“Or you’re waiting for Will, and moving across the country would ruin your relationship.”

  “Even if that were true, why would that be such a big deal? It’s not like it matters since I’m getting a degree I can acquire easily around the nation and it’s more affordable here.”

  “True, but you are a bit pathetic when it’s for all the wrong reasons.”

  “I thought you were a fan of Will’s.”

  “I was when he wasn’t playing games with you.”

  I hug her. “Thank you for being a good friend.”

  “No problem, but you can do better than a guy who can’t be around even if he has tons of money.” I hug her, but his money has nothing to do with why I love him.

  Chapter Five

  Will

  I’ve missed the fuck out of my future wife, but I console myself with the fact that soon she’ll be mine. It’s been six months since I’ve seen her, and the torture is unbearable. The only thing that has helped me through it is the knowledge that she loves me the way I love her.

  It’s been difficult to keep my distance, but it’s for the best because I want to flip her over my shoulder and fill her with every inch of me until she understands we’re one forever. We’d crossed the line within seconds in each other’s presence, and now that I’ve had a taste of her, the need to feel her is agonizing.

  Still, at Christmas, I sent her a giant gift and had her guard deliver it to the door while I watched from the safety of my vehicle because I couldn’t risk that she answered the door. The stuffed bear was meant to be a replacement for me while she slept at night. Around the neck was a necklace with a book charm because my Melanie is a bookworm and a future librarian. The angry voicemail she sent me made me smile when she realized the necklace wouldn’t come off. It has a tracker to keep her safe while I’m gone. Yes, she has guards most of the time, but that doesn’t mean shit can’t happen, especially when word gets out that she belongs to me.

  Her birthday is coming soon, and that’s when I’ll ask her to marry me and show her our house. I only need to finish the final touches, which seems to take forever. Every time I get close to finishing, something goes wrong. Uncle Jackson came over and had his inspector come over to inform me that the contractor screwed up the entire electricity in one room, forcing me to tear it apart and rebuild the room and the surrounding hallway. Unable to trust anyone else with my wife’s future home, I took over the project with the help of my cousins, which meant that I couldn’t even steal moments with Melanie. I’ve been working double time since I returned from school. It’s been two damn weeks straight of nonstop work from sunup to sundown.

  ****

  My work is finally done, and today is the big day. The day I’ve waited for—for so damn long that I could weep—but I’ve never been one for tears, even when I was a boy. Today I claim my woman. The past three weeks have been grueling, a test of endurance, patience, and heartache as I stayed away from her a little longer than I wanted to, but things had to be just right, and she hadn’t been eighteen. If I’d even heard her voice I would have cracked, given in to the desire that I’ve held onto for the past four years. My father always said the best things in life required the most sacrifice, and she was the best there could be.

  After a long, cool shower, I wash all the grime off me, but I need a haircut and shave. You’d think I’ve been living in the wilderness instead of the edge of Steeleville, working on our future home. Before the haircut, I need to see my father to straighten some things out. Security opens the gate the moment my SUV pulls up. I give them a nod, getting a strange look from Damon. I can’t read it. The expression is a mix of fear and pride. I don’t like or trust it.

  I enter the clubhouse courtyard where my father is working on his bike. “Pops, we need to talk.” It’s a Texas-hot day, but he doesn’t bother working in the shade. If I didn’t know better, I’d think he had a death wish.

  He stands up, stretching out his long, broad frame and then dusts off his hands, giving me a wide smile. “Hey, boy, it’s good to see you. How are you doing?”

  “Don’t you need a water or something, Pops?”

  “I could go for a beer, but let’s go grab a water because I’m waiting for that gorgeous mother of yours to get her booty over here soon.” He grins like he’s won a prize. They make being in love a freaking breeze. In all the years they’ve been married, I’d only heard them argue a dozen times, but they weren’t even real arguments, and they were about each other’s safety.

  We enter the clubhouse, and he pulls two waters from the cooler behind the bar, tossing me one.

  I twist open the bottle and take a long drink before setting the drink down on the bar.

  “So—you going to tell me what’s going on?”

  I raise my brows, rubbing my hands together. “It’s about that time.” Today’s the annual Steele barbeque, and I’m going to see her for the first time. We can finally have that talk before we celebrate her birthday tomorrow.

  “So you’re going to make your move tomorrow?” my father asks.

  “Damn right, I am. There’s less than a day of waiting left, but there’s also something I want to talk to you about.”

  My father frowns, a sigh falling from his lips. “You’re not ready to take over, are you?”

  “Pops, I was born ready. I don’t know why you ever thought I wasn’t planning to take over. Every single one of the guys follows my lead, and I join in everything we do.”

  “I just figured with college and your past that maybe you had bigger plans.”

  “Pops, what bigger plans? Steeleville is its own entity. The Riders are important to all of us, to the town, to all our families and friends, and to the safety of everyone around. It’s Who. We. Are. I’d like nothing more, and my degree only adds to everything you’ve built.”

  He smiles at me, dusting off his hands again on his pants before pulling me into his arms. “Damn, boy, you’re going to make me cry. Don’t tell your mother,” he says, choking up a little.

  “Too late,” my mother says, coming from the clubhouse doorway with a smirk on her face aimed directly at my father. She turns to me and says, “How are you, my son?” My mother has always had a soft spot for me as her oldest baby boy. Even when I fuck up, she’s on my side, guiding me to fix everything.

  “I’m good, Mother.” It’s not quite the truth, but what can I tell her? Honesty won’t help the situation.

  “You look handsome,” she says, pulling me in for a hug and brushing the top of my hair that is way too damn long. “Although, you need to stop running your hands through your hair.”

  “Yeah, I can’t help it.” I miss the fuck out of Melanie, and it has been brutal avoiding her. Every time I think of Melanie, I want to break every speed limit to get to her. The temptation is excruciating.

  “Well, don’t pull your hair out or you’ll go bald, and I don’t think Melanie would like that very much.” She smiles and pats my cheek. I’d gladly go bald if it was Lanie pulling my hair while screaming my name as she rode my cock. The thought makes my balls ache, which isn’t smart in front of my mother.

  “Well, I’ll see you both later. I still have to prepare for the big day tomorrow.”

  “Good luck, Son. Let us know if you need any help with Beast. He’s not going to be pleased with his baby girl getting a boyfriend.”

  “More like a husband.” My parents’ eyes widen, and a smirk spreads across my father’s face. He shakes his head and pulls my mother into his arms.

  “I wish you the best, Son, and I have your back.”

  “Thanks.” I hop into my SUV and drive off. There is a lot to do, including getting a new haircut for today. My beard has gotten a little scruffy and so long that I could almost be mistaken for my father if it wasn’t for the color and my lack of tats. Pulling up to the only haircutting spot in town, I don’t see Max’s pickup in the lot. Fuck, please don’t tell me he’s not here today. I can’t look like shit before I see Melanie. We haven’t seen each other in months.

  When I park and hop out, Connor smiles as he steps from the same door I’m about to head in. “What’s up, cousin?”

  “Nothing. Is Max in there?”

  “No. Only Chrissy is cutting today.”

  “Fuck.”

  “Come on. Relax. She’s pretty damn good at it.”

  “Is that why you’re grinning from ear to ear?”

  “Nope. Why do you look like shit today? Is it because Melanie’s gotten accepted to UNT?”

  My mouth falls open, and all thoughts of a haircut slip from my mind. “What the fuck do you mean she got accepted to UNT—which UNT?”

  “I don’t know. That’s what my mom said this morning.” There’s a huge difference between the one in College Station and the one in Dallas. Either way, both are from here, but I’d move to Dallas for her. Fuck. My head is pounding in my skull right now. “Before you go losing your shit, you should get cleaned up. Why do you look like shit, anyway?”

  “I’ve been getting our house ready.”

  “Wow, do you think talking to her before this would have helped?” He has a point, but I thought I made myself clear at Christmas when I let her know that I was serious and that I couldn’t just give in. Didn’t her father tell her that I had to stay away?

  “Shut the fuck up. I told her what it was last year, and at Christmas. Everyone knows I’m a man of my word.”

  “Well, then, you better figure out what is going to happen because she has other plans that don’t involve Steeleville and William Steele.” Even though he’s not wrong, I want to cold-cock my cousin in the face.

  “You’re right. I’ll fix this, but first, I have to look presentable.” I push past him and enter the hair salon. “Chrissy, I’m next.”

  “The chair’s waiting, Prez.” I climb into the small salon chair that makes me feel like it’s going to break, so I stretch out my long legs. I close my eyes, trying to figure out how I’m going to fix this with Melanie. There’s no way I can let her leave me. Yes, she can go to college and do shit, but we’re in this together.

  “So, what do you need?” Chrissy asks, standing in front of me. I can feel she’s a little too close, but I suppose that’s how haircuts work. Normally I have Max do it, and he’s close, but he’s a guy and I don’t give a fuck that he’s standing in my personal space. However, Chrissy’s chest is practically in my face. Somehow that shit doesn’t seem right. I tilt my head and move up to give myself a bit of space.

  “I want to look clean cut. Presentable.”

  “For what? You’re hot just the way you are. Rugged, sexy as hell. This scruff and the long look would have any girl ready to be the next first lady around here,” she purrs, rubbing my face while her breasts are nearly kissing my throat.

  “Just do it without the flirting. My dick belongs to someone else, Chrissy. Always has, always will.” I remove her hand from my face, doing my best to keep myself under control. My temper is already on edge. She backs up and finally gets to work. After that, she finishes my haircut and shave without any more flirting, which earns her a proper tip. I leave looking like the gentleman that I hope wins Melanie over—if that’s what she’s looking for because if not, I’ll have to fucking kidnap her sexy ass and tie her to my bed until she realizes that we’re meant to be together. Last year, she was worried I wouldn’t be hers by the time I came back. Now that I’m here, there’s no way in hell I’m letting her escape. I’ve waited too long for her to run scared.

  It’s fine. There’s more than one reason I gave her that charm. It came with a tracker. She can try to run, but I’ll always know where to find my bride.

  Chapter Six

  Melanie

  Tomorrow I turn eighteen, and I’m so excited for it. I’m hoping that’s why Will has ghosted me these past few weeks since he graduated, or has he changed his mind? We haven’t had more than a handful of texts after our kiss. I wished him a happy graduation, but all he said was thank you. Since then, all my messages have been left unread. Beth wanted to take a stroll through town before I had to work and we did a quick bit of shopping at the bookstore and grabbed a cup of coffee. It’s going to be a long day, but all I want to do is see him again.

  I finish my coffee cup and stop to toss it in the trash can. “We really need to go into Dallas and hit up a real club,” Beth says, tossing the rest of her croissant and drink.

  “Yeah, like my dad would let me,” I reminded her. She’s met him so many times already so she should know better.

  She nudges my elbow. “He will when you go off to college.”

  “He wouldn’t let me.” My dad has always taken my safety and that of my family’s extremely seriously so there’s no way he wouldn’t freak out if I was out clubbing so far away from Steeleville where he couldn’t be close enough to rescue me if necessary.

  “No, but what he doesn’t know won’t hurt him.”

  “Somehow, I’m sure he’d know.” If one of my siblings doesn’t have tabs on me, one of the prospects is looking out for my safety. Honestly, having heard horror stories from the past, I don’t mind being protected, but I do wonder what it would be like to let loose every once in a while.

  “What’s it like having such nosy parents?” Beth’s family abandoned her a long time ago. They don’t give a shit what she does and she doesn’t either. My parents don’t care for the freedom she has or her influence on me, but they trust my judgement.

  “I love them even if it’s sometimes suffocating.” I roll my eyes and keep moving down the street. My heart nearly bursts from my chest when I spot a familiar vehicle.

  “Isn’t that Will’s SUV?” my bestie, Beth, says. I do my best to feign ignorance.

  “Is that his ride?” I question, squinting my eyes even though my vision is perfect and the sun is behind us. I miss him, but he’s been back for almost three whole weeks and hasn’t bothered to see me. Not once has he come to the house to stop by, and he’s ignored my messages.

  I already know he has a no-call policy because he needed to focus on school and I was a sensual distraction. I understood it because there were nights when my body wouldn’t sleep when I thought of his voice saying my name with such lust. It still drives me insane.

  She nudges me with her shoulder, smirking. “Please. We’ve known him for years. Of course it is—look at the plates.”

  “Whatever. So he’s back in town. Big deal. I wonder how long he’s been here because he hasn’t visited me, and he graduated three weeks ago.” I hold my head up high because that’s what I was taught.

  “Well, that’s why they’re having a barbeque—to celebrate his graduation. He must be getting a haircut to look good for someone.” She bumps me with her elbow.

  “Whatever,” I answer with a blush on my face. When we pass by the shop window, we sneakily steal a peek. He’s there, all right. The man I’ve had a crush on since I was like thirteen. The man who promised me the world and his fidelity while telling me to be a good girl has Chrissy and her ample breasts in his face, getting a full view and loving the show. She’s holding his face, and then he closes his eyes and holds her hand. I swallow hard, attempting to control the bile rising in my throat.

  “That bitch has her hands on your man.”

  With all my strength, I keep my tone level. “He was never mine and never will be. He’s obviously enjoying his time with the local doorknob.”

  “Damn, girl. Let it out,” she says with a giggle.

  I turn and glare at her. “I’m starting to think you like my misery.”

  She hugs me. “Come on girl, you know I love you, but I’m tired of seeing you mope around for a man that hasn’t been around just because he told you to stay put like a damn dog. I like that fire.”

  “It’s cool. I guess I should stop turning guys down then.”

  “Yeah, especially Damon, who can’t keep his eyes off you.” Her head tilts upward, and I realize that Damon isn’t more than fifteen feet ahead. He must be on my babysitting duty this morning. Beth drags us past the salon and right in front of Will’s large, sleek SUV. I wonder if he fucks that whore in there. My chest aches, thinking about it.

  “Good morning, Damon,” Beth says, tossing him a wink. “So Mel could use a date.” My mouth falls open, shocked that she’s so damn bold. I’m sure my face is comically red.

  “I’m available on Tuesday,” he says, smiling at me with all that charm he brings every time I see him. Except every time he’s watched over me, I’ve made it clear that I’m not up for dating.

  “What a coincidence—so is Mel,” Beth cheers. I want to kick her and say I can’t, but then I see my reflection in Will’s SUV, and I don’t deny her interference.

  “Well, it sounds like a date,” Damon says. “I’ll see you then.” Beth takes my arm and leads me away before I can change my mind and tell him I’m not available for dating. Great. He’s going to think I like him more than I do. He’s handsome and buff, but my fragile heart isn’t interested in dating even though I’m suffering.

  “That’s what I’m talking about. Well, how about we go pick a dress? Do you want to bring him to the barbeque?” Beth wags her brows up and down, grinning like a fool.

  I look back at the salon, feeling like my chest is about to explode. “Do you think he’s going to bring Chrissy?” My voice shakes and gives me away. She doesn’t need to ask who because there’s only one person I could be talking about.

  Beth grips my shoulders and hugs me. “No way. He’d be stupid to do that. She’s bedded like half the guys in town. It would be stupid to think that he’d be proud to bring her around his mother.” Yes. Mrs. Steele doesn’t like Chrissy at all. She gets her hair done by Maria, the other female stylist in town.

  As we walk back to my car, I fight back the tears. My phone buzzes and it’s my mother, reminding me about the barbeque today and that I promised to help Penny at the bakery. “I have to go to the bakery so that everything is ready for today.”

  “I can go with you.”

 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12