Rooter (Double H Romance) (11 page)

“Fine!” Miranda screams.

Chapter 13
First Date

I’m in a deep sleep when I’m awoken by the sound of my door opening. Visions of the night before give me a start and I jerk upright. It’s only Miranda, but it doesn’t make me feel any better.

“Sorry I scared you,” she whispers and enters my room cautiously. Her eyes are still puffy from crying last night.

“What do you want?” I rest on my elbows.

“I’m on my way to work, but I wanted to apologize for last night. I didn’t mean any of it.”

I shake my head, incensed. “Sure you did. You’re just afraid of losing a reliable rent paying roommate.”

She cries. “That’s not true, Soph. I really am sorry.”

“Miranda, I’m exhausted.” I fall back onto my mattress.

“I know, but you work tonight so this is my only chance to talk to you. Please don’t leave. Not until we talk. If you still want to move out after that, I won’t try to stop you.”

“Fine,” I grumble, but only because I’m truly not sure where I’d even go. I think Ryan would take me on as a roommate, but if not I don’t know where else I’d go.

“Do you mean that or are you saying it to get me to leave?”

I glare at her. “Only one way to find out.”

“Please, Soph. Promise me you won’t leave,” she frets.

“I said I would stay.”

She stands at the edge of my bed looking at me, reluctant to leave.

“Are you going to stand there and stare at me all day?” I snipe.

“Sorry. I’ll see you tonight?” She asks.

“Yeah.”

“Okay.” She walks to my door and turns to look at me once more. “I really am
very
sorry about last night.”

What am I supposed to say? Thank you? It’s okay? I’m not thankful for her apology and it’s not okay. So rather than respond I simply nod. Once she closes my door behind her I pull my blankets over my head hoping to go back to sleep, but my phone rings. The ringtone tells me it’s Rooter. I roll over and pick it up from my nightstand.

“Hello?”

“I’m surprised you’re up so early.”

I don’t think I’ll ever become immune to the sound of his voice. I glance out my window and see him standing at his. “Stalking me?” I jest with a smile.

“Always,” he chuckles. “I saw you talking to Miranda.”

“Yeah, she and I got into it last night. She begged me not to move out.”

“You’re moving out?” His voice is thick with concern.

I drag my fingers through my hair and when they get stuck in a tangle it occurs to me I probably look like hell. “I doubt it.”

“You doubt it?”

I check my appearance in the mirror and it confirms my suspicion. My hair is matted to the right side of my head and my eyes are ringed with dark circles. I must’ve slept hard. “It was a stupid fight. We’ll get over it. We always do.”

“Let me guess, it had to do with kicking Mike out.”

“You guessed it.”

“And she blames you and me.”

“You guessed it again.” Having this conversation on the phone while looking at each other through our bedroom windows is somewhat strange, but I like it. I like seeing his face as he talks; the shape of his lips when he forms his words and the way his body moves when he shifts on his feet. “You ready to take me to my car?”

“That’s why I called. I need to run an errand. Shouldn’t take longer than a few hours.”

“That’s cool. I could use a few more hours of sleep. Maybe you can take me to work later. I don’t don’t go in until four.”

“That’ll work.” He flashes me a smile.

After an extremely busy night the last thing I want to do is have a talk with Miranda at a quarter to one in the morning. I pull into the driveway and when I open my door, Rooter walks toward me.

“Hi,” I smile, happy to see him.

“Hi.” He kisses me on the cheek. He takes me by the hand and walks me to my door. “How was work?”

“Kicked my ass.” After a couple steps I muster the courage to ask him a burning question. “Can I ask you something?”

“Of course.”

“All this time, you sitting on your porch when I get home from work, have you been doing it to make sure I get in safe?”

He rubs his neck. “Yes, I have.”

I knew it!
“You truly are amazing.”

“This is a bad neighborhood. I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

“My own personal bodyguard.” Swoon.

“I guess I am.”

We stand and stare at one another in front of my door. I’m dying for him to kiss me.

“You going to unlock your door or do you want to hang out here all night?” He snickers.

“I’m waiting for my good night kiss.”

Rooter leans in and gives me a peck on the cheek.

“That’s all I get?” I pout.

He leans in again and presses his lips to mine, quick and soft, but it’s enough to make my heart race.

“I want a real kiss,” I whine like a petulant child.

He smirks and shakes his head. “I’m not kissing you until after our date.”

“Why?”

He squeezes my hand. “Because I want to do this right.”

The tone of his voice conveys how important this is to him, so I let it go. “Okay.” I unlock the door. “Thank you for walking me to my door.”

“My pleasure. Good night, Sophie.”

“Good night, Rooter.”

Miranda is sitting on the couch, waiting for my arrival. Her expression is pensive. The television is on, but muted. She must’ve heard me pull up.

“Hey,” she squeaks.

“Hey.” I’m still on a high from seeing Rooter. I hope this conversation won’t ruin it.

“How was work?” She rubs her hands on the top of her legs.

“Busy. I’m tired.”

“I’ll try to be quick.”

I plod over and sit in the Lazy Boy next to the sofa.

“I was wrong to blame you for Mike’s issues.”

“Yes, you were.” I press my lips together in a tight line.

“Mike and I got into it over kicking him out. He said a lot of really awful things and I was upset. I took it out on you.”

No shit.
“I get that, but, he had to go. You agree with that, don’t you?”

Her eyes tear over. “Yeah. I do. I just hate that it’s come to this. He hates me.”

“He hates everyone, Miranda.” I take a deep breath. “There’s something I need you to tell me.”

“What?” She wipes her eyes with the sleeve of her shirt.

“Are you mad at me for how I handled it when he told me he was in love with me?”

“No.” She shakes her head emphatically. “I’m not. It was shit timing. He chose the worst possible time to come out with that.”

“I never wanted to hurt him.”

“I know that, Sophie. And you’re right. Mike is an adult. He’s responsible for his actions. He needs to be held accountable for the things he’s done to us.”

“Yes, he does.”

“It’s so hard for me,” her soft cries turn into sobs. “He’s the only family I have left. Losing him is killing me.”

I sit next to her and cradle her in my arms. “I know.”

“I love him so much.”

“He loves you too, sweetie. But he’s really messed up right now. We have to hope he gets the help he needs.”

She scooches closer while she cries. I rub her back and tell her everything will be okay even though I’m not one hundred percent sure it will be.

When date night rolls around, I’m not the least bit nervous. I’m anxious to get this show on the road. I’ve been waiting for this moment ever since I first laid eyes on Rooter.

Miranda wants me to wear one of her sexy dresses, but I assume wherever Rooter and I go, we’ll be going on his motorcycle and wearing a dress wouldn’t bode well. I settle on a pair of ripped skinny jeans, a black blouse with sequins, and a pair of black flat boots. I pair it with bangle bracelets and black stud earrings. My hair is down in loose waves and Miranda applies my makeup giving me smoky eyes the way I like.

The doorbell rings at exactly five thirty. I shoot up from my seat on the couch, jacket in hand. It’s way too warm outside right now for a leather jacket, but it’ll be much cooler by this evening.

“He’s here,” I squeal just loud enough for her to hear.

“Have fun.” She kisses me on the cheek.

When I open the door, I’m blown away. Rooter is in a pair of crisp dark wash jeans and a muscle hugging light gray, long sleeve V-neck shirt with the sleeves pushed up his forearms. I’m taken aback by seeing him sans his leather MC cut. He’s beyond perfect. And he’s eyeing me questioningly.

“I wasn’t going to make you ride the bike tonight.”

I peer down at my clothing and frown. “Is this not appropriate? I can change,” I offer, suddenly wishing I’d taken Miranda’s advice and worn a dress.

“You look amazing, but I don’t want you to think you always have to dress for the bike.”

I breathe a small sigh of relief. “Rooter, you hate being in cars. Of course I dressed to be on the bike.”

“This is our first date. I’d be happy to take my truck.”

“I like riding with you on your bike.”

He smiles wide and when he kisses my temple it sends shivers down my spine. “You are too good to be true.”

Rooter and I walk hand in hand to his garage to get his motorcycle. I can’t stop staring at him, even when he notices.

“No cut?” I ask.

“Not tonight.”

“It wouldn’t bother me.”

“That’s not why I chose not to wear it. Sophie, there’s more to who I am than the club.” Rooter’s smoldering expression is hot enough to make me melt. “Tonight I just want to be a guy on a date with his girl.”

Swoon. “As long as you aren’t doing it for me. I don’t have that kind of expectation.”

He smiles and sets his helmet on my head. “We need to get you a helmet of your own.”

This one statement makes me happier than I can possibly explain. It means he’s looking ahead, and he sees me in his future.

“So, where are you taking me?”

Rooter shakes his head and gives me a mischievous grin. “Have to wait and see.”

I climb onto the back of the bike and wrap my arms around his waist the way he instructed me to the last time. The scent of his cologne is a mixture of oak and fruit. Before I’m aware of what I’m doing, I lean in to his neck and inhale deeply. He pats my calf affectionately before firing up the engine.

We pull up to a beautiful lakefront cottage. What is this place? A friend’s house? He’s bringing me to a friend’s on our first date? I didn’t have any set expectations, but I thought we’d be alone. Rooter helps me off the bike and removes the helmet. I rake my fingers through my hair hoping it still looks nice.

“It’s perfect,” Rooter assures me and takes me by the hand.

He opens the front door of the cottage without knocking and motions for me to go in ahead of him. The place is stunning. The walls are white, the ceiling is vaulted with dark wooden beams, and the floor is a dark, wide plank hardwood. The furniture is white, and the décor is in light blues and neutral tones. Sunlight shines in through the abundance of windows. Beautiful.

“Wow,” I gasp.

Rooter flashes me his signature panty wetting grin and takes me by the hand. “Come.”

He guides me through the house to a set of french doors leading to the backyard. The doors open to reveal a beautiful beach side dinner complete with candles and soft music. An elegant table setting awaits us beneath a pergola draped in white curtains and red rose vines.

“Rooter, this is…” I try to think of a word to describe the beauty before me. “There are no words for what this is.”

He kisses my hand. “I’m glad you like it.”

“I more than like it. I’ve never…” I get choked up.

No one has ever done anything even remotely this romantic for me. No one has ever done
anything
romantic for me. Period. I was beginning to think this sort of thing only happens in the movies. Rooter pulls me close.

“I want to give you the things you deserve, Sophie.” He tilts my chin up to look at him. “This is what you deserve.”

“Rooter, please kiss me.”

He leans in so close I can feel the heat radiating from his skin. “I’m going to kiss you Sophie.”

My stomach is floating in my chest, warmth cascades over me and my pulse races.

He continues. “I’m going to kiss you like you’ve never been kissed in your life. Like you’ll never be kissed by anyone else ever again.”

Yes. That’s what I want. I’ve waited my entire life for a kiss like that. I knew Rooter was the one to give it to me the moment I first laid eyes on him. My lips part in anticipation.

He backs away with a smug grin. “But not until the end of our date.”

“That’s cruel,” I pant.