“Do you know that I love you, babe?” he asked, against my hand.
“I do, Luke. I’m just confused.”
“I know, baby. I know.”
I wasn’t even sure I wanted to know all the details anymore. It was confusing enough as it was. If my brain consumed anymore new information, I was afraid it might explode. Red had told me so much already.
“I didn’t want to take the job,” Luke said out of nowhere. I turned in my seat to look at him, but he wouldn’t meet my eyes. I knew he was talking about me. “I had just become the Sergeant at Arms of the club and this was my first big job. My Pops was still acting as President, but from an undisclosed location. Most people thought I was taking over the club, but I was just training. This was my opportunity to prove myself. Everyone knew my plan was to take the club in a new direction. My Pops was not very happy about my intentions, but he said if I was smart enough and loyal enough, I would have the gavel one day and I could do with it what I chose. You were a test. He wanted to make sure I could keep my dick in my pants and my head in the game. Frankie had been out bad with the club for five years, but we had kept an eye on him to make sure he didn’t fuck up. He was in lock-up, doing time for grand larceny, so we didn’t have to worry about him too much. About a month before he was released was when I got the job. You were in college at The University of Tennessee. I still remember the first time I laid eyes on you.” He paused to turn to me and smile. I couldn’t help it. I smiled back, even though I was sure I looked like I was about to lose it.
“My aunt, Lori, lived in Tennessee, and I had moved up there with her. It was late one afternoon, and I was riding to the college to get a copy of your schedule. Aunt Lori is a Tennessee Alumni and had rode with me to show me around the campus. She thought I was gonna attend the University. I remember she was talking my head off, pointing out all the buildings and telling me stories when I saw you walk out of the main building. You were wearing a yellow dress and looked like you belonged on a fucking movie set, not on the campus of a college. I wanted to back out. I wanted to call Pops and tell him I couldn’t do it. From the very first time I laid eyes on you, Dallas, I knew that you were mine.”
Well, fuck me. If that wasn’t the most romantic thing I had ever heard in my life, then I didn’t know what was. Who gives a shit that he was getting paid? I felt like I had melted into the passenger seat beside him. I was such a sap.
“Aunt Lori had to call my name a couple of times to get me to snap outta it. I followed you every day after that. If I couldn’t be there, I made sure someone I trusted was. I had to come back to Hattiesburg for a few months over the next summer and it drove me crazy to think you were there partying and having fun and wearing skimpy clothes and I couldn’t see you.”
Whoa. I couldn’t help it. It thrilled me to know Luke was jealous over me.
“After that night in the bar, I knew I couldn’t let you go. I’m not gonna lie, Dallas, I took you home with me because I had no choice. Frankie would have done everything in his power to hurt you. The club didn’t need the heat, but when you cried for me to lay with you and I wrapped you in my arms, you had me.” Tears were threatening to pour down my face. There it was. I had it. The truth had finally came out, and for some reason, it absolutely thrilled me.
“Everyone told me I was making a mistake. They thought I had let you go. When I became President, Regg became your official guardian and it almost killed me. I went two years without seeing you. I avoided you every chance I had. Then I went to the bar and there you were.”
The tears were now freely flowing down my face. We had arrived at my house and was sitting outside the gate. Luke put the car in park and turned to me, placing both hands on the side of my face, wiping my tears with his thumbs.
“I love you, Dallas. I have lied to you and hurt you and allowed others to hurt you. I will devote my whole life to making you happy, if you will give me that chance.”
My heart was beating hard, my breath was caught in my throat and my mind was screaming at me, telling me that this was what I wanted.
“I love you too, Luke. I’m sorry for being such a bitch. I want to try.” And try I would. I wasn’t sure if I could be an ol’ Lady. I wasn’t sure that was the life I wanted to live, but I was happy with Luke. And with Luke came the club. I owed it to myself to at least try. Luke was staring at me, his eyes full of love and his smile stretching across his face. I felt like I should say something, so I did, “I changed the code.”
Luke smirked and planted a light kiss on my nose, then whispered, “I know.”