“You always were a bitch, Jazz,” he said.
“Don’t talk to her that way!” I demanded.
“I think it would be good for you to go, asshole,” Dash said.
Brad jabbed a finger toward me. “This conversation isn’t over.”
“Yes, it is,” I breathed out in frustration.
Dash stepped closer to me as Brad tried to reach for me. “Not gonna happen,” he growled.
I laid my hand on his back, drawing in his strength.
“I’ll call you in a day or two,” Brad countered. “Or you can call me anytime... when you come to your senses.”
“Don’t hold your breath,” I retorted, and with one final scowl, he stalked out of the house.
Jasmine followed him, probably to make sure she locked the door, and Dash faced me. “You cryin’ because of him?”
I shook my head. “No, having him out of my life is a welcomed relief right now.”
His face softened and he wiped a tear away. “Did somethin’ happen, Willow?”
“I watched the news.”
He sighed, pulling me close. “So, you found out more than maybe you should have?”
I dropped my head to his chest. “A little girl died, Dash.”
“I know, baby.” He slid his hand to my hair and stroked it.
“Taylor was the sweetest person on earth,” I continued. “Not a mean bone in her body and was watching the little kids so their parents could worship and do a Bible study without interruption. She was checking on her Mama and was killed because of it. It’s not fair.”
“I know,” he whispered.
“Sam’s lost his wife and his baby. Who can survive that?” I gripped his shirt. “Why would God let this happen? All those people... just visiting and spending time in God’s house. Why, Dash?”
He didn’t say anything. Just continued to hold me while I raged and sobbed and raged some more.
I felt him shift, but kept his arms around me as he guided me to the sofa and pulled me onto his lap. I burrowed against his body and he held me tight again, letting me cry everything out.
“I’m going to call the station,” Jasmine said. “Today’s just not a good day.”
“No, it’s okay,” I said. “Dash came all the way—”
“Call the station,” Dash said, interrupting me.
“You wasted all this time—”
He squeezed my neck. “Babe, it’s all good.”
I met his eyes. “Are you sure?”
“Yeah, Willow, I’m sure.”
“Don’t you have a job?”
He chuckled. “Yeah, baby, but it’s flexible.”
“This flexible?”
“Yeah, Willow. This flexible.”
“I don’t want to keep you from your life,” I pressed. “Please don’t feel like you need to hang around.”
“Do you want me to go?”
“No,” I answered immediately. “But you can if you need to.”
“I’m good right here,” he said.
“Can you stay for a while?” Jasmine asked from the kitchen.
Dash craned his head to see her. “Yeah. You need to be somewhere?”
“Yes. But only if Willow won’t be alone.”
He nodded. “My guys know I’m out of pocket for a while.”
“I’m sorry I’ve taken up all your time, Jazz,” I said.
Jasmine smiled. “Don’t even worry about it. I just need to run home and check on Scruffy and return some emails, but I can be back before dinner.”
Scruffy was Jasmine’s very obnoxious cat, and even if he hadn’t been obnoxious, I still wouldn’t be able to tolerate him with my allergies. Luckily, I didn’t have to insult her satanic little ‘precious,’ using my allergies as a very valid reason not to be in his presence.
I focused back on Dash. “You sure you’re okay to stay? I can call Parker.”
He smiled. “I’m good.”
I suddenly realized I was sitting on his lap and could feel the heat creep up my face. As I moved to climb off of him, he held tight. “Where ya goin?”
“I... ah...”
“You shy, Willow?”
“No,” I said. “But I have never sat on a man’s lap before... I mean, as an adult.”
“What a coincidence, neither have I.”
I giggled. “It’s kind of nice. You should try it.”
“I like that sound.”
I took a deep breath. “I like making it.”
“Do me a favor.”
“Okay,” I promised carefully.
“No more news for a while.”
“I can do that,” I promised. “But I should really check on those families.”
“It can wait.”
“They might need someone to talk to.”
“You lost your dad, Willow. It. Can. Wait,” he pressed.
I nodded and settled back against his chest. “Okay.”
Jasmine walked over to us and leaned down to kiss my cheek. “I’ll see you later. Don’t get up... I’ll lock up.”
“Thanks, Jazz.”
She waved a finger between us. “Not sure what this is, but I like it.”
“Jazz!” I admonished, but Dash just chuckled.
She gave me a goofy grin and left us alone.
“Sorry about that,” I said.
“Why are you sorry?”
“Because Jasmine’s all heart and a total romantic.” I smiled. “It’s why she can’t keep a man... she has way too many expectations on what she wants.” I gasped. “I shouldn’t have told you that.” I sat up with a frown. “Why do I keep telling you everything? This is totally not like me.”
“I’m not gonna tell anyone what you tell me,” he said.
“I appreciate that, but I really shouldn’t be sharing secrets that aren’t my own.” I scrambled off his lap.
He obviously wasn’t prepared for my escape, because I was able to put distance between us. “Babe.”
“What?” I asked as I escaped into the kitchen.
He stood and made his way to me, pinning me to the kitchen island and boxing me in with his arms. “Wanna know somethin’?”
I licked my lips. “What?” I squeaked.
“I’m also not sure what this is, but I like it too.”
“You do?”
“Yeah, baby. I do.” He smiled. “You scared?”
I shook my head.
He leaned closer. “You like this?”
I nodded.
His mouth covered mine and I gasped giving him better access to my mouth. His tongue swept inside and I grabbed his shirt to stay upright as he kissed me better than I’d ever been kissed in my life.
His hand went to my neck and he stroked my pulse as he deepened the kiss, while my heart felt like it would explode out of my chest. Lordy, this was good. So, so good.
Dash broke our connection and dropped his forehead to mine. “Wow.”
I smiled and whispered, “Wow, indeed.”
“You good with explorin’ this?”
“I don’t know.”
“Why don’t you know?”
I took a deep breath... then another. “Because you’re forbidden.”
“How so?”
“I was warned about bikers and I’ve seen enough cable TV to know our worlds couldn’t be further apart.”
“You think?”
“Yes,” I said. “You are the second man I’ve ever kissed, and as much as I like the way you kiss the best, I’m not sure I’d be enough for you.”
“Why wouldn’t you be enough, Willow?”
I stared at his shirt.
“Look at me, baby.”
I met his eyes and bit my lip. “I have never... um... you know.”
“I don’t know. Why don’t you tell me?”
I stared at his shirt again.
“Willow.”
I met his eyes again. “I’m still a virgin.”
“Yeah, I figured that out already.”
“Well, I..
. I’m not sure if you’d be okay with not having sex.” Good Lord, I couldn’t believe I was talking to him about this. It had never come up with Brad... I was never comfortable talking to him about it, but with Dash, I already felt like I knew him better than anyone.
“Can’t say it’d be easy,” he admitted. “But I’m willin’ to try if you are.”
I rolled my eyes. “You’re willing to give up your entire lifestyle in order to ‘try’?”
“What kind of lifestyle do you think I have, Willow?”
I blushed, dropping my eyes to the floor again.
“Look at me, baby.”
I shook my head and he chuckled. “It’s not funny.”
He raised an eyebrow. “It kinda is.”
I sighed. “I talked to Jasmine last night and she filled me in on a few things.”
“Yeah? Like what?”
“Like a biker’s tendency to sleep with multiple women... sometimes at the same time. And how there are biker hos who are willing to do anything and everything a biker asks them to do... you know, sexually.”
“Do they?”
I smacked his chest. “Now you’re teasing me.”
He grinned. “Little bit.”
I wrinkled my nose. “Is she wrong?”
“No, she’s not wrong.”
I tried to push away, but he wrapped an arm around me and held firm. “Dash, let me go.”
“No. We’re gonna hash this out.”
“Do we have to hash it out with your arm around me like a vice grip?”
“Yep.”
“Alrighty, then,” I grumbled.
He grinned. “You like it.”
“Maybe.”
He dropped his head back and laughed and I couldn’t help but smile. “You’re gorgeous, you know that?”
“Thank you.” I swallowed. “You’re extremely pretty yourself.”
“Pretty?”
“Definitely.”
He chuckled. “Let’s make a deal.”
“I don’t have a costume, nor do I have a lightbulb in my purse.”
He chuckled. “Nice pull.”
“Thank you.”
“Okay, so this is what we’re gonna do.” He slid his hands to my neck.
“Lay it on me,” I retorted.
“You and I are gonna spend time together. We’re gonna get to know each other and see where this leads.”
“We are, are we?”
“Yeah.” He grinned. “I like you. You like me. It works.”
“Until it doesn’t,” I pointed out. I had next to no experience when it came to relationships (and my one and only experience just went down in flames), so I was nervous that trying to make it work with someone who was the opposite of everything I was used to would fail too.
“Right. But we’re gonna make it work until it doesn’t.”
I studied him for several seconds. “I have no idea how any of this works.”
“Neither do I.”
I raised an eyebrow. “You have more of an idea than I do.”
“How do you figure?”
“I’ve had one boyfriend. One. He became my fiancé and I just broke up with him,” I said. “I’m pretty sure you’ve got me beat.”
“Never had a boyfriend.”
I rolled my eyes. “Dash.”
He chuckled, leaning down to kiss me again, this time too quickly. “Never had a girlfriend either.”
“How does that work, exactly?”
He straightened, taking my hand and leading me back to the sofa where he pulled me onto his lap again. “How it works in my world, is sex without commitment.”
“Then how can this possibly work? I may not be well-versed in relationships, but I know I can’t do casual.”
“Don’t wanna do casual either,” he said.
“So you’re okay with not having sex?”
“Not gonna say I’m okay with it, ’cause you’re sexy as hell, but I’d never make you do something you didn’t wanna do, and I do have some self-control.”
I settled my head on his shoulder and sighed. “I could potentially get behind that.”
“Yeah?”
“Yes.” I sat up. “But will you do something for me?”
“Sure.”
“I really want to visit the people in the hospital, and Sam.”
Dash sighed. “Tomorrow.”
“Why not today?”
“Because you need some time to grieve, Willow.”
“I’m going to be grieving for a while, I think, but today I can make sure my friends are okay.”
“Tomorrow.”
“Are you always this bossy?”
“I protect what’s mine, Willow, if that translates into bossy, then, yeah I am.” He pulled me closer and I relaxed against him. “Like this, baby.”
I closed my eyes and nodded. “I do, too.”
My stomach grumbled and Dash chuckled. “Did you eat?”
“No.” I sat up again. “I wasn’t hungry.”
He lifted me off his lap and headed into the kitchen, pulling open the fridge. “Omelet good?”
“You cook?”
“A little, yeah,” he said, opening the cabinet that housed the glasses. “Pans?”
“To the right of the stove.” I moved to get up, but Dash waved me back down.
“I’m cookin’. You’re relaxin’.”
“I can at least make another pot of coffee.”
He grinned. “That I’ll allow.”
“Oh, thank you, benevolent one.” I chuckled and walked into the pantry to grab the beans. After prepping the coffee, I pressed brew and watched Dash cook. He was actually really impressive for someone who cooks “a little.”
“Dash isn’t your real name, is it?”
“Nope.” He smiled and flipped the omelet. “It’s Finn.”
“I love that name.”
“Yeah?”
I nodded. “It’s really cool.”
“Thanks. No one calls me that anymore, so I’m not sure I’d even respond.”
“So, why Dash?”
“Say, Hi, Finn, out loud, quickly.”
“Hi, Finn... oh! Hyphen. Dash.” I laughed. “That’s a pretty good ‘bad’ pun.”
“You can thank Doc for that.”
My arm itched at the memory of the man who stitched me up. “Does he treat people on a regular basis?”
Dash shook his head. “He was a medic in the army and has his medical license, but doesn’t go to an office every day. Kind of does his own thing.”
I stopped myself from asking more probing questions considering we barely knew each other and it wasn’t really any of my business.
“Hey, you okay?” he asked.
I nodded. “I need to take some meds, I think.”
“Go get ’em. I’ll finish breakfast.”
I walked upstairs, gripping the banister as I counted each step, and stalled on the landing. My father’s door was slightly open and I could see his neatly made bed through the crack in the door.
For close to an hour I’d been able to forget. Maybe not forget, but pretend it was just a normal working day and he’d walk through the door in time for dinner. I was suddenly hit with the realization that I was truly and tragically an orphan.
Twenty-two years old and totally and completely alone.
“You okay?” Dash called.
I gripped the banister and nodded.
“Willow?”
“Yeah?” I whispered.
Strong arms wrapped around my waist. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I’m okay.” I turned to face him. “I was just feeling sorry for myself.”
“I think you’re allowed.”
I sighed. “He’s never coming back.”
“I know.”
“What am I going to do when Jazz has to get back to her life? I’ll be here all by myself.”
“I’ll be here anytime you want me.”
I smiled. “I appreciate that, but you can’t sleep here
and I am not a fan of the dark.”
“Why can’t I sleep here?”
“Because we’re not married.”
“Right. We’ll have to work on changin’ your opinion on that.”
I rolled my eyes. “Good luck with that. I’ve had twenty-two years of conditioning.”
The doorbell pealed and I sagged against Dash. He kissed my temple. “Go take your meds. I’ll grab the door.”
I nodded and headed for my room, grateful for the chance to escape.
Dash
I frowned as I walked downstairs and pulled open the front door. I didn’t like that Willow was sad... I expected it, sure, but still wasn’t happy when it happened.
“Mr. Lloyd?”
“Dash,” I corrected.
“Right. I’m Officer Heath. Call me Lisa.”
“Yeah, I know who you are,” I said somewhat ungraciously, crossing my arms and leaning against the doorframe. “Can I help you with something?”
“I have Willow’s phone and purse.” She held the items up like they were proof. “I thought we could speak here, rather than have her come down to the station.”
“She’s not feelin’ well,” I said. “But I’ll give her her personal items. Since you’re in the mood for givin’ shit back, how about my gun?”
“I really need to get a statement,” she replied, ignoring my question
“I really don’t give a shit.”
She sighed. “Look, I get it, Dash. But I’m not here to jam her up. I like Willow. I just want to help find who did this.”
“It sure as fuck wasn’t the guys you’ve got in there now.”
“I believe you.”
“Yeah? Congratulations. You gonna get them out?”
“I’m working on it.”
I glanced at my watch. “It’s been two days, work faster.”
“Lisa?” I frowned again as Willow gently pushed me aside and smiled at the cop. “Do you have news?”
“No, unfortunately. I brought your phone and purse and wondered if I could take your statement. I thought it would be more comfortable here.”
“Oh, yes, right. Um, come on in.”
“Willow,” I warned. “You can say no.”
“I know. It’s okay,” she said. “I trust Lisa.”
I grunted, but stepped aside so the cop could walk inside. She handed Willow her personal items and Willow thanked her as she led her further into the house. I bolted the front door, determined not to let anyone else in who didn’t have Willow’s best interest in mind.
Saving the Preacher's Daughter (Dogs of Fire: Savannah Chapter #1) Page 6
