Rogue Love Read online

  “And what about you? What’s your story, Mary?” He sounded sincerely interested and it made me feel self-conscious that I had nothing interesting to tell him.

  “I guess I don’t have a story. I grew up in Mercy River and I live here with my parents. I’m taking college classes and volunteering at the church. I mostly try to do my best to honor God and my parents and be good.” I felt lame, but it was the truth. I skipped adding the messier tidbits, like how my parents were hoping that I would soon get married to one of the local boys from a good family but I wanted to fall in love with my future husband. No one had ever made me feel the way I knew it was suppose to feel, and I was stalling, trying to find a way to stop myself from falling into my parents’ footsteps. Yet somehow, I felt that Liam could read between the lines.

  He looked at me with those shockingly blue eyes and I felt like he read the struggle underneath my carefully constructed exterior in a way that no one in Mercy River ever had.

  “You think that being a good girl means you have to obey them all the time. It doesn’t.” The words sounded so simple falling from his sculpted lips, but it was so much more complicated for me.

  “Maybe you are right,” I replied skeptically. We had already reached the edge of town. “The grocery store is right over there and the motel is just down the road to the left.” I pointed but his eyes remained glued to my face.

  “Will I see you again, Mary?” he asked quietly, sticking his hand in the pocket of his worn jeans and leaning slightly against his bike. In that pose he looked the perfect, tempting bad boy that I knew I should resist. The flutter in my heart protested otherwise.

  “How about you come to Church next Sunday?” I replied cheerily. Inviting him to church meant that I was helping bring someone to God’s embrace, not running around with a bad boy. No one could fault me for that.

  “Church?” he repeated in a tone that he wasn’t overly fond of the idea.

  “Yes. You can see why it is important to me and why things aren’t so simple as you say.”

  Liam nodded. “Alright. I will go to church with you on Sunday. I plan to stay at least a week anyway to work and make some money before I ride out again. But a week is a long time. How about we make a deal.”

  “What kind of deal?” I interjected. Deals tended to be evil, clever things that involved the devil or possibly lawyers.

  “I’ll come to church with you on Sunday if you meet me tomorrow night for a drink.”

  “I don’t drink,” I told him, crossing my arms over my chest in my best attempt to look stern.

  “It doesn’t have to be alcohol. Mary, will you meet me for a soda tomorrow?” His voice was tinged with humor and I could see a smile tugging at his lips. I didn’t like that he was teasing me, but I wanted to see him again. And if meeting him for a soda meant he would go to church then it wasn’t really a date or anything inappropriate.

  “Fine. I will meet you tomorrow evening for a soda. Good night Liam.”

  I turned quickly and started walking back towards my house. I tried to ignore the voice inside me that told me to turn back around. When I heard the bike engine start, I allowed myself a small peek over my shoulder. Liam was riding towards the grocery store and even from behind, his body looked like a carved statue.

  Chapter 3:

  My classes were off for the summer, so I woke up and went to the kitchen to help my mother with household chores. The family had already been in bed by the time I got back the night before, so I knew she would ask about my abrupt departure from dinner.

  To my surprise, she handed me a mop without mentioning my little outburst. I was glad to avoid her chidings, but her questions would have given me the perfect opportunity to explain how I had met Liam and invited him to church.

  I dipped the mop in the soapy bucket and plopped it onto the corner of the fake wood linoleum floor. I glanced up at my mother as she scrubbed the cabinet doors.

  “I met someone who is travelling through and invited him to come to church next week,” I said casually as I pushed the mop across the faded floor.

  “Oh?” Mother turned to look at me but I couldn’t read her expression.

  “I thought it would be nice to show him how God’s love can save. I am going to meet him today to explain more.”

  Mother stopped scrubbing and turned around to face me. “And who, exactly, is this man?”

  I felt the hot flush of embarrassment color my cheeks. How could I explain how gentle, attractive, and kind Liam had been to me?

  “I met him last night on my walk. His name is Liam. He is riding across country and he will be in town for a bit,” I replied cautiously, looking down into the bucket of soapy water.

  “Riding? You mean on a motorcycle?” my mother asked sharply.

  “Yes, but mother he isn’t like that. He seems like a really nice man,” I protested.

  “You will absolutely not meet up with this man again, do you understand?” Her words contained a finality that I had come to know meant that I was not to argue any further. “That man will only try to turn you to the devil. Or worse.” My mother’s voice hissed the last word as a visible shiver shook her body. She turned back to her scrubbing, signaling the end of the conversation.

  I went back to mopping, feeling the unspoken words bubbling in my throat. I wanted to explain how Liam had treated me with respect and kindness, and how I felt happier in the few moments with him than I had with any of the boys from church. But I knew nothing would change her mind.

  The day passed quietly, as mother and I cleaned the house and prepared dinner. Sarah was at church camp with her friends and father was away at work, so the house was mostly empty.

  I kept glancing at the clock as the hours ticked by and my heart felt stretched. I wanted to be good, I wanted to listen to my parents. But the thought of leaving Liam waiting for me at the diner made my heart constrict tightly. There was no good reason I shouldn’t go.

  Five minutes before I was supposed to meet Liam, I peaked my head into the living room. Mother was sitting in her chair, engrossed in her knitting. She would be at it for at least another hour, and no one else was due home before then. I walked quietly to the back door and slipped out into the evening breeze. I made sure the door clicked shut quietly before taking off down the road.

  I arrived at the diner short of breath and covered in slick beads of sweat. A glance at my watch told me I was already five minutes late. I looked around furtively, but Liam was nowhere to be seen. Maybe I was too late. Maybe he already left.

  I pulled open the frosted glass door and felt my heart jump in my chest as my eyes landed on Liam sitting in a booth across from me. He noticed me immediately, giving me a big smile that seemed to light up the whole room. I quickly walked across the small, grease-scented room to where he was sitting.

  “I thought you might not be coming,” Liam said as I slid into the opposite side of the booth.

  “I’m sorry. I got held up at home.” I looked down at the menu, not wanting to explain that my mother had forbid me from seeing him again. It was strange feeling, mixing guilt with protectiveness.

  “No worries,” Liam said with a quick wave of his hand. How did he always manage to look so casual and calm? So cool? “I already ordered myself a coke. I’ll get the waitress over here again for you.”

  He turned back towards the counter and waived until the waitress came over to take my order. As soon as she approached the table, I felt my heart drop. It was Cindy Montrose, a girl who had only been a year or two ahead of me in high school. Our parents were good friends and would chat together before Church every week. I should have known better than to meet up with Liam somewhere in town. I was sure the news of my date with a mysterious biker was going to be the talk of the town next Sunday.

  “I’ll have a diet coke please,” I managed to stammer as Cindy raised her eyebrows at me. I wasn’t sure whether I should say something to her and explain that she probably had the wrong idea.

  Liam reached a
cross the table and put his hand on mine as soon as Cindy went back to get my soda.

  “Are you alright? Did that girl drown your kitten or something?” His tone was light, but I felt his concern.

  “No, I just forgot there might be people I know here. This is a small town. In a lot of ways,” I tried explaining. “There will be a lot of gossip.”

  Liam seemed to understand what I meant and pulled his hand back from mine. I felt relieved as Cindy came back with my soda only a few moments later. But the warmth of his large, calloused hand on my skin lingered. As we talked, I found myself wishing he would reach out again.

  “Tell me about growing up here,” he asked as I sipped my soda.

  “There isn’t much to tell,” I protested. I was trying not to stare at his hypnotic blue eyes or the muscles bulging under his shirt.

  “It doesn’t matter. I just want to know more about you,” he insisted.

  So I told him about my strict upbringing in a town small enough that everyone knew if there was a new face in the grocery store. I told him about the long summers I spent at bible camp and the way my friend Grace and I would sit by the edge of the river and make up ridiculous stories about our futures that involved unrealistic fantasies like trips to Paris. I explained how my parents wanted the best for me, but didn’t seem to trust me to find my own way to uphold God’s plan for me.

  The words came pouring out and it wasn’t until I stopped talking that I realized it was a story I had been holding inside, waiting to tell someone. Liam listened carefully without interrupting me until I had finished. It felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders and I hadn’t even realized it was there in the first place.

  “It sounds like you do a lot of things out of guilt or a sense of duty, and not because you really want to do them. When was the last time you did something just for yourself, just because you wanted to do it?” Liam said finally, looking straight into my eyes.

  I shifted uncomfortably under the weight of his stare. This man I barely knew could read into my soul better than anyone, better than I could read myself.

  “Today,” I whispered. “I came to see you because it was what I wanted.”

  Liam smiled and let out a small laugh that seemed to reverberate in his ribs. “That’s true, Mary. You did come here. I guess that means you like me?”

  His smile was contagious and I couldn’t stop myself. “I guess so,” I replied truthfully.

  We chatted a few minutes longer, but I kept my eye on the clock.

  “I have to head home now or I’ll be in trouble,” I told him.

  “In trouble? You aren’t a child, Mary,” Liam replied with a pitying gaze that made me shift uncomfortably in my seat. How could I explain to him that to my parents, I was essentially still a child.

  “Well, let me give you a ride back,” he offered. I was about to protest when he continued. “It doesn’t have to be all the way to your house. I can just get you close much more quickly than if you walk.”

  I had to admit that he was right. If I walked back, I risked being late for supper. Liam tossed a few dollars on the table for the bill and tip, then followed me out the front door. His bike was parked on the side of the building, which explained how I had missed it when I arrived.

  “Now just scoot up close behind me and wrap your arms around my body tightly,” he instructed.

  I was grateful that he was facing away from me on the bike and couldn’t see the bright pink blush that crept up my cheeks as I hiked up my skirt and wrapped my arms tightly around his strong, muscular torso. His body was so warm and hard pressed against the swell of my breasts. An image of his naked body pressed against mine flew unbidden into my mind. I shook my head to rid it of those sinful thoughts, but I couldn’t stop the rush of warmth and desire that flooded my body.

  I held Liam’s waist tightly as he revved the engine. The bike roared to life underneath us and Liam took off down the long road. I gripped him tightly, feeling a rush of fear and excitement as we flew by the small buildings that dotted the outskirts of Mercy River.

  The engine’s vibrations sent a strong, humming thrill through my body and the strong warm of Liam’s back against my chest only intensified the sensation. I closed my eyes and allowed myself to engine the feeling as the wind rushed through my long blonde hair. This was what freedom felt like. This was what it felt like to be alive.

  I opened my eyes reluctantly and through several shouted exchanges, directed Liam down the streets until we approached the intersection near my house. I felt the deflation of disappointment as the engine purred to silence and I had to return to my quiet little life. I had never really been discontent before, at least not that I would admit to myself, but as I hopped off the back of Liam’s motorcycle I wondered if maybe the life I was living was too small for me.

  “I’ll see you Sunday then, Mary,” Liam said as I smoothed out my skirt and hair, trying to hide any evidence of my little outing.

  “I’ll meet you at the church door.” I knew I needed to hurry home, but I was having trouble tearing myself away. Liam’s baby blues were like magnets, pulling me towards him even when all common sense told me to run.

  He looked into my eyes like he could read my soul and wanted to savor the experience. He took one step forward and in a moment, his arms were wrapped tightly around me, holding me to his chest. I breathed in his smooth, woody scent and looked up at him. His lips pressed down to mine gently at first. The soft press of his chapped lips against mine made my body melt into his strong embrace. I kissed back desperately, pressing my mouth to his in hopes that they could communicate the strange, intense feelings that had overtaken me since we first met. He tasted spicy and sweet, like cinnamon.

  It was my first real kiss. My date to junior prom, Andy Butler, had kissed me on the cheek at the end of the night. I had never really dated anyone seriously or for more than a dates. Grace used to tell me that boys were intimidated by my strictly religious father and would never dare to do anything that might incur his wrath.

  If I had known that a kiss could feel this good, that it could light up every nerve in my body until I was basically a puddle, I might have tried it sooner. But something told me that kissing Andy Butler couldn’t hold a candle to kissing Liam. The strength and passion in everything he did sparked something inside of me that I hadn’t even known was there.

  Liam pulled his head back back, giving me a cocky smile. “I’ll be thinking about that all week.”

  I licked my tender lips, unable to repress my answering smile. I knew that Liam’s kiss would fill my thoughts all week as well. I wanted to say something to explain how intense and wonderful the moment had been, but Liam swung his leg over the bike and the engine roared to life. In mere seconds, he was roaring away down the road.

  I stood dumbfounded for a moment, watching the bike and the small cloud of dust that surrounded it fade off into the distance. My heart pounded in my chest and I felt an aching there that I knew could not be fixed until I was in Liam’s arms again.

  Chapter 4:

  The week moved like molasses as I tried to concentrate on my daily duties and keep Liam out of my thoughts. It was impossible. I would find myself scrubbing the same part of the table over and over again as I replayed the kiss over and over again in my head. During bible study, I would just stare at the page and see Liam’s face with his strong jaw and bright blue eyes staring back at me instead of reading the words.

  Luckily, my parents didn’t seem to notice my constant daydreaming. My sister Sarah, on the other hand, kept asking me what was wrong.

  “Is it a boy?” she asked on Wednesday evening as the two of us were preparing dinner while our parents were at the church, helping to organize the annual fundraiser.

  “Why do you say that?” I asked her, startled.

  “You’ve been moping, sighing, and daydreaming all week,” Sarah laughed as she started to chop the carrots. “It is just how my friend Becky was acting when she wanted Tom to ask her to the ch
urch formal.”

  I bit my lip and nodded, excited that I could finally share my secret with someone. I knew Sarah wouldn’t tell on me. Other than Grace, Sarah had always been my best friend.

  She squealed and put down the knife, running over to give me a big hug. “I knew it! Who is it? Tell me all about him. I knew you would find someone eventually!”

  I told her all about Liam, including every detail up to our kiss. Her eyes grew wide as I described his motorcycle and that tattoos that snaked over his arms.

  “Mary! I can’t believe you fell for a bad boy. What will mom and dad say?”

  “You can’t tell them!” I insisted. “I want them to meet him at church first and see that he is a really great guy before I tell them. Please, promise me.”

  “I promise,” she agreed. “Oh, it is so romantic. Like Romeo and Juliet.” Sarah sighed and held her hand to her heart.

  “You know that story ended in a double suicide,” I reminded her, shaking my head. Sarah was a good girl, but she had always been more adventurous than me. She was the daughter more likely to get mixed up with a bad boy from out of town. I just hoped my parents would see that Liam wasn’t a bad boy at heart.

  I woke up Sunday morning with the first rays of sunshine and jumped out of bed in a hurry. I showered slowly, making sure to scrub every inch of my body with the bar of lavender-scented soap I only used on special occasions. I brushed out my long blond hair until it shone and put on my favorite blue dress.

  I had breakfast on the table by the time my parents and Sarah woke up. Sarah looked me up and down and winked at me as I poured hot coffee into everyone’s mugs. I blushed and looked away, hoping my parents wouldn’t notice.

  By the time we started walking to church, I was having trouble containing my excitement. Sarah started skipping ahead of our parents so I hurried up to her, taking her small arm in mine, and skipping alongside her.

  “Is he handsome?” she whispered to me once we were far enough up the road that our parents couldn’t hear.