Page 13

HARLEY

“ M om, m’fine,” Dylan mumbled against my shoulder.

I hiked my son higher onto my hip. He definitely was not okay—but he didn’t seem too hurt, either. Just exhausted. I was still worried about him, but not nearly as worried as I had been before I’d followed Dylan outside.

Never in my life had I been so happy to see Stephan. The mere sight of him standing next to his beat-up old project car had sent a wave of relief crashing over me. I’d had no idea what was happening with Dylan, but I knew Stephan would be able to help.

And I was right.

Exactly when Dylan needed him, Stephan appeared. What would I have done if he hadn’t showed up?

I swallowed hard. I couldn’t get used to this. Stephan was going to help Dylan with his first shift—that was all. There was nothing more to our relationship than that.

I eased Dylan onto the couch. He groaned and rubbed his chin. His eyes were still half-lidded, like he wasn’t all the way there. I glanced toward Stephan. “Is this normal?”

Stephan lingered in the foyer, hands in his pockets, like he wasn’t sure if he was actually allowed to come inside. “It’s normal.”

“I’m okay,” Dylan mumbled. “Little dizzy.”

That made Stephan take a few steps into the living room. “That’s normal too, bud. The first time your fangs come in hurts, doesn’t it?”

Dylan nodded. “Hurt a lot.”

“It won’t hurt like that forever,” Stephan assured him gently. “Soon, it’ll be as easy as breathing.”

Dylan frowned a little, still rubbing his chin. He didn’t look totally convinced, but it was a start.

“The fangs come first,” Stephan said. “After that, the tail usually shows up.”

Dylan’s eyes widened. “Is my tail going to come out of my butt?”

Stephan let out a loud, surprised laugh. He leaned down and tousled Dylan’s hair. “Nope. You’re safe there.”

With a big, relieved sigh, Dylan slumped down deeper into the couch. “That’s good. I dunno if I could handle that.”

I rolled my eyes. “I’m gonna get you some water, Dyl.” I stepped into the kitchen, then busied myself making a fresh pot of coffee in Mom’s beat-up old coffeemaker. As it burbled, I braced my hands on the edge of the counter and took a deep breath.

I still couldn’t believe Stephan was here.

He was so sweet with Dylan. That smile of his…

so big, so gorgeous, so earnest. I downed a glass of water myself, and then filled one for Dylan.

I turned around and saw Stephan leaning against the armrest. His denim jacket stretched across his broad shoulders, and his blond hair was getting a little long, like his full beard.

Crow’s feet appeared at the corners of his eyes as he smiled.

My heart ached when I saw them together. God, they looked so alike, and I got a glimpse of Stephan when he was a little kid when I looked at my son.

I gathered myself. I was frazzled from hearing Dylan in so much pain this morning.

Once I reset my nerves a little bit, I’d have a better handle on my emotions.

The coffeemaker chirped. I poured a mug of coffee and added a splash of milk.

Taking another steadying breath, I plastered a smile on my face and stepped into the living room.

“Coffee,” I said as I held out the mug.

Stephan accepted it with a smile. “Thanks.” He paused as he looked down at the coffee. His smile faltered with an emotion I couldn’t quite read. “Just the right amount of milk, too.”

Again, my heart thumped. I’d fixed it exactly the way he liked it—without even thinking about it.

Those little habits came back easily, like muscle memory.

Like I’d never wanted to forget in the first place.

I cleared my throat. “So, what brought you over here? Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad you showed up, but… ”

“I was hoping we could talk,” Stephan said.

“Talk,” I repeated.

“Just talk.”

I pressed my lips together, then leaned down and tousled Dylan’s hair. “Why don’t you head up to your room and get a little more sleep? I know this morning wore you out.”

“Huh?” Dylan started, even though he did look exhausted. “But Dad just got here!”

Hearing Dylan say that stole the breath from my lungs. I froze. What was I supposed to say to Dylan? To Stephan? We hadn’t talked about the role he would play in Dylan’s life beyond this shift.

“Don’t worry, kiddo, we’ll get lots of time to talk,” Stephan said easily. “I promise I’m not going anywhere.”

Dylan stared at Stephan for a long moment, then nodded curtly, as if agreeing to business terms. “I know you’re not lying, so it’s okay.”

Stephan cocked an eyebrow. “You know? You mean you can tell when people are lying?”

Dylan rubbed his chest. “My dragon can.”

“What the heck?” I asked. “How long has this been happening?”

Dylan shrugged. “I dunno. Not very long.”

Stephan chuckled, the sound more of a rumble in his chest. “That’s another thing you got from me. I can do that, too.”

“Seriously?” Dylan’s expression brightened. “You can?”

“I’ll tell you all about it. Get some sleep now, and we’ll talk more soon, all right?”

Appeased, Dylan clambered off the couch and went upstairs.

Then Stephan and I were alone. I sat on one end of the couch, and he sat on the other. He sat with his arm on the back of the couch, comfortable as anything, and I couldn’t help but imagining closing the distance between us and resting against the broad plane of his chest.

Instead, I tucked my feet under my body and took another sip of water. “So, what is it?” I asked again. “Something must’ve brought you here. Unless your dragon somehow knew…?”

Stephan laughed and shook his head slightly. “No, it really was coincidence. My dragon can sense a lot of things, but he’s not that good.”

“Then what is it?”

“I spoke to Blakely this morning.” Stephan took another sip of his coffee. “I banned her from the clubhouse. And the clan.”

My mouth went dry. What was I supposed to say to that? I was glad I wouldn’t be running into her, but her being gone didn’t fix anything between Stephan and me.

“I’m sorry,” Stephan said. “That’s what I came here to say. I know it’s… it’s not much, but I’m sorry for what she did, and I’m sorry it went on for this long.”

“It’s a lot for me to process,” I admitted. “So much of the past ten years was a lie. That’s a lot to absorb.”

Stephan nodded. “I understand. And I know it wouldn’t have changed much, even if I had been in Dylan’s life. I still would’ve been arrested that night. I still would’ve spent seven years in prison.”

“Right.”

“But I would’ve been there, in whatever capacity I could have,” Stephan continued.

His hazel eyes were fierce with determination.

“I need you to know that. If I had known about Dylan, even if I was behind bars, I would’ve been there in any way I could.

And I’m glad you’ve brought him here, now, even after believing Blakely’s lies. You’re—you’re a strong mother.”

My chest ached. My heart ached. Stephan was right—I’d spent ten years thinking he’d chosen someone else over me.

That I was just a stupid summer fling. But I’d loved him.

I’d only been twenty years old, but I’d thought I found the man I was going to spend my life with.

Hearing him say these things now hurts, like we were reopening wounds I thought were long-healed.

I waved a hand like I was dispelling the words from the air between us. The last thing I needed was to start crying in front of Stephan. “All that matters now is getting Dylan through his first shift,” I said. “It’s been hard enough for him already. This is a big change.”

“I know.”

“And you’re right,” I said. “It would’ve been hard in a different way, if Dylan had to grow up knowing his dad was in prison. And I know that risk isn’t really gone.”

Stephan frowned, but didn’t argue.

“Dylan needs you now,” I said, “but I don’t want him anywhere near this lifestyle. It’s too dangerous. I don’t want him to see anything happen to you. And I don’t want him to get hurt.”

“I won’t let anything happen to Dylan,” Stephan said fiercely.

“I promise you that.” He paused, his brow furrowing.

If he was going to start to defend his criminal lifestyle, I wouldn’t hear it.

But before Stephan spoke, his attention darted to the front door.

He stood up briskly and set his hand at his hip, lifting his shirt just enough to reveal the hilt of a small handgun.

Stephan stood in front of the couch, blocking me from the door.

I balked. I hadn’t realized he was carrying—but it made sense, with that lifestyle I was just complaining about. I was no stranger to carrying a gun for self-protection, though—as a single mother, I kept one in my glove box.

The front door opened. Mom stumbled over the threshold, teetering in her chunky heels, her eyeliner smudged.

She was laughing and hanging on to some guy I didn’t recognize—an older man, bald, with a white beard wearing a beat-up leather jacket.

Mom froze mid-laugh and struggled to regain her balance.

“What the hell is going on here?” she barked.

“I could ask you the same thing,” Stephan said. “What are you doing with this man? This married man?”

The man grimaced. “Now, Ace?—”

“Shut up,” Stephan snarled.

My eyes widened at the acid in Stephan’s voice, as did my mother’s. The man paled, then disentangled himself from Mom and stumbled back out the door, just as quickly as he’d walked in. He didn’t even bother to say goodbye.

“What the fuck?” Mom shouted. “Ace, you’re in my home! You have no right to kick people out!”

“You know why Gary is banned. He’s a fucking sex offender. And when my son is staying in this house, I’ll do whatever it takes to keep him safe. And that includes kicking out bastards like Gary.”

Mom’s jaw dropped. She looked at me, then at Stephan, then at me. “You’re going to let this man talk to your mother like that?”

“This is about Dylan,” Stephan said firmly.

“Mom, there’s coffee in the kitchen,” I said.

Mom stomped past the couch like a surly teenager into the kitchen. If I knew her at all, she’d likely pour a shot of whiskey into her coffee.

Stephan sat back down on the couch, closer to me this time.

Close enough to touch. He moved slowly, like he was afraid of spooking me.

“Will you bring Dylan to my place tomorrow? I’ll work with him on his dragon more.

The more time he spends with me, the easier his first shift will be.

Being around me should calm his dragon down. ”

“I’m fine with it, but it’s not only my choice.” I smiled, then called up the stairs. “Dyl! You awake?”

“Yeah!”

In the kitchen, Mom winced at the noise, but then smiled. Dylan was a good hangover cure.

“Come down here for a second, please.”

Dylan bounded down the stairs. He looked better, and he was clearly excited to spend more time with his dad.

“You want to spend tomorrow at Stephan’s?” I asked.

Dylan’s eyes nearly bugged out of his head. “Really?”

Stephan nodded. “We can talk more, and it should make your dragon feel better, too.”

“Yes! Yes! I can’t wait!”

Dylan looked so delighted that my heart climbed into my throat. I hadn’t seen him look this happy in… years, maybe. He deserved to be this happy all the time. I just wished it was easier—easier for both of us.

“Great,” Stephan said as he stood.

“You’re leaving?” Dylan said with a pout. “Already?”

“Yeah, I should get out of your hair,” Stephan said with an easy smile. He crouched down so he was at Dylan’s eye level and tousled his hair. “But don’t you worry, we’ll be hanging out all day tomorrow. Make sure you get some good sleep tonight.”

Dylan nodded. He was still pouting, disappointed that Stephan was leaving, but seemed to understand. “Okay, I will.”

I stood up and walked Stephan to the door.

At the threshold, he paused and turned to face me.

We were standing so close together—close enough that I had to tilt my face up to meet his eyes.

The air seemed to crackle between us. My fingers twitched with the urge to reach out and touch him.

This close, I thought I could even smell the familiar scent of his skin—a little bit of leather, a little bit of smoke.

My heart beat so fast, it was like I’d run a marathon.

Stephan’s gaze caught mine, and his hazel eyes flashed gold. The sight was like something from a memory, or a dream.

A glimpse of his dragon, up close.

“You know how to handle a gun?” Stephan asked. “Self-defense?”

“Of course I do,” I said. “I live in Atlanta.”

“Good,” Stephen said with an approving nod. “Keep an eye on Liz’s choice of partners , okay? And if you need another place to stay, just ask.”

“We’ll be okay,” I said. The thought of waking up in Stephan’s general vicinity made something dangerously close to desire course through me. Distance was necessary if I was going to get through this unscathed. “Thank you, though. And we’ll see you tomorrow.”

Stephan glanced over at Mom in the kitchen and frowned slightly. But then he nodded at me and slipped out the door.

Mom grabbed her coffee mug and marched back into the living room. She paused to ruffle Dylan’s hair, where he had crawled onto the couch and flopped down, then came to stand next to me by the window. We watched as Ace’s old Cadillac pulled out of the gravel driveway.

“Harley, how in God’s name did you end up with Ace of all people?”

I turned toward the couch, where Dylan was stretched out, already moments away from snoozing again. “I don’t know,” I murmured. “I guess it was fate.”