Page 14 of The Originals

She held up her hand. “I’m sure they’re out there, I just don’t know any. I certainly wouldn’t.”

Mick slowly nodded and looked out over the river. Conversation had ceased, and his mood had taken a turn. She was getting the sense she may have insulted him with her assumption. Meg didn’t really know Mick or anything about relationships in motorcycle clubs. Had she just made an unfair judgement?

“Getting late. Need to get you home.”

The air shifted, and she realized, without intention, she’d definitely offended him. Mick walked up the heavily wooded path, occasionally looking back as if to check on her. It was sweet and a bit unexpected. But why was that? He’d been the perfect gentleman during their date. She’d considered the possibility she’d be fending off his sexual advances all night. It was the opposite. If anything, as he’d pointed out, it was Meg who continuously brought up sex.

The ride to her house in Turnersville was only about twenty minutes.Too short.She would’ve given anything for more timewith him. She thought about suggesting it, but Mick’s vibe had changed since her comment. She wasn’t risking being turned down. They were three blocks from her house at a traffic light when he tapped her thigh, shouting over the engine.

“What’s your address?”

Meg stared down the empty street leading to her house. Her parents would ask too many questions, have too many opinions, if they heard the motorcycle. She might be an adult, but she still lived under their roof. It would be more of a hassle than anything else.

“Can you drop me off in two blocks? I can walk the rest of the way.”

Mick glanced over his shoulder and gave her a look she couldn’t quite describe. Had she offended him again? His hand slid off her thigh, and she immediately felt the loss from his touch. Mick drove down two more streets and pulled to the curb. She waited until the bike stopped rolling and took a breath. She’d had so many reservations about this date initially. Now the night was ending, and she didn’t want him to leave. Ironic. She’d thought for sure if anyone would be offended by something said tonight, it would be her. It turned out she was the offending party.

He turned his head. He was probably eager to get her off the bike and away from her. She grabbed his shoulder, felt the soft leather under her hands, and glanced down at his patch. Ghosttown Riders MC. It was probably the last time she’d see it up close. It was on the tip of her tongue to apologize. She should’ve.

“You okay?”

Meg flattened her lips and nodded. She got off the bike and stepped two feet away. Mick hadn’t shut down the bike. Why would he? This date wasn’t ending with a goodnight kiss orsetting up plans to see one another again. Meg battened down her disappointment.

“Thanks for dinner and the ride. I liked it a lot.”

He smiled with a nod.

There was nothing left to say. She waved and turned toward the direction of her house. It was dark, but she’d walked home plenty of times alone late at night. There wasn’t much crime in Turnersville. Actually, there wasn’t much of anything in her small town.

She was two houses away from her own when she realized she couldn’t hear his bike anymore. He must have taken a U-turn, heading back to his clubhouse in Ghosttown. There was a good possibility their paths wouldn’t cross again. Aside from the party at the clubhouse and the river, she rarely visited the smaller town. There was never a reason. And it looked like there never would be. The thought alone made her shoulders slump, and an overwhelming uneasiness raced through her veins.

Meg walked up the concrete steps of her front walkway. A chill spread over her arms, pebbling her skin. There wasn’t a bit of a breeze. She stopped midway to her front door and spun around toward the sidewalk, searching the empty street.

Mick was standing on the property edge of her neighbor’s house. His hands were tucked in his front pockets with his gaze locked on her. Without a second thought, she started down the steps and sidewalk, stopping a few feet away from him.

“Is something wrong?”

“No.”

“Then what are you doing here?”

He lifted his chin, gesturing to her house. “Wanted to make sure you got home safe.”

That was beyond sweet. Most of her dates who dropped her off didn’t bother waiting for her to get inside before taking offdown the road. But Mick? He parked his bike and followed her home.

“Not too much crime in this town.”

His eyes darkened. “Don’t care. Not gonna take a chance withyou.”

She swallowed the knot in her throat.

“I’m sorry,” she blurted.

“For what?”

She hooked her thumb over her shoulder. “That comment at the river about a wife or old lady. The whole sharing thing.”

His face softened, but he remained silent.