Total pages in book: 33
Estimated words: 31414 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 157(@200wpm)___ 126(@250wpm)___ 105(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 31414 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 157(@200wpm)___ 126(@250wpm)___ 105(@300wpm)
“I’m sure.” Dahlia gave her a quick hug, her affection for my best friend clear. “Two hours didn’t sound that far away when you left for college, but it’s been forever since we’ve seen you.”
Lainie rolled her eyes. “It’s only been three months.”
“We were all starting to think college swallowed you whole,” Dahlia teased.
“Close enough,” Lainie joked back, already falling into step beside her as though she’d never left.
I followed them across the big room and down the hall, feeling like the awkward tagalong who was out of place in their easy rhythm. It wasn’t anyone’s fault, not really. Dahlia had been nothing but nice. But I couldn’t help noticing how easily Lainie fit in here. She was as comfortable as I’d ever seen her.
Dahlia stopped in front of a thick wooden door and turned the handle. Then she pushed it open to reveal a small apartment-style suite that was bigger than I expected. Between the en suite bathroom and kitchenette, I could hide out in here the entire time I was here if I wanted. Except then I wouldn’t see Talon, which bothered me more than it should’ve. I didn’t even know the guy, but that didn’t seem to matter
“If you need anything else, just holler,” Dahlia said with a smile.
“Thanks. This is way more than I expected.”
“You’re family by extension,” she replied. “Which means we take care of you.”
I didn’t know how to respond to that, so I just nodded and rubbed my palms over my thighs. As Dahlia and Lainie chatted about something I couldn’t focus on, I felt it again…that low buzz under my skin. I turned my head to glance at the doorway and found Talon standing there with one hand braced against the frame.
His broad chest rose and fell as though he was holding something back. He didn’t step inside, just guarded the door. Maybe it should have freaked me out, but I felt safe instead.
Any ideas I had about hiding flew out the window when Dahlia suggested, “You should hit up the kitchen after you drop your bags in here. Sheila has been cooking up a storm since Tank told her you were coming home tonight.”
“Her famous mac and cheese?” Lainie rubbed her hands together. “With roasted chicken and glazed carrots?”
“Yup,” Dahlia confirmed with a grin. “Sadie also baked a few pies—cherry, apple, and chess.”
“Yum.” Lainie dropped her bag on the end of the bed, then grabbed mine and did the same. “We better get down there before all the food is gone. Sheila is Tank’s old lady. He’s been a patch for basically forever, and her food is amazing.”
Talon stepped away from the door, giving us room to get through.
“I could eat,” I agreed as my best friend led me back downstairs.
Lainie wasn’t exaggerating when she said the kitchen was packed. A few men in leather vests leaned against the counters, eating chicken legs over paper towels. I hovered in the doorway behind Lainie and Dahlia before taking a small step forward.
Talon was right behind me. He didn’t say anything and didn’t brush against me. Heck, he barely even breathed. But I felt him all the same. His presence filled the space between us, and I didn’t have to turn around to know his eyes were on me.
They hadn’t left me since I’d stepped out of Lainie’s car.
A woman old enough to be my mom rushed over to give Lainie a hug, then surprised me by wrapping her arms around me too. “You two look like you haven’t eaten all day. Sit and enjoy a plate of some of Lainie’s favorites.”
“Thank you.” I flashed her a grateful smile. “It’s been a while since lunch.”
“If you want to call a granola bar lunch,” Lainie teased.
“That barely counts.” The woman tsked and handed me a napkin. “I’m Sheila. You’ll find I don’t take no for an answer when it comes to food.”
As I sat at the end of the long table, Talon leaned against the wall behind me, arms crossed and jaw tight.
Still silent. Still watching. And somehow, I was more than okay with that.
I kept mostly quiet while I ate, letting the chatter swirl around me as I focused on the plate in front of me. The chicken was juicy, the carrots glazed just right, and the mac and cheese was so creamy it practically melted on my tongue.
When I only had a few bites left, I stole a glance over my shoulder at where Talon still leaned, half in shadow. His silence wrapped around me tighter than any blanket could’ve.
My dad had basically bailed as a parent when my mom passed away, so I didn’t trust easily. But something about the sexy biker made me feel safer than I ever had before. It was why I’d taken my time eating…because I found myself wishing I didn’t have to go back upstairs with Lainie. That I could stay in his orbit a little longer…and pretend that I hadn’t come here because of the situation I’d stumbled across at work.