But there comes a point where hardening your heart becomes self-preservation. This world and the selfish people in it can break you down and drain you dry. You have to find that balance between understanding and flexibility and being a naïve doormat."
"I'm not a doormat."
"Never said you were. The fact is, sometimes you have to remind others of that fact and let the pieces fall where they may. For your sake, I hope she shows up tonight. But if she doesn't, think about what that says and remember accepting any kind of treatment sends a message that it's okay to treat you with disrespect. I can tell you now your man won't be having that, and you do not want him to be the one to check her. He's not as nice as you or me."
Despite her harsh words, it felt good to have people in her corner. The year had been lonely for so many reasons. Snake came with a ready-made family who accepted her as she was, which was a rarity.
"Hey, Kal, can we get another bucket over here?" Stryker called.
"Sure thing, honey," Kal cooed. She was a master at making every person she came into contact with feel like they were the only one who mattered. Es envied her natural charisma. She also recognized a wealth of pain lay hidden beneath her easygoing façade.
"I think your friend is showing her true colors," Kali said as she tossed a couple of beers in a bucket and walked over to the rowdy table full of bikers Es didn't recognize from the club.
Her heart raced as she spotted her friend walking through the door with Todd at her side. She grinned and waved. Jolene gave her a small smile and an answering wave. She wasn't comfortable, but her presence spoke volumes. They took a seat in front of her by the bar.
"You came," Es exclaimed.
"Of course we did. Had to check out the place where my little sister was working," Todd said with a playful wink.
Jole met her gaze. "You called me."
"I didn't like the way we left things," Es replied.
"Me either. I shouldn't have been so judgmental. But I was shocked, and I think … hurt. I felt like you were replacing me."
"I could never do that. There's only one Jolene Noll. The one who's been my best friend for a long as I can remember. The keeper of secrets who loved me when I didn't love myself. The things we've been through are ones no one else could understand. You're precious to me." Es reached her hand across the counter, and Jole squeezed it.
"Now what can I get you? You've yet to see me in action you know," Es said.
"A Tom Collins for me. Jo?" Todd said.
"Surprise me."
"A lemon drop martini I think," Es said.
She stepped away to make their drinks feeling lighter than she had in the past few days. Snake was a bundle of raw nerves as he met with the lawyer, researched the Miles', and worked on a point of contact. It pained him knowing where his daughter was and not being able to get her. The bidding war on the house didn't help. He'd fallen in love with the two story red brick home with its wraparound front porch, large yard, and deck. It was a beautiful home just waiting to be filled by a family. The fact that St. Agnes was in walking distance added to its appeal.
"What have I missed?" Jole asked as Es returned from delivering a fresh round of drinks to the group seated on the opposite side of the bar.
"Nothing much. Work's pretty much taken the place of schooling. I love it here. There are always new people with interesting stories."
"And your beau?"
Es snickered at the world beau. "Good. Don't know if that's the title I'd give him just yet."
"Hmm. I would," Jole said swirling her drink.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Es asked.
"His eyes said a lot. The intensity was almost alarming."
"Eh, he's my support," Es replied in an attempt to downplay the relationship they had yet to define. "What've I missed on your end?"
"Not much, the kids miss you and told us to invite you over for dinner soon," Todd said.
"I'd like that. Next Sunday maybe?"
"Perfect," Jole agreed.
Her phone buzzed. "Excuse me a second," she said, stepping off to the side. Normally cell phones were frowned on, but Kal knew all about the house hunting. She saw the agent's name flash on the screen.
"Hello," she answered, moving to the corner of the bar.
"Ms. Noll?"
"Yes."
"They've accepted your bid! Congratulations, you and Mr. Kolton are home owners."
"Oh, that is excellent news!" she gushed.
"We'll meet up tomorrow at say noon to finalize everything."
"I'll be there. Thank you again, Martha." Finally, some good news.
§
She left the bar just after three and made a quick stop at the twenty-four-hour drugstore before heading to the clubhouse. It was a standard practice she called Snake once she got home after work. Parking her car, she stepped out, amazed at how things had changed since she first came here. Grabbing her purse, she climbed out and rushed to the door, riding high on the good news. She knocked and smiled up at the peephole.