Ride Everlasting (Demon Riders MC Book 3) by Evelyn Glass Read Free Book Online

me for you to like him.”  The earnestness in her mother’s voice makes Elyse reach over and grab her hand in reassurance.
     
    “Well, we’ve only exchanged about one sentence so far.”  Joyce blushes at Elyse’s words.  “But, he definitely gets points for the suit, points for politeness, and he’s not exactly hard to look at.”  Elyse gives her mother a pointed look, and Joyce erupts in peals of giggles.  Elyse looks at her mother in shock; she doesn’t think that she’s ever heard that sound come out of her mouth, but she likes it.
     
    “I know, he’s kind of a catch, isn’t he?”  Joyce smiles, looking pleased with herself.
     
    “You’re the catch, Mom.”  Elyse looks at her seriously.  “He’s lucky to be out with you tonight, just remember that.”
     
    “She’s right you know, Joyce.”  Nick appears back at the table as if from nowhere, and Elyse cringes at her own lack of tact. 
     
    “Sorry, Nick, I didn’t mean—”
     
    Nick waves away her concern.  “There’s no need to apologize, Elyse.  You’re completely right.”  He looks at Elyse’s mother, and there’s so much emotion in his eyes that Elyse feels as if she’s intruding.  “I am the lucky one sitting at this table tonight; I’m lucky every day that Joyce decides to spend with me.”  He squeezes her hand on the table and smiles at her without any hint of insincerity. Then, he switches his attention back to Elyse.  “I know you’re protective of your mother and that’s to your credit.  But I hope that you’ll see how very deeply I care for her and that you don’t have to worry about her with me.”
     
    Elyse swallows hard around the ball of emotion in her throat.  She had been waiting years for someone to say those words about her mother and here they were.  Elyse looks between her mother—who is smiling at Nick as if there were no tomorrow—and the kindness in Nick’s face, and it leaves no doubt as to the honesty behind his words.
     
    “Thank you.”  Elyse’s voice is quiet.  “It’s nice to know that someone else thinks she’s as special as I do.”
     
    Joyce’s free hand clasps over Elyse’s and the three of them sit there, quietly, taking in the moment.  Elyse feels tears prick at the back of her eyes, seeing her mother this happy wasn’t something that she had prepared for, and without even searching in her miniscule bag, she knows that she is all out of Kleenex.
     
    “I’m just going to run to the Ladies.  I’ll be right back.”  A waiter whips her chair away from the table before she’s had time to do it herself and virtually escorts her to the restroom.  She looks in the mirror and dabs at her eyes to stop her mascara from running.  Go Mama Powell , she thinks and smiles.
     
    When she makes her way back to the table, she stops a few feet away, frozen to the spot as she takes in the person who’s now occupying her seat.
     
    “Elyse, why didn’t you tell us that your new beau was joining us?”  Joyce gives her daughter a mock-admonishing look, as Dane swivels around in his chair and takes in Elyse.
     
    Elyse mouth works, but no words come out.  Dane smiles and winks at her, taking in the fitted little black dress and skyscraper heels that she’d decided were probably the only suitable things she had in her wardrobe for a restaurant this swanky.  It’s clear from the look in his eyes that he likes what he sees.  He stands up, vacating her chair and gesturing for her to take it.
     
    “That’s my fault, Mrs. Powell.  I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to make it, and Elyse didn’t want to say anything just in case.”  Dane swoops in to save the day when it becomes clear that Elyse has lost the ability to form coherent sentences or even any words at all.  “I hope it isn’t any trouble.”
     
    Nick waves away Dane’s concern.  “Nonsense, the more the merrier. We’ll just get you another seat.”  Before the words are out of his mouth, a bevy