But if she were wrong…
That thought made her grin ear-to-ear. She loved him back. All of her. Mind and heart. She couldn’t imagine going another day without him in her life. She loved him enough to brave her parents in a few weeks. How would they react to Vincent’s leather and tattoos? What would her father say once he learned Vincent was an officer with the Sons of Odin?
The scene played out in her mind. After the introductions were made and they sat down at the dinner table together, her father would casually ask Vincent what he did for a living. Normal conversation for men, right? Vincent would clear his throat, stare at her, then answer honestly. Because that’s the kind of man he was.
She gripped her steering wheel tighter. Maybe she should ask Vincent not to say anything the first time he met her parents. Not on a holiday, and not with her welcoming Dustin as her brother. It would overshadow the happy occasion too much. Perhaps she should call her parents tomorrow and confess everything, just get it out of the way. If they weren’t interested in meeting him, at least Tina would have spared everyone an uncomfortable situation, including herself. But how would Vincent take that? Surely he’d understand…
Fifteen minutes later she turned into the Sons of Odin lot. She parked near the shop. The noise coming from the clubhouse surprised her as she stepped out of her SUV. Since she’d reconnected with Vincent, things had been very quiet there. Did the business Vincent referenced earlier have anything to do with a wild party? Laughter and women screaming playfully filled the air around her—and a Jimi Hendrix tune. She eyeballed Vincent as he approached.
“Seems everyone is awake tonight.”
“Yeah,” he said, snaking his arm around her waist. “Before we head inside, I need to discuss a couple of things with you.”
She turned so she could see his face. “Is everything okay?”
“Some bad shit happened tonight. That’s all I can say. The alcohol and strippers are therapeutic, help the guys get through whatever emotional challenges they have.”
“I thought a session with a reputable psychologist and antidepressants were the usual treatments of choice.”
Vincent let out a small chuckle. “There’s nothing normal about my Brothers. I just wanted to give you a heads-up before we opened the door. You might not approve of the extracurricular activities.”
“I think I can handle it.”
“Good,” he said. “Which brings me to the second point. I’d like to introduce you as my girlfriend tonight. I know you’ve met several of the old ladies before through Lily, but it’s different to be recognized officially.”
Tina didn’t know what to say. It definitely suggested he meant what he said earlier. Love changed the dynamics of their relationship, especially for him. Once a 1%er fell in love, his code of honor demanded he claim her as his own so nobody would disrespect her. Tina would be off limits wherever they went, patched as an old lady or not.
Unlike her best friend, Lily, Tina had partied with outlaws many times in the past. She understood The Life, respected it for the most part. Some clubs did bad things, but from what she knew of the Sons of Odin, they lived by a stricter creed.
“You’re not saying anything, Tina.” He grabbed her hand and lifted it to his mouth. Butterfly kisses tickled her knuckles.
“You caught me off guard.”
“I never want you to feel uncomfortable.” He traced her jawline with his thumb. “You fought like hell to get inside here.” He held his fist over his heart. “Didn’t expect it to happen so fast?”
“I-I didn’t expect it at all.” There; her lack of emotional confidence where Vincent was concerned could no longer remain a secret.
Oh, she knew how to ride him hard and suck him off so he’d forget other women. But sexual compatibility didn’t mean shit if their hearts weren’t aligned. Tina wanted more out of life now, more from this relationship.
“I love you,” he said.
Tina reached for his soft, windblown hair. “You’ve outdone yourself, Vincent. Now that’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me.” She stood on her toes and gave him a tender kiss on the lips. “I love you, too.”
He cupped his hand over hers, which rested on his right cheek. “I think I fell in love with you the night we met at Tito’s—all heels and attitude.”
She smiled. “Really?”
“If Lang hadn’t cautioned you against confronting those bikers, I think you would’ve punched the one that grabbed Lily’s ass.”
“Probably,” she agreed. “You might have that man-code thing going on with the Sons of Odin, but best girlfriends have their own code too.”