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He grins. “It was definitely an adventure. Cold as hell, but the scenery was breathtaking. I even got to see the Northern Lights.”
I trace the Greek letters over his eyebrow. “Is it weird if I say thank you for your service?”
He laughs and squeezes my waist. “I’d rather you thank me for the way I just servicedyou.” He sighs, and our gazes connect in a long moment, full of heat. “I came back from the Army to a bunch of lousy jobs and a lot of thank you for your service, but we’re not hiring nonsense that left me broke and angry.”
“And you decided to become an outlaw?” I ask, raising an eyebrow.
“No. I was having a beer with a friend of mine, Devon, who told me about the Reckless Souls MC, where he was a prospect. I went to the clubhouse, checked it out, and decided it was exactly where I belong,” he says calmly, and I can tell he really feels at home there.
“Why?” I ask, wanting to know more.
He frowns. “Why do I belong there?” I nod. “Let’s just say that my particular skill set comes in handy.”
“I thought it would be a more scandalous story,” I admit, slightly disappointed.
He chuckles. “Sorry to let you down.”
I shrug. “I thought maybe they saved you from something awful, and you were indebted to them.”
He laughs again, and I feel my cheeks flush with embarrassment. “That’s some rich girl logic, babe. It wasn’t an Oliver Twist situation.”
“Bummer,” I say, trying to play it off.
“Not for me,” he replies, sighing. Lucky lets the silence settle around us again before he speaks up. “How are you feeling about the stuff with your dad?”
“Angry. Confused,” I sigh, tracing circles on his chest. “It’s making me wonder if this big secret is why he’s always been distant with me, barely interested in my life.”
“Maybe. It’s probably really tough, and it seems like he’s been undercover for a while,” he says, not downplaying my feelings, which I appreciate. So, I decide to share more.
“What if my name isn’t Aria Morgan? What if he finishes his undercover work and wants nothing to do with me?” I’m an adult, so it’s not like he owes me anything.
Lucky sighs, and I hold my breath, waiting for his response. “I never knew my dad. He was never part of our lives, and my mom OD’d when I was fifteen. It was just me and my kid brother looking out for each other, staying away from local gangs and child protective services.”
I look up when he stops speaking and see a faraway look in his eyes as if he’s reliving that life. I kinda feel the weight of his past, heavy and unspoken.
He blinks away the memories and smiles down at me, his voice full of conviction. “What I’m saying is that sometimes parents are overrated, even the good ones. You’re an adult, Aria, and you have resources that give you countless opportunities to figure out where you belong. You can live your life, regardless of whether he wants to be a part of it or not.”
His words strike a chord within me, and I spend the rest of the evening lost in thought, trying to envision a life away from Morgan International, a life without Daddy.
I can’t see my future, or where I belong, so I focus on the here and now. And Lucky, with his pocketful of orgasms.
CHAPTERSEVENTEEN
Lucky
I wake up to a sea of Pepto-Bismol pink with a smile, the morning sun warming my skin. The space beside me is empty and cold. I open one eye and then the other, spotting Frannie walking around the room, dusting and straightening up.
“Mornin’,” I manage, my voice groggy from sleep and exertion.
Frannie looks up from her chores with a bright smile. “Mornin’. You might wanna put that morning wood away before someone gets the wrong idea.” She chuckles, her eyes twinkling with amusement. “Coffee is right beside you.”
“Thank you, Frannie. You are a goddess among women,” I tell her as I reach for the steaming mug of black liquid.
Frannie swats a dismissive hand in my direction. “Save your charm for someone else ‘cause it won’t work on me.” She dusts the nightstand on the other side of the bed and turns to me with her hands on her hips. “Be careful with Aria. She’s my friend.”
“You care about her,” I observe, noticing her playful tone has disappeared.
“Of course I do. I’m not just the damn housekeeper,” she grumbles. “We’ve been friends for years, and I love her like a sister. She might be bitchy on the outside, but she’s sensitive and guarded.”
