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I took a small bite to be polite, but my throat immediately tightened. The food sat in my mouth, impossible to swallow. With trembling hands, I set the slice back down, then forced the bite down my suddenly dry throat.

Novo noticed immediately. "Not hungry after all?"

I shook my head, embarrassed. "Sorry. I thought I was, but..."

"No need to apologize." He set his own slice down and studied me. "When's the last time you ate something?"

"Yesterday morning," I admitted. "I was too nervous."

Novo frowned. "You need something in your stomach. You got eggs?"

"I think so."

Without another word, Novo stood and moved to the kitchen. I heard him opening cabinets and the refrigerator, the sounds oddly domestic. Not too long after, he returned with a plate of scrambled eggs and buttered toast.

"Try this," he said, handing me the plate. "Protein and carbs. Easy on the stomach."

I took a tentative bite. The eggs were perfectly cooked, lightly seasoned, and somehow exactly what I needed. "Thank you," I whispered, surprised by the gesture.

Novo nodded, watching me eat with a satisfaction that seemed almost... protective. "I'm going to call Ricky and cancel dinner."

"No," I protested, suddenly anxious. "We can't. They've been planning it, and Daddy Saul is coming, and—"

"Matty," Novo interrupted gently but firmly. " You need rest, not a social event. Ricky will understand."

"But—"

"No buts, boy. You need a warm bath and an early night. We can reschedule dinner for another time."

I was too startled at being called “boy” to protest any further, and the thought of warm water and the chance to wash away the day's tension was tempting. "I don't want to disappoint them," I said weakly. But suddenly, I didn’t want to disappoint him either.

Novo studied me for a moment, his actions gentle for such an imposing man. "You're not disappointing anyone. You've had a hell of a day—we both have. There's nothing wrong with taking care of yourself."

The kindness in his voice made my throat tight. "Okay," I whispered, taking another bite of toast.

Novo took the pizza in the kitchen to nuke a couple of slices, pulled out his phone, and started texting. I focused on finishing my eggs, surprised by how much better I felt with some food in my system.

When Novo returned, he looked satisfied. "All set. Ricky sends his love and says to rest up. We've rescheduled for Saturday."

"Thank you," I said, setting my empty plate on the coffee table. "For... everything."

Novo nodded, then gestured toward the hallway. "Why don't you show me where the bathroom is? I'll run you a bath."

I blinked in surprise. "You don't have to—"

"I know I don't have to," he interrupted, his voice firm but not unkind. "But I'm going to. That's part of this arrangement, isn't it? Taking care of you?"

I felt my cheeks warm. "I... yes. I guess it is." Carrington had pretended, but he’d failed miserably.

I led him down the short hallway to the bathroom, suddenly self-conscious about how small and ordinary it was. The tub wasn't anything special—just a standard shower/bath combo with a plastic curtain. Novo seemed to fill the tiny space, making it feel even smaller.

"Towels?" he asked, turning on the tap and testing the water temperature with his hand.

"Under the sink," I said, watching in amazement as this intimidating biker carefully prepared a bath for me. He found the towels and set one on the closed toilet lid, then rummaged under the sink again.

"Bubble bath?" he asked, holding up the bottle I'd splurged on last month—one small luxury I allowed myself.

I flushed. I could practically feel the heat scorch my skin. "Yes, please."

He poured a generous amount under the running water, filling the bathroom with the scent of lavender and vanilla. Steam began to rise, fogging the small mirror above the sink.

"Do you need help?" Novo asked, his expression carefully neutral.

"No," I said quickly, my face burning. "I can manage."

"Alright." He straightened up, towering in the small space. "Take your time. I'll be in the living room if you need anything."

Once he'd closed the door behind him, I let out a long, shaky breath.

This wasn't at all what I'd expected. Novo was nothing like Carrington with his selfish calculations, or James with his hidden cruelty.

He was gruff and intimidating, yes, but also.

.. gentle. And for a moment, a tiny moment, I let myself pretend this was real.

Novo

I grabbed the keys and let myself out of the apartment. I needed to call Cruise. He answered right away.

“Hey, I was just getting ready for that fancy shindig I really don’t want to come to.”

“It’s canceled,” I said shortly, and then told him how Matty had behaved.

“Yeah,” Cruise said, “but if he’s the manipulative little fucker you were told about, he’s probably a real good actor playing for sympathy.”

Which could be true. “Find out what you can on his financials. Ask Digger to turn up what he can. Plus, I want everything on a James Degrassi. I don’t have anything else, but there’s probably a contract he broke somewhere with Rent-a-Daddy.

” Digger, one of my MC brothers, could access anything with a computer.

“Will do. How’s the love nest? You in a fancy hotel suite downtown somewhere?”

“Nope,” and I told Cruise about the apartment. “I get if he’s a brat, but why is he here? Something else is going on.”

“Gonna be a tight squeeze,” Cruise commented.

I sighed. It would be like living at the clubhouse before I’d built my own place. “Get me the info, then we’ll see what’s what.” I let myself back in. Until I knew any different, I was going to be careful but uphold my side of the contract.

Which meant I had a boy to look after. And I was going to start with setting his pajamas out. Then we’d see where we went from there.