Page 8 of Xander (Soulless Outlaws Motorcycle Club #2)

Nola

I eyed myself in the mirror one more time.

I had already done it almost twenty times.

I wanted to look good.

I wanted to look like the kind of woman who deserved to be on that man’s arm.

So, I had on my best dark-washed jeans, dark gray boots that have little buckles and laces on them that come up to my knees.

I saw them earlier when I went shopping for an outfit, and I had to get them.

I also had on a soft, well-loved white sweater.

It was loose up top and tight at my waist. It also allowed for my shoulders to be exposed.

I had my long, dark hair in curls hanging down my back.

Diamond stud earrings, a gift from my parents for my sweet sixteen.

Light makeup.

I spritzed on some perfume as well.

That was when I heard the knock at my door.

Taking one more glance in the mirror, I inhaled a slightly shaky breath and then headed to my front door.

I lifted on my tiptoes and checked the peephole.

Seeing Xander standing there, I twisted the lock and then opened the door.

And the moment I got a good look at him, I wanted to melt into a puddle of mush.

I smiled, “Hey.”

He looked at me.

Those caramel-colored eyes of his were seeing straight into my soul.

Then he slowly roamed over my face, down my body, pausing slightly on certain spots, and then he moved his gaze back up.

I stood there.

Knowing certain things about him.

Had another man done this... I would have been pissed way the hell off.

But this was Xander.

And he proved why I didn’t get upset when his eyes came back to mine, then he inhaled a deep breath, and then said, “I’m not sure how to do this.”

I tilted my head to the side, “How to do what?”

“Date someone. Don’t fucking know.” He said.

I smiled, “Just be yourself, Xander. That’s all I need you to do. Will you do that for me?”

He seemed to process my words, and then he slowly nodded, “You sure?”

I nodded, “Yeah. Totally sure.”

And that was when he seemed to let out a long breath, followed by a nod.

Then he handed me the biggest bouquet of star gazer lilies I had seen.

I took them and smiled, then I inhaled their fragrance. Perfect.

I stepped to the side to let him in.

He eyed me as he entered my apartment, and then I closed the door.

“Let me get these in some water, then we can go. Okay?” I asked.

He nodded, then he walked into my living room.

I was putting the flowers in a vase with water when I heard Xander ask, “These are your parents?”

I looked up and saw he had a frame in his hand. Knowing the picture I had in there, I smiled, “Yeah. That’s them.”

“You look like the perfect mixture of both of them.”

I smiled at him and winked.

He might not know how to date.

He might not know how to hug someone.

But he knew the right things to say.

See... all I needed from him was for him to be himself.

Maybe one day he would realize that... I smiled as I put the flowers into the water, then pushed the vase to the center of the little island I had.

He looked at me as he set the frame down, then he asked, “Ready?”

I nodded.

I tagged my bag and slung it over my shoulder, then I made my way to my door.

He reached around me and opened it, then stood there as I locked it.

When we started walking, I didn’t know who had made the move first, but we ended up with our hands intertwined as we exited my apartment.

A pretty black truck was parked out front, and it looked good, but my eyes scanned for his bike.

I frowned when I didn’t see it, and felt my brows rise when he stopped in front of the truck and beeped the locks.

My head snapped back so I could look up at him, “Yours?”

He nodded, “Tell you more in a minute.”

Then he opened the passenger side door for me.

I grabbed the OS bar and climbed in.

I heard a sharp inhale of breath come from him as I did so.

And I couldn’t help but smile and want to do a little shimmy of my ass for him, but I refrained.

That would be later.

Once I was settled, he stepped in, took the seatbelt, and buckled me in.

I looked at him and giggled, “Really?”

He shrugged, “Got precious cargo. Need it safe.”

And with that bomb dropped, he closed the door.

I watched him as he rounded the hood and climbed into the driver’s seat.

He started the engine, then looked over at me.

“You're not going to buckle up?” I teased.

He chuckled, then he shook his head.

I lifted a brow.

His eyes narrowed, “Got a feeling you’ll be winning every argument between us. But not this.”

I narrowed my own eyes, “Xander.”

He shook his head, “Here’s why I’m not buckling up. Should someone come after me and use you to get to me, having to unbuckle will only piss me off. And having someone come after me while you’re with me? I’d go fucking nuclear.”

I sat back in my seat.

And kept my mouth closed.

He chuckled, “Wish I could record this moment to remember it.”

I snickered, “I’m hungry. Let’s go.”

He winked, “Yes, ma’am.”

We were on our way to wherever he was taking me, then I recalled what he said.

“So, about this truck? You said you would tell me more in a minute.” I said.

He glanced at me, then nodded, “Went and bought this today. Feels fucking weird. Brothers told me that on a first date, women don’t want to mess with their appearance, and the bike would have done that.”

Something in his tone... something I couldn’t put my finger on, told me that what he was saying may be the whole truth, but it wasn’t.

Getting to know this man, I wanted to push, to ask him what the real reason was for buying this truck; however, a song I loved came on the radio.

I reached forward and turned it up.

He looked at me and lifted a brow, “You like this song?”

I nodded and then giggled, “Who doesn’t like Chris Stapleton?”

He nodded, “Preach.”

I giggled.

I also caught a small smile form on his lips.

Damn.

That was a sight to see.

And right then and there, I made it my mission to make a real smile form on his lips.

Thinking on that and ways I could make that happen, I looked out of the front windshield and eyed the place he brought us to.

It was a structure built on beams overlooking the water.

The sign outside read, Boudreaux.

Xander parked the truck, and then climbed out, rounded the hood as I unbuckled, and grabbed my bag.

He opened the door for me, then offered me his hand.

After I placed my hand in his, he helped me down, then he closed the door and beeped the locks.

I wanted to do a little dance when he tightened his hold on my hand as he led me up a set of steps.

And the moment he opened the door, a woman was standing there.

A woman who had blonde hair pulled back in a ponytail, who gaped, then actually pulled her shirt down lower at the sight of Xander.

She actually pulled her shirt down lower... umm... did she not see me standing beside him? What the fuck?

I snapped my fingers in her face.

She jumped, then paled, then looked at me. I smiled, “I get it. But I’m hungry.”

She shook her head, nodded, and then grabbed two menus and led us over to a table that was right in front of a big bay window.

“Your server’s name is Pam. She will be right with you,” she hurriedly said, and then she hurriedly walked away.

I caught Xander’s gaze and asked, “What?”

“You that hungry or did it piss you off?” he asked with a tilt of his head.

I snickered, “Both.”

He winked, then he nodded.

Our server came over and took our drink orders.

Two sweet, iced teas.

We were looking at the menu when I asked, “Have you ever eaten here before?”

When he didn’t reply, I glanced up and saw that his cheeks were slightly pink.

Slightly. Pink.

I set my menu down and asked, “Xander?”

He cleared his throat and looked out the window when he said, “The brothers told me about this place after I told them I didn’t know what to do on a date.”

Oh. My. Goodness.

It took everything I had in me to form words.

But I did it.

“Xander? Honey, look at me. Please.” I softly asked.

The server was on her way, and I waved her off, holding up five fingers.

She looked at Xander, then back at me, winked, and nodded.

When he still hadn’t looked at me, I called out, softer this time, “Xander. Honey. Please. Look at me.”

I didn’t say anything else while I waited.

And then I waited some more.

And finally, he turned his head slowly, his jaw was clenched, and his eyes were locked on mine instantly.

I smiled at him, “I’m honored.”

His jaw unclenched, then his brows furrowed, “How?”

I giggled, “Because it makes me feel so freaking special. You stepped way out of your comfort zone. For me. Xander, honey, that means the world to me.”

I watched as he inhaled breath after breath, and then he nodded.

“I don’t know what’s good here, but the brothers gave me some recommendations.” He said.

I smiled, “Which one are you going with?”

“The Crawfish Fettuccine.” He said.

I licked my lips, his eyes immediately zoned in, and then I nodded, “Sounds good to me, too.”

When his eyes stayed locked on my lips, I said, “Honey. Wait until after we eat to see what I taste like. Okay?”

His eyes snapped to mine, and then he chuckled.

I smiled.

We ordered and then waited for our food to arrive.

“Okay, so I know your favorite dessert. What’s your favorite meal?” I asked.

He thought about it, then he said, “Pork chops, smothered in gravy on a pile of homemade mashed potatoes.”

I nodded, “That sounds good.”

He winked, “Yours?”

I shook my head, “It’s so silly.”

He shook his head, “It’s not. What?”

I sighed, “Okay, well, my mother couldn’t cook. Like at all. My dad did all the cooking. Anyway, my mother found this recipe for Shepherd’s Pie.” I told him.

He nodded as he took a swig of tea.

“And she made it. But... well... she got it confused with something else... and I loved it.”

He chuckled, “What did it end up being?”