Defiant Loyalty (Comanche Sons Motorcycle Club Book 2) (5 page)

She didn’t quite know what it was.

Love?

No, it couldn’t be.

“What’s wrong?”

“Huh?” She shook her head. Her heart still pounded with the sudden knowledge that made her shake with trepidation. She couldn’t possibly be in love with him. It just couldn’t happen. If that was true, this was the end of her life as she knew it.

Nothing would ever be the same.

Chapter Five

Chance didn’t know what was wrong, but there was something different about Riley. Ever since they made love last night, she was deep in thought, and he couldn’t identify what was on her mind. What was going on? He wanted to ask her, but then he couldn’t very well state it in the right words. He had enough experience with women to know that this was a bubbling pot, and if he stirred it too hard or too unexpectedly, the contents of it might just land on his face.

He had to be cautious, and he had to take his time.

In the morning, he saw her folding her clothes and putting them in the basket. Her eyes were still glazed over, as if she didn’t have enough sleep. “Are you feeling alright?”

“Yes, of course.”

“Ok.” He backed away pretty quickly. “So what time are you due at the bar tonight?”

“I have still got a couple of hours.” She checked her watch and then frowned. “Actually, I was thinking of picking up some clothes on the way. I still have enough time to make it to the mall and then go to the bar.”

“I will come with you.”

“You don’t have to…” She sighed. “Ok, fine. Since you’re going, you might as well pick up a few t-shirts. I counted last time you did laundry and you have exactly five shirts.”

“And that is just the perfect number to keep track of them.”

“Another five wouldn’t hurt.”

He gaped at her. “Another five. I don’t remember a time when I possessed more than seven. That’s the most I have ever bought.”

“There is more than enough space in your closet.”

He couldn’t come to grips with the idea of owning so much. “Yeah, but ten? That’s just way too much. I guess I am still used to the army life where you went anywhere with one shirt on your back and a spare in the bag pack. Five is a luxury.”

Picking up the basket, she walked past him. “Ok. If that’s the way you want. I won’t push you.” She put everything in her drawer while he watched with care. Ok. So definitely something was up. Once she was done, she checked her reflection in the mirror, did some minute adjusting to her hair—which in his opinion did nothing whatsoever since she always looked gorgeous whatever she did—and then picked up her purse. “Ready to leave?”

“I guess so.” He sighed. Alright, so he wasn’t likely to get to the bottom of this secret so soon. He would have to put in more of an effort. Chance was up for the task. It wasn’t often that she threw him a challenge. She wasn’t the sort to subject him to the silent treatment or give him dirty glances. If Riley had a problem, he was bound to hear about it, blunt, direct, and in full volume. And that is why he was all the more intrigued by her unusually reticent attitude. Something was up, and he intended to find out what it was.

They went out of the apartment. He locked the door and pocketed the key. He tried to hold her hand, but she slipped past him quickly as if she intended to avoid that. More and more intriguing. Was he in trouble for the fight they had yesterday, or was this something else altogether? Riley wasn't the kind to hold a grudge so he must have done something today to piss her off. He just couldn’t figure it out. They strolled to the nearest mall, and she headed for a boutique. He was reluctant to leave her, so he tagged along.

“You’re not much of a shopper,” he commented.

“It’s easier to be on the run with few possessions,” she admitted. “Of course, I do possess more than five shirts.”

“Maybe we can take a look at clothes for me once you’re done…if we have time,” he offered as a peace offering.

She glanced at him and a ghost of a smile flitted across her lips. Ok. So she wasn't pissed at him. It was something else. But what? “You don’t have to change your habits because of me.”

“I don’t mind. As you said, I do have more than enough space in the closet. It’s just that no one ever pointed this out ever before.”

“Have you ever lived with a woman?”

“No, you’re the first one.”

She clutched the shirts in her hand. “We’re not really living together. This is a temporary situation.”

The stab in his heart was brutal, and the worst of it was that she didn’t really mean it. “Yeah, of course. But I am quite enjoying it.”

He wanted to ask her if she also felt happy living with him, but he didn’t have the guts. Never ask a question if you’re not prepared to hear the answer. He wasn't ready for a rejection. He was far more invested in this relationship than she was. The thought was scary. “I should go try on these clothes,” she said and turned away.

He watched her walk away. It hurt to realize that the woman he loved just didn’t feel the same way. Was it because there was something lacking in him? Or perhaps she didn’t want to become embroiled in a relationship right now? Chance walked around. He saw a peach dress, picked it up, and turned it around. He could imagine her wearing it.

The saleswoman materialized by his side. “Are you looking for anything specific, sir?”

Chance was flabbergasted. What the hell was he thinking? Shopping for Riley now; really…what was wrong with him? “I was just browsing,” he said, but Chance did take the dress over to the fitting room. She was out, inspecting her shirt in the mirror. “Why don’t you try this also? It’s not a shirt, but I think it will look good on you.” Her eyebrows came together as she inspected the dress. He fully expected her to say no, but much to his relief, she took the dress from his hands and walked inside. He breathed a sigh of relief. “Uncharted territory, boy. Take it easy,” he muttered after she was gone.

When she came out, the dress was in her hand along with the other shirts. They walked to the counter and paid for everything. Chance didn’t comment. It was enough that she liked something he picked up.
Baby steps. Baby steps.
He reminded himself.

“Should we check out some clothes for you?”

“Yes, of course.”

They moved to another shop. As Chance was about to enter the store behind her, he had the strangest feeling as if he was being watched by someone. Quickly, he turned around and saw a guy in a blue hoodie disappear down the corner. Had that been Riley’s brother who was watching them or was he becoming paranoid?

“What is it?”

“No, nothing.” He shrugged and followed her inside. Surely, no one could afford to follow them day and night just to look for an opportunity to kill Riley. But the thought did remind him that he still hadn’t done anything about finding out about Wesley’s past history while he was in jail. He would do so today. “Ok, so here we go. This looks good.”

She gave him a look. “You have the exact same one in cream.”

“Do I?” He scratched his cheek. “Well then, you choose.”

She rolled her eyes but picked up a different striped t-shirt. “Ok. Don’t you have an opinion on this? Do you like it? Hate it? Want something with a different collar? A different color.”

“Love, if you choose something, I’m bound to like.” He adjusted the collar of his shirt. “And let’s face it, anything I wear, I am going to rock it.”

“In that case, I will choose whatever I like and you have to wear it.”

“Fine by me.”

She walked around the store, looking at different shirts and then finally picked one that was violently purple. He blanched but then smoothed his expression into neutral. “That’s fine, love. If you like it, I will wear it.”

She glared at him and put the shirt back. “You’re too much, Chance. How can you just…leave such a decision in my hands?”

He grabbed her hand and brought it to his lips. “Because I trust you.”

All the breath appeared to whoosh out of her lungs. Her hand trembled in his grip. She tugged it free. “I will pick something else.” Without much effort, they picked out three shirts, and he paid for them. They strolled out. “I should head to the bar.”

He checked the watch. “Ok, then. Why don’t you give me your shopping bag? I will drop it off at home after I take you to the bar, and then I’ve got work to do.”

“Why don’t I just go to the bar and you can go home?”

“Don’t be silly. It’s not safe,” he said without really thinking about it. He’d gotten too used to escorting her everywhere. “I will take you.”

She put a hand on her hips. “I’m not a child. Not only can I take care of myself, but also I have been doing it for the past many years, so you don’t need to act like you are my bodyguard or something like that.”

Chance had enough. “Do you prefer to have a reason to fight or do you just want to start shrieking at the top of your voice unless one of us becomes tired?”

“What? Why? The nerve of you…”

“No, not me. This time is the problem lies with you. I don’t know what’s gotten into you, but you’re in a funk since morning. It’s fine by me, but I can tell already that you’re spoiling for a fight, so whether you want to have it here or later at home, it’s ok with me. But I am walking you to the bar and that’s just it.”

She adjusted the strap of her purse. For a moment he was scared that she might take it off and whack him on the head with it, but violence wasn’t her style. “You’re not the boss of me.” She flounced away while he shook his head. Chance ran to catch up with her. “There is nothing wrong with me. I am perfectly fine.”

“So, you have not been in a strange mood since morning?”

“Of course, not. I don’t have moods.”

“All women have moods,” he muttered. Seeing her livid expression, he cleared his throat. “And men too, sometimes. There is nothing wrong with feeling a little out of it.”

“I am not in a bad mood.”

“Ok, fine.” They marched in silence. The day was bright and clear, and a nice breeze flitted around the trees. “Thanks for making me buy the shirts. I wouldn’t have done it if you hadn’t pushed me.”

She sniffed. Her hair, soft and silky, shifted around her head and with one hand, she pushed it back. “You are welcome.”

“I was thinking, perhaps, we could go away for a weekend. Remember our plan, the one that was so rudely interrupted.”

“Ah!” She glanced at him. He saw the conflict on her face. She wanted to say yes. She desired to say no. Then, she sighed. “Yes, that one. It would be great to get away for a weekend.”

“So we could leave this Friday. I can rent a car.”

“Are you sure? Your work?”

“I can manage.” Since he delivered to bars and also did some other odds jobs for the biker’s club, Chance sometimes worked on weekends, but it was something he could take care of in advance. “Let me talk to Jack. He is the one who owns the cabin.”

She looked so beautiful as she walked beside him. He just couldn’t get over the sheer magnetism that attracted him to her. Desire skipped through his nerves as he resisted the urge to take her in his arms and ask her point blank as to what was bothering her. She wouldn’t tell. It was better to stick to safe topics for now.

“He’s also in the club?” she asked.

“No, actually, he was in the army with me. Still is, actually.”

She glanced at him with an unsure expression in her eyes. “So, you’re still in touch with your army buddies?”

Chance wasn’t very comfortable talking about it but now that he’d opened the topic, he didn’t mind telling her. “Some of them, yes. Others cut contact me after…well, after I was sent to jail, but some of them seemed to think that it wasn’t my fault. I wasn’t the one who started the fight, I just ended it. Still, the law is the law and the army had to make the right call.”

“Ok, you can ask your friend. I will talk to Johnny and see if I can take off for the weekend. Now that Jane is managing so well, he can afford for me not to be there for some time. Plus he just hired another new waiter,” she said.