For the Love of Dixie (Kings of Chaos 3)

The room is so silent you could hear a pin drop. A rarity in a clubhouse.

“No?” Stone asks. He nods. “Show you meant that shit.” He returns his attention to Big. “I want to see the accounting. This whole place is getting investigated.”

There goes any hope of being home tonight.

Chapter Thirteen

Dixie Rose

I dress with care in a pair of cut up skinny jeans that make my ass look fabulous and a formfitting white shirt with a deep V-neck that shows off my cleavage tastefully. I pair it with a short waist leather jacket. What was meant to be an overnight run turned into an intense trip that dragged on for a week. This will be the first time I get to see Echo since he’s been back. I’m walking out of my bedroom when I hear the Harley pull into the driveway.

“Going out with Echo?” my father asks from his seat at the table.

“Yeah, Pops. Don’t expect me home tonight.”

“All right.” He salutes me.

I smile. We’re in a good place right now. I’ve been able to relax as the months passed and his health has continued to improve. I haven’t seen him this fit since I was in high school. I walk outside with an extra bounce in my step. I can feel the goofy smile gracing my lips, but I do nothing to get rid of it. “Well, hi stranger,” I say.

“Come here, babe.”

He hooks his fingers into my belt loops and pulls me to him. Our lips meet, and suddenly, I’m a woman starved. I tangle my fingers in his silken hair, and tilt my head deepening the kiss.

He pulls away, moaning. “I guess I should go away more often.”

“Don’t you dare,” I say breathlessly.

“Get on, babe.”

“Where are we going?”

“I have a surprise for you,” he responds.

I wrap my arms around his waist as he pulls out and enjoy the wind on my face. I’ve missed this being stuck in a cage. I laugh. He’s already influencing me. I wrap my arms loosely around his waist and lean back, letting the wind catch my hair escaping the helmet. As we leave the city limits behind, my stress melts away. There’s something magical about the road, it makes you forget your problems. The familiar landscapes rushes by and I realize we’re heading back toward L.A.

Why would he want to go back to the place he just left?

Curiosity piqued, I run through scenarios in my head. Maybe he found an amazing restaurant he wants me to try out. L.A. has some of the best eating spots in California. The sun starts to sink lower, painting the city shades of orange and pink. We pull off into L.A and I can’t help but be excited. It feels like years since we had a chance to just be by ourselves and have fun. KOC is no stranger to drama, but most times it’s stretched out. Recently, it’s been hit after hit, and all those situations have pushed the issues with Mouth to the background. I hesitated before to commit, and now I’m missing him like mad every day we spend apart. That emergency ride reminded me just how quick life can be snuffed out. The man had more than proved himself to me since I returned. Everything holding me back now was nerves.

When he parks in front of an upper scale hotel, I can’t help but frown. He gets off the bike and holds out his hand.

“What are we doing?”

“Being surprised if you’d stop asking me questions,” he says with a wink.

I place my hand in his and silence my ever questioning brain. If he was going through all the trouble, I could curb my desire to know everything. His smile brightens and I know I’ve made the right decision. Our relationship was always one of give and take, that’s what made it so hard to replace. We walk inside and I take in the marble floors, high ceilings, and spiraled chandelier hanging above our heads. I lean against him, holding his arm with both arms as he guides me to the front desk. The pride in his walk and gaze warms me. I feel valued and special knowing he’s gone through so much trouble.

The man behind the desk with a designer suit, pencil thin mustache, and slight look of panic in his brown gaze toys nervously with his nametag. “Can I help you, sir?”

“Yes, reservation for Spencer.”

The man’s eyebrows raise, and I can’t help but giggle.

“Joel?”

“That’s the one,” Echo says.

The man’s fingers fly over the keyboard.