Page 31

Story: Reclaimed

I sighed and ignored the familiar pang in my chest. “You know that’s not going to happen.”

“I know,” Hawk said. “A man can dream, though, right?”

“Stick with the good dreams—like the distillery. How are things going with that?” I set Bella down and she toddled off to press her face against the big glass windows.

“Moving right along,” Hawk said. “I’ve got some lawyers reviewing the last of the investment documents."

“Chop these onions, will you?” Mia said. “We’ve got a lot of prep to do if you don’t want to be cooking the whole time Dylan and Harley are here.”

“Right, right,” Hawk said.

Mia moved a stack of vegetables to the counter to wash them in the sink. I pulled out some eggs to start making a quick breakfast for us. As I beat the eggs, Mia nudged her hip against mine. “We swung by the clubhouse, and Blakely was there getting the last of her things. She looked… Well, she looked like shit.”

“That’s about what I’d expect,” I said. I knew being banned was a serious blow to her lifestyle, but I had no room in my heart to feel bad for her. After what she’d done, after what she’d taken from me… She was lucky I’d only banned her.

“How are you handling everything?” Mia asked.

I huffed a short laugh. “Honestly, I feel like I could wake up from a dream at any moment. It’s hard to believe I have a son. But I’m okay. I’m good, really.”

Mia peered at me. Sometimes, I thought she had the same lie-detection powers I did.

“Really,” I continued. “I want to get to know him. Help him with his shift. I feel like if this goes well, I could get to be a regular part of his life. That’s all I want.”

“That’s all?” Mia asked. “No thoughts about your fated mate being back in town? After ten years?”

My dragon rumbled. As if I could forget. “I can’t focus on that right now.”

“Fair enough,” Mia said with a sly smile. “But motherhood has done well for her, hasn’t it? She looks good.”

“Understatement,” I grumbled. Mia laughed brightly, and I shuffled away to scramble the eggs.

By noon, we’d had breakfast and coffee and had successfully put together Mia’s pasta salad recipe, and I was marinating some steaks to grill in the afternoon.

“Whoa!” came a small voice from outside. “Is this seriously hishouse?”

I grinned and strode from the kitchen to the front door. I opened it just as Dylan was lifting his hand to knock on the door. Behind him, Harley offered me a small smile in greeting.

The sight of her took my breath away. She was dressed simply in a white T-shirt and jeans that hugged the curves of her hips and thighs. Her auburn hair was in two simple braids that fell to her shoulders, with a few strands framing her round face and bright blue eyes. My dragon huffed. He wanted me to fit my hands into the dip of her tiny waist and drag her close. My gaze fell to the pale skin of her neck.

I cleared my throat. Now was not the time. There would neverbea time. This was about my son, who was nearly vibrating with excitement on my doorstep.

“Come in,” I said, waving them inside. “We’re nearly done prepping lunch.”

“We?” Harley asked.

“Uncle Hawk!” Dylan shouted. He bounded inside, and Hawk caught him in a laughing headlock. Dylan cackled in delight, then wriggled out of Hawk’s grip to hug Mia and Bella.

“He’s really taken to them. I think family is what he’s needed.” She sighed ruefully. “He’s been looking forward tospending time with you since you left yesterday. I don’t think he slept a wink.”

She was standing next to me, smiling as she watched Dylan. I wanted to wind an arm around her waist, so I crossed my arms over my chest to resist the urge. “I was pretty excited, too.”

“This place is crazy,” Dylan said. He spread out his arms and spun around, then stared up at the big windows and the high rafters in awe. “Youlivehere? Mom, you didn’t say Dad was rich!”

Harley rubbed her forehead with the heel of her hand. “Well, it’s complicated.”

I hummed in acknowledgment. The money that had bought me and the clan such nice homes was the same money that had led me to be behind bars for seven years. I would’ve given this home up in a heartbeat if it meant I could’ve spent Dylan’s childhood with him… And with Harley.

“I’ll get the grill going,” Hawk called, giving me a knowing grin. “You want to give them a grand tour?”

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