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“It should have been me saving you.” My head snaps to the door, where he’s leaning against it, watching me. His hazel eyes are filled with pain, and tension rolls off him in waves. “If anything had happened to you…”

Ora kisses my cheek and quietly leaves while Haze sits and takes my hand back into his. “I’m tired of having to save everyone, and while doing so, it almost meant losing the only person who makes me truly happy. From now on, I will put you first, Luella. Aspen is an adult, and I won’t be running to her every time she calls from now on.”

“I’m not giving you an ultimatum, Haze. I know you care about your sister.”

“I know you’re not, but I need to be the man you deserve. I will be the man you deserve. I should have been here, and from now on, I will. I’m not letting you out of my sight again.”

I open my mouth to tell him about Aspen purposely calling him away, but I don’t want to hurt him. Still, he should know the truth.

“What, baby?” he presses, gently pushing my curls off my forehead.

“Pippa said she asked Aspen to call you, to lure you away from me. I don’t know if it’s true, but…”

The air in the room instantly shifts. “She did that?” he whispers, his brow furrowing as his eyes shut.

“She did. I’m sorry, Haze. I considered not telling you because I didn’t want to hurt you.”

“No,” he replies, giving my hand a soft squeeze. “Always tell me, Luella. Always. That’s it, she’s done.” He places a soft kiss on my cheek and then takes a deep breath. “I’m sorry. I owe my club brothers a debt I’ll never be able to repay.”

“You’re not perfect, Haze. And neither am I. We will get through it.”

“You are perfect to me,” he replies, his lips moving to my knuckles.

“I’m not. I run my mouth a lot.”

“I like your attitude.” He grins.

“I overthink…”

“I don’t mind overexplaining.”

My heart melts.

“I think baking solves all life’s issues.” I smile.

“That’s not a flaw, baby girl. I love that you’ve found your passion in life. And you are damn good at what you do.”

“I love you, Haze.”

“I love you more, Luella. Even if you have a fucking pet spider in the shower that you won’t let me kill.”

“Leave Harry out of this.”

He shakes his head and runs the pad of his thumb over my lower lip. “Fucking crazy about you. Never going to let anything happen to you again.”

“You better fucking not.”

He smiles, and that dimple pops out.

And all is right in my world again.

LU

FOUR WEEKS LATER

There’s a party at the clubhouse, and all the members are present. Ora keeps smiling at me, but I have no idea why she’s extra happy tonight. Maybe War did something amazing with his tongue.

I’m in the kitchen cutting up the caramel slices I made when someone speaks in a deep tone from behind me.