“Well, shit…”
“That’s what I thought.” She laughs. “Now, what do you want?”
I climb in my truck and lean back in the seat. “I was just wondering if you have plans tomorrow night.”
“Yeah. Mason wants to grab dinner and talk about getting back together.”
“What?” I snarl, jerking forward in my seat suddenly and a burst of laughter greets me.
Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me.
“Not funny, woman.”
“Actually,” she says between her giggles, “it was pretty damn funny but to answer your question, no I don’t have plans. Why?”
Sighing, I relax back into the bench seat. “I want to take you out.”
“Oh… Noah, I’m not sure that’s such a good idea.”
“Come on, baby,” I urge, praying that I can get her to agree. “I’m not going to let anything happen to you. Besides, I’ve been waiting seven damn years to take my girl out again.”
She sighs. “Well, when you put it like that…”
“Is that a yes?”
“I suppose but don’t get used to it.”
Laughing, I start the truck. “I love you, baby.”
“Good-bye, Noah,” she growls and before I can say anything else, she hangs up. I toss the phone on the seat next to me with a grin on my face as excitement races through me. I’ve been thinking about this date for the last seven years and I can’t wait to see the look on her face when I show her what we’re doing tomorrow night.
Chapter Thirteen
Kady
I purse my lips as I stare at myself in the full length mirror next to the bathroom and run my hands down the black and white striped dress that hits me mid-thigh as my stomach does a little flip. God, it’s been so long since I’ve been on an actual date with Noah and my heart is pounding right now. Turning to the bed behind me, I grab my studded leather jacket and slip it on before turning back to my reflection and sighing. I’m fucking hopeless. I raise my phone and snap a picture before sending it to Hannah with a string of question marks and a few seconds later, my phone rings.
“You. Look. Gorg!”
I scrunch up my face. “Really? You’re not just saying that?”
“Um, no. I wouldn’t do that.”
“God, I’m so nervous,” I whisper, pressing my hand to my belly like I can somehow calm myself. Hannah scoffs.
“What the hell are you nervous for? It’s Noah.”
“Exactly. It’s Noah… and I haven’t been on a date with him in seven years.”
“Aww,” she coos. “That’s so damn cute. I’m so happy y’all got back together.”
I take a few steps back and plop down on the bed. “Hey, no one said we’re back together.”
“Oh, come on, Kady. Who the hell are you trying to fool? The minute that man walked back into your life, you were his again.”
“Stop saying that like it’s a done deal,” I command, falling back onto the bed as I release a heavy breath. “You know it’s still a terrible idea and likely going to get one or both of us in a lot of trouble.”
She sighs. “I love you, Kady Jane Sinclair, but you’ve got to start living your life again. You’re not stuck in the basement anymore. You got out and that means you get to be happy now.”
“Oliver is still out there and he’s coming after me.”
“That may be true but you’re also not alone anymore. Noah is here and he’ll do whatever it takes to protect you.”
I open my mouth to argue when the motion sensor goes off. “Speak of the devil.”
“Oooh!” she squeals on the other end of the phone. “Have fun and call me to tell me all about it tomorrow.”
“Fine,” I grumble, fighting back a smile. Her excitement is contagious and it eases some of my nerves. “I love you.”
“Love you, too, babe. Now, go make your boobs look extra perky and knock that boy’s socks off.”
I laugh as we say good-bye and as soon as I hang up, he knocks on the door. Pushing off the bed, I inspect my outfit one more time as my stomach does that little flippy thing again. Brushing my hair back, I smack my lips together and leave the bedroom as Noah knocks again.
“Kady?” he yells, worry in his voice and I roll my eyes.
“One second.”
When I grab my purse off the counter, I grab a treat for Jack and hand it to him before walking to the front door and sucking in a breath as I open it. Noah smiles before his gaze slowly falls down the length of my body. His mouth goes slack as heat fills his eyes and I fidget in front of him, my heart pounding out of control.
“You look fucking incredible, baby,” he growls. Reaching out, I grab his shirt in my fist and pull him to me as he lets out a startled laugh.
“What do you say we stay in instead of going out?” I ask, skating my fingers down his chest and he studies me for a moment before slowly shaking his head as a smile stretches across his face.
“Sorry, darlin’. You’re not getting out of date night that easily.”
I meet his gaze and glare up at him for a second before stomping my foot and shoving him to the side so I can slip past him. His laughter bounces around the small confines of the porch and I roll my eyes as I stomp down to the truck. There are so many reasons why this is such a bad idea but of course, no one will listen to me.
“Hey,” Noah calls, catching up with me and spinning me around to face him. “What’s the deal, babe? You really don’t want to go out with me?”
There’s a touch of vulnerability in his voice, the first hint that he’s shown that maybe he’s not as confident as he always seems and it’s the one thing that breaks through all the armor I’ve built around my emotions these past seven years.
“No, it’s not that. I just…” I glance over my shoulder at the end of the driveway. Why does it always feel like, at any moment, someone is going to race up and grab me again?
“This is a really big deal for you, isn’t it?”
I nod, my gaze fixed on the button of his plaid shirt. “I’m so scared, Noah. I can’t end up back in that apartment.”
“And you never will,” he barks, his voice somehow soft and consoling at the same time as he cups my cheek in his hand. “I will die before I let him ever get his hands on you again and we have the entire club at our back this time.”
“The club? For real?”
Nodding, he wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me into his body. “It’s different than it was when I was locked up. They’re a real family now and any one of them would gladly take a bullet to protect me and you. Hell, a few of them even got married and Storm has a baby girl.”
“Really?” I ask, arching a brow. It’s hard to imagine the wild outlaw club that I remember as the way he’s describing them now. He nods.
“Yeah, but you don’t have to take my word for it. Blaze suggested that we could do a party or a dinner or something. You can see for yourself how things are now and if you still don’t like it, I’ll leave.”
I meet his gaze, hopeful that maybe things really are different this time around. “You’d do that? For me?”