Chapter Six

Despite the revelations last night, after her bath, she'd fallen right to sleep on Rascal's shoulder with his arms around her. When she'd awakened, he greeted her with another perfect cup of coffee before they headed over to breakfast at the clubhouse.

She wondered what she needed to wear, but she should have realized Rascal already had it covered. Remington had brought over one of her extra pair of boots for the ride. Sarah had loaned her a shirt that had extra protection along the elbows and shoulders if something happened. She and Rascal had gone to Regina's Roadside Refuge and shopped the store for an extra pair of jeans for her to ride in. He'd bought her a leather tie to hold her hair back. She was borrowing one of the extra helmets the women had. The closest place to buy her one was Dodge City.

Rascal had gone over how to ride with him when she'd said she never ridden before. Hold on to him and lean with him. Hell yeah. She couldn't think of anything she'd rather do today.

He'd explained the route was basically through the countryside making their way toward Dodge City, then returning by a different route to the park. The ride had started right after lunch. Supper would be served at the park, followed by a dance.

They were coming up to their second stop. Rascal had explained since the Poker Run was coupled with the commemoration activities that a large number of the Texas chapter had come to help. They pulled into the town and made their way to their second stop. Rascal pulled in and backed his bike so it was parked in the row beside the other bikes. The last stop had only been a pull over on the side of the road and grab a playing card. It had been interesting having so many bikes riding together down the road. The sound had been something she had to get used to.

Rascal had mentioned he planned on them having a bathroom stop at this one, and she was thankful. With the heat, he'd told her she'd need to be hydrated, but she might have overdone it. She was grateful they were stopping because she hadn't relished having him pull to the side of the road where she'd have to find a place in the field to go.

He pointed out the restroom at the side of this park and she took off running, hearing him chuckling behind her. She hurried in and did her business, feeling so much better afterwards. After she finished washing her hands, she left them under the cold running water. The temperature was in the nineties today with little to no wind. Sure, going fast on the bike it was windy, but she still was a little overheated.

She looked in the mirror and almost didn't recognize the woman staring back at her. Her eyes glowed and the smile on her face made her realize how long it had been since she'd been this happy.

She walked out the door to find Rascal waiting on her outside the restroom. He held out his hand. She grasped it and let him lead her back to the MC member, who was holding the cards they'd pick.

Was being hot a prerequisite for the MC? This biker looked to be in his fifties with a full salt-n-pepper beard. He was grinning as they approached.

"Hey, baby girl, I don't think we've met."

Rascal slid his arm around her, and a growl emanated from his chest. "Meg's mine. Keep your baby girl crap away from her."

The biker chuckled. "Oh, it's like that, is it?"

Rascal nodded. "Let's get our card and get on the road, Meg."

After she'd picked the card, the biker held out his hand. "Bootstrap, ma'am. It's nice to meet you."

She smiled and shook his hand as Rascal glared at him. "It's nice to meet you, too."

After she got on behind Rascal, she leaned close before they put their helmets on. "You know, I've never had someone call me theirs before. I think I like it. Does that mean you're mine?"

Rascal looked over his shoulder. "As long as you'll have me."

He stared at her and didn't break the stare until she slid her helmet on. As long as she'd have him? How about forever even though it seemed crazy to consider it when she'd basically known the man less than forty-eight hours.

But when she compared him to every man she'd ever had in her life, he was different. And it wasn't just the way he treated her. It was the way he made her feel. His eyes catching hers had her imagining lying in bed beside him like last night but with one major difference—having them skin to skin.

If the lights were off, she could probably have enough courage to be with Rascal. Even with how he looked at her, she wasn't sure she could handle him seeing her naked yet. She'd always been self-conscious about her body even before she was in her fifties. The world told everyone women should be thin with a gap between their thighs. Meg hadn't had a gap between her legs since right before she went through puberty. She took after her mom, being a bigger girl, but it hadn't made it any easier in school.

She couldn't wait to leave high school even though she'd loved learning because she wanted to leave the small town she'd grown up in. It was ironic that she'd left one small town to find what she'd always dreamed about in another.

She was glad they had stops along the way because it brought her thoughts to the present. If they rode too far without stopping or chatting, her brain couldn't leave the issues at the college alone. She couldn't reconcile the man she'd worked for with the man she saw through his words in text. She guessed that a suit and a smile could hide a lot going on beneath the surface. She hoped that Sarah and Scoop could dig up what exactly was going on before she had to return to the college. After what had happened, she couldn't even call it home. It wasn't hers. She wasn't safe there, and living with Rascal had felt more like home than the house she'd lived in.

Rascal's words continued to echo in her head until they were all she could imagine. As long as you'll have me indicated he was hers. Could she take a chance and see what they could have together? She'd spent more time with him this weekend than she'd had with any other man, and she still couldn't get enough.

What did it say about her that she was imagining a life with him? His hand tapping her thigh pulled her from her thoughts. He'd stopped on a street in front of a huge building. Nelson's Honkytonk Saloon & Bar was on the building and on the tents out front of the building in the parking lot.

Rascal had removed his helmet and was waiting on her. She removed hers.

"We can just grab the card or if you want to stretch your legs, go to the restroom and grab a drink, we have plenty of time."

If Rascal was offering, she was taking him up on stopping for a little bit. Her thighs were aching from keeping her balance on the seat, and her back wasn't used to the bike either. Remi and War, along with Scoop and Sarah, were off their bikes and heading inside the building.

"I'm all for a break."

Rascal held his hand up if she wanted to use it to get off the bike. She felt a little ungainly and hoped no one was watching her. Once she was off, Rascal set the kickstand and hooked their helmets on the bike, then grasped her hand pulling her toward him.

"How did you like the ride so far?"

His arms wrapped around her until she was flush against him. "It was fun, but my thighs feel like jelly."

He chuckled. "Yeah, I figured. I can always give you a massage later," he said, waggling his eyebrows.

She grinned and leaned up to his mouth, kissing his smiling lips. She'd planned on a quick kiss because she couldn't resist, but Rascal had other plans. His hand slid up to her neck and tilted her head so he could devour her lips. Whistling and catcalls of ‘get a room' had him pulling away entirely too early.

"Impertinent children," Rascal growled, then guided her toward the door. She giggled, seeing him flip them off behind his back.

Rascal glanced around the bar and waited for Meg to come back from the restroom. Whiskey walked over carrying a case of sodas.

"Whiskey, you need some help?"

"Yeah, if you could grab the case behind the bar, I'd appreciate it."

Rascal walked over behind the bar and grabbed the case. As he lifted it, he noticed the Number of Days since we booted an asshole from the bar board was back to zero.

"Hey Whiskey, that didn't happen today with our people, did it?" Rascal nodded his head toward the sign.

Whiskey shook his head. "Nope, Quinton was working. Hennessy was bugging him and playing the song like every third song, so when the guys smarted off to one of our newer waitresses, things went sideways."

Whiskey pushed through the door and held it as Rascal walked through. Rascal chuckled. There wasn't ever a boring time when they were with the Nelson clan.

"Well, I don't see broken windows, so it looks like he made sure the door was open at least."

Whiskey set down his case and then popped it open, unloading it into the cooler with ice. "Yes, and no guns came out so I'm considering that a win, but it will be a while before I ask Quinton to work when Hennessy is."

Rascal set his case down. "Probably a good idea. I need to get back to my woman."

Rascal walked away, not answering the question in Whiskey's eyes. He didn't want Meg to feel like he abandoned her. Walking back into the building, he clocked her standing with Sarah by the jukebox. Striding over to her, he slid his arm around her waist.

"Sorry I missed you coming out. I helped Whiskey carry out a case."

"No problem. Sarah was updating me about when one of the cousins shot the jukebox like that song?"

Rascal laughed. "Yep, a lot of crazy things happened over the years with nine boys being raised by three brothers."

Meg smiled, and Rascal felt a warmth in his chest. The last couple of days with Meg had been the happiest he'd had besides with his grandkids. When he'd told her earlier, as long as she'd have him, he meant it.

He'd been brainstorming how she could feel fulfilled staying in Bluff Creek. He knew she adored teaching about American History and specifically conflicts the military was involved in. How could she be happy in their small town and still do what she loved? Maybe he'd get his daughter and bonus daughters on that subject. Those girls, well women could accomplish amazing things when they put their minds to something. And he needed them to figure out a way for Meg to stay because he wasn't sure he could handle her leaving after this weekend.

Holding her last night in his arms as they slept had given him a peace he hadn't felt before. He wanted to make all her dreams come true and get rid of the danger to her. If that whack job at her college thought he was going to do anything to Meg, he had another thing coming. Rascal might be in his sixties, but he had no problem protecting the woman he was falling for. Heck, he wasn't even going to get upset when Baron gave him crap for falling so quickly. It was only what he deserved after how he teased Baron back when Regina had come to Bluff Creek.

"Are you ready to get our playing card and get back on the road or do you want to stay a little longer?"

Meg scrunched her nose and smiled. "I want to wrap my arms around you again, so let's get back on the bike after we grab a drink. Sarah was saying dinner would be ready when we got back."

"Then let's do what my woman wants."

Meg's eyes widened and for the first time since they'd met, she was speechless.

"Oh, Rascal and Meg, sitting in a ..."

Rascal turned toward Sarah, who had been joined by Remi. "Really?"

"Hey, we've been waiting years to tease you. Deal with it," Sarah said.

He shook his head and led his quiet woman out the door to get a drink. He waited for Meg to grab a soda before opening it for her, then taking a drink for himself. He guzzled half the bottle of water before turning to see Meg watching him.

"Your woman?"

He smiled at her quiet voice. "I told you for as long as you'll have me, which makes you mine. My woman. The gorgeous, lush woman who I can't wait to have under me, on top of me and any way I can have her. Does that seem like something you want, too?"

He waited while Meg took a large drink, then swallowed while continuing to stare at him. He knew it might be too soon for her, but it wasn't for him.

"Then you're my man?"

The question in her voice had him pulling her close so their faces were inches apart. "Yes, I want to be your man forever. In fact, I'm so sure about us that I'll get a tattoo showing everyone I'm taken because I'm yours."

Meg's grin had him wishing they were done with the Poker Run and back at his house. He'd need to think of something besides how she'd look naked because he didn't relish riding with a hard-on for the trip back.