The Resistance(95)
“To me, things weren’t so bad the first go round, but I’ll take this second chance… maybe it’s our fifth at this point. I’ve lost count and honestly, I don’t want to keep track.” I know how I want this night to end and I think I know how he feels, so I stand and say, “Wish me luck.”
“You don’t need luck. You’ve got everything you need already.”
“Using my advice against me, huh?”
“Whatever it takes to get you to see the light.”
“You don’t play fair, Trace.”
“It’s not about fair or unfair, right or wrong. It’s only about love. Now go get yours before someone else does.”
Not wasting another minute, I cross the room. Dalton’s leaning on the bar with one arm, his head tilted down. When he sees me, he stands upright, his eyes on me as if he can’t resist the temptation. I place my hand on the bar top, getting the bartender’s attention, and order, “An Old-Fashioned with extra orange please.”
“Coming right up,” the bartender replies.
Angling closer, Dalton says, “Rules are made to be broken, but laws, breaking laws can get you into a lot of trouble. Hate to be a dick, but I’ll need to see your ID.”
Starting over.
I giggle, remembering how a chance encounter has turned my world upside down… and after having time apart, I realize I wouldn’t change anything about the start of us. So I play along, and ask, “Are you being serious?”
He takes my hand just as the bartender sets my drink down. Taking a step closer, Dalton says, “You know, expectations can be a tricky thing. You think you know what’s going to happen and then something else does entirely, something out of blue. You don’t see it in that moment, but later, when you have time to reflect, you realize it was planned all along.”
I lean in closer, feeling that connection that binds our hearts, strengthen. “Divine intervention?” I ask, “Fate? Kismet? Destiny?”
“That’s the funny thing,” he says, keeping his voice low, just for my ears alone. “We try to label it to make ourselves feel less crazy for not being able to predict the outcome. But while we’re busy trying to define it, we miss the magic.” He closes the gap, his lips to my temple comforting to me, then he whispers, “I don’t want to miss the magic. I want you. Any part you’re willing to share with me, I’ll take. If time and distance is what you need, I won’t like it, but I can give you that. I love you, Angel.”
Right then and there—that’s when I knew I would stay. I knew I could never walk away from him again. I wrap my arms around his neck and close my eyes. Resting my forehead on his shoulder, I inhale, his scent making me whole again as every amazing memory I’ve been fortunate enough to share with him comes rushing back.
“I love you, Jack Dalton.”
Leaning back to look me in the eyes, he asks, “What about Johnny Outlaw? Can you learn to love him too?”
“What’s not to love about a rocker with a bad temper, sexy tattoos and a hot ass?”
With a chuckle, he wraps his arm around my waist and brings me close to kiss me, but stops and says, “I knew you couldn’t resist me.”
“I never could,” I say, touching my fingertips to his cheek. He shaved, but I still feel his five o’clock shadow.
His hands comfort me as he holds my face and I feel it, our connection stronger than it ever was before. He whispers, “I’m going to kiss you.”
“You’re warning me?”
“No, I’m making you a promise. The next time I kiss you, it’s gonna be the first kiss of our forever.”
I take in a trembling breath, his words filling my soul. I release it and say, “Dalton?”
His eyes have never been more green than they are right now. “Yeah?”
“Kiss me now.”
His lips press firmly against mine and when my mouth opens, we come together—warmth, love, and passion engulfing us. My eyes stay closed after our lips part, wanting to live in this dream world with him forever.
“Open your eyes, Angel.”
When I do, he says, “I thought Cory’s death would destroy me, but I realized it didn’t. Waking up without you did. Cory will always remain in the music, a part of me as my brother, but you, you’re my soul and I don’t want to live another day without you. Marry me.”
“There’s no fun in hard truths, so I always choose the dare.” ~Johnny Outlaw
A jet is on stand-by. We’re Vegas bound. No luggage or doubts holding us back. We leave straight from Tracy’s reception. As we take off into the night sky, I ask, “When did you book the jet?”