“Are you kidding?” She was smiling ear to ear as she eased off my bike. “It was amazing! I can’t believe I’ve waited so long to try it.”
“I’m glad I was the one who got to take you out for the first time.”
“Me too.” Her brows furrowed. “So, are you going to tell me where we are?”
“You’ll see soon enough.”
I took her hand and led her up to my place. When we reached the front door, I eased it opened and motioned her inside. With a look of skepticism, she stepped forward and took a quick glance around my kitchen. “Wait, this is your place?”
“It is.”
“Really?” Without responding, I closed the door, then once I helped her out of her coat, I followed her into the living room. Her eyes were wide with wonder as she circled the room, checking out every detail. The two-bedroom condo wasn’t as extravagant as some of my brothers’ houses, but it wasn’t exactly a dump either. I’d worked hard to make it my own by adding new stuff whenever I could and even freshened up some of the paint. Overall, I was proud of it, and if the expression on her face was any indication, my efforts had paid off. After several moments, Sophie turned to me and said, “It’s really beautiful, Dalton.”
“I take it you approve.”
“Oh, I more than approve.” She stepped over to the fireplace and checked out the pictures on the mantle. When she came across an old one of me and a couple of the brothers, she pointed to it and asked, “Are these your MC brothers?”
“Some of them.” During a few of our sessions, we’d discussed certain aspects of the club, like how the brothers were family to me, but I could tell she was interested in hearing more. Unfortunately, MC business was off-limits to anyone outside the club. I stepped over to her and glanced at the picture of Menace, Hawk, Country, and me. We were all smiling like we didn’t have a care in the fucking world. “That was taken a long time ago. You know ... before I was locked up.”
“Oh, I see.” She picked up the picture beside it as she asked, “Is this your sister?”
“It is.”
“She’s really beautiful.”
“Yes, she is.” I knew her well enough to know that she was curious whether or not I’d talked to her, so I said, “I went by to see her when I got out. She’s doing pretty good. Staying clean and keeping a steady job.”
“I’m really glad to hear that.” After putting the picture back on the mantle, she glanced back at the kitchen and smiled. “Your place is really incredible.”
“You sound surprised.”
“Maybe just a little.” She shrugged. “Don’t get me wrong. I just never realized you could afford a place like this being a bouncer at a strip club.”
“Well, I’m more than just a fucking bouncer, but I get it.” I’d never considered myself to be a prideful man, but standing there at that moment, I couldn’t help but feel like I’d been punched in the gut. “Has to be hard to see me as anything other than a man who just spent the past three years behind bars.”
“That’s not true, Dalton. I know there’s so much more to you than that.” She stepped over to me and placed her hand on my chest. “I wouldn’t be standing here with you right now if I didn’t.”
“So, why exactly are you here?”
A playful smirk crossed her face. “Well, as I recall ... you really didn’t give me much choice in the matter.”
“Oh, don’t give me that shit. You could’ve told me no and sent me on my way.” I slipped my arm around her waist. “But you didn’t.”
“No, I didn’t.”
“Why not?”
“It’s hard to explain.” Her eyes met mine, and I knew my answer even before she said the words. “I guess you could say a part of me hoped you would come and find me.”
“Is that right?”
After months of being the one in the hot seat, I’d turned the tables on her, and she was practically squirming in her own skin. When she noticed the smile creeping across my face, she crossed her arms and huffed. “I think you’re enjoying this a little too much.”
“I think you’re afraid to answer the question.”
“I’m not afraid, Dalton. You’re just not making any of this easy for me.”
“Hmm … Let me see if I can make it a little easier for you.”
I’d spent my time in prison building a tower of walls around me, guarding myself against pain and heartbreak, but the foundation was starting to crumble, bit by bit.
No matter how hard I tried to fight it, I could feel them crashing down around me. I looked down at her, and I found myself feeling things I’d never thought I would.