31JasmineI smile because Daisy is a beautiful little girl, who is curled up to me and already snoring. My heart is filled with emotion that I’m not sure I want to name. I need to step back and see what I’m doing here. I went in headfirst with Luke and it seems to be going at the speed of light. I’m beginning to wonder if meeting Daisy tonight was smart. I like her, a lot—maybe more than I should. She’s sweet and accepted me without question. I wasn’t expecting that and now that it has happened, I’m not sure how I feel about it.
“You’re nice, Jasmine.”
“So are you baby,” I answer as she snuggles into me.
“Oh no!” she cries all at once, jerking up in the bed.
“What’s wrong?”
“I left Bear-Bear in the kitchen,” she says.
“Oh. We can get him tomorrow,” I murmur, reassuringly. “He’ll be okay until morning.”
“But, I can’t sleep without Bear-Bear,” she says, shaking her head stubbornly. I resist the urge to laugh, because she’s so headstrong. Luke has no idea what he’s in for. He could probably ask my father for advice. I sigh when I think about Luke meeting my parents. I’m getting too carried away. I think I need to take a step back. I mean, I just found out he had a kid. That was a big secret he was keeping. If he can keep that a secret, what else don’t I know? That thought is scary to say the least.
“I don’t think Daddy wants us to go out when there’s a party going on,” I stall, thinking back to some of the things I’d seen over the years. I don’t think Daisy’s delicate eyes should see that at all. I can’t see Luke not worrying about this before. I think that’s just another reason I should slow things down.
“But Bear-Bear,” she whines, sounding so pitiful that it hurts my heart.
“What if you stay here while I go get Bear-Bear?” I suggest.
“Will Jasmine get in trouble?” she asks, suddenly speaking in third person and making me giggle.
“Nah. We’ll keep it a secret, okay?”
“Okay!”
She’s so excited at the idea of getting Bear-Bear back that she’s practically bouncing on the bed.
“You stay here, deal?” I ask. I don’t like leaving her alone, which is silly since she lives here. I at least made sure she had a light now.
I know that part of the reason I’m thinking of pulling back is seeing how Luke’s daughter is living. All signs pointed to the fact that she loved her daddy a lot and he was good with her, but the fact he was unaware of the light in her room, or the fact she was forced to go to bed early when there were club parties… And hell, I can’t imagine this club is that much different than the one I grew up with—which means there’s always a party.
I have a lot to work through.
“Deal,” she agrees and then gives me this huge hug, and before I realize it, I return it, closing my eyes.
Whatever I’m going to do about Luke, I need to do it soon before I get too attached to Daisy.
It doesn’t take long to get to the kitchen and grab the bear. I get a few weird looks from people I don’t know. I don’t do much more than spare them a passing glance, making sure my bitch face is there for all to see. A few of the guys leer at me. I ignore them too. Luckily they don’t press the matter and mistake me for club twinkies.
I’m not in the mood for that bullshit tonight.
I start to go back to Daisy’s room, but I’d like to see Luke again. Maybe I’m just checking up on him. There’s a party going on, and he’s a single biker. I’m a big enough bitch to admit that I’d like to see what he’s doing.
I walk to the entrance to the room we were in when I first got here. I scan the area quickly, only to realize that Luke is sitting at the table practically right in front of me. He’s talking to the men I had met earlier.
Luke is not happy—as in he’s pissed and that is radiating from him.
I’m about to walk over and announce my presence. But I hear something that I can’t ignore. He’s telling his president that I’m his.
A smile plays on my lips, because I can hear the satisfaction in his voice. I don’t think anyone has ever sounded that proud to claim me before. Warmth fills me and I feel guilt for having doubts in Luke.
But then… they start talking again. Luke’s voice is drained
“…When she finds out you were using her to get close to her girl.”
My heart beats double and then it feels like my blood runs cold and everything slows down. It’s like being in the middle of a time loop, where your world is crashing around you and all you can do is watch.