Page 51 of Iron Will
The thing is, though… Rourke? He may be a biker. And he may have scared the crap out of me the first time I met him. The world may look at him like he’s a lowlife, or a criminal.
But he’s a better man than most men I know. Including my senator father.
If my parents met Rourke, they would be horrified by him. They would lose their minds if he and I got together.
But Rourke Powers is worth ten of Rodney Hart.
Whatever happened between us last night may already be over. I don’t know.
But if I’m honest with myself, I don’t want it to be.
* * *
“You’re in a good mood,”Katie says, furrowing her brow.
“Am I?” I reply breezily.
“Yes.” She cocks her head at me. “You’re less uptight than usual.”
“Um… thanks?” I guess I should be offended, but I just laugh.
“You know what I mean. You’re…” Katie waves her hand around at me. “You’re not walking like you walk. All buttoned up and professional. You…” Her eyes widen. “You look like you got laid.”
I laugh again, but this time it sounds forced, even to me.
“Oh, come on,” I scoff. “That’s ridiculous. People don’t actually look different after they’ve had sex. That’s just a thing people say in the movies.”
“Uh, I guess it’snotjust a thing they say in the movies,” she smirks, crossing her arms and giving me a knowing stare. “Becauseyouare blushing! So don’t give me that B.S. Girl, you. Got. Laid.”
Shit. I can keep lying, but Katie’s on this like a dog with a bone now. I know her well enough to know she’s not going to let up. So I pull in a deep breath and roll my eyes.
“People have sex, Katie,” I sigh, trying for astop-making-such-a-big-deal-out-of-nothingtone. “Though I’m not exactly happy to learn that I walk like I have a stick up my butt.”
“So, who is it?” Katie presses, ignoring me. “You didn’t mention meeting anyone or going on any dates recently. And, you don’t have a social life. So where did you find this guy?”
“Okay, seriously? Is this Insult Laney Day?”
“Oh, come on,” she snorts. “You’re the first to admit your social calendar is basically nonexistent. The only place you even come into contact with people of the opposite sex is here at the hospital. And…” Katie trails off, and then her eyes practically pop out of her head.
“It’s the biker, isn’t it?” she breathes.
“Katie…”
“Itis! Oh, my God!” She stares at me in shock. And not the good kind of shock. “Oh myGod, Laney!” she repeats, her voice rising. “I mean, I know he kissed you in the coffee shop, but I figured you’d come to your senses before…” She shakes her head. “Good lord, are you crazy?”
“It was just one date,” I protest.
“‘Date’!” she snorts. “For God’s sake, Laney, you don’t know a single thing about him!” Katie flings her hands in the air. “What iswrongwith you? God, you basically live like a nun for as long as I’ve known you, and now this? Talk about going to extremes! How can you have just done everything you can to get Mickey away from Bethany and Paisley, and then fall into the arms of a man who’s probably ten times more dangerous?”
My cheeks flame with indignation. “Katie, that is absolutely ridiculous.”
“How do you know?” She reaches up and points a finger at my face. “How do you know? You think this biker thing is just an act? You think he collects stamps for a hobby, or something?”
“I just do,” I shoot back, sounding lame even to myself. But it’s true. Somehow Ido.
I have no doubt he could be dangerous as hell, to the person who got on his wrong side.
But I also know deep down, there’s a kindness to him. And he always holds the door open for me. And he’s told me about how hard he tried to protect his sister from their father.