Page 28 of Sinful Skulls (Rebel Skull MC #9)

Chapter Twenty-Six

Brody

M y gaze roams over her as she sits in the sun, staring at the ring on her finger. Her dainty hand tips from side to side, and her brows pull together. She’s been at it for two hours.

Her canvas remains blank in front of her.

I glance at the ingredients she has set out on the table. She’s making dinner for JD and Elizabeth tonight.

My attention goes back to her. Daisy was so happy last night. We came home, and I made love to her. No kinky stuff, just straight up adoration for her and her body.

I’d never felt so connected to another person, and I’m pretty sure she felt the same. But this morning she’s acting strange. Distant. She’s struggling with something.

At first I thought it was because I moved too fast with my proposal. But after watching her out the window all morning, I sense it’s something else. I have the same dread in the pit of my stomach that I had the day I found her in Reno.

Suddenly she looks up, and her head darts side to side as if she’s confused as to where she’s at. It sends alarm bells ringing in my ears. I open the sliding door, and she turns toward the sound. I give her a big smile, and she returns it with a fake one of her own.

“Are you okay out here?”

“Yeah.” She turns toward her canvas, and her shoulders fall when she finds she hasn’t even began.

“It’s time to get supper started. I can get it going if you need more time.” I place my hands on her shoulders and begin to knead her stress away. She’s tense.

“I guess I’m drawing a bit of a creative blank today.”

“I saw you looking at your ring. You’re not having second thoughts, are you?”

She holds her hand up to the sun. “Of course not. It’s just so pretty in the light.”

When I lean over and press my lips to the top of her head, she reaches up and runs her fingers through my beard.

“Talk to me, baby,” I coax quietly.

The way she sighs makes my heart ache. “It’s just that we hardly know each other. What if you find out something you don’t like about me?”

I pull her from the chair and then tug her back onto my lap. “Daisy, nothing you could tell me would change my mind about marrying you.”

She worries at her bottom lip with her teeth. “Last night I cried after we made love.”

It takes everything in me to keep my face relaxed. I’ll be so mad at myself if I hurt her, but I’m perplexed because it was actually the most gentle I’ve ever been. “I’m sorry.”

“You didn’t hurt me.” She nuzzles into the side of my neck. “I cried because I don’t ever want to lose you.”

“Daisy …” I’m about to tell her she doesn’t have to worry about that when I realize she does. Tomorrow is never promised to any of us. Rachel has reminded me of that. “For as long as I live, you’ll always have me.”

“Promise me,” she whispers against my skin.

I take her hand in mine and kiss the ring on her finger. “This right here is a symbol of that promise.”

She sits up and stares into my eyes. “Something happened in Paris, and I want to talk to you about it, but I just don’t know how.”

The dread returns to my gut. I wrap my hand around the side of her neck. “You can tell me anything.”

“I know.”

“Thank you for telling me that much. I was starting to worry you were regretting saying yes last night.” I lightly kiss the corner of her mouth. “Whenever you’re ready to talk about it, I’m here.”

She nods and hugs me close. “Oh, I have an idea!”

I laugh and push her off my lap. “I’ll fix supper while you paint.”

We kiss again before I head back inside. When I close the door behind me, I see her canvas already coming to life. It kind of surprises me. It’s the first colorful thing I’ve seen her paint since the night on the beach.

She comes back in just as I’m finishing up. “Do you think she’ll like it?”

“I think she’s going to love it,” I tell her. “It never ceases to amaze me how fast you are at this.”

“Once I start, I can’t stop until it’s finished. Weird quirk.”

I snap my towel at her to get her moving along. “Go on. They’ll be here soon.”

Her giggles fade as she runs down the hallway toward our bedroom. A few minutes later some soft music begins to filter in from the living room. I love how comfortable she is here and that she’s making this her home. It feels good.

I’ve never really pictured myself as a married man. It’s not that I was opposed to it. I’m just good at accepting what comes my way, and I never saw her coming. Meeting a girl randomly on a Tuesday at the beach was something I never could have imagined.

After my niece died, I was pretty low but I didn’t give up. It’s the best thing about life. If you stick with it, eventually you’ll catch up to some good days. Maybe even your best days.

Daisy squeals. “They’re here!” She claps her hands as I dry mine.

When I join her, Elizabeth and JD are just coming up the walk.

“Yay! You guys made it.”

Elizabeth looks a little nervous as Daisy holds the door open for them.

“Good to see you guys.” I pat JD on the back as he walks past me. “Make yourselves comfortable; supper’s almost ready. Can I get you guys something to drink?”

“Sure, we’ll take a couple beers if you have some,” JD answers for the two of them.

“Do I have beer?” I laugh and head out to the kitchen.

Daisy follows me. “I can finish cooking. Go visit with your friends.”

I hand her the drinks. “I already know them. You don’t. Go on. I’ve got this.”

“You’re sure?”

I palm her ass cheek in one of my hands, giving it a good squeeze. “Go.”

She smiles at me and dips her head, finally leaving me to it.

When I return to the living room a few minutes later, her and JD have their heads bowed together over the box of my grandma’s old albums. It makes me laugh.

Elizabeth is watching them. I sit down beside her, and she startles.

“Everything okay?” I ask.

“Oh, yeah, I had too much coffee today. Makes me a little jittery.” Her gaze goes back to Daisy and JD.

“Find anything you like?”

JD laughs. “Fuck off. You know I’ve been trying to talk you out of some of these for years.”

Daisy chuckles with him, making Elizabeth smile.

“Have you heard this one?” he asks her.

“No, I haven’t.”

He pulls an album out and places it on the turntable.

“Why don’t we fill our plates first? Then we can come back out and enjoy the music.”

“You’re just hungry, aren’t you?” Daisy accuses and they all laugh, but they follow me into the kitchen.

“Brody, did you make all this?” Elizabeth asks.

Daisy wraps her arms around my waist. “It was all him. I was planning on cooking tonight, but I got sidetracked on a project I was working on.”

“Oh, that reminds me of a project of my own. I have a gift for you. It’s in the truck.”

“I’ll go grab it,” JD offers, handing his plate to his wife.

We’re just sitting down when he walks back in. He waits for Daisy to set her plate on the coffee table, and then he hands it to her. Tears immediately begin to pool in her eyes.

Wow, Elizabeth is getting really good at crocheting.

“It’s so soft and fluffy,” Daisy whispers, sinking her fingers into the blanket.

It’s a mixture of dark navy blue and black. It has ribbons of silver woven into it that reflects when it catches the right light. I’m really impressed.

“This is incredible. I love it so much,” Daisy praises. “Thank you.” She leans over and hugs Elizabeth.

I can’t wait until Daisy gives her the painting. I’m anxious to see her reaction to it. Elizabeth has been so kind to Lexie, and I can see she is going to treat Daisy the same way.

We eat, drink, and relax to the sounds of the seventies. Life is good.

Daisy and Elizabeth hit it off and begin to chat over the music. JD and I remain quiet as we watch the two of them.

“We’re pretty damn lucky, my brother,” I say, tipping my drink to him.

He nods. “We sure fucking are. Life has a crazy damn way of working out, doesn’t it?”

“It sure does.”

“So, have you guys set a date?” he asks.

“Naw, we’re in no rush. I just wanted to set the record straight right from the get-go. Daisy and I are committed to each other. I won’t tolerate any disrespect toward her from the women of the club.”

“And you also wanted to set the men straight.”

I run my eyes over Daisy. “Had to, brother. Look at her. I saw that fucking new prospect eyeing her.”

“I get it, but are your intentions good with her? That proposal didn’t come from a place of your own jealousy, did it?”

My head pulls back. “Of course my intentions are good. You know me, JD. I’ve never played with anyone’s feelings. I can’t believe you asked me that.” I’ll admit it stung my big heart a bit.

He shakes his head and runs his hand over his chest. “I’m sorry, man. I meant no disrespect. I just don’t want her to get hurt. She seems like a sweet girl.”

Daisy jumps from her seat. “I’ll go get it!”

Elizabeth looks at JD. “She painted me something.”

JD instantly goes to her. He wraps his arm around her and squeezes her tight.

“It will need more time to dry, but I hope you like it. Brody told me you loved flowers, and this is what came to my mind.”

When she turns it around to show them, Elizabeth lets out a little sob. This is the part I love, watching people’s response to her art.

“I’ve just recently started doing more portrait work; usually I stick to landscapes.”

“It looks like you’ve been painting them forever. How did you do this without me sitting for you?” Elizabeth asks her.

Daisy shrugs. “It just stays up here.” She taps her head.

Elizabeth pulls away from JD and stands so she can get a closer look. Her eyes well up with tears. “It’s incredible.”

“Brody said daisies were your favorite flower, and you know the dragonflies are there because that’s what brought all of us together.”

I glance at the painting again, noticing something new every time I look at it. It’s a portrait of Elizabeth, but part of her face is covered with daisies and dragonflies. The painting itself is darker in color, but the whites of the flowers really pop.

Elizabeth looks at her as she rubs her hand over her throat unable to speak.

JD stands too and wraps his arms around his wife’s waist. “Thank you, Daisy. It really is a beautiful portrait of my wife.”

“I love it,” Elizabeth finally whispers. “I can’t wait to hang it up at home.”

“I can drop it to you in a few days. Brody is letting me use his truck to take some paintings over to Junkyard Creations. Lily’s letting me sell there.”

“Just text me when you’re heading over. There’s a chance I might already be there. I’ve been selling her out of flowers almost every day.”

“That would be great! Brody said there’s a little coffee shop down the street. Maybe we could grab a cup.”

“I would love that,” Elizabeth says, looking back at her husband. He smiles at her.

“Why don’t you guys join us tomorrow at the junkyard? Ash and Lexie are coming by. We’ll fire up the old grill,” he says.

Daisy looks at me to answer, and I see the excitement in her eyes.

“Yeah, that would be great. I know Daisy has been dying to catch up with Lex. Plus I wanted to talk to Ash about helping out with the run Jackson wants to put together for Rachel. Jackson has enough on his plate right now.”

“He does, but I don’t think you should leave him out. He might need this to feel like he’s doing something for her.”

“I didn’t think about it that way.”

Elizabeth gives me a hug. “If you ever need to talk, we’re here for you.” She then gives Daisy one, holding her close for several moments. “I had a wonderful evening. Thank you.”

We walk them out and watch as they drive away. Daisy hugs my arm. “I think she really liked the painting.”

I laugh. “So, you’re okay with going over to see them tomorrow night?”

She sighs, laying her head against me. “I am. I really like them, and I’m excited to see Lexie.”

We clean up and then head to bed. I fall right to sleep but wake up a few hours later in an empty bed.

I pad through the living room, rubbing my eyes, hoping I don’t stub my toe. I find Daisy curled up on the couch in the blanket Elizabeth made her.

“What are you doing up?”

She startles as she turns my direction, placing her hand over her heart. “Oh, you scared me. I didn’t wake you, did I? I couldn’t sleep.”

“You didn’t, but you should have.”

“Why would I make both of us suffer?” She laughs lightly, rubbing her temples.

I sit down on the end of the couch and motion for her to lie down. “Put your head in my lap.”

She listens without hesitation, and I love that. I begin to rub her temples, and almost instantaneously she relaxes. Her eyes fall closed, and a faint smile paints her lips.

“Daisy, I asked you to marry me. That means I want to share in your suffering. I don’t just want your joy; I want your sadness too. I thought you understood that. It doesn’t just apply in the bedroom.”

“You have to work tomorrow. I didn’t want to keep you up.”

“Next time you can’t sleep, you wake me … you know what, never mind. I’ll just wait until you fall asleep before I let myself drift off.”

“Brody,” she giggles.

It makes me smile, because I love lifting her heart. It makes me feel invincible.

“You can’t do that. I promise I’ll wake you if I need to.”

I continue to rub her temples for a few more minutes. I drop one hand to her chest, and the other I place on her forehead. She softens into the couch a little more. “You are safe with me, little flower.”

Even though she’s relaxed, her face tells a different story. She’s struggling to hold herself together. Keeping your composure is a good skill to have, but sometimes your soul has no choice but to cry out.

She covers her face with both of her hands and begins to tremble with emotion. “I think my biological father was evil,” she whispers.

Internally, I reach for my dominant side. The one that stands strong for her. She’s confiding the darkest parts of herself to me. I begin to pet her hair, splaying my fingers wide over her chest, resting more weight there to keep her calm.

Her trust draws me further in love.

“I think his entire family was … is …”

That one word tells me everything I need to know. The is is her uncle. The dean of that motherfucking art school.

This is why it’s important to listen to every word.

Daisy is like a puzzle, and I’m willing to spend my entire life trying to solve it. I cup her chin in the palm of my hand when she doesn’t continue.

“You are not evil, Daisy.”

Her eyes blink open, and she stares at me. “How can I be sure?”

The way my chest squeezes at the pain on her face makes me take a deep breath. I want to hunt down whoever put it there …

The dean .