Page 5 of Motown
“I have a record,” I remind him.
“You were seventeen, and you stole food,” Hawk bites back.“It wasn’t even for you.You stole it for a bunch of kids who had it tough at home.You just happened to be the one who got caught.”
“I did more than that, and you know it.”
“You wanted to help a friend.He didn’t appreciate you and didn’t have your back.After juvie, you found a way out,” Hawk says.
“You’re right.I joined the army, where I also became a killer.”
“They were enemy soldiers who were attacking our unit.You didn’t have a choice.I was with you, remember?They don’t prepare you for that in basic training.No amount of training will ever prepare you for taking a life.In the end, we have to think about how many people we saved, because if we weren’t there to do the job, hundreds of thousands of innocent women and children would be dead,” Hawk states firmly.
I know he’s right, but the memories still haunt me.
“We were all there.We all suffer from those moments when we look back and wonder if it was all worth it,” Drifter speaks up.“We fought for freedom, and to protect those who couldn’t do it for themselves.There’s more to you than the man who aimed the gun, and you know it.”
I do know this, but a man filled with darkness like me needs to be careful with a woman with a heart like Tessa’s.
“Her last name is Honeybush.Tessa Honeybush.She’s sweet, like her name.Do I look like a man who does sweet?”I can hear the tremor in my voice.
Hawk shakes his head.“Your choice is either to take a chance and give Tessa the best of yourself, or step aside and watch another man take your place.If you walk away, you have no say in who she decides to date and eventually marry.You’ll wonder for the rest of your life if you did the right thing.”
Chapter4
Hand in Hand
Motown
The last customer exits the shop, and I see Tessa tidying up, as she always does.But she seems more hurried than usual.I see her emptying the wastebasket, which contains the roses Bronson brought her this morning.The pressure in my chest eases somewhat with the knowledge that Tessa’s not considering dating that douche.She shouldn’t be going out the back alley alone to dump the garbage, though.I move around the back of the shop just as Tessa opens the door.
She shrieks when she catches a glimpse of a big man in the shadows.When I step forward, she lets out a sigh of relief.“You scared the dickens out of me,” she chastises.“What are you doing out here?Are you trying to give me a heart attack?”
“You shouldn’t be out back on your own.It’s getting dark,” I answer.
“So, what, you’re teaching me a lesson?”she snaps, taking the lid of the can and putting the bag inside.
“I’m picking you up for our date.”
She spins on her heel and glares at me.“You decide it’s time for another go at me, and you think I’ll comply like all the other women you’ve slept with?Is it my turn?Am I up on rotation?”Tessa juts out a hip and sets her hand on it.“Well, no, thank you!”
“Tess—”
“Save it.I knew what I was getting into when I agreed to one night.I won’t demean that night, because for me, it was beautiful.”Her voice goes soft.Then she clears her throat and continues.“But I learned that I’m not the kind of woman who can separate her feelings.To me, sex isn’t just fucking.”
Christ!She’s fantastic!Even when she saysfuck, she’s adorable.
“Babe—” I try to cut in once more.
“We had a magical night, and for that, I thank you.But I can’t do it again.”She turns to walk away.She’s about to leave, and I consider that I could let her go and move on with my life, and she with hers.
I gently grab her arm and turn her to face me.“I haven’t been with anyone since that night with you.You shouldn’t be with a man like me.You deserve fancy restaurants and a big house with a froufrou dog, not a biker like me.I should let you walk away, but you haunt my dreams, and I can’t get you out of my head.I fucked up by leaving that night.I knew I should have come to see you and talk to you, but I didn’t know what to say.”I move her closer to me.“Everything you do makes me want to be with you.Even when you give me attitude, it only makes me want you more.”I wrap my arms around her, pulling her flush against my body.“I make no promises, baby, but I’ll do my best to make you happy.”
She braces her hands on my chest.“I need time to think.”
“You don’t,” I insist, for fear that Tessa will find another reason to push me away.
“You hurt me,” she whispers.
“I know.I’m sorry, Tess.I’d like to say I won’t do that again, but I won’t lie to you.I’m going to mess up, but I’ll never walk away again without talking to you.”
