Page 10 of Rascal
She was glad they had stops along the way because it brought her thoughts to the present. If they rode too far without stopping or chatting, her brain couldn’t leave the issues at the college alone. She couldn’t reconcile the man she’d worked for with the man she saw through his words in text. She guessed that a suit and a smile could hide a lot going on beneath the surface. She hoped that Sarah and Scoop could dig up what exactly was going on before she had to return to the college. After what had happened, she couldn’t even call it home. It wasn’t hers. She wasn’t safe there, and living with Rascal had felt more like home than the house she’d lived in.
Rascal’s words continued to echo in her head until they were all she could imagine. As long as you’ll have me indicated he was hers. Could she take a chance and see what they could have together? She’d spent more time with him this weekend than she’d had with any other man, and she still couldn’t get enough.
What did it say about her that she was imagining a life with him? His hand tapping her thigh pulled her from her thoughts. He’d stopped on a street in front of a huge building. Nelson’s Honkytonk Saloon & Bar was on the building and on the tents out front of the building in the parking lot.
Rascal had removed his helmet and was waiting on her. She removed hers.
“We can just grab the card or if you want to stretch your legs, go to the restroom and grab a drink, we have plenty of time.”
If Rascal was offering, she was taking him up on stopping for a little bit. Her thighs were aching from keeping her balance on the seat, and her back wasn’t used to the bike either. Remi and War, along with Scoop and Sarah, were off their bikes and heading inside the building.
“I’m all for a break.”
Rascal held his hand up if she wanted to use it to get off the bike. She felt a little ungainly and hoped no one was watching her. Once she was off, Rascal set the kickstand and hooked their helmets on the bike, then grasped her hand pulling her toward him.
“How did you like the ride so far?”
His arms wrapped around her until she was flush against him. “It was fun, but my thighs feel like jelly.”
He chuckled. “Yeah, I figured. I can always give you a massage later,” he said, waggling his eyebrows.
She grinned and leaned up to his mouth, kissing his smiling lips. She’d planned on a quick kiss because she couldn’t resist, but Rascal had other plans. His hand slid up to her neck and tilted her head so he could devour her lips. Whistling and catcalls of ‘get a room’ had him pulling away entirely too early.
“Impertinent children,” Rascal growled, then guided her toward the door. She giggled, seeing him flip them off behind his back.
Rascal glanced around the bar and waited for Meg to come back from the restroom. Whiskey walked over carrying a case of sodas.
“Whiskey, you need some help?”
“Yeah, if you could grab the case behind the bar, I’d appreciate it.”
Rascal walked over behind the bar and grabbed the case. As he lifted it, he noticed the Number of Days since we booted an asshole from the bar board was back to zero.
“Hey Whiskey, that didn’t happen today with our people, did it?” Rascal nodded his head toward the sign.
Whiskey shook his head. “Nope, Quinton was working. Hennessy was bugging him and playing the song like every third song, so when the guys smarted off to one of our newer waitresses, things went sideways.”
Whiskey pushed through the door and held it as Rascal walked through. Rascal chuckled. There wasn’t ever a boring time when they were with the Nelson clan.
“Well, I don’t see broken windows, so it looks like he made sure the door was open at least.”
Whiskey set down his case and then popped it open, unloading it into the cooler with ice. “Yes, and no guns came out so I’m considering that a win, but it will be a while before I ask Quinton to work when Hennessy is.”
Rascal set his case down. “Probably a good idea. I need to get back to my woman.”
Rascal walked away, not answering the question in Whiskey’s eyes. He didn’t want Meg to feel like he abandoned her. Walking back into the building, he clocked her standing with Sarah by the jukebox. Striding over to her, he slid his arm around her waist.
“Sorry I missed you coming out. I helped Whiskey carry out a case.”
“No problem. Sarah was updating me about when one of the cousins shot the jukebox like that song?”
Rascal laughed. “Yep, a lot of crazy things happened over the years with nine boys being raised by three brothers.”
Meg smiled, and Rascal felt a warmth in his chest. The last couple of days with Meg had been the happiest he’d had besides with his grandkids. When he’d told her earlier, as long as she’d have him, he meant it.
He’d been brainstorming how she could feel fulfilled staying in Bluff Creek. He knew she adored teaching about American History and specifically conflicts the military was involved in. How could she be happy in their small town and still do what she loved? Maybe he’d get his daughter and bonus daughters on that subject. Those girls, well women could accomplish amazing things when they put their minds to something. And he needed them to figure out a way for Meg to stay because he wasn’t sure he could handle her leaving after this weekend.
Holding her last night in his arms as they slept had given him a peace he hadn’t felt before. He wanted to make all her dreams come true and get rid of the danger to her. If that whack job at her college thought he was going to do anything to Meg, he had another thing coming. Rascal might be in his sixties, but he had no problem protecting the woman he was falling for. Heck, he wasn’t even going to get upset when Baron gave him crap for falling so quickly. It was only what he deserved after how he teased Baron back when Regina had come to Bluff Creek.