Handsome and Haunting

Chapter 8

Chibs could tell something was up with Happy. The assassin was even more reclusive than he normally was. He wouldn't talk to anyone, was drinking heavier than normal, and pretty much staying in his room. The Scotsman hoped he hadn't said something to piss Happy off. Suddenly he was taking a crow eater to his room every single night. The poor girls always seemed to walk funny the next day. A week after that started, it stopped just as suddenly as it began. Crow eaters didn't stop the way he was feeling about Isabella. His lust for her wasn't quenched by another woman. Happy did the only thing he thought he could do. He crawled into a bottle and stayed there unless there was club business he needed to attend to.

The Scotsman finally had enough and pulled him aside. "Drinking yourself into oblivion isn't going t' get ya what ya want, lad. Be a man and pursue 'er the way she deserves!" Chibs chided him making the assassin grunt in response. The medic rolled his eyes at his brother before helping him back into his room. He had Happy strip down to get into the shower while he got the water to a good temperature. Once Happy was naked, Chibs shoved him into the shower and told him to get himself cleaned up. While Happy was otherwise busy, Chibs dug through Happy's drawers to find a pair of clean jeans, a simple black t-shirt, and some clean boxers then threw the onto the bed.

Happy wasn't thrilled with what Chibs was doing but sighed and went along with it anyway. He didn't want to fight with his brother. The water felt good to his aching body and head, he had to concede. For a few moments he just stood under the spray of water and let the steam ease the pounding in his head. Chibs threw a bottle of Aspirin on the bed next to his clothes before leaving the room. Taking a deep breath, Happy took his body wash and began to vigorously scrub himself down. As much as he didn't want to admit it, the hot shower was making him feel better. After climbing out of the shower and toweling himself off, he walked back into his room to discover Chibs had laid out clothes for him as well as brought him some dinner.

Eating helped ease the pain in his head as well after he dressed and slid his kutte on. He still wasn't sure if he could properly court Isabella but he knew he wanted to try. Despite the intense attraction he felt for her, he was sure it wasn't just lust. It was her bubbly and cheery disposition that intrigued him. How she never seemed to get upset over things that made him curious about her. He sighed as he thought about her. After dressing and eating he emerged from his room feeling almost like a new man. Chibs smiled at him earning a head nod in response. Happy knew where he needed to go. On his way to her condo, he stopped at the grocery store and picked her up a bouquet of flowers as was suggested in several of the articles he read.

A knock at her door startled her. She saved her work then exited her office. 'Now who could this be?' she pondered as she slowly made her way to the front door. Looking through the peephole, she found that delicious biker standing at her doorstep. With a wide smile, she opened the door making him gasp slightly and look her up and down. She could feel the heat rising to her face at his gawking. "I brought these for you." he stated before handing over a beautiful bouquet of flowers. She gasped as she took them, their fingers brushing up one another as she did, then thanked him as she moved aside to let him in.

"It's been nearly two weeks since I last saw you. What do I owe the pleasure of this visit?" She asked on her way into the kitchen to find something to put her flowers in.

"Uh, well." He rubbed the back of his neck, "I just wanted to see you. To come talk to you."

"Talk to me?" She asked as she filled a vase with water after putting her flowers in it.

"I, well, you see..." He stumbled over his words which she thought was cute, "I want to court you. Properly. To get to know you."

Her eyes widened in shock. She didn't think bikers really courted. This was something he was surely not accustomed to. Once the shock wore off, she flashed him a warm smile then offered him a drink which he refused. She walked into her living room and sat down on the couch and turned her body so she was looking at him as he sat down on the other end of her couch.

"You understand that with my religious beliefs, I have specific physical boundaries." She stated.

"I understand. Just...tell me what they are." He quietly said.

"Well, no sex before marriage. No sleeping in bed together. Kissing, hand holding, cuddling on the couch, stuff like that is ok." She explained.

"I can handle that." He told her.

"You'll need to ask my father for permission." She went on to tell him, "If he gives you permission to court me, I am very interested."

He swallowed and nodded. That was something he was afraid of. Having to ask her father just for permission to court her. He was an outlaw biker covered in tattoos, having spent time in prison, and was a cold-blooded killer when needed to be. What father would grant him permission to see his daughter?

"If you're nervous, there's no need to be. My father is very open-minded about people." She told him as if she could read his mind.

"I just want to get to know you." He quietly stated.

"You will. It will take time." She smiled, "I'm sure this is something you're not used to. I imagine women fall all over themselves for you."

"I do feel a little out of my league here." He stated making her giggle, "But...if it's what I have to do to be with you then so be it."

"I'll set up a meeting with my father for the next few days. I'll text you the address of where to meet him. Most likely it'll be at the office." She flashed him another heart-melting smiles.

"Ok."

"What is your goal with this courtship? What are you wanting?" She asked.

"I want a companion. Someone I can come home to and tell about my day. Someone I can be fully open with." He rubbed the back of his neck again, "I eventually want this to end in marriage. And I'd like it for you to be my 'ol lady. (She raised her eyebrow at him) I'd love it for you to sport my crow. (She again raised her eyebrow) I'll explain about being an 'ol lady and sporting the crow later."

"Ok. I'm looking for companionship too." Isabella told him making him sigh with relief.

His pre-paid went off making him sigh. She just smiled at him as he checked his message. "I have to go. Set up that meeting as soon as you can. I'll see you sometime soon." he told her as he stood up. She walked him to the door where he pulled her into his arms for a fiery kiss which left her breathless. He kissed her forehead before leaving to go meet up with Jax, Opie, Chibs, and Ratboy. Hearing that he wanted to truly court her made her insides do backflips. He liked her enough to want to go through all that and she couldn't wait to really get to know him.

The next morning, she knocked on her father's office door. He greeted her cordially as he sipped on a cup of coffee. Smiling sweetly as she sat down in front of his desk, she explained about Happy and that he wanted a meeting with him to discuss courting her. Her father was surprised, and a bit off-put by a biker wanting to court his daughter, but she explained how helpful he'd been and what a gentleman he was when he came to tow her car and when he worked on it for her. She told her father how much she liked him and how happy it would make her if he allowed Happy to court her. With a deep sigh, he told her when he would see Happy. He had an opening in his schedule that afternoon if Happy wasn't too busy.

A/N: How do you think Happy is going to handle meeting Isabella's father and asking permission to court her?

Please comment/review and vote below!