Page 22 of Rushed

“Lincoln, who said I was your little girl?”

“Move, or I’ll make ya very sorry you said that.”

I get up and get dressed for whatever it is that Lincoln has in store for me.

?????

I’m hasty in choosing what to wear. Lincoln tells me it’s not formal, as it’s just a casual joint. So with jeans, a satiny off-the-shoulder shirt and my motorcycle jacket, I’m ready to go. Lincoln, of course, wears what he arrived in.

“Why do women take so long?” he growls. “I’m a growin’ man that has to feed. Move it along, Kitten.” Rush smacks my ass, and leads me towards the open door.

“Appreciate that thiswomanjust dressed in under twenty minutes. With a shower, I might add.” Grabbing him by his shirt collar, I pull him down to me for a kiss, while laughing at his audacity. Took too long? Wait until next time. I’ll make him wait to get his rocks off.

Who am I kidding? No, I won’t.

“After you, madam.” Rush lifts the door lock, opens the door and motions in an old-fashioned sort of way for me to exit first.

A very unladylike sound escapes my lips before advancing to the elevator ahead of him. I press the call button while he shuts the door. It seems the regular thing to do, going on a date, and at the same time, very extraordinary to be doing this with him. Well, anyone, really. He joins me at the elevator, smiling as it opens. His smile is infectious.

Looking forward, I see Rush’s lovely brother standing there. “Hey, Troy. Wanna join us for dinner?” I ask, but he looks neither joyous nor happy.

“What is it?” Lincoln asks.

“Linc, I don’t know how they found out, but…” He looks so afraid to tell his brother whatever it is that has him worried. I think our date was just put on hold.

“The press are downstairs.”

“How many?”

Troy steps forward, allowing the doors to close behind him and the elevator to descend, as he squares off with his rather oversized big brother. “About twenty. The association made an announcement on TSN about the allowance of your match. The date is set, and you’re going to fucking flip.” He nervously laughs to himself as he twists his shirt in his hands. “It’s fuckin’ Valentine’s Day, for Christ’s sakes.”

Rush punches the nearest wall, sending flecks of dust flying as his fist connects with the plaster. “Yer shite’n me! No feckin’ way! There’s no way thattheypicked that date.”

“Troy, I don’t understand why the press are waiting here?” I say quietly, as Lincoln processes his rage.

Leaning his back against the wall with his foot kicked out, Troy shows me his phone with a picture from the lobby. “After the scuffle the other night, I guess the sharks smelled blood in the water. They’ve been tailing Linc, or at least that’s what Gloria at the front desk found out. I scrambled up here as soon as the opportunity arose.”

Lincoln has come back up the hall towards us with a look of malice. He’s ready to kill. “Why would they allow that motherfeckin’, cocksuckin’ douchebag to pick the date? Why wouldn’t they let me? It’s my title, for feck’s sake!”

Lincoln’s outburst has drawn the attention of various hotel patrons that are nosily sticking their faces out into the hall. Most are fearful enough to close their doors and leave us alone, but a few watch through the cracks of their open doors.

“I don’t think they had a choice. The senator had his hand in this all along. Setting that date is either a stroke of pure genius or pure stupidity. He has to know it will cause you to—”

“Cause me to what? What, Troy? To feckin’ lose me shite! To clearly and concisely make sure he suffers in that cage? Well, he made his point, and he’ll get his day in the cage.” Rush is furious, and I’m still in the dark on the reason why. It’s totally lost on me, but I have the feeling this is something massive, something major, something that only Mick and these two men know will cause Lincoln to lose his everloving mind.

“If you’re worried about me and the press or whatever, I can handle this.” Troy looks defeated as he tries to blend into the wall. He’s lying through his teeth, trying to deflate the elephant in the room and appease his brother’s fury.

“Of course I’m worried about ya. He knows this, and it’s his reason for choosin’ that date.” Rush pushes out a large breath, visibly trying to calm himself down. I would hate to be on the losing end of that vengeance. After a moment more, Lincoln puts his emotions in check before speaking again.

“Yer confused, aren’t ya Kitten? I’m sorry.” He walks over to me where I’ve been resting against the wall and softly touches my face, allowing the steam to fall out of his movements. “Remember what I told ya today about Mick and Troy? That’s the date it all happened.”

What? “Oh my god, that’s horrible! What an asshole!” I run my hands down his face, feathering my fingers near his eyes. They’re the windows to the soul they say, and it’s so true with Lincoln. His are lit like a bright fire.

Turning to Troy, I tell him with all my heart, “I’m so sorry.”

Lincoln turns back to his brother now—quieter, and more in control. “If ya say you can handle the date, then I can too. I guess I better get started on trainin’ with Max first thing tomorrow. He points at Troy, “Ya better not be lyin’ to me about being able to handle it. If yer lying to me to appease me, we’ll have it out soon enough.” Then he turns to me. “Ya look hungry, Keenan. Troy, can ya get us out the service entrance? Keenan and I have a date.”

Troy smiles weakly. “Of course.” He nods, then embraces his brother in a huge hug. “I love you, Linc.”

“Yeah, I know ya do, brat. I love ya too. Now, let’s get goin’, eh?” He ruffles Troy’s hair in that brotherly way, and I feel lucky to see such an exchange.

“Ya ready for that dinner, Kitten?” I’m afraid to say yes or no.

“Yes, but are you sure? I mean, this seems to have disaster written all over it…leaving the hotel, that is, with all that press…”

“Have faith in me, girl. Do you know how many times I’ve snuck out celebrities and dirty politicians? I have me some wicked ways, love.” Troy is amazing. Truly.

As he leads the way, we make it out of the hotel and down the street to our destination without any interference.

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