Blind Date with a Billionaire Biker (Blind Date Disasters Book 3)

by Evangeline Kelly

  He held me close and kissed the top of my head. “I missed you, little one.”

  “I missed you too.” I clung to him and tried not to cry.

  “How did your parents take it when you left?”

  “Not well.” My heart felt like it was being squeezed inside my chest. “They pretty much disowned me.”

  “I was afraid that would happen.” His voice was soothing and kind, exactly what I needed right now.

  “But I don’t regret leaving. I hope one day they’ll be willing to talk again.”

  “I’m sure they will. They’re angry and disillusioned you didn’t follow their plans. Give them time to adjust. They’ll come around.” He picked up my carry-on, and we headed to the baggage claim to get my suitcase.

  Once we were on the road and the chaos of LAX was behind us, I turned to him. “How is Dex doing?”

  “He’s fine. He’s still in the guest house, so I guess that means you’ll be in the main house with me.”

  My eyes widened. “Why is he staying in the guest house? He never mentioned that to me when we messaged on Facebook. I would think he’d go back to his condo or find a nicer place, considering his new job.”

  Grandpa chuckled. “He admitted that staying in the guest house made him feel closer to you, so I didn’t have the heart to send him packing. He’s been great company—he can stay there as long as he likes.”

  “That’s kind of you,” I said. “Will he be there when we get home?”

  “He should be. I told him I needed to talk to him this evening.”

  When we finally drove up to the house, I nearly jumped out of the truck in my excitement and ran to the guest house. I knocked on the door and waited.

  A few moments passed, and then Dex answered wearing a blue t-shirt that brought out the blue in his grayish eyes. His mouth dropped open, and he made a noise inside his throat. He stood there for the longest moment as if he couldn’t believe his eyes, and then he snapped out of it. “Tizzy!” He immediately moved forward to pull me into his arms. “You’re here. About time,” he said in a teasing voice. He held me close—neither of us willing to break apart. We stood like that, swaying from side to side like we were dancing. When Dex eventually pulled back, he traced my face with his fingertips, lingering near my lips. “You’re so beautiful. I can’t believe you’re really here.”

  There was so much longing in his eyes that I felt it in the middle of my gut, in the increased beating of my heart. In the way he kept whispering my name like it was precious.

  And then something happened that had never happened before, at least since I’d known him. His eyes watered, and he blinked as if trying to hold back how much this was affecting him. “I was beginning to think you’d changed your mind,” he choked out. “And I wasn’t sure how to live with it.”

  I leaned in to press a kiss on his cheek. “Not once did I waffle. I knew I wanted to come back to you, but I had to make sure Mom was okay first.”

  “You did the right thing, and I respect you for that.”

  He pulled me into his arms again, and we stayed like that until Grandpa joined us a few minutes later.

  “Hey, you two,” Grandpa said grinning wide. “No hanky-panky on the premises.”

  Dex and I broke out into laughter at his use of hanky-panky. “You’re too young to be using terms like that,” I said.

  Grandpa ran a hand over his beard. “You forget how old I am.” But he still chuckled.

  “Tank is right,” Dex said putting some distance between us. “If I’m not careful, I might break the promise I made not to kiss those sweet lips of yours.”

  “Not that I want you to break any promises,” I said, “but was there a time limit on that?”

  Grandpa laughed. “Oh, Tizzy. You have much to learn, but let’s not give you an education all at once. How about if we ease you into it, okay?”

  “I think I’m ready,” I said. “I want my first kiss.”

  Dex looked ready to oblige, but then he took another step back. “We should have a discussion about this first.”

  “I’ll let you two talk,” Grandpa said. “I’ll be in the house if you need me.”

  Once he left, Dex brushed my hair off my shoulders and looked deep into my eyes. “You’ve lived under a lot of rules, so you’re anxious to break a few of them. I get that. But I don’t want you to have any doubts.”

  “I won’t. Please, Dex. Just kiss me.”

  His eyes flared as he breathed in and out, his chest lifting and falling with the motion. His hands smoothed over the back of my hair, causing goosebumps to scatter over my arms. And then he brought his lips so close I could feel his warm breath on my face. As I tilted my head up, my heart pounded so fast I could hear it in my ears, and I sensed his breathing turn ragged.

  “Please,” I whispered. “Please, kiss me.” The yearning was so strong I felt like I might pass out.

  His lips nearly brushed over mine.

  But something stopped him right before we made contact. His eyebrows pinched together, and he shook his head, pulling back. “No. I can’t do this.”

  My eyes widened, my stomach twisting from the rejection. “Why? I don’t understand.”

  “You need to think about this. Don’t rush into it because you’re upset with your parents. You’ve saved yourself all this time—think it through, Tizzy. Is this what you really want?” The corners of his mouth turned up the slightest bit. “I personally think it would be cool to wait until the wedding.”

  I nodded slowly, considering that. “Okay, I’ll think it through.” And then the rest of his statement sunk in. “The wedding? What makes you so sure we’re getting married?” I pushed on his arm playfully.

  He laughed. “Oh, we’re getting married, all right. Now that I have you back, I’m never letting you go.”

  I lifted up and put my arms around his neck, pulling him in, teasing him a little as my fingertips ran up and down his skin. “So, when is this wedding taking place?”

  “Name the day.”

  “Are you serious or is this a joke?”

  “Do I look like I’m joking?”

  “No, but looks can be deceiving.”

  “I would never deceive you. I say what I mean, and I mean what I say.”

  “So, I could tell you I want to get married tomorrow, and you’d be fine with that?”

  “Yep.” He didn’t smile, but his eyes twinkled.

  “We haven’t even known each other that long.”

  “Hey, I’m all in. We can get to know each other better on the honeymoon.” He laughed. “I’m kind of joking here, but a part of me is serious. I know you’re the one, and I’m ready to make good on that.” His lips lifted up in a grin, and it spread across his face, lighting up the space between us.

  “Okay, since you’re giving me the power to choose a date, I’ll do it.” I stared at him, waiting for him to flinch or do something to make me think he hadn’t been serious this entire time. When he gave no such indication, I put a finger to my cheek and considered. “I’m going to say nine months from today—or the closest day that falls on a Saturday. I’d like to work and save money for the wedding.”

  “You’re forgetting I’m heir to a billion dollars. You don’t have to do that.”

  “I’d still like to contribute. I want to spend my own money for once.”

  “All right. If that’s what you want.”

  “It is.”

  “Why nine months?” he asked. “Did you just pick it randomly?”

  “Nine months is the acceptable length of time for a couple to enter into a courtship at my previous church.” Saying previous church sounded weird, but it was the truth now.

  His eyes widened. “I’m surprised you want to follow their ways after everything that happened.”

  “Oh, believe me, I’m making changes. I’m not wearing that long black dress to church again, and I can’t wait to start working. But as far as a courtship…maybe a part of me feels safe clasping on to something fam
iliar.”

  He nodded. “Okay, I get that. Nine months from today it is.”

  “Does that mean we’re engaged?”

  “Nope, not yet.” He dropped to one knee and pulled a ring from his pocket. Holding it up, he smiled.

  I gasped and placed a hand over my mouth for a second. “You’re really doing this.”

  He nodded. “Tirzah Olsson, you have captured my heart in every way possible. The first moment I saw you that day in Philly, I knew you were special. I wanted to ask you out, but you said you had a boyfriend. When I saw you again years later at Tank’s front yard—with the same knucklehead I might add—it felt like God had brought you right to my doorstep. You are beautiful inside and out, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. That is if you’ll have me.”

  I started laughing and crying all at once. “Yes, Dex. It’s always been you that I wanted. Just you. My heart belongs to no one else.”

  He slid the ring on my finger and then rose to his feet, picking me up and twirling me around. We both laughed and wiped away each other’s tears. They were happy tears, expressions of how important this moment was for both of us.

  “Now we’re engaged,” he said.

  “Wait a second. How did you have the ring in your pocket? You didn’t know I was coming today.”

  He gave me a sheepish look. “I purchased it not long after you left, and every day I put it in my pocket, hoping you would return so I could give it to you.”

  “I can’t believe you did that every single day.”

  He leaned in and kissed me gently on the cheek. “I love you. You were always in my thoughts. I hoped it would just be a matter of time.”

  “I love you too, and I’m so thankful to be here.”

  He laced our fingers together, and we walked to the main house hand-in-hand to tell Grandpa the good news. My mind was spinning with the fact that I was engaged to a man I loved. What a wonderful concept. I wouldn’t have to try to be happy about it. I was happy. God had blessed far more than I ever expected, and I was ready to look toward the future.

  Epilogue

  Dex

  8 months later…

  Freedom. That was what this felt like. Complete unadulterated freedom. The wind on my face, the sound of the other vehicles on the road, the sense of brotherhood.

  Tizzy on the back of my bike, arms wrapped around my waist, sharing this with me…with all of us. We were participating in a ride across the state to raise funds for the homeless in California, a cause that was close to all of our hearts. And yes, Tizzy asked to join in. I never pressured her to participate, but she made it clear she wanted to come, so we did some shorter rides first to help her get used to it.

  The fundraiser was open to anyone who had a motorcycle and was willing to pay a fee. We traveled from Sacramento to San Diego over two days, and we were now returning to Tank’s house for a celebration.

  It was my birthday.

  And I was twenty-seven years old.

  That amounted to something like 9857 days, give or take, and God had graciously given me breath for each and every one of those days. There’d been some difficult times and some amazing moments as well. Best of all, He’d blessed me with a woman who loved me as much as I loved her. In one month, we would be married, and I was counting down the days.

  And as if that knowledge weren’t enough to make my heart burst, the Lord had brought reconciliation between me and my father in ways I had never imagined. My dad had taken me to visit Garrett’s grave, and I’d had the opportunity to gain some closure, even though I would always regret not having the chance to get to know my brother.

  I glanced over at the rider in the lane next to us and waved. It was my dad, sitting on a top-of-the-line Harley-Davidson motorcycle with all the bells and whistles. He had bragging rights with that bike, and he made sure everyone knew about his new hobby.

  Yes, Wentworth Mitchell had joined us on this two-day trek so he could be a part of something I loved. Turned out, he didn’t really despise my club like I thought he did in the beginning. He was just envious that I saw them as family when he so desperately wanted to have a relationship with me.

  We both made efforts, my dad and I. I went golfing with him, and he went riding with me. He had a lot of years to make up for, but the past was the past, and I was no longer looking back—only forward.

  When we got to Tank’s house, we all parked our bikes and headed inside. Tizzy had decorated the house with a birthday banner and black and white helium balloons. The balloons were actually still good even though she’d left them a few days ago. Tank had ordered food from a local Mexican restaurant, and he and Tizzy made a chocolate cake together while everyone mingled. We ate and talked and hung out. Moose and Jester joked around with me, and life was great. So great, in fact, that I didn’t know how it could get any better than this.

  After a while, my father pulled me and Tizzy aside. “I bought a new car. Want to see it?”

  “Sure,” I said, clasping Tizzy’s hand. “But where is it and how did you get it here?” Stupid question considering he had a ton of assistants on speed dial.

  “Come with me.” He led us outside just as someone was pulling into the driveway in a nineteen sixty-seven Ford Mustang with a cherry red exterior, the chrome wheels sparkling like diamonds in a jewelry store.

  George stepped out of the car wearing a suit, a smug look on his face. “I think I did a good job picking this out if I do say so myself.” He handed the keys to my father.

  It was my dream car and my birthday, which could only mean one thing.

  “Here you go,” Dad said, handing the keys to me. “It’s all yours.”

  My mouth curved up in a grateful smile. “How did you know I wanted this car?”

  He flashed a mischievous grin. “Jester told me you hoped to buy a vintage Mustang one day, so I put George on it. Hope you like it.”

  “Like it? Are you kidding? I love it!” I got in the driver’s seat and looked at all the features. After a good ten minutes of this, I gestured for them to come over and join me. “Get in the car. Let’s go for a ride.” I laughed. “Yes, George, that includes you.”

  Everyone piled in, and Dad deferred to Tizzy, giving her the front seat. I took off in my nineteen sixty-seven cherry red Ford Mustang, feeling God’s grace on me, feeling His love.

  Not because I had another toy to add to my collection.

  But because the people in my life had come to mean everything to me.

  And for this particular biker that was all I needed.

  Tizzy

  1 month later…

  It was my wedding day, and as I stood in front of the mirror in the church dressing room, set aside for special occasions, I looked at the person staring back at me. I had the same blonde hair, the same hazel eyes, but I was not the same woman I was just over a year ago. Major life events had taken place to mold me into someone I almost didn’t recognize.

  Someone stronger.

  Bolder.

  Less afraid.

  I’d been through enough to know that decisions were costly. There were consequences for every choice we made: some good, some bad. I’d chosen Dex, and my parents had refused to speak to me ever since.

  I had no regrets.

  He was the man I wanted to spend the rest of my life with.

  But it still hurt that they weren’t here to celebrate with me.

  “You look gorgeous,” Vera said, touching my white gown with the tip of her finger. “I still can’t believe what a great deal you got on this dress.”

  She’d gone shopping with me, and we’d found this particular gown on a clearance rack. Everything about it was beautiful: the lace sleeves, the beaded bodice, the layers of organza material flowing to the ground. I felt like a fairy in it, or maybe a nymph. Vera had dressed in a full-length blue bridesmaid dress that tied around her neck and had a shimmer to it. I’d asked her to be my matron of honor, and she had happily agreed.

  “Your hair, your makeup…e
verything looks perfect,” she said. She gave me a scrutinizing look. “How’re you holding up?”

  “Good.” My smile slipped a little. “I mean, I’m trying not to think about…” I waved a hand in front of my eyes, willing myself not to fall apart. This was my special day. There was no room for this. “You know…my parents.”

  “I do know.” She touched my arm, her warm eyes steadying me. “Don’t dwell on what you can’t change. God is still on the throne—He knows exactly what you’re up against when it comes to them, and He will give you the strength. Today is about celebrating you and Dex. You two are so in love with each other, and we’ve all been waiting for this day.” She smiled. “It’s been a joy watching your relationship unfold.”

  The smile returned to my face thinking about Dex. He was the man of my dreams, my angel, the one who kept me safe. I respected him, admired him, and I really, really, was anticipating that first kiss.

  Yes, I had waited after all. When he’d asked me to give it more thought, I agreed that it was better to hold out for the wedding. First of all, I had a feeling that once our lips touched, it would be impossible not to desire more, and second, he was right. I had saved myself this long for a reason. That kiss would mean so much to us once we were officially Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell.

  There was a knock on the door, and my wedding coordinator, Debbie, peeked in. “Your grandpa just arrived.”

  “Oh, good.” I let out a breath of relief. He’d gone on a much-needed vacation but promised he would be back in time for the wedding.

  Vera looked at the clock on the wall. “He’s cutting it close. That’s not like Tank. I wonder what the delay was.”

  “I don’t know, but I’m glad he’s here.”

  There was another knock on the door, and this time it was Grandpa. Vera let him in while I dabbed my face with a little extra powder.

  He wore a gray suit with a blue button-down shirt, and he looked as handsome as ever. “There’s my girl,” he said, beaming. “You look amazing—like a princess about to receive her crown.”