Page 47

“I might just take you up on that.”

“I hope you do.”

Antonia leaned in a little closer as she whispered, “So, you and Preacher, huh?”

“Oh, I don’t know about that. We’re just… I don’t honestly know what we’re doing.”

“But you’re here to see him, right?”

“I came to talk to him, yes.”

“So, there’s a possibility there.”

“I guess, but I’m sure there are plenty of women knocking at his door.”

“Yeah, no. At least, not that we know of,” Jenna laughed softly. “He doesn’t bring women to the clubhouse.”

“Like none? No women at all?”

Before either of them could answer, the air shifted around us.

He was back.

Antonia whispered, “We’ll finish our chat later.”

“Okay. I’d like that.”

They both stood as Antonia said, “It was really nice to meet you.”

“It was nice to meet you, too.”

They both smiled as they turned and headed back over to their table. Jenna gave me a quick wave as she said, “Don’t be a stranger.”

And just like that, it was just me and him again. Hudson gave me a look, then asked, “You wanna get out of here?”

“We can, but we don’t have to.”

“Thought you said this wasn’t a good place to talk.”

I didn’t respond. I just gave him a slight grimace and a mumble, and that’s all it took. He reached over and took my hand in his, then led me out of the bar. He started down the hall as he asked, “You park out front?”

“I did.”

“Good.”

He led me out the door, and once we were outside, he held out his hand and said, “Gonna need your keys.”

I didn’t ask why. I just reached into my pocket and grabbed my keys, then handed them over to him. He unlocked it, then opened the passenger door, waiting silently as I got inside. I had no idea where he was taking me, and I wasn’t sure I cared. I had things I needed to say, and I didn’t care where I said them.

I just hoped, when it was all said and done, he would understand.

Otherwise, things with us would be over before they started.

13

PREACHER

“So, where are we headed?”