“Not up for debate. I’ll hog tie you if I gotta, but my name’s going on your body.”
“I don’t need a tattoo.”
“You’re getting one....right...” his lips dip to my neck. One hand moves down my side and up under the t-shirt I’m swimming in trying to get away from his crazy ass. His palm splays across my ribs. “Want my name right here.”
“It’ll hurt.”
“I’ll hold your hand.”
“Oh gee thanks. How mighty of you.” I roll my eyes. James pushes off the bed and goes for his jeans. “Where are you going?
“Need to make sure Holy will be around tomorrow.”
“Holy? Why?”
“Need him to officiate.”
“Excuse me? We are not getting married tomorrow. There’s a process. Documents and a license or whatever. You can’t just...” he cuts me off with a kiss.
“Pretty girl, I can, and I will. So be thinking about what you want to wear.”
“We can’t do it tomorrow. Wylla Mae is still in the hospital.”
He frowns. “You got me there. All right this weekend then.”
“Slow down. We have time.”
“Nope. I’m not waiting. Want my ring on your finger. My bastard patch inked on your skin.”
“We’ve got time, James.”
“There will never be enough time for me with you in this life.” With that I melt under his touch and decide I’ll give this man what he wants. How can I deny him after something so damn sweet?
His cell phone buzzes from the nightstand. “Lily,” he mutters as he stares at the screen. “It’s late.” He pauses. “Right. I can do that.” He makes a face and slaps a palm to the back of his neck. I watch curiously as he makes another call. “Gamble. Yeah, it’s Murder. Listen, two of my guys are coming up North. Perfect, baby doll. Yeah. Talk soon.”
“Is Lily okay?”
“She will be. I think she found someone she’s been looking for.”
“Who’s that?”
“My niece.”
“I didn’t know Lily had any kids.”
“Lily was married. Malcom couldn’t handle the rape. It changed him. Changed their marriage. He became a miserable drunk. Every time he looked at her all he saw was the face of her rapist even though I killed that piece of shit. Lily wouldn’t give up on him or their marriage. She loved him. Thought a baby would fix him. Make him remember the man he once was. Only when she told him he blew his brains out. She gave the kid up for adoption. Girl named Hazel, about twenty-six years old.”
“And you always knew about her?”
“Lily didn’t talk about it for years. Only started looking a few years ago. It was a closed adoption.”
“Poor Lily.”
“Yeah. It’s been rough for her. Said she felt like a piece of her was missing. So when Ruthie pressed me for a kid that shit hit close. Made me think of Lily and all the hurt she carried. If I could give Ruthie what Malcom couldn’t do for Lily...I thought maybe it’d fix her, but it didn’t work out that way. Every time around the third or fifth month she’d lose them.”
“I can understand that. I know that was hard for you and poor Lily. I almost gave Wylla Mae up, and I can’t imagine my life without her.” James squeezes my hand. I can’t fathom what him or Ruthie even as much as I hate her went through with loss after loss. So many miscarriages. I need to change the subject. This conversation has taken such a depressing turn I want to cry. “So who’s Gamble?”
“Female Prez of the Baltimore chapter of the club.”