Bailey grabs Joker's hand as we head up the stairs. “Come on, Bailey Bee. Now, whatever you don’t like, we can change tomorrow. I can also have your room painted any color you'd like as well. Now, this is your room, so why don’t youopen the door?”
Joker steps back, taking my hand as Bailey looks back at us, and I nod my head, smiling at her. She opens the door, walks in, and lets out a gasp. We walk in behind her; the bedroom is beautiful. White walls with a fluffy black rug and a massive four-poster bed, a walk-in closet and a bathroom. There is a desk with a laptop on it as well. I swear, Joker thought of everything.
“Joker, this is amazing.”
“Yeah, well, I might have given the prospects a list of things I want for her. I just want to make sure she’s comfortable living here with us and that Bailey has everything she needs.”
This man surprises me at every turn. There are so many levels to Joker, and I think I’m only at the surface.
“Is this really all for me?” Bailey says as she runs her hands along the bed.
“Of course it is, Bailey Bee. It's your room now. You can decorate it however you'd like tomorrow when we go to the mall.” Bailey runs over and slams into Joker, hugging him with all her might.
“Thank you, Joker,” Bailey whispers, overcome with emotion.
“Anytime, Bailey Bee, and I mean that. Come down when you're ready.” Joker stands up, and we head for the door. I look back one last time and watch her looking around, smiling, and I know right then and there she’s going to be just fine.
Nine
Madison
I close the door to Bailey's bedroom, and Joker grabs my hand. “Come on, I want to show you something.”
Now he has me curious because with Joker it could mean anything. We walk down the hall until we reach the last bedroom. He pushes the door open, and I automatically know it’s Joker’s room. His masculine scent is all over the place. A king-size bed with black sheets dominates the middle of the room. The plush carpet, with a sitting area in the room’s corner along with a bookshelf lined with books, surprised me. But that’s not what shocks me the most. The longer Ilook around, the more I start to recognize some of the things as mine. My throw blanket I had on my reading chair at home, hell, he even has my fuzzy slippers next to the left side of the bed. As I walk around, I look inside the walk-in closet to see all of my clothes neatly hung up. I come out to see Joker standing there looking at me with an intense look.
“So it seems you’ve been busy.” My heart beats fast, and my hands shake as he takes steps to reach me and stands in front of me. I lower my eyes until I’m looking at his chest, not able to look into his eyes right now. I know he said I’m his, but this is all so fast and intense.
He places his hands on my face, lifting it up so I can look him in the eye. “Madison, when I said you were mine, I meant that with every fiber of my being. Too soon? I don’t give a shit. I know what I want, and that’s you in my life, my ole lady. I want it all, angel. So what if we are doing things quicker than what people deem normal? Fuck them and what they think. This place is just walls and things, but with you and Bailey here, it’s a home. So yes, I moved your ass in here where you belong. It will fucking suck, but if you need time to get your mind around all of this, then I will stay in the guest bedroom until you do. I know my ass is a lot to handle, and I piss you off, but don’t give up on me, on what we could be and have here.”
I swallow the lump in my throat at his admission, and I’m unable to keep the tears at bay as one slips down and Joker gently wipes it away. I know he told me before I was his, but I never thought he would have me moved in within a day. But the more I think about it, the more I want everything he is offering. For far too long I’ve been alone, too afraid to put myself out there for fear of getting hurt. But I want the love my grandparents had for each other, and I know with Joker I can see it all, so I’m going to take the leap of faith even though love is scary. The feeling of falling terrifies me, but I know deep down he will catch me; of that I’m certain. So without hesitation, I wrap my arms aroundhim, smiling up at him. “I just know your ass is going to give me gray hair before I’m old, but I wouldn’t want anyone else but you. I know with you my heart is safe because that’s what I feel when I’m in your arms.”
At that, he throws his head back, laughing. “I promise you, angel, you won’t regret it.”
He lowers his head, and his lips touch mine, and it’s taking everything in me not to climb him like a tree. His kisses have my head spinning. Gentle yet dominating at the same time. My body shivers as he slows down the kiss. I pull back as I try to slow down my breathing. I open my eyes to see a smug smile on his face, making me roll my eyes at him, but I can’t take the smile off my face. He places one last kiss on my forehead and pulls back.
“I’m going to change first before I come down, is that okay?” I need to freshen up and get into something comfortable. Plus, I need a moment to wrap my head around everything.
“Take all the time that you need.” He walks out the door and closes it behind him.
I walk to the closet, laughing at seeing all my things mixed in with his. Lord, I must be crazy to go along with this. I grab a pair of leggings and one of Joker’s t-shirts and head into the bathroom. Throwing my hair into a bun, I jump into the shower to wash the day away. I notice all of my shower things lined up with his, making me laugh out loud. When Joker has his mind set on something, he definitely doesn't do it half-assed. Making quick work of my shower, I wash up, not wanting to linger any longer in case Bailey needs me. I step out and grab a fluffy towel to dry myself off, dressing in something comfortable, so glad to be out of these jeans. Cleaning up my mess, I throw my clothes into the hamper and make my way downstairs. I find Joker in the kitchen. His kitchen is literally my dream kitchen with all stainless steel appliancesand a double oven. With what looks to be a brand-new mixer that my hands are just itching to bake something with.
He starts taking bowls and other snacks down as I stand there watching him, feeling useless. I’m so used to doing everything myself. “What can I help you with?”
He lifts his head, winking at me. “Nothing, angel. I’ve got this.” With that, he brings out more snacks, making me shake my head at him and his sweet tooth. He has two cupboards full of just snacks.
I walk out of the kitchen and walk around until I’m in the living room, seeing a massive-ass TV against the wall. Lord, I don't think I’ve ever seen one that size. A big sectional couch sits opposite it, but what catches my eye are the pictures lining the wall. I walk over, seeing a young Joker with a couple and a young girl. Each picture I see of a younger Joker makes me smile until I get to the last one, and it’s just Joker with his parents and the girl is missing. The next one is a memorial picture of the girl, which makes me gasp.
“My sister was so full of life she could make anyone smile. Bailey Grace was killed by a drunk driver on her way to school when she was only thirteen.”
I spin around at Joker’s voice behind me. The hurt in his voice is hard to miss. “Joker, I'm so sorry.” My voice cracks, my heart hurting for him. He pulls me into his arms, holding on tightly. “That’s why you were shocked hearing Bailey’s name.”
“Fuck yeah. I couldn’t save my sister when she needed her big brother, but I will be damned if I ever let another person suffer when I can help them. It took me a long-ass time to get back to the person I used to be. Even after all this time, it still hurts as if it were yesterday.” We both turn our heads and look at her picture.
It all makes sense now, how he treats the other ladies in the club as if they are all his sisters. My heart breaks for him and his family forwhat they went through. I pull back, and he wipes the tears that fall, unable to hold them back. “What about your parents? Are you guys still close?”
He shakes his head as if he's trying to erase those memories. “As soon as high school was finished, I joined the army and left, never going back. My parents couldn’t bear to live in our house anymore. The memories of what had happened were too painful, so they sold the house and moved to Florida. We talk, but it hasn’t been the same.”
The longer I look at the picture of his sister, the more I can see why Joker is protective of Bailey. She has the same black hair and blue eyes as his sister did. “Are you going to call your parents and tell them about Bailey?”
