Twisted Desire (The Twisted Series) (35 page)

Aliah runs to him, crashing into his chest.  She
squeezes him so hard that he wonders if she’s trying to make his head pop off.

After the ambulance tear off for the hospital, and Spencer
shares the story of today’s events with his fellow detectives, he comes to
speak with them.

“That was a dumb move you made there, missy.  Entertaining
- but stupid.  Are you looking to put yourself in jail?”

“No.  But don’t ask, because I’d do it again if given
the opportunity.”

Spencer chuckles.  “I’m sure you would, love. 
Lucky for you, my team’s been gunning for this girl for a long time.  I can
pull a few strings to make sure you never see the inside of a cell.  I can
only hope we have enough on her to keep her locked up this time.”

“She’s violated the restraining order.  That’ll at
least keep her off the streets,” Harley tells him.

“Yeah, but for how long?”

“Spencer’s right,” Aliah admits.  “You’ll need video
evidence to put this one away.  Good thing I got it this time, eh?”

Both of the men stare at her.

“Come again,” Spencer says, then chews on his lower lip.

She pulls her phone from her pocket and clicks on the video
she’s taken.  “This should come in handy at trial, wouldn’t you agree,
Sergeant?”

Spencer takes the phone from her hand and watches her
homemade video with disbelief written across his brow.  “In all my years…”

“I know, Spence.  I’m that good.”

Harley’s smile is enormous.

“May I?” Spencer asks.

“It’s all yours,
love
,” she teases.

Spencer nods at her.  “I guess there’s no reason for
you two to hang around here anymore.  I think we have everything we need
right here.”

How convenient is it that the video ends when the bullet
lodges in the door right in front of her face?

Harley wraps his arms around his hotshot woman and squeezes
her close.  “Let’s get out of here.”

Aliah curls into his arms and hugs around his waist.  Together,
they walk around the block, and manage to avoid the herd of onlookers.

Harley remounts his bike.  “Are you ready now?” he asks
her, as she snaps up her helmet.

She climbs onto the bike behind him.  “I’ve never felt
more ready than I do right now.”

With a smile, Harley turns forward.  Then he pulls away
from the curb and they motor off into the sunset.

Aliah doesn’t ask questions when he speeds out of town and
she even keeps her face clear of emotion as he turns down the familiar dirt
road.  She looks surprised when he takes her back to the farmhouse he’d
shown her before, because this time there’s a SOLD sign tagged to the large
tree out front.

After rolling to a stop, he turns off his bike and tugs her
back to their field of dandelions, now covered in tall dry grass and fallen
leaves.  Her smile is a picture of ultimate beauty.  The atmosphere
remains unchanged since their last visit.  There’s a serenity in the air
that you just don’t find in the City.

The air is fresh and he’s glad he has a blanket, so he can
wrap it around Aliah.  Even with her jacket on, she shakes for the entire
walk; her nerves a little shot from the day’s events.

He pulls the blanket over her shoulders, and glances down
into her eyes, hanging onto the edges.  He smiles, appreciating how she’s
let him capture her between him and the blanket.  After a pleasant
silence, Harley sucks in a breath.  He’s prepared to take the next step in
their relationship.  He only hopes that Aliah is prepared to make that
move.

His gut instinct has been off ever since she’s come around,
and he hopes he’s not misreading how she feels about him.  He needs her to
say yes.  If she doesn’t, then he knows what it will mean for them. 
And it won’t be good.

Harley clears his throat and takes a leap of faith. 
“You know how I’ve been looking to expand my business?”

“Right.”  Aliah smiles up at him, respect glimmering
from the emerald depths of her eyes.

“I wonder whether you would ever consider joining me.” 
He smiles.  “I could use a mouthpiece.”

Aliah slaps at his chest.  “Oh, you’re so kind.”

Harley turns more serious.  “I like having you around.”

Her smile is out of control.  “I know.”

He swallows the lump from the back of his throat, but it
doesn’t clear the obstruction.  “I know you have a secure job, and that
you like it.  But Bailey’s an ass.  He doesn’t deserve to have you.”

Harley pauses and scrubs a hand across the back of his
neck.  “I think you’d like it with me too.”  He glances down at
her.  “What do you think?”

When she hesitates, his heart seizes in his chest.

“Can I think about it?”

He nods, not at all satisfied with her answer.  She
hasn’t said anything about how big of a douche Bailey is and she’s barely
responding to him at all.  Something is up.

What is she not telling him?

Aliah’s smile looks coy; a look he never expects to appear
on her face.

“That’s a major commitment,” she answers, with an anxious
laugh.  “Michael, my massage therapist, is already jealous.  You’ve
stolen me away from him.  How do I know you won’t fling me aside for the
next girl in line who turns your crank?”

Is she being serious?

An all-over ache consumes him.  “I’m not about to push
you into anything you don’t want to do.  But if that’s your only concern…”

Does she want him to beg?

Aliah looks upset by his reaction.  “I didn’t say
no.”  When she swallows and turns her head down, he feels like a
jerk.  She’s acting so standoffish.

He really shouldn’t push her, but Harley feels like a
bull.  He has to plow on.  “Look at me,” he orders, softly lifting
her chin.  “If you’ll consider it, then that will have to be good enough
for me.”

Her blackened lashes flutter open, so she can look into his
eyes.  “I can put you out of your misery now, if you like.  I have
thought about it,” she whispers.

When the words come from those beautiful ruby lips, his
heart takes a full stop.  “Already?”

Once she regains her nerve, she says, “I’m one step ahead of
you, Harley.”  Then she smiles.  “I would love nothing more than to
join you.”  Her smile lights up her beautiful features, as she turns to
teasing.  “Of course,
I
would have to be the boss.”

“Of course,” he agrees.  “In the bedroom, anyway.”

She outright laughs this time, readjusting the blanket over
her shoulders.

“I was hoping you’d say yes.”  He tugs her back toward
the old barn that appears to be sealed up by tree roots and weeds, but he’s already
had it stocked and secured.  “So I could give you this.”

He smiles, loving the look of the wonder on her face. 
“Are you ready for it?”

She flashes a look at him that has him laughing.

“I got you something.”

“What is it?”  She sounds almost scared to find out.

“We’ll call it a signing bonus.”  He unlatches the lock
and pulls open the old wooden door.  He turns his attention back to the
woman standing there with two hands covering her mouth.  She’s
shell-shocked.  Stunning.  He’s suddenly certain he’s made the right
decision.

“Harley… it’s gorgeous.”

“It’s yours.”

She shakes her head side to side, then moves closer to him,
leaving the blanket disposed of on the ground.  She flattens her hands on
his chest.  “What?”

He licks his lip and then presses a kiss to her mouth. 
“It’s yours,” he repeats.

She eyes up the brand spanking new motorcycle that he’s
purchased just for her.  She doesn’t move from his arms, until he nudges
her forward.

“I know you already have a motorcycle at your dad’s…”

“Is this a Harley?” she interrupts, sliding her fingertips
over the leather seat.

“In matte yellow.  I’m told it’s a perfect match to
your car.”

Tears are in her eyes, but she doesn’t admit that she’s
emotional about it.  “You’re crazy.”

Feeling confident in his progress, he decides to push it one
step farther.  “I’m not done yet.”

Her eyes widen.  She has absolutely no clue where he’s
going with this.

After retrieving the blanket, and returning it to Aliah’s
shoulders, he pulls her back to the yard, until they’re surrounded by
whispering trees and fresh air.  It’s just like he’d imagined.

“You know how I told you I bought this place because I’ve
always dreamt of living out here?”

“Yes.”  Aliah’s stare is burning right through
him.  She knows something’s up, but she’s not saying anything. 
That’s unlike her.

He clears his throat again, afraid to see how she’s going to
react, and even more terrified to compare that reaction to the gift of the
bike.  “That wasn’t exactly one hundred percent true.”

Her eyes fall shut, and she instantly grows distant,
erecting an imaginary wall between them.  “You said no more lies.  I
thought we’d gotten past all that.  How am I supposed to trust you with
all these lies?”  The words whisper from her trembling lips.

He now realizes he’s going to have to put up a fight if he’s
going to get her back on his side.  “It’s true that owning this land was a
dream of mine.  That’s no lie.  But since a certain someone’s come
barrelling into my life unannounced, all of my old priorities have been knocked
aside.”

Aliah looks back up into his eyes.  She’s listening
again, and it’s as though her wall has come crashing down.

“They told me to chase my passions.”

Harley pauses.  Aliah’s swooning.

“You’re it, Aliah.  You’re my priority now.  No
more lies.  Only promises that I intend to keep.”

The look in her eye scares him.

Has he blown it again?

It is far too late to turn back now.  “I used to want
to come out here to get away from people.  Now it’s so I can have you to
myself.”  He pauses, letting what he’s said sink it.  “You’re the
reason I bought this place.”

She stares at him through squinted eyes, while she tries to
put it all together.  “I don’t understand.”  The look on her face
seems to indicate that she’s telling the truth.

He doesn’t know if she’s ready for it, but he certainly
is.  He knows this will straighten out any confusion in an instant. 
He stuffs his hand into his pocket and pulls out a diamond.

The blanket drops to the grass behind her and her mouth
turns into a pleasant O shape.

He swallows the lump from the back of his throat. 
“I’ve been putting a lot of thought into this…”

“What do you think you’re doing?” she interrupts.

There is no mistaking the reason for the rock.

“Will you let me finish?”  He asks nicely, and can’t
help but let an anxious smile sneak out.

She nods her head, too shocked to say anything else. 
That’s what he banks on.  He can’t help but smile at her reaction.

But damn, he’s nervous.

“As I was saying.  I’ve put a lot of thought into this,
and I’ve been hanging onto this ring for the right opportunity to present it to
you.  Hannah thought it would be best this way.  I’ve taken her
advice.  I didn’t actually think there’d be such a time, but here we are.

“Here we are,” she echoes softly.

He’s surprised she’s being so soft.  He half expected
her to slap him and leave in a rampage on her new bike.  He laughs
inappropriately.  Nothing’s come this close to important to him in many
many years.

“It’s no secret that I love you,” he blurts.

He expects her to roll her eyes, but she just continues to
stare, all wide-eyed, at him.  That only makes him smile wider.  His
hands are sweating.  This is a new feeling for him.

“I’d like to prove that love to you now.”  He drops
down to one knee, too scared to scan her for a response.  When she begins
to cry, he glances up immediately and returns to his feet equally as fast.

“Please don’t cry.  I’m sorry.”  He bows his head
until their foreheads are pressed together.

She shakes her head side to side, garnering his
attention.  “It’s just too sweet for my Harley,” she whispers, and takes a
sharp intake of breath.

My Harley?

He then realizes it’s a happy sob coming from her
throat.  He proudly returns to a jean-clad knee.  He takes her small hand
in his and gazes into her wide, expressive eyes.  “Aliah Brooklin. 
Will you promise to kiss me and only me, David H. Gates, for the rest of your
days?”

“Yes,” she answers, without question.

He’s stunned.  Elated… but stunned.  “You’ll marry
me?”

She presses her lips together in a smile and nods her head
with certainty.  Her answer is neither too brash, nor too slow.  It’s
just right
.  Just the way their life will be together.

He lifts himself back to his feet and crashes into her lips,
smearing her tears with his hands, as he kisses his fiancé.  He takes her
hand and slips the dainty ring on her finger.  Her eyes turn wide
again.  That look will never get old.