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She continued to move around the room, grabbing items she must have unpacked last night. Straightening from the door, I pushed it closed and moved behind her. Wrapping my arms around her waist, I pulled her back against my chest, dropping my chin on her shoulder.

Feeling her body relax against mine was the best fucking feeling. I thought she would fight against me. Tell me to let her go. Leave. Something other than letting her body sink against mine.

“It’s not safe. For you or Dani.”

“I can’t stay here, Travis.”

“Why?”

Turning her in my arms, I looked deep into her hazel eyes. The color of copper with little green flecks. My question forgotten, I had a new one I needed an answer to. I needed confirmation of what I learned in church.

“Why did you leave?”

Her eyes dropped to the floor. She didn’t pull away, instead, with a heavy sigh, she rested her forehead on my chest.

“You’re a biker.”

“I am.”

“I can’t be with a biker. In the bar, I thought you were just a rugged guy. You didn’t have a cut or even a leather jacket. I saw the boots, but guys that aren’t bikers wear them to look cool.”

“Did you think I was just trying to look cool?”

She giggled, and my cock stood up immediately. “No. I ignored every red flag that told me to run. I made excuses in my head as to why you looked like you did. I even convinced myself you worked on an oil rig.”

“Until we went outside.”

“And the truth was staring me in the face.”

My hands went to her cheeks. Tilting her head up so I could look at her, I said, “Stay.”

She pulled away from me and sat on the bed. “I can’t.”

“You can. You came here so we could help you protect Dani. Let us help.”

“I’m more at risk here than I am out there.”

“Because of what happened in Little Rock? It’s not like that here. No one will hurt you.”

“Gunner already has. Zach has. It won’t take much for you to hurt me too. What happened in Little Rock was nothing compared to the hurt I felt when Gunner walked away from me. The betrayal of what Zach just told me.”

“Knock, knock.” Amber tapped lightly on the door before opening it. I knew I should have locked the fucking thing.

“Someone was asking for her mom.” Amber walked over, setting Dani in Melissa’s arms.

“Is this guy bothering you? ‘Cause I can get Tank up here in a nanosecond.”

“Tank isn’t here.” I stuck my tongue out at Amber, and she smiled.

“Big Ben, then.” And stuck hers out at me.

Dani laughed at our antics, which caused Melissa to smile. God, she was beautiful. I still couldn’t believe she was here. In front of me. Close enough to touch. And fuck, did I want to touch.

Every goddamn inch.

“Haizley wanted me to tell you she was downstairs,” Amber said as she walked back toward the door.

“Why didn’t she come up with you?”