She looked like a million bucks in tight snakeskin pants, a sexy black halter, the choker he loved, and a gorgeous smile that unfurled the knots in his gut. He pocketed his phone as she pushed from the bike. The energy radiating from her was lighter and different than it had been in years, and he knew things had gone well.
“Damn, Mancini. You in that outfit…” He drank her in and drew her into his arms. “Mm-mm. I’d like to bend you over that bike and take you right here and now.”
She raised her brows. “I was hoping you’d have that reaction.”
“Does this mean it went well with the Bakers?”
“Even better than I’d hoped. I told them everything, and we cried a lot, but by the time I left, I think we all felt better. I’m so glad I went, and I never would have gotten the nerve if it weren’t for you.”
He held her tighter. “And this outfit is your way of thanking me?”
“Only the part I can show you in public.” A taunting grin curved her lips, and she wound her arms around his neck. “I was hoping you’d take me to the Roadhouse to celebrate.”
“Are you sure you want to celebrate where you work? Where’s your truck? How’d you get here?”
“It doesn’t matter how I got here. And yes, I’m sure. I know I’ve got to be a boss, but I’m also a woman who is madly in love with the hottest guy in this town, and if I want to celebrate with him in my bar, that’s what I’m gonna do. Fuck ’em if they don’t like it.”
There it was, the difference he’d noticed, shining as bright as the dawn of a new day, and hell if he didn’t want to stay right there and fucking revel in it for the rest of his damn life. “God, I love you.”
As he lowered his lips to hers, she said, “I love you, too.”
He kissed her greedily, and she went up on her toes as he took the kiss deeper. Jesus. Even their kisses felt different. Hotter and more electrifying, lighting up his entire body. His hand moved into her hair, angling her mouth beneath his, taking the kiss impossibly deeper. He heard something in his periphery, but her hands slid down his back and she grabbed his ass, obliterating his every thought beyond wanting more.
“That better be my daughter’s hands on your ass, Whiskey, or you’re not going to have an ass to be grabbed,” Manny growled.
Their lips parted on grins, and Dare kept her close, turning to see their fathers, his brothers, and a handful of guys, who all cheered and whistled.
“Guess things went okay with the Bakers, sweetheart?” Manny asked.
“Yeah, Dad. They did.” She was grinning from ear to ear and slid her arm around Dare’s waist.
Dare looked at his beautiful girl and said, for her ears only, “Are you up for a big celebration with the guys?” The joy that sparked in her eyes as she nodded had his heart stumbling. He turned around and hollered, “Party at the Roadhouse!”
“That’s what I’m talking about!” Rebel shouted, and more cheers rang out. “I’ll get the others!”
There was a flurry of activity as Rebel headed into the clubhouse and guys went for their bikes.
Manny came over to hug Billie, and Dare stepped away to give them privacy.
His father lumbered over. “Feel like you can breathe again, son?”
“Yeah. I was so worried.” He looked at his father and noticed that he looked lighter, too. “You?”
He nodded curtly. “She’s been like a daughter to me and your mother since she was a sassy little thing romping around in cowboy boots and your hat. She’s been hurting for a long time, and so have we. She’s got that look she used to get when you two were younger and getting ready to do some crazy-ass stunt.” His father cracked a smile. “I reckon you’re in for a hell of a wild night.”
“I’m looking forward to it. Aren’t you coming?”
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world, and neither would your mom. I’m going to pick her up. We’ll see you there”
“WILD HEARTS” BY Keith Urban blared from speakers, and people practically shouted to hear each other, but there was only one person Dare needed to hear, and he was twirling her on the dance floor. They’d been dancing on and off for nearly two hours. The Roadhouse was packed with Dark Knights, their families, and a handful of other customers. They were so busy, Manny had joined Alice and Kellan, serving behind the bar. It wasn’t a coincidence. Dare knew damn well his father and Manny had spread the word that Billie “Badass” Mancini was celebrating. After all, it’s not every day the feistiest girl in Hope Valley, who had gone from being a Daredevil and professional motocross racer to living behind walls so thick Dare didn’t know how she’d breathed, to joking around with everyone and dancing like she deserved a spotlight.
And she fucking did.
Cowboy and Bobbie were dancing a few feet away, as were Doc and a tall redhead. Their parents were dancing, too. They didn’t often get to see their parents out on the dance floor, but nobody was holding back tonight. Especially not his girl, who was dancing like the music flowed through her veins.
When the song ended and “Take My Name” by Parmalee came on, Dare tugged her into his arms, slowing them down. “Are you enjoying torturing me with all your sexy dancing, in that fuck-me outfit, Mancini?”
She draped her arms over his shoulders, running her fingers along the back of his neck. “Why, yes, Whiskey. Yes, I am.”
“I don’t care if you don’t know how to dance,” Birdie said loudly as she dragged a complaining Hyde past them, followed by Sasha and Taz.
“She’s such a pest,” Dare said. “Hyde hates dancing.”
“Let your sister be, and focus on me,” Billie said.
“Baby, my focus is never off you. Do you know how happy I am right now? Seeing you dancing like this?”
“Well, I’m about to make you even happier.”
He held her tighter, brushing his lips over hers. “Now we’re talking.”
“Keep it in your pants for a little longer, Whiskey.” Her expression softened. “I decided to watch you jump the buses next weekend.”
He was dumbfounded. “Are you sure?”
“Yes. I’ve been thinking about it, and when we said Daredevils for life, I meant it. If something happens to you, and I pray it doesn’t, but if it does, I want you to know that I’m there supporting you and cheering you on, just like you’ve been cheering me on. I’m in this with you, Dare, no matter where it takes us.”
Overwhelmed and beyond happy, he touched his forehead to hers, trying to find words big enough to describe how that made him feel, but his heart must be drawing all the blood from his brain, so he went with “You can’t imagine how much that means to me.”
“Yes, I can. Now kiss me, Whiskey.”
He did, slow and deep, holding her tight as the song came to an end, and “Man! I Feel Like a Woman!” came on.
Birdie and Sasha squealed. Birdie grabbed Billie, and Sasha grabbed Bobbie, and the four of them started dancing together. “Mom!” Birdie waved their mother over, and Bobbie hollered to Alice, who came out from behind the bar to dance with them.
Dare loved every second of it and headed over to the bar with his father and the guys.