I thought for sure he would set me down so I could get my things, but he didn't. He leaned over just the right way to pick up my shoes and bag while still holding onto me. He let out a groan when he did it, which made me laugh even more. I was thankful for my cheerleading skills because I really had to do my part in balancing to keep us both from toppling over.
Henry was interested in all the excitement, and he followed behind us, sniffing my forehead and adding even more chaos to the scene. Owen somehow miraculously managed to open the door and leave Henry behind while getting us both outside.
He walked me to my car and placed my shoes and bag on the hood before stooping to set me on my feet. He had to bend over to set me down gently, and I watched as he stood up. I was smiling, and I expected him to say something or at least pause and look at me, but he didn't do that. As soon as he made sure I was securely on my feet, he stood up, and he kissed me. He leaned in and did it with absolutely no hesitation whatsoever. He did it like he had been waiting a decade to do it and now finally had his chance.
He leaned against me, trapping me against my car and keeping me in place while he held the sides of my face and put his lips on mine. This was no tiny, gentle kiss. He opened his mouth to me instantly and kissed me deeply. I held onto him for dear life and eagerly kissed him back. Ten years worth of passion passed through us during that encounter. Owen's mouth was warm and perfect, and I knew I would never kiss another man. He showed me in those moments how badly he wanted me. He showed me exactly why he couldn't let it happen on the couch.
Finally, after I don’t know how long, he pulled back, trying to stop, but finding it difficult. I knew this because he broke contact and then kissed me again about eight or ten times before he finally shook his head and smiled at the absurdity of it all. I smiled too, and then we kissed each other a few more times in between smiles. We did it gently again and again like we just couldn't bear to put an end to it. I had never wanted something so badly in my life, and the relief and happiness I felt made me giddy.
I turned his face to the side and kissed him three times directly on his scar, once on his jaw, then I moved to his cheek, and then close to his eyebrow. I wanted to tell him that I loved everything about him.
He smiled at me after I did it and then he bent down to kiss my lips again. He did it really gently and slowly this time, which caused a whole new, different sort of wave of desire and anticipation to hit me. I let out a little moan, and he pulled back, giving me an easy smile.
"You better go," he said.
"Why? Are you afraid you might carry me back in there?"
"Yes," he said, nodding seriously.
"Okay, I'm going," I whispered.
I kissed him again.
"I'm gonna go," I said.
Another kiss—right on the side of his mouth.
"I'm getting my shoes on right now."
Again, I kissed him.
"See?"
Another kiss on the cheek.
"I'm leaving."
Two kisses.
"We're terrible at this," he said before doing it yet again.
I smiled. "I think we're pretty good at it."
Chapter 12
Owen
Owen went to work the following day, and one of the first things he did was tell his family he was seeing Darcy Meyers.
It was 8:30am when he got there, and his dad, Jesse, along with his grandfather, Michael, and Uncle Max were all three in the garage when he arrived. He didn't plan on mentioning it to them, but he was thinking of her when he walked in, and he had a smile on his face.
"Owen Bishop has arrived!" Elvis squawked.
Uncle Max loved to teach Elvis specific greetings for different people, and a few years back, he taught him how to formally announce Owen. Owen normally ignored the bird and went to his workstation or his office, but this time, when everyone looked his way, he stopped walking and gave a bow.
"What's gotten into you?" Michael asked.
"Nothing," Owen said, walking over to meet the men who were at Max's workstation huddled around an old cruiser with a sidecar. "Who's is this?" he asked.
"It belongs to a friend of your Uncle Gray," Jesse said, wiping his hands. "They brought it by last night."
Owen nodded and stooped to admire it. Bishop didn't make sidecars, so it was a different brand, but it was attached to a Bishop motorcycle. It looked good, and it made Owen smile to see such a thing.
"Gray said you came by Alpha yesterday," Jesse said.
"I did," Owen agreed.
"He said you had a lady friend with you." Jesse continued.
Owen wasn't looking at his father, but Jesse's curiosity was completely obvious by his tone. Owen glanced up and noticed that all three men were staring at him, waiting to hear what he would say.
"I did," Owen said. He tried, but he just couldn't hold back a smile. "I had a gorgeous lady friend with me."
This made his grandfather laugh. "Ohhh boy!" Michael said. "First Daniel brings one home, and now Owen. Must be something in the water. What's Rose feeding those boys?"
"Who is she?" Max asked.
"Gray said it was the little Meyers girl," Jesse said.
"I wouldn't call her little girl," Owen said. "But he's right about her name."
"Stephen Meyers's girl?" Michael asked. His question was laced with skepticism and distaste that made Owen's heart drop.
He stood up taking a deep breath and looking his grandfather straight in the eyes. "Yes sir," he said.
"That boy has been smitten with the Meyers girl for a long time," Max said, causing Michael and Jesse to look at him. He held up his hands and shook his head. "He came up here a long time ago smiling just like this on account of that young lady, and I told him then that he'd be smart to stay away from her."
"Yes sir, and I did. I heard what you said, and I believed you."
"But what?" Jesse asked, hearing the hesitation in his son's voice.
"But I'm not doing it anymore," Owen said. "She's really the only girl I've ever liked, and well, she likes me back, and I just don't see any reason that we…" He hesitated. He loved and respected all three of these men, and they were just standing there, staring at him like they couldn't believe the words that were coming out of his mouth. "I'm sorry Doozy," he said. Owen stared at his grandfather with a look of regret, knowing that Stephen Meyers had tried to come between his grandparents when they were younger. Owen sighed. "I know Stephen Meyers might not be the best person in the world, but honestly, he must have done something right, because, Darcy, well, she's…" Owen trailed off, trying to think about how to define Darcy. She was so one-of-a-kind that he couldn’t find the words to accurately describe her.
"Does Stephen Meyers know you're seeing his daughter?" Michael asked.
Owen almost said that he did so they would think everything was fine, but he just couldn't bring himself to lie.
"I don't know. I don't think he does," Owen said.
"It's probably better you keep it that way," Max said. There was obvious warning in his tone, and Owen looked at him.
"I'm not trying to hide from anybody," he said.
Max smiled. "That's easy to say right now when he's not after you."
Owen scowled, and Max shook his head and threw up his hands. "I'm just saying… your granddad and I tried to talk to him last year to see about buying a piece of land off of Highway 51, and he pulled a gun on us."
Owen looked at his grandpa for conformation, and he shrugged apologetically. "I thought maybe we could smooth things over after all these years," Michael said. "I wanted to buy that piece of land from him and build a parts plant out there. Max and I tried to talk to him about it."
"He was totally unreasonable," Max said, shaking his head. "We even told him how nice it would be and how many jobs it would bring to Memphis, but he wouldn't have any part of it."
"What'd he say?" Owen asked.
"He said he'd sell that property to a Bishop over his dead body," Max said. "An
d then he pulled a gun on us and told us we had ten seconds to get out of his sight."
Owen cringed.
"We're just looking out for you," Jesse said.
"Well, I appreciate it," Owen said. "And I'm sorry he's apparently an unreasonable person, but I'm not gonna let the fear of one man stop me from being happy. I've done it for a long time already, and I'm tired of it. I'm done."
"Does his daughter feel the same way about you?" Michael asked.
"Yes sir, she does."
"I doubt she knows what her dad's capable of," Michael said.
"Doozy, you told me something a long time ago that stuck with me, and I think it kind of applies to this situation."
"What?" Michael asked.
"You were talking to me about the accident, and you told me 'nothing ever happens to us that's not our destiny'." Owen stared at his grandfather who crossed his arms and tilted his head as if trying to remember saying that or understand how it applied. "You told me that a long time ago, and I just remembered it the other day. When you said it, you were trying to assure me that it had been my destiny to go through everything I had gone through with the accident, but it's true, and it applies to this situation and to every situation. Mr. Meyers might very well want to cause harm to me when he finds out that I love his daughter, but if he does, then that's my destiny. Nothing can possibly happen to me that's not my destiny, so I'm not going to live in fear. I wish I had figured this out years ago. I'm sorry that he tried to hurt you and Shug, but I can't apologize for loving Darcy. I can't even control it. I just do it without even trying."
Michael's serious expression softened into a slight smile. "You are your father's son," he said.
"I was thinking the same thing," Max said.
"I was thinking how smart he was, so I'll take that as a compliment," Jesse said, looking satisfied.
Owen looked at Max. "I remember the things you told me about Stephen Meyers all those years ago, and I know he's a powerful guy. I don't want you to think I'm trying to disrespect y'all or not take you seriously when you try to warn me, but I can't ignore Darcy anymore. She's worth whatever I have to endure with her dad."
***
Owen had no idea how quickly his resolve would be tested.
Three days later, Stephen Meyers himself showed up on Owen's doorstep. Owen had seen the man before, but it had been a long time. He knew Mr. Meyers was roughly his grandfather's age, but he seemed older. He had leathery, wrinkled skin and wavy white hair, and he stood on Owen's doorstep looking stone-faced like a drugstore Indian.
Owen had been expecting Darcy, so he looked around to see if she had come with her dad. Henry, who could see and smell Mr. Meyers through Owen's legs, was barking like crazy, so Owen stepped out onto the porch and closed the door.
"My name is Stephen Meyers," the man said. He was dressed in slacks and a business shirt and tie, and he looked down his nose at Owen even though Owen was taller than him.
"Yes sir, I know who you are," Owen said.
"I'm here because I know you've been seeing my granddaughter."
"Yes sir."
The man slowly scanned Owen from head to toe, scowling at him like he couldn't imagine a more distasteful sight.
"I'm here to put an end to that."
Owen glanced around and then at Mr. Meyers again. Henry was still barking from in the house. The muffled sounds were the only sounds that could be heard as they stared at each other.
"It's bad enough that she's going behind my back with a Bishop, but then I hear that it's the cripple."
He glanced down at Owen's leg with a look of utter disgust even though Owen was wearing pants and he couldn’t even tell there was a prosthetic. Owen felt hot blood rise to his face as anger and hurt hit him like a ton of bricks. He knew he could easily overpower Stephen Meyers, and it took all of his restraint to control his anger.
"She deserves better than a Bishop," the man said. "She deserves better than a healthy and whole Bishop, much less a broken down, crippled one."
Owen's chest rose and fell as he took a deep breath, trying to contain his rage. He literally saw red. There was a red-ish flashing obstruction in his periphery, and he blinked to clear his vision. He swallowed hard, and clinched his jaw and fists. He was on the very verge of hitting the man in the face. Mr. Meyers scanned Owen again, noticing the newfound tension in his stance.
"I've got a friend in the car with a weapon pointed at you, Mr. Bishop, so it would be in your best interest to calm yourself down. I'm here to tell you to leave my daughter alone. If you listen to what I'm telling you, then nobody gets hurt."
"Are you threatening me?" Owen asked.
"I most certainly am. You do not want to make an enemy out of me, son."
"It's unfortunate that you would apply such a word to someone who only wants the best for Darcy."
Mr. Meyers let out a humorless laugh, and scanned Owen again. "You must be delusional, boy, if you think you're what's best. I don't want to hear you say her name again. It may not be tomorrow or the next day, but believe me… if you keep seeing Darcy, you'll get what's coming."
"Does she know you came here?"
"Good day, Mr. Bishop," Stephen said, ignoring his question. "You'll send Darcy a text message informing her that you won't be seeing each other again."
The man turned to walk off of his porch.
"And if I don't?" Owen asked.
The man looked over his shoulder with a sinister smile. "Test me and find out," he said.
"I will," Owen said.
"What'd you say, boy?"
"I said I will, sir. I plan to. I plan to test you because I'm not staying away from Darcy."
The man let out a little laugh. "Crippled and stupid," he said.
"I feel sorry for you," Owen said. "Darcy's the only real family you have in this world, and if you knew anything at all about her, you would know what a huge mistake you're making right now."
"You're the one who's making a mistake," Stephen said. "I won't stand by and let a Bishop weasel his way into Darcy's life and into my wallet."
"I don't care about your money," Owen said.
"Sure you don't," the old man said sarcastically as he turned to walk away.
Owen came really close to saying about ten different things to the man. He came really close to chasing him down and beating the daylights out of him, but he just stood on the porch and watched as the man got in the passenger's seat of the car.
Chapter 13
Darcy
I was supposed to be in Memphis having dinner with Owen, but instead, I was stuck on the side of the road in Arlington, watching Charles talk to someone on the phone.
My dad had sent me on an errand with one of his trusted employees, Charles, to check on the construction that was taking place on some of his property. I didn't really understand why he wanted me to go, but he said he wanted to get a woman's opinion on the progress of the storefront, and I hated to deny him after he and my mom had been so generous with my college and the new house and everything.
We left the house earlier that afternoon, so I thought I would be back in plenty of time to get to Owen's for our dinner date. Apparently, the property was up in Mason, however, which was like an hour away.
It was doubly disappointing when Charles and I got there and discovered that the construction hadn't even begun. It was my dad's land all right, but there was absolutely nothing on it. We got there and Charles made a phone call to my dad telling him the progress was way behind schedule. He talked to my dad for what must have been fifteen minutes before we finally decided that our trip had been fruitless.
Charles's phone rang again while we were on the road headed back to Memphis, and he answered it before telling the caller to 'hold on'. He pulled over to the side of the road, got out of the truck, and closed the door, leaving me inside with no explanation.
I was already going to be cutting it close with getting to Owen's on time, but this stop meant that I'd definitely be late. I ha
d absolutely no idea why Charles couldn’t just take the call while we drove. I watched in confusion as he stood about twenty feet in front of the truck with the phone to his ear. He began to pace in circles, talking to whoever was on the other end.
I had hoped we would make it back in time, so I hesitated to call Owen, but I looked at the clock and then at Charles pacing in front of the non-moving truck, and I realized I should break down and give Owen a call.
The first time I called, it went to his voicemail, so I hung up and sent him a text.
Me: "I'm running a little late. So sorry. Ran an errand for my dad and it took longer than expected. Will be there ASAP."
Ten minutes later, I still hadn't heard back from Owen, and Charles was still standing in front of the truck with his phone to his ear. I read my text again, realizing that I had phrased it in such a way that didn't require a response… the thing was, I wanted a response—I wanted to hear back from him.
I knew he was off work and expecting me to come over, so I decided to give him another call. I got his voicemail again, and this time I left a message. I heard his prompting and then the beep, and I began talking.
"Hey, it's me. I miss you. I'm sorry I'm running late. I'm with Charles, my dad's land manager. We had to go check on some property up in Mason, and we're just now headed back to Memphis. I have to stop at the house to get my car, but I'll be there as soon as I—"
I stopped talking when I heard a beep in my ear mid-sentence. The recording offered me the option to listen to my message or delete it, but I just let it go through. I figured I had said enough before I got cut off.
Within minutes, Charles came back to the truck. He smiled at me as he sat in the driver seat, but he offered no apology and no explanation as to why he felt the need to stop.
It took us another thirty minutes to get to my house. Charles pulled into my parents' driveway instead of mine, which wasn't a big deal, but it meant I had to walk across their property to my house, and that only added to my delay.
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