Page 45 of Love Takes Home

“All of them are personal to me. They all represent the important people in my life.”

“Tell me?”

I grin and point out the ones she can see on my chest and right arm. “This one,” I point to my left pec, “is for my mom, Annie. These,” I point to my right peck, “are for the guys I served with.”

“That one?” She points to my right bicep.

“Davis and Trish.” It’s a beer tap, pouring beer, a book made to be the handle.

“Where are Tiny and Lottie?” she grins, accepting that these people are my family.

I point to my forearm, “The wolf and the bear.”

“Ranger? Do you have one for Elle yet?”

“This one.” I sit up and point to my left bicep. It’s a tattoo gun inking a paint palette on my skin. “And this one is for you.” I sit up even more and show her my back. Starting on my left shoulder are the scroll and pegs of a cello, the neck and body of it covering almost the entirety of my back.

“Harrison,” she whimpers.

“It’s my favorite, and some of Ranger’s best work,” I reply, pulling her back into my arms and holding her tight.

“I don’t know what to say.”

“Nothing to say. I told you, the people who mean the most to me are forever etched on my skin and in my heart.”

She kisses me, tears slipping down her cheek, and I can feel her love. I also know if we don’t get a move on right now, I’m going to lose myself in her again and we’ll be late.

“Our five minutes is up,” I quietly say against her lips. “We need to get ready.”

The pout on her lips when we end the kiss is priceless. But, I don’t give her a chance to deny me this one. I hop up from the bed and pull her up, holding her hand as I walk across the hall into the bathroom and turn on the shower. I pull two towels out from under the sink and test the water, and help her step in with me when it’s not freezing cold.

“We’re really going on a date?”

“Yes, ma’am. A date. Today. I have big plans for us.” I kiss her softly under the spray of water, pulling back to remind her. “Yousaid you understood. Me? You? We are an us now. And I want the entire fucking world to know.”

Chapter 15

Ginny

“Where are we going?”I ask when Joker hands me my bike helmet. Yes, mine. He had one made for me.

“It’s a surprise. You like to ride, enjoy it, and when we get there, we get there.”

“Fine.”

“Stop pouting.” He grins at me, leaning over to kiss my cheek. “I promise you’ll like it.”

He gets on the bike, helping me on behind him and wrapping my arms around his middle. I might love the ‘Tiny’ couch, as we all call it, but this is a close second. The best part is when he pulls me closer to him, ensuring I’m essentially enveloped around his body.

We take off down the highway headed south. We pass the farms on the way out of town, and I think of Trish taking baby Aaron to see her dad’s best friend and playing with the animals on their ranch. She’s asked me to go before and ride horses, butI always come up with a reason not to. Maybe we could go with Lottie, Elle, and a couple of my friends from the school. That would be a blast. Go me with the good ideas.

We ride through Rockton and a few other smaller towns without talking. It’s obviously impossible to really have a conversation, so all I can do is think. And all I can think about is that I had sex with Joker this morning. That he all but declared his love for me. That we’re an official us? Mind officially blown. I’m kind of still waiting to wake up from the best dream ever, if I’m being honest.

I also think about his recommendation that I talk to someone. I know Trish did when she went through all her shit, but it was someone she already knew and felt comfortable with. I don’t want to burden anyone I don’t know with all my baggage. I know it’s their job, but still. It makes me uncomfortable. Hell, I don’t like talking to the people who do know me about what’s going on in my head.

I’m so lost in my own head that when Joker stops the bike, the absence of the motor running between my thighs is the only reason I realize something’s changed. I look up and see a sight for my sore eyes. Sandy’s Diner.

“We’re in Briar Mountain?” I ask.

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