Stud's Bride, page 5
Most of the impromptu audience had made their way to the other side of the building, leaving just the three of them on their side of the airport. The gunman gave her a grim smile. “I’m surprised you remember me, Lola. Or should I say Laura? You didn’t think anyone would recognize you onstage in your heavy makeup and your little outfits, did you? But I always knew it was you.”
“Why would you do this?” she demanded. Her fear had turned to anger. “You were the one who tried to shoot me at the bar, weren’t you?”
Ernie shrugged. “I didn’t try all that hard, to be honest. Those first few shots were just to get your attention.”
Though he was standing right there in front of her, she didn’t understand. She had known him for years before she had become Lola Lennox, and she never would have imagined he would do something like this. “I don’t get it, Ernie. We were friends back in school. Or at least I thought we were. I was kind to you when nobody else was. I sat at your lunch table because I didn’t like the thought of you being alone. Why would you turn around and try to kill me?”
The killer shook his head, a grim smile stretching his thin lips. “Laura, Laura, Laura. You might be a big famous star now, and you might have been a very good student back in the day, but it’s clear to me that you aren’t very smart. Don’t you remember all those conversations we had in school, sitting on that bench near the willow tree?”
Vague pictures flashed in Lola’s mind. High school wasn’t easy in a small town where everyone had known each other since they were born. She had never really felt as though she fit in, but the kids had been more accepting of her than of others. At least she was somewhat pretty, and that had helped. But Ernie had been the dictionary definition of a nerd. His pants were always freshly pressed, and he had worn a tie on picture day. He was friends with all the teachers, and he never hid his love of science fiction. It wasn’t fair that he should be rejected for being himself, but that was just how things worked.
“I remember sitting there with you,” she admitted, “but I don’t see how it has anything to do with this.”
“Think a little harder, Laura. Or has the fame gone to your head and eaten all your brains? The popular kids didn’t like us, and you and I used to sit there for entire lunch periods while we made fun of them. You pointed out that Jean Bidwell had drawn her eyeliner on outside her actual eyes to make them look bigger, and you ridiculed Jennifer Stewart for constantly wearing expensive clothes that showed off her midsection because she could never get enough attention from the boys. You hated that they were so fake and that they tried to cover up their insecurities by making fun of others.”
“Okay, yeah. I remember that. It was high school, Ernie. It’s a vicious place. What the hell does that have to do with all this?” She gestured helplessly around her, trying to encompass the gun and the crazy situation with something as simple as her hand.
“Don’t you get it? You have become what you hated! You were sweet, beautiful, and smart. Now you’ve traded off everything for money and fame, and it disgusts me!” Ernie shook the gun at her wildly, his face reddening as he made his point. “I hoped that we would be together someday, that you would realize I was the only person who understood and appreciated you. Now you’re just like those little sluts you used to make fun of, selling your voice and your body instead of using your mind.”
“Ernie, I’m sorry,” Lola whispered desperately. She glanced behind him, hoping to see airport security coming up from behind to take him out. The crowd had crushed themselves against the far side of the building, watching from a distance but not daring to get close. They were probably recording it all, but none of them would come to her aid. She glanced down, seeing the crimson stain of Butch’s blood creeping through the fine fabric of her pale blue scarf. It formed a hideous color that reminded her just how alone she was in the world right now.
“I never meant to lead you on or upset you. I’m glad that you saw such wonderful things in me, but I never saw those things in myself. I wasn’t good enough for anybody here, and the only choice was to leave.” Tears formed in the corners of her eyes, but she wasn’t sure if she was crying for her lost childhood, for the loss of everyone she had come to think of as her friend, or for the fact that she would probably be killed in the next few minutes, no matter what she said to Ernie. “I really am sorry.”
He was crying too, but his eyes were hard. His were tears of finally getting the vengeance he had always wanted, and Lola was ashamed of herself that she had never seen that in him before. He had been particularly cold-blooded when he had ridiculed the other students, and it wasn’t really a surprise that he would turn into this. “Don’t bother with apologies. It’s too late. You left without even saying goodbye, Laura. You have no idea how much that hurt me, and I don’t think you even care. I could have gone with you.”
There was no way Lola could have had a crazy man like this at her side. If he hadn’t been pointing a gun at her head, she would have told him so. “I couldn’t. I had to go or I would never have gotten another chance. But that’s all so far in the past, Ernie, and you don’t need to do this. Just put the gun away.” She held out her hand, her fingers shaking.
But Ernie tightened his grip on the pistol. “You know, I just wanted to see you. When I heard you were at The Dive, I was so excited. It was my chance to say hi. I thought we could reconnect, maybe catch dinner while you were here. But everyone else wanted to see you too, and there was no way I could get through the fans. And that’s the thing, Laura, your fans don’t know you like I do, and yet they’re always more important.”
“That’s not true.” Out of the corner of her eyes, Lola thought she caught a hint of movement that gave her a surge of hope. She steadily kept her gaze on Ernie though. She couldn’t give it away. It was difficult to look at him, knowing not only how much hurt and pain he harbored but how unreasonable it was. Still, she could turn this into a performance, even if it ended up being her last one.
“Sure it is! They know everything about you before I do! It’s only because of everyone gossiping about you online that I know where you are and what you’re doing. That’s how I know you’re pregnant, but nobody seems to know who the father is!” Ernie’s voice was getting loud now, echoing in the silence that had fallen over the building. He tipped the gun down to point it at Butch. “Maybe it’s this guy. Who are you fucking, you little whore?”
“Me.”
Ernie whipped around, gun at the ready, but Bishop was faster. He had his gun out, but he didn’t shoot it. Instead, his powerful arms swung it wide and whacked Ernie in the side of the head. The gunman went down like a ragdoll, his legs crumpling underneath him and his arms flinging out to his sides. The pistol fell out of his hand and spun uselessly across the floor. Bishop kicked it further away with his boot. He had several bikers at his back, and they moved quickly to make sure Ernie was restrained even if he woke up.
Lola remained motionless next to Butch as she watched Bishop walk up to her. He held out his hand, but she was too confused to take it. Every molecule of her body was shaking. “I don’t understand.”
A man in leathers knelt down at her side and took over the compress she had been holding to Butch’s chest. He gently pushed her hand away as he began looking over the bodyguard. “The ambulance is on the way,” he assured her.
Lola rocked back on her heels, returning her gaze to Bishop. “Why are you here? I thought ...”
“That I was a complete asshole who took all of his anger and frustration out on you even when you didn’t deserve it? Well, you were right about that.” He came forward and pulled her to her feet. His eyes, the color of a whiskey barrel, held her gaze. “I’m so sorry, Lola. I’m no better than that lunatic with the gun. I want you, but so does the rest of the world. I should have understood that.”
It felt like she was finally waking up from a long nightmare that had been holding her hostage. Lola was vaguely aware of the fans as they crept back forward, trusting that the bikers had the situation in hand. This time, she wasn’t worried about getting away from them. “It’s something that I have to learn to accept too. I wouldn’t be who I am without them, no matter what Ernie says.”
Everyone had been in a daze while Ernie was in control, but they were awake and eager once again. Airport security was pretending to keep the crowd at bay while uniformed paramedics came and loaded Butch onto a gurney. Reporters and photographers made their way in, impatient to get to the root of the story.
“Lola, were you injured?”
“Can you confirm reports that you’re from Rolling Hills?”
“Do you know who the gunman was?”
“Can you tell us what you were doing at the hospital today?”
They shouted and pushed, holding out microphones and rapidly firing their cameras. The bikers formed a hard radius around the couple, refusing to let anyone through. The paparazzi seemed to respect their authority, not daring to push past, but they still wanted their questions answered.
“Lola!” shouted one woman. “Is this really the father of your child?”
She smiled up at Bishop, raising one eyebrow. She knew the truth, but she wasn’t going to reveal it to the crowd. That was up to him. She had her fame, and it wasn’t up to her to make anyone else’s.
He smiled back at her, and he didn’t turn to face the reporter as he answered. His hand drifted down to touch her abdomen. “Yes. We’re going to have a baby.”
Bishop’s lips crushed against hers, and Lola pressed her body against his. Her world slowly shrank until it was nothing but the two of them. None of the shouts or flashes registered as they told each other everything they felt with only their mouths and hands. She knew now that she wasn’t alone.
Chapter 6
Lola
One Year Later
“God, I missed you.” Lola’s body surged towards Bishop’s as she reached behind her to open the French doors that led out onto the balcony. He had wrapped her in his arms and begun kissing her as soon as he had arrived at her home, and he wasn’t letting go as they made their way outside. She didn’t mind.
“Not as much as I missed you.” Bishop put his hands around her waist and lifted her so that she could wrap her legs around him. He buried his face in her cleavage, kissing every inch of skin he could get his mouth on. “I know it’s only been a couple of weeks, but that’s far too long to go without your body.”
Lola stroked the short hair on the back of his neck and threw her head back. The sky was littered with stars and the night was quiet. It was romantic and beautiful, but she would be glad to be anywhere as long as she was with Bishop. “I’ve needed you so badly.”
He laid her down on a chaise lounge as he unzipped the side of her dress, removing it slowly and then tossing it aside as though it hadn’t cost thousands of dollars. “Not as badly as I needed you.” He bent his head to tenderly kiss her breasts once more now that he had full access to them. His lips drifted down her abdomen, caressing every curve on his way down. Bishop gently spread her legs and kissed her fully, burying his tongue inside her.
“Oh! That’s not fair!” Lola gasped as her spine tightened and she clutched at the cushions on the chair. He knew just how to get to her, and he could do it with record speed. He had been splitting his time between Hollywood and Rolling Hills, and even though he was with her as much as he could be, it was never enough.
“Why not?” he murmured. “I’m getting what I want, and I like to think you’ll get what you want out of it, too.” Bishop gently pushed his finger inside her as he flicked his tongue across her clit. “You’re just as delicious as I remember.”
His words turned her on just as much as his actions did, and Lola closed her eyes. The night air was warm on her naked skin, but it was tantalizingly cool where his tongue and lips had been. So many nights she had been without him and had been tempted to jet across the country to get to him, but she had other obligations. Still, all those fantasies had built up into one hell of a reality, and she felt her core reacting to his touch. Her thighs quivered against his jawline as her muscles convulsed, her stomach tightening and her legs turning to jelly. She was coming already. “Oh, God!”
“Yes?” he teased as he finished her off and stood up.
“Come here,” she begged as she continued to shudder. “I need you.” He let her unbutton his pants and expose his hardness underneath. It was ready for her, and she needed him so badly. Bishop straddled the chaise and entered her, calming the shivering excitement he had teased up in her while creating a new wave at the same time. The metal feet of the chair scraped against the concrete floor as he bucked against her, his rippling abs hard on her body.
Lola wrapped her legs around him, wanting to keep him close for as long as possible. There was nothing sexier than having his weight on top of her and knowing that he wanted her as badly as she wanted him. Bishop had completely changed her life, and she couldn’t live without him. She craved him, and he always knew how to satisfy that craving.
She dug her fingernails into his back as her body responded to his once again, pulsing around him and drawing him in. Bishop complied, his arousal filling her completely as he came. He groaned as he thrust into her, emptying everything he had and giving it all to her.
They lay together on the chaise afterwards, having drawn a blanket over their naked bodies. “I’m glad you’re here,” she whispered against his chest. “It feels like forever between visits.” It had been a year since Bishop had saved her from Ernie. In some ways, things had returned to normal. She still had her career, and the crowds still flocked to her. Bishop had vowed to be the best father to their child that he could possibly be, but he still had a club to run. They had been doing their best to see each other often, and Bishop had made certain he was around for all the doctor visits and of course, the birth of their baby girl. Mara took up a lot of Lola’s time and concentration, but the rest of her time was spent missing him.
“Well, that’s something I wanted to talk to you about, actually.” His voice rumbled in his chest, and she pressed her cheek harder against it. “I’ve been talking to the guys. We’ve been in Rolling Hills for a long time, and there’s no doubt that a lot of them like it there. But we’ve taken a vote, and we won’t be staying there much longer.”
Lola lifted her head, finding his eyes in the dim light of the stars. Hope rose in her, but she didn’t want to assume anything. “What are you saying?”
He’d had his arms around her, but he brought one hand up to brush it through her hair as he grinned. “We’re moving to Hollywood.”
“Seriously?”
Bishop laughed. “Is it such a surprise? I don’t think the Kings like me traveling back and forth any more than you do, and they’re starting to get a little bored with small-town life. I just have to figure out what they’re going to do once they’re here.”
“I’ve got a pretty good idea,” Lola replied, easily recalling the way they had fallen in line to serve as spur-of-the-moment bodyguards at the airport on that fateful day. “Butch is always complaining that he can’t get good help these days.”
“Is he doing all right?”
The bullet wound had kept him off his feet for quite some time, but the big man had made a full recovery. Lola had wanted to show him just how grateful she was for everything he had done for her, and she’d purchased the house next door for him. While she couldn’t deny that she liked the benefit of having him close at hand in case she needed him, she also knew he was satisfied with the posh dwelling. “Just as the doctors promised, he’s made a full recovery. When do you plan to relocate?”
Bishop made a vague gesture with his free hand. “There’s a lot to take care of. We’ll have to sell the clubhouse and get everyone packed up. I want to schedule the ride when we’ve got a good chance of nice weather. We’ve all ridden in storms and snow before, but it’s a lot easier when we’ve got nothing but sunshine.”
Lola thrilled inside at the idea of having him with her all the time. “So, have you given any thought to where you’ll live? I know you have an entire club of men to put up, but I’m pretty sure my side of the bed is open for you.”
He kissed her forehead. “I wouldn’t dream of staying anywhere else.”
“This calls for a celebration.” Lola rose from the chaise and headed for the French doors.
“I thought that was what we just did,” Bishop replied, waggling his eyebrows. “But if you give me a minute we can definitely do it again.”
“That’s not what I mean,” she giggled as she stepped inside and grabbed a bottle of champagne. “But don’t worry, you’ll get your chance.” Lola let him open the bottle and pour them each a glass of bubbly. She clinked her drink against his, realizing Bishop made her feel just like she was drunk on good champagne, with hundreds of little bubbles fizzing inside her.
She settled in next to him on the chaise once again. “It looks like the Cobra Kings might not be the only ones coming to Hollywood,” she said quietly.
“What do you mean?”
Pulling in a deep breath, Lola hoped he would be as happy about this as she was. She had to admit that the idea made her a little nervous, but it also meant things were heading in the right direction. “I got a letter from my father.”
He looked at her for a long moment. “A letter? You mean like an actual letter and not an email?”
Lola laughed and smacked him gently on the arm. “That’s the part you choose to focus on?”
Bishop shrugged. “Well, it is unusual.”
“He’s old-fashioned,” she explained, taking another sip from her glass. “Anyway, he wrote me a letter and said that he feels bad for the way they treated me. He wants to be part of Mara’s life, and he completely understands why I haven’t brought the baby to see them. He says they’d like to come here and meet her. And you, too.” It had been such a surprise to get the letter, and Lola had read it over several times before she’d decided that she had understood it correctly. Perhaps it had been her father’s close call with his heart attack or just the simple passage of time, but it gave her a deep sense of contentment to know that he at least wanted to try to make things right.
