“Sure.”
“These trips out of town that you’ve been making…”
“Yeah?”
“Is that just business as usual? I just wondered.”
“Look, I can’t really talk about the club’s business, but no, this is some extra stuff I’ve been doing.”
“Why? It seems like it’s always you who has to go. I’ve seen the rest of the club around town when you leave. And there are always guys down at the Saints Garage.”
“I have been making all the trips.”
“Why?”
“It earns me extra money.”
“Why do you need extra money?”
“This house costs money, babe.”
“So, I’m the reason?”
“Partly.”
“What does that mean?”
His phone goes off, and he glances at it, then stands. “I’ve got to go.”
“Already? I just got here.”
“I shouldn’t be long. Wait for me, okay?”
“All alone?”
“Paint something. I should be back in a couple of hours.”
“Hours?” I come to my feet.
He takes my upper arms in his hands and pulls me in for a kiss. “I’ll be back. I promise. When I come through that door, you better be naked in that bed waiting for me.”
“We’ll see.” I’m pissed he’s leaving, and he realizes it.
He grabs my face in his hands and bends me backward with a passionate kiss. “I’ll make it up to you, baby.” He waggles his brows, smacks my ass, and turns and leaves out the door.
A moment later, I hear his bike fire up and roar down the street, the sound fading in the distance until quiet envelopes me.
I look at the box, then notice a stack of canvases leaning against the wall.
I may be alone, but I’m so excited to paint something.
****
Blue—
It’s 4am when I roll up the driveway at the Mesilla house. I’m pissed I was taken away for so long, and the entire time all I could think of was Luisa here waiting for me.
When I come through the door, the house is quiet. I flick on a lamp and spot a trail of clothing leading toward the bedroom. Following, I see her curvy shape under the sheet in the blue hazy moonlight streaming in the window.
