Salem Charm: Book 3 of Colson Brothers Series (19 page)

He reached for the bag but I snatched it away. “I’ll be holding these thank you.” I waited while Lou signed the receipt before snatching that too. I wasn’t sure if Robert had written anything about the engraving on it.

“Afraid I’ll loose them?, or back out?” He accused, then Lou thanked Robert and escorted me from the building.

“No. You can’t back out, you just spent a fortune on the rings, and this way I can peek at them, it’s a girl thing “ I teased him as I hugged him around the waist with my right arm while we walked over to his bike. “Plus you don’t need to be in charge of everything, especially something so delicate.”

“I’m in charge of you, and you’re much more delicate.” He argued.

“You’re in charge of protecting me, not in charge of my actions.” I countered enjoying this more playful bickering than the bickering we did when we first met.

“I beg to differ.” He hinted as he opened the saddlebag for me to put my purse inside. We’ve developed a sort of routine now when it comes to mounting and un-mounting this bike.

“You do huh?”

“Well, yes.” He grabbed me around the waist and set my tush on his seat before pulling my legs up around his waist. He used those big capable hands to secure me in place before kissing my socks off.

When he finally slowed and lifted up I was breathless and left wanting more. His eyes flickered across mine, “Tell me again I have no control over your actions.” He dared me.

I gave him a look a mother gives a child trying to get away with something, “You cheat Mr. Colson.”

He smiled that boyish confident smile I like so much better than Grumpy Lou. “For you my love, I would cheat, lie, steal, kill, and anything else I needed to do to get your lovely sweet lips on mine.”

“I love you too.”

When he parked us among a sea of bikes outside what appeared to be a biker bar, I gripped his shirt under his cut. “We’re going in there??” I asked as Lou turned the engine off.

“It’s just a bar Barbie. Do you really think I’d take you somewhere unsafe?” He asked helping me off the bike before he pulls himself off to stand and take my helmet.

“You’re right. I have you, I shouldn’t be worried.”

He draped his arm over my shoulders and led me to the door. “Termite said everyone here today is meeting to plan the charity runs for the year. The HOGs meet up for beers with some of the local chapters and clubs to arrange starting, and stopping points, raffle arrangements, which charities go with which runs. Shit like that.”

“So we’re walking in on a benefit meeting?” I looked up as he opened the door for me.

“Pretty much, yes.”

“Huh.” This is the last thing I expected. I stepped inside and looked around. It’s not quite as nice as Red’s bar in Arizona, but it seems welcoming somehow. Like a big leather living room where you can spill food and drinks without worrying about it. “Why do they call it Cricket’s?”

“Who knows. I’ve only been in here a few times, usually I party at the club where I can drink and stumble to my bike and pass out in the parking lot.”

“What??” I stopped before we got to the table with what I’m assuming are the couple we’re supposed to meet.

He looked down, “What?”

“You sleep in parking lots??”

“Not public ones, at the clubhouses. I put down a blanket first… usually.” He seems so amused, I relaxed.

“How did you manage to keep from getting run over?”

“We bikers all drink together, so none of us can ride at the same time.”

“You do??”

He laughed, “No honey. Come on, let me introduce you to one crazy old man, and his wife who deserves better.”

“No more teasing me. This is difficult enough.” I scolded him.

“Yes my love.” He said obediently, even though there is not an obedient bone in that man’s body. He ushered me over to to the table and looked at the couple who stood to shake our hands, “Termite, this is my soon to be wife, Barbara. Barbie, this is Mary, that crazy bastard’s old lady.” He said cheerfully.

Termite kissed the back of my hand, hazels eyes full of innocent mischief, “Miss Barbara, it’s a pleasure to meet the woman who lassoed this big oaf in.”

Mary shook my hand next drawing my attention away from her husband, “Nice to meet you. How do you like the jacket??” She has a warm smile. I like her right away.

I turned around, “I love it! Thank you!”

She clapped, “Yeah!! Beer?” She asked as I sat next to Lou.

“Yes, please.”

Lou pulled my chair closer resting his arm around behind me. “What’s new with you two trouble makers?”

Termite sat back looking back and forth between us. I wonder if Lou’s beard will get that long. “Not much, Mary’s sister is getting married in a couple weeks, so my house is filling up with giddy women.” He pretended to complain then leaned across the table to Lou, “Help. Take me with you. Please. I’ll pay you a million dollars cash.”

I laughed out loud earning an appreciative laugh in return from Mary. “How long are you two in town for?”

Lou replied before I could. “Just tonight. Liz is anxious to meet Barbie. If I don’t get her home in time for the poker run and rally this weekend, she’ll skin me alive.”

“I wish we could come up, but it’s a little too far with all these wedding plans. With me still working full time, the weekends are the only time we get anything done.”

“What kind of work do you do?”

“I’m a social worker. I help abused kids for the most part. I love my job. Termite wants me to quit, but I can’t bring myself to let go.” She confided like we’ve known each other for years.

For the next four hours we talked more than drank. Lou switched to water after two beers. I nursed four beers. I figured one an hour wouldn’t hurt, and I’m not driving.

By the time we left I felt like I was saying goodbye to old friends. I even found myself inviting them to a wedding I was not entirely sure was going to happen.

Lou looked uncomfortable when Mary asked where my ring was. I told her we’d just purchased them and I wanted to wait to reveal them later. She took the hint and left it at that with a warm hug goodbye. First Georgia, then Red, now Mary. I Have FRIENDS!! That may seem silly to most, but for me it’s a huge step outside of my simple, boring little world.

I did a silly little twirl in the middle of the fancy hotel room when we got back. “That was fun!”

Lou set his cut on the chair as he walked towards me with a very seductive look in his eyes.

It gave me butterflies and stopped me in my tracks. “You look like you’re hunting.”

“Maybe I am.” He hinted.

I put my hand to my stomach, “When you look at me like that I get full of gitters.”

“I don’t know what gitters are, but I’d like to kiss them.”

I bumped into the wall. “Oh.”

“Stop moving Barbara.”

“I’m trying.”

He caught up to me and tucked my hair behind my ear, “I want to kiss you, and kiss only you, for the rest of my life.”

“Oh!” I barely got that out before he closed in and kissed me until the next thing I know I’m on my back under him on the bed. I found myself nervous he might take this too far.

It took me a little while, but it finally became clear all he wanted was exactly what he’d said he wanted. I let myself go and relaxed finding his kiss to be much more intimate than I thought possible. It’s like we can communicate with the slightest, or deepest, touch of our tongues.

I gently pulled on his earlobes to stop him.

He lifted up slowly and smiled down at me, “Hi.”

I felt myself squirm under his weight. “We should get some sleep. We have a long ride ahead tomorrow.”

“We haven’t eaten.”

“I ate a ton of fries this afternoon, but if you’re hungry…” I had been too caught up in his kisses to think about food.

“I’m going to order some dinner. You go get ready for me to kiss you to sleep.” He helped me up reminding me we’re both still fully dressed.

“Good idea.”

10

I looked at his big beautiful bike and rubbed my rump. “I might be reaching my limit.”

Lou kneaded the other cheek, “I’ll give them a good fluffing when we get home.”

“I want to buy a camera before we get too far. It gets boring back there.” I’m glad I remembered before we got started.

“Boring eh?” He’s working those bungee cords like a Chinese puzzle.

“Well, you get to focus on driving, and I get to stare at your vicious patch. Not that it’s not beautiful, in a dark manly sort of way, but other than the scenery, it’s pretty boring.”

He laughed, “Feel free to let you hands wander. I’ll stop you if it gets too distracting. We’ll get you a camera in a couple stops, none of the electronics stores are open.”

“A disposable will be fine.”

“We’ll start with that, but you deserve better.” He kissed my cheek before straddling and righting his big bike. It amazes me how he can hold the beast upright. Although he does have some rather strong limbs. And those abs. “Barbara?”

“Yes?” I blinked trying to focus.

“Where’d you go baby?”

“I’m not telling you.” I laughed and took his hand to climb on behind him. I’ve come to love it here. It’s become my favorite place in the world, with the exception of being in his arms at night.

I ran into the drug store to buy two disposable cameras, and came out with a book, two cameras, some hard candy, and a handful of cards to send notes to my new friends. Lou can get me the addresses later.

We stopped to buy a good camera a little over an hour later, then again for lunch shortly after noon.

“What’s that?” He nodded towards my cards on the table.

“I wanted to write some thank you notes to my new friends. Being on the road all the time hasn’t left me much room for phone calls. Can you get me some addresses?”

“Sure. That’s very nice of you. I don’t think I’ve seen someone write a thank you card since I was five.”

I smiled and set the pen down to give him my full attention. “I’ve always written them to strangers for donations and assistance with events, so it’s nice to write to people I feel like I know for a change.”

“Bet you didn’t see this coming a couple weeks ago?” He took a big bite of pancake.

“No, admittedly, I did not foresee falling in love with a big bratty biker and his entire family.” I teased him as I nibbled on the rest of the fruit on my plate.

He raised an eyebrow at me, “I’m bratty?”

“Well, maybe bratty is a little harsh.”

He sat back looking at me. “You’re beautiful with your hair down. The leather and tight jeans are a nice touch too. You really are beautiful Barbara. No matter what you’re wearing, but I like this look the best.”

I felt myself blush, “I like this look the best too. Although you are not going to keep me from my stilettos. I can still wear those with jeans.”

“I look forward to it. I suppose we should arrange to have your things shipped across country.”

“I’ll take care of that. There will be plenty of correspondence back and forth as I figure out what to do with the plantation. Dad… Mr. Whitmore was offered decent money for the land a couple times over the years. I’m sure if I put it up for sale and divvy up the profits, I can afford to give everyone some kind of severance package.”

“Let Myles take care of it.”

“Myles and I will be taking care of it. Hopefully neither of will need to go back for any reason.”

“You’re not going back there period. It’s too dangerous.” He informed me.

“We’ll cross that bridge when we get there. If we get there.”

“Uh, no. Bridge crossed babe. You are NOT going back to that, plantation. Seriously, can we call it something else?”

I laughed, “Call it ‘the house’ then. I don’t want to fight about what-if’s.” I picked up the pen to finish the one I’d started to Red.

“Let’s get out of here so I can kiss that polite little mouth of yours.” He waved the waitress over.

I can’t help but smile and absently touched my lip before moving it to hold the card as I wrote.

“Barbie?”

“Don’t call me that.”

“Barbie Barbie Barbie.” He teased just as a small chunk of ice landed between my breasts.

“Lou!” I frantically dug it out and threw it back at his smug face. It wasn’t much more than a flick of water by the time I got that far, but the effort was apparent, and he still ducked.

His laugh is infectious. I put the cards back in my purse as he paid the bill. On the way to the bike in the parking lot he asked, “How’s the photography going back there?”

“Good. It took a few minutes to figure it all out, but I think I’ve got it now.”

“When we get back on the freeway hand it to me and look over my shoulder. I’ll take a couple pictures of us.”

“You should keep both hands (his look stopped me) . . . you’re right. Never mind.”

“I can ride with no hands babe, I just don’t because that would be stupid with you on the back. I can do one hand, watch the road, and take a few pictures. It might take a few to get one that’s centered right, but you have the big memory card. You can afford the space.”

“I didn’t mean to question your riding skills.”