Keeping Her - Jordan Marie Page 0,54

back down. She stares at me and doesn’t even blink.

“Yeah, baby, I know him, and we’ve got a fucking problem.”

“I can’t imagine what,” she mumbles with a shrug—as if she doesn’t have a care in the world.

“How about the fact that your old man’s club and your father’s club hate one another?”

“Do I have an old man?” she asks, purposely ignoring everything else I said.

“What in the hell does that mean, Red?” I bite out the question, wondering how in the hell this woman can get me from relaxed to pissed off in a matter of seconds.

“It means, it seems like you’re getting ready to head for the hills. Are you scared of my family, Luke?”

“Fucking hell…” I growl. How the fuck she can be with me all this time and then ask that fucking question blows my mind. I get up and walk out. I walk out and don’t bother looking back.

37

Jasmine

Luke stayed out last night until the early morning hours. When he got home he reeked of alcohol and smoke. He went to the club. I didn’t have to ask, I knew. My stomach churned. I wanted to ask him if he had been with another woman, but I didn’t.

I should have faith that he wouldn’t do that to me, but my head is a mess. Hell, maybe he sees nothing wrong with that. Some men in this lifestyle don’t. If he did, it would kill me and I don’t think that’s exaggerating one bit. I had no idea how I was going to feel about Luke, how deep it would go, or how much it would consume me. Now, I’m afraid there’s no way around being hurt—and that’s something that I swore would never happen again.

“What are you doing?” I squeak out, when Daisy and Luke walk out of the house.

“Taking you to the baby shower,” Luke says, his voice brokering no argument.

“My family will be there,” I tell him, saying it more as a dare.

“I know. Despite what my woman thinks of me, I don’t give a shit about facing them.”

I sigh, because I knew when I said that to him that it was a low blow. I don’t figure there is much that Luke is afraid of, I was just mad at him. Although, if I’m honest, it might be good if he is a little afraid of my family.

“Daddy, you shouldn’t say shit. Jasmine says it’s a bad word,” Daisy chastises.

“She does?” he questions, and despite looking pissed at me, when he turns to talk to his daughter his face softens, and his voice is almost sweet. My heart squeezes, because I could really use that sweet right now.

“Yep. Don’t you, Jazz?”

“I do, sweet thing,” I murmur, acknowledging as I respond to her that I really love that little girl.

And her father.

“I called Gabby. She’s going to come and get me,” I tell him, in case he feels obligated. I don’t want that.

“You can just call her and tell her that your family is going to bring you.”

“My family?” I ask, those two words making me feel nervous, even unsettled.

“Yeah, Red. That’s what me and Daisy are, right, Daisy? We’re your family.”

“Right!” Daisy cries. “We love you, Jaz-Min!”

“You do?” I find myself asking, but it’s not Daisy I’m looking at, it’s Luke—whose face has gone back to being stern and immovable.

“Daddy! I forgot Bear-Bear!”

“Go get him, baby,” he says softly, opening the door back up. “We’ll wait on you.”

“Okay!” she cries, taking off in a run.

“No running!” I yell, afraid she’ll fall. I’m pretty sure she’s ignoring me, but at least I tried.

“Gabby will come and get me. There’s no need for you to go to Kentucky with me, Luke.”

“She lives at least two hours from here, Red. What were you going to do? Sit outside that entire time?”

“Seemed better than having you standing in the same room with me and not talking,” I reply with a shrug.

He lets out an irritated breath, staring at me. “I was pissed,” he finally says.

“I could tell,” I reply. Because really, what else is there to say?

“Call your girl and tell her that Daisy and I are bringing you,” he orders, and I sigh.

“What if I don’t want you to, Luke?” I breathe out.

“Damn it, Jasmine,” he growls, but I shake my head no.

“Where were you last night?”

“I went to the club and had a few drinks,” he says, his eyes narrowing.

“Anything else?” I push.

“Are you asking me if I fucked another woman, Red?” he spits out,