Taming Crow (Hells Saints Motorcycle Club) by Paula Marinaro Page A
Authors: Paula Marinaro
Ads: Link
they looked dismally back at her. Crow's insulting words came back to haunt her.
Those ratty, dark, depressing T-shirts.
Melissa slammed the drawer shut and reached under the bed for the box of clothes she had put away. The ones that she had lost interest in wearing. The fitted jeans, the pretty shirts in soft pastels, the lacy tanks, the deep scoop-necked sweaters in beautiful jewel tones.
She quickly rifled through them and discarded one after another as memories threatened to creep up and rob her of the pleasure of this day. She held up a cute pink sweater that had once been a favorite. The last time she had worn it, she had renewed at the DMV. Not too soon after that her husband had been killed. She put it aside and opted for a soft cotton sweater in a shade of purple so dark it almost looked black.
The neckline was low enough just to show a hint of cleavage, and thin strands of silver and tiny specks of gold glimmered throughout the fabric. The new-at-the-time jeans didn’t fit as snugly anymore, but they had pretty stitching around the hem. Melissa cut off the tags and pulled them on.
Her hair was still damp, and she towel-dried it briskly again. It fell in soft ringlets over her like a crazy halo. If she left it loose, it would be a mass of tangles after the ride, so she pulled it to the side and braided it.
Then Melissa rummaged through another cardboard box and exchanged her flip flops for a pair of short leather biker boots that she had almost forgotten she had. Her dad had bought them for her one Christmas. Jesse had been home for the holidays that year and had looked on disapprovingly, but she had worn them regardless. Not on a bike maybe, but she had worn them.
When she was all dressed, Melissa stood in front of the mirror only to see that her eyes were still slightly red from the crying jag. Maybe just a sweep of mascara and a touch of eyeliner would help.
Yeah. That looked better. Applying just a little tinted lip gloss would keep her lips from chapping in the wind, wouldn't it? Then because her ears stood out with her hair pulled back and braided Melissa decided to add a pair of small hoops. She took one long last look at herself in the mirror and smiled slightly at her reflection. It had been a long time since she had looked at herself with a critical eye, and she was surprised to find that she liked what she saw. She was almost out the door before she remembered to slip the long chain back over her neck. The ring felt cold against her shower-warmed skin and Melissa shivered at the contact for a moment before she headed out towards the sun.
Chapter 14
At the kitchen counter Crow scribbled something on a piece of paper. The clicking of the heels of Melissa's boots caused him to glance up. Crow's eyes flickered over her and lingered on the soft shine in her hair. The metallic threads in her sweater shimmered as she walked towards him and he had to stop himself from pulling her into his arms. “Got to go next door and grab a couple of things, then we’re good to go. Jett coming home at three-thirty?” he asked.
Melissa hesitated just a fraction before she answered.
“No. He has a play date with a classmate after school and will be staying there for supper. They’re going to bring him home about seven.”
Crow bit back a wolfish grin.
Perfect.
“You ready?”
He put a casual hand on the small of Melissa's back and led her across the driveway to his house. Crow felt her tense through the soft sweater, but after a moment she began to relax and accept the familiarity. When he pressed a little harder to guide her around a small puddle, Crow felt Melissa move in the direction he steered her in, and smiled inwardly. As they crossed the threshold into his house, he wondered what she would think of the changes he had made. Then Crow realized that Melissa had never been inside and he found that he liked the idea that the only version of the house she would see was this one.
And this house was all
Those ratty, dark, depressing T-shirts.
Melissa slammed the drawer shut and reached under the bed for the box of clothes she had put away. The ones that she had lost interest in wearing. The fitted jeans, the pretty shirts in soft pastels, the lacy tanks, the deep scoop-necked sweaters in beautiful jewel tones.
She quickly rifled through them and discarded one after another as memories threatened to creep up and rob her of the pleasure of this day. She held up a cute pink sweater that had once been a favorite. The last time she had worn it, she had renewed at the DMV. Not too soon after that her husband had been killed. She put it aside and opted for a soft cotton sweater in a shade of purple so dark it almost looked black.
The neckline was low enough just to show a hint of cleavage, and thin strands of silver and tiny specks of gold glimmered throughout the fabric. The new-at-the-time jeans didn’t fit as snugly anymore, but they had pretty stitching around the hem. Melissa cut off the tags and pulled them on.
Her hair was still damp, and she towel-dried it briskly again. It fell in soft ringlets over her like a crazy halo. If she left it loose, it would be a mass of tangles after the ride, so she pulled it to the side and braided it.
Then Melissa rummaged through another cardboard box and exchanged her flip flops for a pair of short leather biker boots that she had almost forgotten she had. Her dad had bought them for her one Christmas. Jesse had been home for the holidays that year and had looked on disapprovingly, but she had worn them regardless. Not on a bike maybe, but she had worn them.
When she was all dressed, Melissa stood in front of the mirror only to see that her eyes were still slightly red from the crying jag. Maybe just a sweep of mascara and a touch of eyeliner would help.
Yeah. That looked better. Applying just a little tinted lip gloss would keep her lips from chapping in the wind, wouldn't it? Then because her ears stood out with her hair pulled back and braided Melissa decided to add a pair of small hoops. She took one long last look at herself in the mirror and smiled slightly at her reflection. It had been a long time since she had looked at herself with a critical eye, and she was surprised to find that she liked what she saw. She was almost out the door before she remembered to slip the long chain back over her neck. The ring felt cold against her shower-warmed skin and Melissa shivered at the contact for a moment before she headed out towards the sun.
Chapter 14
At the kitchen counter Crow scribbled something on a piece of paper. The clicking of the heels of Melissa's boots caused him to glance up. Crow's eyes flickered over her and lingered on the soft shine in her hair. The metallic threads in her sweater shimmered as she walked towards him and he had to stop himself from pulling her into his arms. “Got to go next door and grab a couple of things, then we’re good to go. Jett coming home at three-thirty?” he asked.
Melissa hesitated just a fraction before she answered.
“No. He has a play date with a classmate after school and will be staying there for supper. They’re going to bring him home about seven.”
Crow bit back a wolfish grin.
Perfect.
“You ready?”
He put a casual hand on the small of Melissa's back and led her across the driveway to his house. Crow felt her tense through the soft sweater, but after a moment she began to relax and accept the familiarity. When he pressed a little harder to guide her around a small puddle, Crow felt Melissa move in the direction he steered her in, and smiled inwardly. As they crossed the threshold into his house, he wondered what she would think of the changes he had made. Then Crow realized that Melissa had never been inside and he found that he liked the idea that the only version of the house she would see was this one.
And this house was all
Similar Books
