She paused, her eyes looking sad.
“What is it?”
“I can’t, Sketch. I can’t go back there. It’s not my home anymore—hasn’t been for a real long time now.” She looked away from me and I reached out, pulling her face back to mine.
“So let me settle shit with the club and we’ll take off somewhere,” I said with a shrug. “Want you on my bike every day and in my bed every night.”
Crank and I were more than ready to get out of that town anyway. And since shit had been settled with ATF, there was no reason to stay once the dust had settled. Besides, soon enough I wanted to head to Georgia and see what was going down with Hardy. Something big was going down there and I wanted to know what.
“I can’t ask you to do that for me,” she said hesitantly.
“Babe, you’re not asking—I’m telling you. Besides, your mom would skin my ass if I let you stay in Miles City.” I grinned. Grinned even wider when she stared at me in shock. “She’s as tough as they come, just like you.”
“You’ve been to see my mom?”
“Fuck yeah, I did.”
She put a hand on her hip and looked away from me. “I need to think, Sketch,” she said with a shake of her head. “I’m not some little girl who needs protecting anymore. I can take care of myself.”
I reached for her again. “No, babe, you’re not a little girl and yeah, you’re a strong enough woman to take care of yourself, but sometimes you don’t need to. So right now you need to get on my bike, let me take you to my house, and we’ll spend the day in bed, fuckin’ out our terms and conditions. Everything will be the same tomorrow, but it’ll be different too. Just trust me and go with it.”
I knew how hard it would be for her to do that—to trust. Because trust didn’t come easy to her, and I sure as shit hadn’t don’t anything to earn it. Yet. But after a moment’s hesitation, she took the helmet from me and climbed on behind me.
“Nancy,” Tyler pleaded, finally getting up off the ground. His nose was bleeding, blood trailing from each nostril and down over his lips. “Don’t do this—not after everything we’ve been through.”
Tyler glared at me and I pulled out my gun, aiming it at his chest. He stumbled back a step, his hands rising to the air like it was a stick up or some shit.
“Sketch, don’t, please,” she pleaded with me. “I’m sorry, Tyler.” She wrapped her arms tighter around my waist. “I’m sorry, but I love him.”
My heart fucking soared at those words.
In all my life, in all my experiences, I ain’t never had anyone tell me they loved me. Yet there I was, with a fucking beautiful, feisty woman sitting on the back of my bike with her arms wrapped tightly around my waist, telling me she loved me.
“Let’s get out of here,” she said.
“Yeah, babe.” I smiled. “Yeah.”
~ 19 ~
Seven months later…
“You sure you’re ready?” I asked her.
Her tight dress clung to her body, every curve accentuated by the smooth black fabric. Her hair was tied back in a low ponytail, her makeup simple. She still looked beautiful, despite the somber occasion.
It had been seven months since she’d gotten on the back of my bike and we’d started our life together. It had been the best seven months of my life. Wouldn’t have changed a damned thing about any of it, barring today, of course. I hated seeing my woman in pain.
She placed her hand in mine and squeezed it gently. “Yeah, it’s time, Sketch. There’s nothing left for me here now—it’s all gone. Even the bad memories can’t hurt me anymore. There’s just nothing here, and I’m ready for something now. I’m ready for everything and more.”
She curled into my side and I held her close, wondering if she was going to cry. But she didn’t. Woman was strong, physically, mentally. Every inch of her built on strength and beauty.
“We’re heading to the clubhouse, Sketch,” Crank said from behind me, and I let go of Nancy and turned to him, shaking his hand. “You two good here? I can stay if you need me.”
I shook my head. “We’re good. We’ll be right behind you. Heading out tomorrow, though, if you still want to come with us.”
He nodded and smiled. “Still got room on my skin, don’t I, brother?”
I smiled back and he took off toward his bike.
