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“Yeah, I’ve heard. That’s next level.” She pauses and then adds, “But I bet he’s a beast in bed. Is it true about his stamina?”

I nibble my bottom lip. “Let’s just say his experience paid off.”

Ora laughs and slaps her hand down on the counter. “I knew it! That’s why he likes to show off. He wouldn’t be sleeping around so much with multiple women at a time if he had a small dick and was bad in bed.”

“Oh, and it’s pierced,” I add, fanning my face.

Her blue eyes flare. “Oh fuck, that’s hot.”

“I know.”

We share a grin. “He better be good to you, Lu, because I love having you here and never want you to leave. If it doesn’t work out with Haze, there are plenty of other options for you. I know Blade is?—”

“Luella doesn’t need any other options,” Haze’s rough voice growls, and I instantly twist my neck to look at him. His arms grip the doorframe, muscles flexing, and there’s something I can’t read in his face.

“We’ll see,” Ora murmurs, sipping her juice.

“Where were you?” I ask Haze, my brow furrowing.

He glances at Ora, who clears her throat and nods her head toward him. “I’ll start breakfast.”

“Give me a minute,” I say to Ora, walking toward Haze and trying to slide past him, but his hard body blocks the door. He’s still gripping the doorframe, leaning casually, but his eyes are hard. I thought we’d go somewhere to talk, but apparently, we’re doing it right here. “Is everything okay?”

“It was until I came here to find you and caught the end of that conversation,” he mutters, sliding the ball of his tongue ring in between his teeth.

“Ora is just protective.”

“No other man is touching you. We got problems, we fix them. You get me?”

Wrapping my arms around his torso, I nod. “Now, where were you?”

He swallows, his throat bobbing. “Aspen was found passed out on a park bench. Sheriff Grayson rang me to come and pick her up. She was out of it. I took her to the hospital and then to my house to sleep it off.”

“I’m sorry,” I whisper, and he nods, dropping his arms to bring them around me.

“It is what it is,” he says in a soft voice. “My life has been like this for as long as I can remember, but I’m all she has.”

I wonder if he ever gets sick of having to save people. He stepped up for his family, and he’s still carrying that burden. And now he’s got this situation with Daisy.

“If there’s anything I can do…”

“No,” he shakes his head. “I never wanted you to carry any of this. That’s why I stayed away, Luella. None of this should have to touch you. You need to be happy, baking cakes, and living your best life. I’m used to dealing with Aspen. It’s fine. I know she was your friend, but in the end, she wasn’t a very good one to you. You don’t owe her anything.”

I lower my voice. “Just because you carry it well doesn’t mean it isn’t heavy.”

He takes a sharp breath. “Baby girl…”

Haze tried to save me when we were kids. He took responsibility for the girl next door because he knew I didn’t have loving parents. Nothing has changed—he’s still out there trying to save everyone.

“I’m not just here for the good times, Haze. And if we’re going to make this work, you’re going to have to let me be there for you too.”

His amber eyes soften as he lowers his face and kisses me.

I curl my fingers into his cut, pulling him hard against me. “There’s no if about it, Luella. We are making this work.”

“How were you suddenly so sure about me?” I ask. It’s something that’s been playing on my mind. “I’m not the same girl I was back then. And you went from not wanting me to being all in.”

“I always wanted you, but my demons just wouldn’t let me have you. I just tried to fight it when you surprised me by showing up here. I don’t like surprises, and I don’t like thinking you were there hooking up with one of my brothers. I acted like a dick.”