“Right. I’m having a surprise engagement party for Shelby this weekend. Gonna propose.”
“Where at?” I ask.
He swirls the bourbon in his glass. “Sanchez’s place. He offered.”
At the name of the location, my jaw clenches. A part of me thrilled and a part of me is cursing.
Luisa.
Will she be there? Hope inside me surges, but just as quickly I tamp it back down. Seeing her again could be really bad. How much longer will I be able to resist seeking her out? Having her in close proximity is just throwing gasoline on the flames of that temptation.
I take a long pull off my bottle. “Okay.”
Prez and Zig start talking about the run to El Paso. I listen, but a part of me is tuned out, with nothing but thoughts of Luisa on my brain.
CHAPTER TWO
Luisa—
My thumb and finger rub across the satin fabric of the dark burgundy nightgown hanging on the display. “It’s pretty, isn’t it?” I murmur to Carmen.
“It’s the color of your bridesmaid dress. The one you said Blue liked,” she teases me.
I roll my eyes. “Stop.”
“Maybe you should get it. There’s always hope you’ll see him again.” She gives me a wink.
I haven’t told her I’ve texted him repeatedly since I saw him three days ago. I haven’t even told her I’ve got his number. I’m half afraid if my friends found out, they’d grab my phone and delete it.
She tugs my arm. “Come on. The bra I’m looking for is on the back wall.”
I’ve never been in this shop before, but Carmen has. She finds what she’s looking for, and we go to the register.
Glancing around, I decide I like this place with its pink and cream color scheme. Everything is satin and lace and feminine. While the salesgirl rings up Carmen’s selection, I stroll over to a display of perfumes and pick one up, putting it to my nose. It’s light and smells fresh and fruity like grapefruit.
A hand reaches past me and grabs one of the pretty boxes off the glass shelf.
I turn and find Carmen grinning. “I’m getting this for your birthday.”
“My birthday was last month, and you already got me something. This cute little clutch.” I hold it up.
“Do you like this scent?” she asks, ignoring my comment.
“I love it, but you know my father doesn’t let me wear perfume.”
“You’re eighteen now, Luisa. You need to rebel a little.” She sprays me with the tester, then giggles and carries the box to the register. “Add this to my order, please, and put it in a separate bag.”
Ten minutes later, we emerge from the shop, the little pale-pink striped bag swinging from my fingers. I’m happy. It’s a sunny day, and my best friend in the world just bought me my very first bottle of perfume.
“Let’s walk down to the diner and get a milkshake,” Carmen suggests.
“Sounds good.” We turn to head that way when a distant sound carries to us, getting louder by the second. The roar of Harley engines reverberates off every building in the old downtown section of Main Street as a dozen of them roll past us.
The Saint’s Outlaws.
I spot Blue. I’ve learned to identify his bike enough to pick him out of the pack. He’s wearing mirrored sunglasses, and I can’t see his eyes, but I notice his head turn in my direction as he passes, and he gives a little twist to his throttle, revving his engine.
Is that a sign, some kind of signal to me letting me know he sees me? My joy multiplies just at the sight of him. They talk about puppy love, but that’s not what this is. Blue may be my first kiss, but he’s so much more. To me, he’s become a symbol of the hope that somehow, I won’t have to go through with the arranged relationship my father has planned for me.
