Page 34

LONDON

“Anyone else notice how the guys suddenly don’t look upset anymore about being here?” Luna signs.

Every head at the table turns. Sitting at the bar across the room are Kallum, Riggs, Kiwi, Nova, Wick, and Fender. Journey took the stage moments ago, and six sets of eyes are currently watching her performance.

“Why is it every time a man sees boobs, it’s like they are seeing them for the first time?” Jo rolls her eyes.

Piper takes a sip of her fruity cocktail. “And to think they didn’t even want to come tonight.”

Piper is right. We women banded together this morning and declared tonight was girls’ night, and we were spending it at Pink Paradise.

The guys grumbled like a bunch of toddlers, but in the end, we got our way.

Tonight is also the first night I have been back since I was tased and kidnapped in the parking lot.

That was nearly three months ago, and not much has changed.

Tony had to invest in new furniture after the place was trashed, and he hired two new dancers to replace Amara and me.

Everyone at Pink Paradise has rallied around Amara these past few months, Tony especially.

When I tell you Tony takes care of his girls, I mean that in every sense.

Not only does Tony take care of her hospital bills, but he also pays for her counseling.

Tony will cover the cost of her school tuition when she’s ready to return.

For now, she is taking the remainder of the semester off to focus on healing and mental health.

As for me, life has returned to normal. Work is steady and keeps me busy.

Things with Kallum couldn’t be better. He’s broody and bossy, and I still push his buttons by tossing my sass around, which he loves.

And more importantly, Mom is good. She still has her bad days, but we get through them.

I cherish the good days I have with her.

In fact, she has been doing so well that I can take her out from time to time.

Sometimes we go to the park and have lunch, and sometimes we go for ice cream.

Kallum joins us when he can. He’s completely won over my mom.

Her face lights up whenever he visits. I think she mostly likes to see me happy.

She never said it, but she used to worry about me.

She worried about leaving me alone in this world.

It had always been my mom and me against the world.

She was my sidekick, and I was hers. That worry I used to see in her eyes is now gone.

Kallum has brought peace to my life and given my mom the same. For that, I will forever be grateful.

“Hey, London,” Promise shouts over the loud music. “Why don’t you get up on stage and show us some moves?”

I laugh when the other girls clap their hands and whistle. My friends were not joking the other week when they said they wanted me to teach them some moves.

“No fuckin’ way,” Tony says, walking past our table. “I just got all new shit in here. I let you get on that stage and shake your ass, your man will start a riot like he did last time because there will be some asshole who thinks they can put hands on you.”

“Aw, Tony.” I pout. “You’re no fun.”

“Fun my ass. “It’s bad enough I gotta keep watch on you ladies tonight because you all got every hot-blooded man in here waggin’ their tongues. If one of your fellas starts shootin’, I’m holdin’ you personally responsible.” Tony points a finger at me.

“But the girls want me to show them some of my moves.”

“London, quit bein’ a pain in my ass.”

“You love me, Tony. Admit it.”

Tony puts a hand on his hip and sighs. “Tell ya what. You and your posse can come by any time before the club opens.”

“Whoo hoo!” Tequila holds her shot glass up. “I like you, Tony.”

“Jesus Christ,” Tony mutters as he walks away. “I can tell everyone of ya are gonna be a pain in my ass.”

“Babe.” Kallum comes up behind me and kisses the back of my neck, causing my skin to prickle. I tip my head back and smile up at him.

“You givin’ Tony a hard time?” He smirks.

I bite my bottom lip. “Yes, but that’s what I do. He secretly loves it.”

“You’re probably right.”

“I know I’m right,” I counter.

Kallum tugs on my ponytail. “How drunk are you?”

“Drunk.”

“Too drunk to get on the back of my bike and hold on?” he asks.

I shake my head. “I’m never too drunk to hold on.”

Kallum’s eyes turn heated. “Tell your girls bye.” He reaches into his pocket, pulls out a few bills, and tosses the cash onto the table.

Standing, I grab my purse.

“Are you leaving already?” Promise asks.

“Yeah. I’m out, but I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Taking my hand in his, Kallum walks me out of the club and over to his bike.

Once he’s seated, I climb on behind him and wrap my arms around his waist. Closing my eyes, I breathe in his familiar scent.

One would think being back here would be hard, but having Kallum and being surrounded by his warmth grounds me. He’s become my peace.

Pulling out of the parking lot, Kallum heads West toward New Orleans. Twenty miles in, I notice him taking us on a detour away from the bar. I press my mouth close to his ear. “Where are we going?”

“I want to show you something?” he yells over the roaring sound of his bike.

I’m confused when he starts leading us toward Riggs and Luna’s house, but then he takes a left turn about a mile before their driveway and heads down a dirt road.

It’s pitch black with no streetlights. The only thing illuminating our path is the headlight of the motorcycle.

I’m not typically a wuss, but there is something creepy about being in the woods after dark.

I don’t know what Kallum is up to, bringing me out in the middle of nowhere at night.

A few seconds later, the bike starts to slow, and we come up on a large clearing of raw land, and I gasp when I see the city lights illuminating a massive lake in the distance.

Kallum cuts the engine, and I hop off the bike.

“What is this place?” I start walking toward the edge of the lake.

I feel Kallum’s heat on my back just before he wraps his arms around me from behind. “It’s ours.”

I turn in his arms. “What?”

“It’s ours. I bought it. A few acres.”

“You bought us land?” I ask, stunned.

He tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. “Yes. I want to build us a house here.”

My mouth goes dry. He wants to build us a house here. Did I hear him right?

When I don’t say anything, he continues, “I love you, London, and want to build a life with you.”

Tears stream down my face. “You’re serious?”

“I’ve never been more serious about anything in my life,” he says with conviction. “What do you say, baby. Can you see yourself building a life with me?”

“Yes,” I croak. “Yes, Kallum, I love you with all I am and want to spend every day by your side.”