Page 133 of Blue-Eyed Jacks
The song started slowly.Just a small sustained chord and the clear tenor of a talented singer joined in.I braced myself for memories to flood back, but I didn’t know this song at all.Jackson held out his arms.I stepped into them so he could lead me through a shuffled waltz.
As we danced, he began singing along.Surprisingly, he had a decent voice.I paid attention to the words.Who would have guessed this man to be such a romantic?I forgot all about the pain of the past and lost myself in his eyes, arms, and softly sung melody.He promised love, a future, and more tenderly, telling me how perfect I was for him.And how our family was everything he asked for, and more.
I couldn’t help it.Tears began to leak out of my eyes.He stopped mid-shuffle to whisper in my ear.
“Sorry, baby.”
I shook my head.My bottom lip quivered.He was apologizing for nothing.What he’d done was a miracle.I fought to speak so he’d know he hadn’t fucked up at all.“You’re giving me music back.”
More tears streamed down my cheeks, but I smiled despite the pain releasing from my soul.
He hugged me tight, sang softly, and swayed with me until the song ended.No sooner than it did, another song followed on its heels.This one was even more poignant.He motioned for Zoe to join us, and in our little trio, we celebrated being a family.
Of course, it was too good to last.The next song was a typical biker song.The floor filled up.A few of the men without ol’ ladies invited strippers or cam girls as their plus-one.And some of the ol’ ladies were strippers at one point.That meant there was no end to the talented antics on the dance floor.
I tried to keep up for at least three songs but was so out of practice that I tripped over my own feet.Luckily, Jackson caught me before I went down.I couldn’t stop laughing and smiling.
We retired to the table for food, drinks, and the obligatory make-out sessions each time someone clinked their silverware on anything that would make noise.The whirlwind of the day wound down, and the cake was distributed without tipping it over or getting a piece mashed in my face.
Everywhere I looked, the men wore black vests.Women did, too.Jackson had ditched his suit jacket during the photos, opting to cover his dress shirt with his vest.I marveled at how good it looked on him.He looked whole in it.Happy.
“What?”
“You are one handsome man,” I replied.
“Babe.”His grin grooved deep.
My finger traced the indent there.“I love you.”
The smile lines at the edges of his eyes deepened.“Really now?”
“Yes.”
He inhaled and looked at the crowd.The smile faded to something I couldn’t read.
“Jackson?”
He took my hand and helped me stand up.As he did, he motioned to Wolf, who brought up a wrapped box.Sprout whistled loudly.“Cut the music!This is fucking important.”
While the noise didn’t cease immediately, we had their attention.
Jackson handed me the box.“I was going to spring this on you after I got your permission, but…” He bit his lip nervously.
I had an inkling of what was inside, because not a single woman in my circle kept secrets well.Gina flat-out asked me to try on leather vests two weeks ago.And Betty Jo, the woman who embellished most of the custom leather coats for the club women, asked me my favorites for almost everything from food, plants, colors, the whole works.I think after all that, she knew me better than Jackson did.
The wrapping paper ripped easily, and I shook the box to loosen the bottom from the lid.It was heavy.
The vest and coat inside matched Jackson’s with a few differences.The name patch on each read, “Boss Lady.”I flipped the vest over to see the back, just to be sure it didn’t say what my former one said.
“Property of Jackson!”I yelled with a grin on my face.Not Property of Destroyers, but one man, alone.Yes, he was a Destroyer, but there would benosharing.
With that, I held it up and showed it off to his men.All of them.The ones from the home club and all the others he supposedly ruled.But he didn’t treat them like subjects.He knew every name.Who was married, who had children, the names of their loved ones, what they drank, and what they did for the club.He was more than their leader and would never ask for more than they could give.
Just like he’d never ask me for more than I could give.But what he didn’t know was that I’d give him everything.Including loyalty to the club’s traditions.The good ones, and even some of the antiquated ones like wearing a garment declaring me his property.
I handed the vest to Jackson with a request to help me put it on.
He whispered in my ear as he did.“I love you, too, Kate.”Then he looped an arm over my shoulder and presented me to the crowd.“See this woman?”
