Page 76 of Elling & Jackie

Chapter 29

Elling stopped a blockaway from the Colman Hotel. Marcus, riding beside him, pulled in front of him and careened his neck to look at why he'd stopped. They'd left the clubhouse with the purpose of running the engine hot on Marcus's Harley after topping off the oil.

"What's wrong?" yelled Marcus.

He shut off his engine, got off the bike, and walked to his MC brother. "I have something I need to do."

"Hell, man. It's almost five o'clock. We're going to get caught in traffic in a few minutes if we don't cross the Willamette River now."

He lifted his chin. "Go on."

"Sure?"

"Ja. This is personal." He stepped away.

Marcus entered traffic and rode away. Elling walked to the end of the block and crossed the street. Jacqueline would be working.

He counted on her being too professional to yell at him or call security when he showed up. It'd give him time to get a few things off his chest. Last time he'd tried to talk with her, he'd become frustrated finding her little hellion of a sister in the room and having to fight her off.

Striding up the sidewalk, he forced the other pedestrians out of his way. He walked through the front door of the hotel and up to the desk by the time Jackie looked up with a smile on her face.

He grabbed that happiness before she hid it from him. His gut tightened. She darted her gaze around the lobby, probably searching for an escape.

He stood in front of her desk and planted his hands on the surface. "I'm coming back when you get off work. Let me in your room."

"No." She looked down at his hands.

"We need to talk."

She pursed her lips. "Not here."

"Where?"

"There's a coffee shop two doors up the block. They're open until two in the morning." She refused to look at him. "I get off at eleven o'clock, and can meet you there."

"If you're not there, I'll come here," he said, needing her to know he wouldn't be stood up.

She lifted her chin, gazed into his eyes, and nodded. He sprawled his hands and leaned in. It'd been almost two weeks without touching her. He needed to feel her in his arms and bring her back to him.

"You need to go before I get in trouble," she whispered.

He damned the situation. Nothing should come between him and his woman.

His woman.

He hadn't thought of staking a claim on her, but that's how he was feeling. She was the woman for him. He wouldn't allow another man to have what belonged to him.

In secret or in front of the world, he wanted there to be no questions that he was responsible for Jacqueline. That the Brikken tattoo was only a reminder of her past. She belonged to him as a Slag member.

"Eleven o'clock." He stepped back without taking his gaze off her.

The feelings she had for him weren't lost. She was holding on tightly to them, but they were there. He'd swear on his life.

Her neck spasmed as she swallowed. He hardened himself for her to argue, but she said no more to him.

Turning, he walked out the door. He only had a few more hours to wait.

Then, she'd be his.

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