“My aunt, Lori, lived in Tennessee, and I had moved up there with her. It was late one afternoon, and I was riding to the college to get a copy of your schedule. Aunt Lori is a Tennessee Alumni and had rode with me to show me around the campus. She thought I was gonna attend the University. I remember she was talking my head off, pointing out all the buildings and telling me stories when I saw you walk out of the main building. You were wearing a yellow dress and looked like you belonged on a fucking movie set, not on the campus of a college. I wanted to back out. I wanted to call Pops and tell him I couldn’t do it. From the very first time I laid eyes on you, Dallas, I knew that you were mine.”
Well, fuck me. If that wasn’t the most romantic thing I had ever heard in my life, then I didn’t know what was. Who gives a shit that he was getting paid? I felt like I had melted into the passenger seat beside him. I was such a sap.
“Aunt Lori had to call my name a couple of times to get me to snap outta it. I followed you every day after that. If I couldn’t be there, I made sure someone I trusted was. I had to come back to Hattiesburg for a few months over the next summer and it drove me crazy to think you were there partying and having fun and wearing skimpy clothes and I couldn’t see you.”
Whoa. I couldn’t help it. It thrilled me to know Luke was jealous over me.
“After that night in the bar, I knew I couldn’t let you go. I’m not gonna lie, Dallas, I took you home with me because I had no choice. Frankie would have done everything in his power to hurt you. The club didn’t need the heat, but when you cried for me to lay with you and I wrapped you in my arms, you had me.” Tears were threatening to pour down my face. There it was. I had it. The truth had finally came out, and for some reason, it absolutely thrilled me.
“Everyone told me I was making a mistake. They thought I had let you go. When I became President, Regg became your official guardian and it almost killed me. I went two years without seeing you. I avoided you every chance I had. Then I went to the bar and there you were.”
The tears were now freely flowing down my face. We had arrived at my house and was sitting outside the gate. Luke put the car in park and turned to me, placing both hands on the side of my face, wiping my tears with his thumbs.
“I love you, Dallas. I have lied to you and hurt you and allowed others to hurt you. I will devote my whole life to making you happy, if you will give me that chance.”
My heart was beating hard, my breath was caught in my throat and my mind was screaming at me, telling me that this was what I wanted.
“I love you too, Luke. I’m sorry for being such a bitch. I want to try.” And try I would. I wasn’t sure if I could be an ol’ Lady. I wasn’t sure that was the life I wanted to live, but I was happy with Luke. And with Luke came the club. I owed it to myself to at least try. Luke was staring at me, his eyes full of love and his smile stretching across his face. I felt like I should say something, so I did, “I changed the code.”
Luke smirked and planted a light kiss on my nose, then whispered, “I know.”
Of course, Luke didn’t have any problem getting in. He didn’t have a problem unlocking my door either. He simply produced a key from his pocket and unlocked it. I started to say something, but he quieted me with a wink. Winks were sexy and made my stomach flutter, in turn allowing me to forget what in the hell I was even mad about.
Luke grabbed my hand and pulled me to the overstuffed couch in the library. It was the only piece of furniture in a room with hundreds of books. He sat down, pulling me on top of him-the couch swallowing us as we sat.
“You said you would try, but I don’t think you understand the extent of this. I want you to know that I am not trying to talk you outta it, but you need to know what you are getting yourself into.”
I didn’t know the extent of this situation or our relationship, but I did know that I wanted to be wherever Luke was. I can handle the other shit. I think.