Total pages in book: 13
Estimated words: 12781 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 64(@200wpm)___ 51(@250wpm)___ 43(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 12781 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 64(@200wpm)___ 51(@250wpm)___ 43(@300wpm)
Smiling, I tug on him back toward the bed. “C’mon, Keeper. We can go talk to Sniper later.” I try to tempt him back to bed, not because I’m worried about talking to Sniper, but because I really just want Keeper again.
“As soon as we’re done, we’ll grab your things and come back here. Plus, I’ve already texted Sniper and told him I was coming to see him.” He kisses me with a smack on the cheek and pushes me gently toward the bathroom. “Now, let’s go. The sooner we get this over with, the sooner I can have you again.”
At that incentive, I start getting ready. I worry about what Sniper is going to say but he seems to have mellowed out since he married Avery. I hope he can see how much I want this.
As soon as I’m ready, we walk out the front door and I walk to his truck.
“This way, honey,” he says and grabs my hand, pulling me to the garage.
The door raises and sitting in the middle is his motorcycle. I can’t hide my excitement. “I get to ride with you?”
He laughs. “I thought I would have to talk you into it.”
I walk over to the big metal machine and run my hand along the seat before looking up at him. “Are you kidding? I wanted to ride with you that day you took me hiking two years ago.”
Remorse hits his face, but I rub my hand along his jaw. “It’s okay, Keep. We have the rest of our lives to make up for it.”
He hasn’t said anything about the future, but I want him to know where I’m at. I can’t imagine walking away from him now. He’s my life. He’s my future.
He kisses me before sitting on the bike and holding out his hand to help me on. I lift my leg over the side and slide down with my front plastered to his back. I hold on to him tightly and the muscles on his chest ripple under my palms.
He squeezes my hand. “Hold on, baby.” And I can hear the smile in his voice.
We are at the clubhouse in a few short minutes and when I get off, Keeper grabs my hand and walks me toward the door.
Before we walk in, I try to tug my hand from his, but he stops me. “Oh no, baby. We’re not hiding anything.”
I want to argue with him. I don’t want Sniper mad at him, but I see where he’s coming from. I smile up at him, take a deep breath, and follow him in the door.
There are a few men milling around and they’re laughing and cutting up. When they see my hand in Keeper’s, the room instantly gets silent.
Keeper just ignores them and leads me to Sniper’s office. He stops before we go in. “Stay out here. I need to talk to him on my own first.”
I lean up against the wall, bending my ear, hoping to hear something.
* * *
Keeper
I thought I would be more nervous than this but I’m not. Once I had Lilly in my arms, I knew what was coming and I knew that I wouldn’t let anything get in my way. Not even my best friend, her brother.
“Sniper.” I address him as I walk in.
He takes his eyes off the laptop and looks up at me.
“Keeper.”
He’s quiet and I know he’s curious about why I requested this meeting.
“I need to talk to you about Lilly.”
He purses his lips and nods his head. “What about Lilly?”
I crack my knuckles. “I know you don’t want her mixed up with any of us. I know you wanted her far away from all this, but I have to tell you, I love her and well, she loves me.”
With his palm on the desk, he pushes himself up. “So, she gets here yesterday, and now you love her?”
“No, no, it’s not like that.” I shake my head. “When she was here two years ago, we spent time together. Nothing happened! Well, we kissed, but that was it. I haven’t talked to her since, but I’ve thought about her. Hell, Sniper, you’ve seen everything at my shop, you know I’ve thought about her. Well, she’s here now, and I know you don’t think I’m good enough for her, but I promise you that I will spend the rest of my life loving her.”
We’re staring at one another and I’m waiting on him to start yelling at me or throwing his fist around. But none of that comes. He walks around his desk and stands next to me before sitting on the edge of it.
“Keeper, have you ever wondered how I came up with your road name?”
I’m taken aback a little. “Well, sure, but I figured it’s because I was a barkeep when you found me.”