What was I doing?
It must have been the tasty wine that was giving me so much confidence. All of the sudden, I found my foot running up and down Ace's leg. My heart beat faster and my cheeks flushed scarlet. I wanted this man completely. But did he feel the same? He certainly stared at me a lot but most guys did that. It was probably because I was so goofy.
“You're so beautiful, Rachael.” Ace's words sang across the table. The redness in my face multiplied by a million. Was he reading my mind?
“Enough about me. What made you join Dark Steel?”
Ace shifted in his seat. He looked uncomfortable. My question hit a nerve. He felt the same way I did about the dancing question. I wished I could take it back. I pulled my foot back from his ankle.
Ace gulped. “My older brother AJ was a club member. My parents were barely around and I looked up to him like he was a superhero. When I was sixteen, he was gunned down by a rival MC.”
His eyes watered up a little. I reached out and grabbed his hand while he tried to find the words. How could a tough man like him be so sensitive?
“After that, I hung out at The Burger Joint every day until I was twenty-one and they let me join.”
“I'm so sorry, that happened to you,” I said.
Ace bit down on his lip and held my hand. The tension between us was crazy. “I've never really talked to anyone about my brother before. Not even my Dark Steel brothers.”
My heart melted instantly. I needed to change the subject. “The reason my parents wouldn't help me out with college was that I ran away when I was fifteen.”
“Oh shit, really?”
I took a sip of red wine. “My dad was really abusive. He would get drunk and beat my mom around the house. When I was little I'd run upstairs and lock myself in my room. I would stuff a pillow over my head to muffle the sounds of my mom's screams for help.
Anger boiled in Ace's eyes. His grip on the wine glass tightened until it almost shattered. He wanted to protect me. He wanted to save that little girl. Ace could be my superhero.
I put my hand up in defense. “My father never hit me. He never touched me actually—no kisses, no hugs.” I looked outside to the street as the headlights zoomed pass the large window. “When I was old enough, I called the cops on my dad one night. I thought everything would finally be over. When they showed up, my mom protected my dad and told them I was making it all up. I didn't wait around for my dad to punish me for what I did.”
Ace's mouth was wide open. “Wow, where did you go?”
“Luckily my Aunt Mary lived a couple hundred miles away. She took me in and I finished high school. I haven't seen my parents since.”
“Yeah I haven't seen mine in years. My parents divorced after AJ died. They couldn't handle the grief.”
“We had some fucked up childhoods,” he said. We both laughed and continued drinking.
The waiter came over and with a tray of food and the aroma of dinner was intoxicating. My stomach groaned as he placed the plate in front of me. The chicken was covered in a brown sauce and surrounded by peas and red potatoes. “This looks amazing,” I told Ace.
“Dig in,” he replied, picking up his fork and knife.
The first bite of chicken was so juicy and soft that it dissolved right on my tongue. I closed my eyes and moaned softly as I enjoyed the flavors. “This food is out of this world.”
Ace smiled. “I'm glad you like it.”
I felt so comfortable around him. He made me open up and tell him secrets that Jenny didn't even know. This time his foot ran up my bare leg and almost went up my dress. I could barely concentrate on my food as we played footsie under the table. His touch was exotic. His foot was just testing the waters.
I wanted him to kiss me so badly. Just once. Just so I could feel the warmth of his lips against mine. My daydream was right in front of me and staring down my dress. I wanted his rough hands to squeeze my breasts—pinch my nipples and suck on them. A wetness was growing down below. How much longer could I wait?
But do I tell him I'm a virgin? I'd told him all my deepest secrets. But that would be pretty presumptuous of me. This was probably all a big joke. Cameras were planted in the restaurant and this was all being televised. Ace was just an actor playing a part. He had no real feelings for me.
Two old pink and purple Cadillacs parked out front right outside the huge window. A few Mexicans got out and were carrying guns.
Holy fuck!