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Page 19 of Property of Blade (Kings of Anarchy MC: Alaska #1)

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Hannah

T he clock ticks away , a time bomb counting down to six o’clock, each second ringing louder in my head.

I’ve changed my dress three times. My lipstick twice.

I had pink lipstick on, then changed it to red.

I put on my little black dress first, then switched to a red one, but in the end, I switched back to the black one.

It’s simple, sleek, and shows off my curves.

Spaghetti straps. Short. Which means you can see some of my other scars.

Scars I don’t want anyone to see.

Especially not him. Not Blade. The super-hot MC president who told me he likes me.

What if he doesn’t after he sees all of me? Travis didn’t.

Travis!

I swear, just thinking about him twists my stomach into knots.

And just this morning, I found another present.

Another damn reminder of him. This time, it was on my front porch—a box of chocolates.

You’d think after dating me for so long, he’d know I have zero self-control when it comes to chocolate.

So, of course, I don’t keep it in the house, well, almost never.

But there it was, waiting for me this morning as if it were a cruel joke.

There’s no need to let my past mess with me tonight. Not with Blade coming.

Focus, Hannah. This is about you and Blade.

Not Travis.

But as I stare at myself in the mirror, adjusting my dress for what feels like the hundredth time, I can’t shake the feeling that something’s going to go wrong.

I swallow hard, forcing the thoughts out of my head as I do a final check in the mirror. You’re more than the scars, I remind myself. You’re more than the past. And tonight is about you and moving forward.

And then, just as I gather myself together, I hear the knock on the door.

Six o’clock.

It’s time.

Reaching into my closet, I pull out a long black coat and slip it on with a sense of purpose.

I button it up, cinching the belt tightly around my waist. It feels like armor, covering all my vulnerable parts, giving me a sense of protection.

Taking a deep breath, I try to steady my nerves, then jog to the front door, where I find Grace sitting, staring up at it as if she’s waiting for her own date.

I take another breath, trying to calm my racing heart and open the door.

Blade is standing there, looking as effortlessly rugged as always.

His long hair is tied back, his white shirt contrasts sharply against his tanned skin and blue eyes.

As my eyes drift down, I can’t help but smile.

He’s still him, wearing jeans and boots, looking every bit the MC president I’m trying not to be intimidated by.

“You look very handsome.”

Blade takes a step back and looks me up and down, his gaze lingering for a moment, longer than usual. “You look warm.”

Not exactly the compliment I was looking for, but dressed like this, how can I blame him?

I glance down at my coat, and my cheeks flush a little. “It’s warm at your house, right?”

Blade gives me a smile that’s just a little too confident, as if he knows something I don’t. “Yes, ma’am. I have the fire on, but if you’re still cold, I can give you a blanket... or a snowsuit?”

“No air conditioning?” I tease, crossing my arms.

Blade scratches the back of his neck, a sheepish grin spreading across his face. “Ah, no.”

Before I can respond, Grace lets out a loud meow, capturing both of our attention. Blade bends down and scoops her up, rubbing under her chin, completely at ease.

“Hey, terror, how are you?” he murmurs to her, his voice softening.

“You know, I think she likes you more than me.”

Blade chuckles, his eyes warm as he stands up, still holding Grace. “Are you ready?” he asks, his tone shifting from playful to something a little more serious, a little more grounded.

My nerves creep back as I say, “No. Yes.” I nod repeatedly, trying to reassure myself more than him.

His hand reaches out, his fingers gently wrapping around my waist, pulling me in a little closer. “It’s just dinner. No expectations.”

I let out a breath, feeling the tension in my shoulders ease a little. “Okay.” I take Grace from his arms, patting her on the head before placing her on the floor. “I can do dinner.” Then I look down at Grace. “Be good, baby girl. There are treats in your bowl.”

Grace gives me one last look before walking away, and I turn back to Blade, the nerves still there but somewhat softened by his steady presence. Tonight feels to me like a step forward, even if I don’t know exactly where it’s leading.

Closing the door behind me, I hear Blade test the handle to make sure it’s locked. My heart is racing, and then he holds out his arm as if it’s the most natural thing in the world.

“Shall we?” he asks, a soft smile playing at the corners of his mouth. “Do you think you’ll be warm enough on the bike?”

Horror fills me at the thought of getting on another bike. I trust Blade and he’s probably been riding much longer than Travis ever did, but I can’t help the fear in my gut.

Taking a deep breath, I slip my hand into the crook of his arm, letting him guide me outside, and see his truck parked on the sidewalk, with the motor still running.

“I’m so glad you brought the truck and not the bike,” I say, the relief clear in my voice. It’s hard to imagine navigating this night in heels on a motorcycle.

Blade grins, his eyes flickering with mischief as he looks down at me. “I did tell you to wear the little black dress and six-inch heels,” he teases. “But I didn’t think you’d appreciate the bike, even if you’d look hot on it.”

My cheeks flush at his words, and I can’t help but laugh. “Well, I do look good in leather,” I tease, giving him a sly smile.

He opens the passenger door for me, and the truck’s warmth immediately greets me. Blade reaches out, taking my hand gently as I climb inside, and I can’t help but notice how his touch feels just right—steady, reassuring, as if he’s there to catch me if I fall.

“Thank you,” I say quietly, settling into the seat, the warmth of the truck wrapping around me, fighting off the cold that doesn’t seem to bother Blade. I’m pretty sure it’s why he left it running, so I’d be warm.

Blade shuts the door behind me, and I watch him walk around to the driver’s side.

He climbs into the truck, shutting the door with a solid click. “Warm enough for you? I could turn it up,” he offers, glancing over at me.

“Any warmer, and I’ll be stripping,” I joke, leaning back into the seat.

Blade barks out a laugh, the sound rich and genuine. “Well, if that feeling washes over you, I vote you go with it.” His voice carries a hint of mischief.

The truck pulls away from my house and onto the road as we head toward his place. Settling back into the seat, the truck’s warmth and the steady rhythm of the drive puts me at ease, at least for a moment.

“What’s it like here in winter?” I ask, my voice breaking the comfortable silence.

Blade glances at me, his eyes flicking over for just a second before returning to the road. “Lots of snow. But it’s beautiful. The lakes freeze, the trees get covered in white, and the roads get icy. You’ll need better tires or, better yet, a truck.”

It sounds so different from what I’m used to, and I can’t help but feel a sense of wonder at the idea of being surrounded by so much raw beauty, even if it comes with its own challenges.

“Well...” I say, a little smile tugging at my lips, “... a truck sounds good to me, but it has to be as cool as my Mini, and I’m not giving her up.”

Blade glances over at me with a raised eyebrow. “Your Mini is cool?”

I lean back into the seat, crossing my arms and giving him a playful look. “Have you seen it? Yes , it’s cool!”

He chuckles, shaking his head in mock disbelief. “Right. Sorry, it’s so cool.” Then, as if on impulse, he reaches over, grabbing my hand and placing it on his leg. “I could ask around for you... see if anyone has a cool truck for sale?”

My heart skips a beat, not expecting him to offer. “You’d do that for me?”

“Better than having you drive around in your little car.”

I don’t know what to say to that. It’s such a simple offer, yet it feels as if he’s already thinking ahead for me, looking out for me. I can feel the pull between us growing stronger, more undeniable.

“Thanks,” I say quietly, squeezing his hand just a little tighter.

Before I can say anything else, we pull up to Blade’s cabin. The place looks more welcoming than last time. There are fairy lights strung across the front of the cabin. It looks almost magical, picture perfect, as if out of a dream.

“Are they new?” I ask, my voice full of surprise and delight.

Blade looks a little embarrassed, rubbing the side of his head as he glances at the lights. “I thought you might like them.”

Without waiting for him, I open the door and step out, a grin spreading across my face. “I don’t like them... I love them!” I gush, unable to hold back my excitement.

The warmth in my chest grows as I look at the lights twinkling in the night. It’s small, but it’s perfect.

“Wait!” Blade calls out, rushing around the truck to take my hand firmly in his as I take another step toward them.

Smiling up at him, my heart races a little faster.

“You really did all this?” I ask, my voice soft, the question slipping out before I can stop it.

“For you,” he answers.

His words cause a blush to creep up my neck, and standing out here in the cold, I suddenly feel warm, warmer than I probably should.

I glance up at him, catching the intensity in his gaze, and for a moment, it feels as if time stands still.

Blade pulls me toward his home with a gentle yet confident tug and opens the door for me.

“It wasn’t locked?” I ask, surprised.

Blade shakes his head, a slight grin tugging at his lips. “No one would dare break in.”