Page 52 of Falcon

Another question was nagging at me, and I figured I’d go on while I was on that track. “I know some of the men have wives and old ladies, but I’ve seen them with other women. Do you plan to have a side piece?”

“Why would I need a side piece when I have five personalities in one?”

I threw a weak punch to his shoulder. “Don’t make jokes. I need to know. Things are different here and I don’t know if I can handle that.”

“Is that why you want to work? You think I’m gonna start fucking around and you can take off?”

I shrugged. “I watched my mom get beat up, cheated on, cheated with, you name it. I never want to be like her.”

“Is that why you were dancing?”

“I wanted away from her and that place. Dancing was the fastest way out.”

Falcon rubbed his hand over my hair then down my shoulder. He grabbed my chin and looked over my face. “I told you, I’m yours. Meaning only yours. And I told you that if you wanted to rock someone’s shit for looking at me sideways, then do it. Hell, once shit settles down, if you want to get a place of our own, we will.”

I ran my fingers through his beard and watched his lips. “I dunno. I kinda like it here. It’s like having a family.” Growing up wasn’t what I’d seen on TV. Even though this place was full of rowdy men and women, it still felt good to be surrounded by them. Even Lacy and I seemed closer than before.

“That’s exactly what it is. And we can stay if you want, but we can move, too. When we have kids, we may want to raise them away from the partying.”

My stomach flipped. “Kids?” What the fuck?

“Well, yeah. Once this shit blows over, we can get started on living, darlin’.”

One thing I’d grown to know about this man since I met him was he said what he meant, and he meant what he said. The reverent look in his hazel eyes only solidified he was serious. “You’d want that? With me?”

“Woman, you got a thick skull. You know that?” He pulled me down and gave me a soft kiss. Even though it wasn’t his normal urgent and greedy kiss, it sent tingles all the way to my toes. “I’m not much of a talker but I like to think I tell you what’s important. Kids and shit seemed a little much to throw at you ‘til now. But I wanted you to know I think about that stuff, with you.”

I ran my hands over his cheeks and down his beard before grabbing it in my fists. “Falcon, I hope you know that my crazy need for freedom isn’t because I want space from you. I just want space for me. I was used to being on my own and then with the shit that I just went through…” I wasn’t sure how to end that. It still felt weird to even say out loud what really happened. And it was also embarrassing. How did I let myself get in that position? “But I’m happy here. And I’m happy with you. I guess I just can’t wrap my head around everything being normal. Before my ex, I thought things were normal, but I was young and didn’t know what that even meant. This feels like a home. I just wish I knew it was real.”

“I’ll show you every day, Daisy. You belong here and you belong with me. But now do you see why I don’t think it’s a good time to be at the strip club?”

My shoulders fell and I nodded. “Yes, but I still want to work when things settle. I guess I can work at the tattoo shop for now.” He started to lean in for a kiss, but I halted him with both hands. “But I want an actual paycheck. Not just you tossing cash at me when I ask.”

“Well then I guess we have to get all the paperwork filled out so you can be legit.”

Shit. “I don’t have any ID. I lost everything.” It was another reminder of how I royally fucked up.

He grabbed my chin and pulled me to him. “We’ll take care of it soon. But first, I need to tell ya. I gotta take a ride up north.”

“Up north? Why?”

He tucked a loose hair behind my ear. “Club business. We go about once a month. That’s how I found you.”

“I guess I never thought to ask why you were up there. But how long are you going to be gone?” After just telling me how dangerous it was around here, it was unnerving for him to leave me here.

“Just a day and a half or so. We ride up, handle business, then ride back.”

“When?”

He sighed and tightened his arms around me. His hazel gaze locked on mine. “Tomorrow.”

“Fuck, Falcon! You just said it’s dangerous here and you want to leave me alone?”

“It’s not dangerous here. Just hang out around the clubhouse ‘til I get back. You’ll barely notice I’m gone.”

I pushed his chest, but it didn’t make him budge. “What about the shop? You just told me I could work there.”

“For this one, just stay here. Next month, I’ll arrange a ride for you. Eagle rides with us, so he won’t be here, either. Spend some time with Lacy. Setup your phone. Get some rest. Do girly shit. I’ll be back before you miss me.”

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