a young boy he loved to watch westerns, and that’s how all the outlaws had kept the dirt and dust out of their faces. He wasn’t sure that he’d ever just flat out admit that to anyone, but he loved it just the same. Cranking his bike up, they filed out of the garage and hit Porter Pike, which would take them most of the way to I-65 where they could head north to Louisville.
Bianca was beginning to get stressed. She had two papers due in the next 48 hours and over 100 pages worth of reading to go along with it. It was nights like these that dread and uncertainty rolled up in her stomach, along with self-doubt. Would she ever be able to make her dreams come true? Would she ever be able to do anything besides be a waitress in a seedy dive? Luckily Wet Wanda’s had been dead on this cold night, but in exchange for the extra homework time, she would now be low on money.
A smile spread across her face. Maybe she could drag out paying Jagger his money back if they kept having a good time together. When he had suggested they do dinner, the reason she had accepted was so that she could get out and maybe have a good time. She hadn’t counted on the fact that he was a gentleman as well. In all actuality, she really shouldn’t have gone to Nashville the night before. It had put her even further behind in studying, but she hadn’t been able to say no, and regardless of her crazy schedule, she was still young enough that she needed to have fun. Her cell phone, which sat to the left of her, began buzzing. Glancing over at it, her heart skipped a beat when she saw it was a text from Jagger. When had that happened? Her heart going crazy because he had texted her. Something had taken hold of her the night before, she craved to see him again. She had known he would be gone on a protection run so she hadn’t expected another text after the last one.
Just got back from Louisville and I’m hungry. Wanna grab a bite?
She wanted to meet him badly, but she also knew that this homework wasn’t going to do itself.
I would love to, but I’m drowning in homework and starving!
She took the moment to pout. She really did want to see him, but she hadn’t come this far in life and in school to give it up at this point. Just as she was about to get back to writing, her phone buzzed again.
I’ll bring you something and sit with you if it’s ok? I don’t like eating alone.
A breath that she didn’t know she’d been holding released itself from the tightness of her chest. She had a feeling his unease had something to do with the childhood he’d told her a little about. In her experience, most highly religious families ate together, and maybe eating alone was something he couldn’t bring himself to do. What would it hurt?
Sounds good. Just surprise me with food and when I tell you to be quiet, promise me you’ll be quiet.
Within seconds he’d texted her back.
On my way!
Suddenly she panicked and hopped up, picking up stuff as she went. Her house was clean by nature, but for some reason she wanted to impress him. She had seen some of the expensive things that members of the club had. He was so far out of her league.
Jagger remembered the way to her apartment from the night her car had broken down and he’d taken her home. He’d committed that route as deeply to his memory as he could.
Gathering up everything he’d bought, he stuffed it all in a bag and walked up the steps. When he got to the door, he lightly knocked on it and waited for her to come let him in. He liked that she wasn’t one of those women who just yelled that it was open. She actually came to the window, looked out, and then decided if she wanted to let you into her home.
“Hey, you made good time,” she smiled as she moved back to let him in.
“Yeah, I was surprised they weren’t very busy,” he grinned back at her as he carried everything over to the counter in her small kitchen. The kitchen was so small she couldn’t even fit a dining room table
Douglas Preston, Lincoln Child