“It’s settled, let’s go.” Jesse takes my hand and pulls me off my stool, away from my friends.
“Wait, just a sec.” I try to pull back, but he’s on a mission and it feels like he’s ready to throw me over his shoulder and drag me out of here and back to his bed.
“Call me!” Lissy yells out before we turn the corner. I wave one last time, not bothering to fight it anymore. Jesse wants me—let everyone at his workplace know it; I’m going with it. He keeps his pace strong, direct and when we get to his bike, I’m beginning to think I’ve misread him.
“Why are you so upset?” I ask when he silently hands me his helmet. He stops and looks up before answering.
“I’m not,” he answers, leaning in to help me with the strap.
“Then why are you being snappy?”
“You make it hard to work and concentrate when you’re smiling and laughing all night. You don’t even know how hard that shift was.”
“What? Why?” I ask as he helps me onto the back of his bike.
“Sweetheart, you’re so fucking innocent it hurts to see it. Jesus, you had every man’s attention each time you threw your head back. It took everything in me not to punch every fucker looking at you.”
“Jesse, you’re weird.” I shake my head, not getting him one bit. This is the hot and cold I was talking about. One minute he’s pushing me out, the next he’s pissed at men watching me laugh.
“Maybe, but you’re fucking beautiful. Now move back and let me take you home. I’ve been craving you since you left my bed Sunday,” he grumbles. Again, I don’t argue. Instead, I move back and let him climb on. When he’s straddling his bike, he reaches back, takes my hands and wraps them around his middle.
“Hold on, sweetheart,” he orders over his shoulder. He doesn’t have to tell me twice. Pressing my front to his back, I do as I’m told and get ready for him to take off. He starts the bike, revs the throttle and before I know it, the wind hits my face and we’re riding. It’s the best feeling in the world, but I don’t tell him that. Instead, I slightly tilt my head back, let the cool air bite at my skin and enjoy it. I can only pray this feeling of finding my place doesn’t end.
Losing this, losing him.
I don’t think I could handle that.
“Jesus, what is he doing here?” Jesse asks when he cuts the engine to his bike. The ride to the clubhouse was quick. Jesse’s hand rested on my thigh the whole ride while my arms were wrapped tightly around his waist.
“Who?” I ask as he turns and helps me off the back. My fingers find the strap of the helmet, but he pushes them away and takes over.
“My brother.”
“Jackson?” I ask, looking around him.
“Yeah, come on, better to get this over with.” He pulls me toward the entrance and wraps his arm around my shoulders.
“Everything okay with you two?” I ask, picking up on his strange attitude.
“Way it’s always been, sweetheart. He busts my balls. I give him shit.” I nod because what else can I say. After last weekend and the cold confrontation between them, I decided whatever is going on between them is better left alone. The last thing I need is to be giving my advice where it’s not welcome.
“You’re lucky he cares about you,” I add as we enter the hall of the clubhouse.
Jesse snorts. “Yeah, he’s a model fucking brother.” He shakes his head but doesn’t continue.
“You wanna head to my room, meet me there?” he asks when we turn the corner to the main room.
“Bell, oh my, look at you girl!” Holly shouts when she sees me walk in with Jesse. I look down at what I’m wearing, remembering I let Lissy dress me tonight.
“I’m going to go say hi.” He nods once then continues over to where Jackson sits at the bar.
“Hey, guys.” I walk up to the sofa where Kelly, Kadence and Holly all sit, drinks in hand.
“You look amazing, Bell.” Kelly pats the sofa next to her, letting me know to take a seat.
“Thanks, I had a girls’ night out with my friends.” I smile and push down the guilt of ditching them for Jesse. Who am I kidding; Lissy would totally ditch me in a second.
They start asking me how my night was when Hunter comes over with water. “Jesse said you might want a drink.” Handing me the bottle, he then turns back.
“Thanks, Hunter,” I call out, and then focus on the girls.
“Water?” Holly snorts, sipping back some of her cocktail.
“I don’t drink much.” I shrug, liking that Jesse thought of me.
“Well, we should do something about that. I say we organize a girls’ weekend.” Holly’s eyes light up at the thought and Kadence and Kelly groan beside me.
“What? You like my girls’ nights out.” She pouts, looking between Kelly and Kadence.
“Yeah, when they don’t involve naked men and fat-o-grams,” Kadence argues.
“Hey that was not me. That was Jesse. The shit.” They all start laughing and I’m left in the dark as to what they are talking about.
“Kadence’s bachelorette party night.” Kelly fills me in when she notices my confused face. “Holly organized a stripper. Jesse thought it would be funny if he swapped it out. Only they sent a fat-o-gram instead.”
“It was bad,” Kadence adds. “And if you think I have forgotten, then you would be wrong.” She turns and points her finger Holly’s way. “Your bachelorette night… Pay back will be a bitch.”