Page 38 of Savage

“You heard right. I found her in Casper on the way up. But I’m sure.” Savage turned from where he’d been watching Donna until she disappeared from view. He looked at the local club president. “When you met her, how long until you knew, knew she was the one?”

Lurch was quite a moment. “Not right away when I met her, but once I started spending time with her? It was almost instant.” His hands tightened around Kerry, then eased again. As if he’d squeezed her to show how much she meant to him. She grinned then leaned over and laid her head against his shoulder.

“Would you have done any differently than I did this morning?”

“No. I can’t say I would have. And I wasn’t questioning that part. You were right when you said if he’d said the same thing about any of these women, one of us would have laid him out. He knew that. I’m sure that’s why he didn’t do it. But your girl? You’d just picked her up a few days ago, in his mind she can’t be more than fender fluff. She didn’t know what you meant by that though, did she?” Lurch nodded in the direction Donna had gone.

“I’m sure she didn’t. I’ll explain it to her later. I told you before that she’s on the run from her ex. He was a piece of work, got them mixed up in some commune,” he used his fingers to make air quotes on that last word, “that sounds a lot like a cult to me, though I’m not sure about the religious aspect of it.”

“Finding out more about where she came from?”

“Some. I don’t think she’d trying to hide anything, it’s just that the more she gets to know me, the more she trusts me, the more she’s willing to share. That fucker abused her physically, emotionally, sexually. If I wasn’t worried about keeping her safe, I’d be tempted to pay him a visit.”

“From the sounds of it, I’d be there with you. If you find out enough info, I might be willing to make the trip for you, after you’re back home and safe.” Lurch’s gaze flicked toward the area where the tents were then back to Savage.

“If I get the information, I just might let you,” he said before turning toward where Lurch had looked, having a good idea of what he would find. Donna was on her way back. He watched as she approached, unable to look away, not that he wanted to. As she moved, her eyes on her feet so she didn’t stumble over stakes or tent lines, he couldn’t help but watch, but at the same time he envisioned her round and heavily pregnant and wondered how it would feel if to have his hand against her belly as that tiny one moved inside.

“I’m ready when you are,” Donna said as she reached him.

Savage blinked, and realized he’d been lost in the vision he’d painted for himself. He shook his head and forced himself to focus.

“Then let’s go.” He stood, stepped out of the picnic table, hooked an arm around her waist and tugged her close. Unable to resist, he gave her a hard kiss, then stared down at her a moment, wondering how he’d ever gotten so lucky. “Come on. Let’s get out of here for a bit.”

30

DonnasatbesideSavagein the booth at the little diner he’d found after the movie and didn’t bother to resist the urge to lean her head on his shoulder.

“Getting tired?” he asked, picking up a fry off his plate and offering it to her.

“Not really, just enjoying being together. I like your brothers and the others but it’s a lot. Other than in the tent at night we don’t get any time where it’s just us.”

“I know, babe, but that will change after we get home. After a while you’ll be happy to get rid of me or to spend a little time with the girls. And they really like you, you know that, right?”

“I didn’t. I mean they’ve been nice. They’re not a bunch of mean girls, but I didn’t think they actually liked me. They barely know me.”

“And I barely know you, but I like you. I like you a hell of a lot.”

She didn’t know why but warmth filled her. It started low in her belly and spread until all she wanted to do was curl against him and enjoy the cared for way he made her feel.

“This has been really nice,” she said as she reached up and helped herself to one of his fries.

“What part?”

“All of it. Time with just us. Not having to worry about doing or saying something that might embarrass you.”

“Babe.”

Something about his voice made her lift her head, turn and look at him. He waited until she was looking at him to speak again, then he surprised her with his words.

“I’m not sure you could embarrass me, not in the way you mean. You shouldn’t worry about that. I hate it that you worry about that kind of thing. It shouldn’t even be on your radar.” He swiped the pad of one thumb along her lower lip, slowly.

The gesture felt more like a caress than his wiping something off her face.

“You could strip naked and run through the club house and it wouldn’t embarrass me. It would make me hard. It might piss me off, but only because I don’t want to share. I don’t want anyone else seeing what I think of as mine.” His eyes narrowed as he watched her for a moment, then he continued. “I don’t want that to scare you though. I think of you as mine. But that doesn’t mean mine to force to stay. It means mine to protect, mine to care for, to take care of. But if something were to change and you wanted to walk away, I’d let you. I’d do everything I could to make sure you are okay.” He pressed his lips together and she wondered if there was more that he didn’t say whether he didn’t want to or couldn’t for some reason. “If you decide you want to be somewhere else, you can’t be with me anymore, you won’t have to run or hide from me like you’re having to do now.” He leaned down until his forehead pressed against hers. “I promise.”

A knot formed in her throat. Donna didn’t know what to say or how to get it out if she did. “Thank you,” she whispered after a moment. She felt like she should say more but words seemed to flee her brain. Tears she couldn’t stop pooled in her eyes. She blinked quickly, not wanting them to fall, not here. “I’ll be right back.” She scooted away from him and started to stand. A hand on her shoulder stopped her.

“Are you okay?”

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