He chuckled. “Babe, I’d like to see you when you say it so I can kiss you.”
Sucking in a deep breath, I lifted my head and told him, “I love you too, Wade.”
“Thank you for givin’ it to me.”
“Same. Except your love to me.”
He grinned, then dipped down to take my mouth in a smooth, soft, passionate kiss.
I was on a high for the rest of the day from Wade telling me he loved me. I was sure I aced the test as well, but that didn’t even compare to Wade’s words. I had just walked into the house when my phone rang, and Wade’s name showed on the screen.
“Hi,” I answered.
“Hey, babe. All good for tonight, but if anyone fucks with you, I’ll deal with it.”
“I’m sure it will be fine.”
He grunted. “We’ll see. I’m just headin’ out to look at this house. Want to come with me?”
“Do you have time to pick me up?” I asked. I’d been to a few houses with Wade to check them out. It didn’t bother me what it was like or where it was because if Wade was there, I would be happy to spend a few nights in the week there with him.
“Always got time, babe. Trix will wait until we get there anyway.”
Trix. I wasn’t a fan of the realtor Wade was with. She looked at my man like he was a roller coaster, and she wanted a ride… or ten. Still, I supposed looking wasn’t too bad, as long as touching never happened.
“Okay, I’d love to come.”
“See you soon,” he replied, and I waited for him to hang up, but he didn’t.
“Wade?”
“Love you, babe.”
I gripped the table in front of me as I melted. “Love you, Wade Williams.”
He grunted, but it was one of his happy ones. There was something in his tone that helped me differentiate between them.
Before Wade showed, I’d managed to get in a quick bite to eat and was out in front waiting for him while I read from one of my textbooks. Since it was finals time, I had to use all the spare time I had to study.
When I heard a car pull into the drive, I looked up and smiled. Wade had his window down, and he called out, “I’m surprised you heard me. You didn’t get a chance to get in your bubble, babe?”
I rolled my eyes. “No, I haven’t been long out here, smartass.” I put my book down and left it on the seat on the front porch. I doubted anyone would be interested in stealing it. I jumped down the stairs, nearly tripped, but straightened and went to the passenger door while my boyfriend laughed at me.
As soon as I was in the car, he cupped the back of my head and tugged me into him. “Hey.” He grinned.
“Hi,” I whispered, lost in his eyes. But then I closed them because his lips were on mine.
We broke apart, and Wade ordered, “Seat belt.”
I snorted but did as he asked. Without a doubt, he would have sat at the front of the house until I gave in. I knew when to pick my battles.
When we drove toward the general area of the compound, I asked, “How did it really go this morning?”
His jaw clenched, which wasn’t a good sign. “A couple made dickish comments, but it settled down, and as far as I know, they’ll be on their best behavior. Helps I have Saint, Death, Country, and State at my back.”
Reaching out, I smiled and placed my hand on his thigh, squeezing. “Even if they do something, will you try and stay calm? I don’t care what they say. I’ve learned to ignore mean people like that.”
His hand covered mine and then gripped. “That’s the thing, babe. You don’t have to learn to live with it. You don’t put up with it, and I won’t allow anyone to treat you fuckin’ different.”
He seemed worked up, so I said, “Okay, honey.”
He relaxed a little, and we drove in silence for a while longer. My stomach churned in tension with worry about tonight, but all I could do was see how things went and then deal with it when the time came.
“There’s somethin’ I gotta tell you,” he said.
Facing him, my stomach tightened, and I replied, “Yes?”
“Death looked into that asshole’s problem with his father.” Mitch. “On the news tonight, there’ll be an announcement of fuckface’s dad being sent to jail for drug trafficking.”
I gasped. “What? Did he actually deal in drugs?”
“No, but Death set it up to make sure it looked like it. No one will find fault in Death’s proof over him, which was sent in anonymously.”
“Wow. Um, okay. That’s good then, yes?”
“Yeah, babe. It’s good because the father deserves every year he gets in jail.”
“Then I’m glad it got sorted.” It also showed me just how much the club could do and would do for someone in a difficult situation. Even after Mitch was a dickhead to me, he didn’t deserve what his father put him and his mother through. “You guys are amazing, you know that, right?”
His eyes were warm went they slid to me before moving back to the road. “Makes me damn happy to have your support.”
“You always will. So will the club. I now understand you all deal with things in your own way. In the right way, even when sometimes it’s not pleasant.”
His hand shot out. He hooked it behind my neck and dragged me in for a quick, hard kiss. “Wade, watch the road.”
He chuckled but sat back and continued driving with his hand in mine.
When we pulled up to a two-story light gray house, I thinned my lips to keep myself from gasping. It was stunning. There was a balcony on the second level, and across the road was government land that held a mini man-made lake.
I glanced at Wade to see him taking it in. His face wasn’t pinched in disgust, a
