Page 25

When we arrived, an employee waved us down the narrow driveway next to the shop, then opened the garage door at the far backside of the warehouse. Striker backed into the garage while I parked. I walked into the garage, where Michel and his crew were waiting for us.

“There you are, Ace,” Michel said with a grin. “Good to see you. I assume you heard the good news?”

“ Good is pushing it, but yeah, I got it straight from the source.”

“I had my guys take a look at everything.” Michel waved us over to the six immense wooden crates. Most were nailed shut, but one was still open. Michel slid the lid off, revealing stacks and stacks of guns nestled neatly in foam.

“This one’s your order,” Michel continued. “There’s no sign of tampering. Some of the crates hadn’t even been opened. Seems like Sean’s guys didn’t have a buyer ready.”

“They were causing trouble. There wasn’t a plan.”

“Somehow, that’s worse,” Michel muttered. “You know, just because we got the goods back doesn’t change what I said about Sean. Until he’s out of the picture, I can’t work with your clan. And if he burns us again, it’s your hide on the line.”

I nodded. Typically, I wouldn’t stand for that kind of threat from anyone, but Michel was only covering his own ass.

He wouldn’t do anything to threaten me or my clan, as long as the feds weren’t on his ass.

I understood the logic. At least we had the product we needed to fill the existing orders.

“Wouldn’t expect anything less, Michel. I’ll take care of Sean. ”

“Good man,” Michel said. “Guys, load the crate up.”

Michel’s guys hammered the lid back on the crate, then heaved it up into the waiting box truck, where it was mixed in with car parts and tires.

Striker closed the truck and locked it. “You think Sean said anything to his dog?” he asked me in a low voice.

“I’m sure he did,” I said. “But if Levi is pulling shit like this on his own, Sean’s going to tap that energy. He’s not done.”

“Great,” Striker said and rubbed his forehead.

“Keep an ear out for any rumors,” I said. “We can’t let something like this happen again.”

Striker nodded. “You coming back to the garage?”

“Not tonight. I’ve got plans.”

“Seems to be the case a lot these days,” Striker said with a knowing look. “Anything the clan needs to know about?”

“We’ll see.” If I claimed Harley—my fated mate—it’d be a big deal for the whole clan.

But we weren’t there yet. We might never be there. All I could do was hope she’d had enough time to clear her head.

“All right, get out of here,” Michel said. “I’ve got some rich women from upstate coming to look at custom dressers. I don’t want you to scare them off.”

“Make sure you speak to them in French,” Striker said as he climbed into the box truck. “Rich people love that.”

“ C’est vrai,” Michel said, slamming the garage door shut behind us.

Striker threw me a salute, then drove the box truck back onto the narrow highway.

I waited a few minutes, then drove after him.

By the time I approached Lakeview again, it was late afternoon.

Hawk texted to let me know the playground date had been extended into a movie outing, and then dinner at the pizza place.

I pulled into the driveway and was greeted by the sight of my home, the lights twinkling as if to beckon me back.

My dragon hummed in pleasure, and my heart warmed.

Coming home to Harley at the house, waiting for me, was a lot better than returning to darkness.

But even so, it was a dangerous sensation because it most likely would be ending when summer was over.

I opened the front door, and the rich aroma of red sauce enveloped me.

Music played softly in the background. Harley was in the kitchen, her hair pulled into a bun, wearing one of my gag-gift aprons—it read “Ain’t No BBQ Like A Dragon BBQ” with a cartoon dragon blowing fire at a steak.

Not the cleverest slogan, but Hawk had nearly passed out he’d laughed so hard.

It was tied tightly around her waist, accentuating the curve of her breasts and hips.

My mouth watered, and it wasn’t because of the delicious scent of the meal.

“Hi,” she said softly. “I made dinner.”

“Smells amazing.”

“It’s nothing crazy. Just pasta.”

The table was already set for two, so I pulled a nice bottle of red wine from the pantry and poured it into the waiting glasses.

Harley shooed me out of the kitchen with a smile and gestured for me to sit down at the table. “Okay, okay,” I said, raising my hands in surrender as I sat. She was totally comfortable in my kitchen now—even more than I was—and I could’ve watched her for hours.

Dinner was pasta with a thick, rich meat sauce, and a huge salad filled with every vegetable in my fridge and then some. She’d made the croutons herself, she said, using up the homemade bread a local had brought me that I’d abandoned in my freezer ages ago.

“This is really impressive,” I said, looking out over the spread. “You didn’t have to do all this.”

“I know.” She took a small sip of her wine. “I wanted to. Cooking helps me think.”

“So, you’ve been thinking?” I took a bite of the pasta, and a myriad of flavors burst on my tongue. It was delicious—even more so because she’d made it for me.

“I have. I’m ready to talk.”

I smiled. She looked a lot more confident now, put-together. As much as I loved to fluster her and see her blush, I loved to see her take charge like this, too.

“You know there’s a lot of reasons we shouldn’t try again,” she said.

I held her gaze steadily and nodded. “Should we go through them?”

“I don’t want to feel like an outsider in Lakeview. Blakely obviously didn’t want me around. Is she going to cause more issues?”

My dragon growled at the mention of Blakely’s name. “No,” I said. “She won’t be a problem. She’s banned from all clan activities. She knows what she did is unforgivable. She wouldn’t dare try anything again.”

Harley nodded slightly. She didn’t look completely convinced, but that would take time.

“What about the other women around Lakeview?” she asked. “Women bring you food and they hang out at the clubhouse. I know a lot of them want the alpha , or whatever, and even when we met, you had a reputation…” She trailed off, her cheeks turning pink again.

“I know I was a playboy when we met,” I said. “But that was ten years ago, Harley.”

“And you haven’t been with anyone since then?”

“Of course I was with a few people,” I said. “Weren’t you?”

She looked away, but nodded.

“I tried to have a few relationships after I got out of prison,” I admitted.

“Casual. Low stakes. But every time I tried, it felt… wrong. Eventually, I stopped trying. Every time I was with another woman, even just on a date or at the bar, I compared her to you. It wasn’t fair to them. So, I mostly kept to myself.”

“Okay,” she said softly. She ate a few bites, watching me like she was waiting for something. I let the silence draw between us until she asked, “You’re not going to ask me about my relationships?”

“No,” I said. “That’s the past. It’s over. If you want to tell me, that’s one thing, but I don’t need to pry.”

She blinked, surprised. “Really?”

“Really.” My dragon grew restless. I didn’t want to hear about any of the men Harley had been with because it would only make me jealous. If I couldn’t erase their touches with my own, I didn’t want to know about them. “All that matters to me is that you’re not with anyone now.”

“I’m not,” she said.

“Good.”

Harley cleared her throat. “What about your work? You’ve spent all week at these meetings, then showed me the security system. You’ve spent most of the past decade in prison. I… I can’t let Dylan get close to you only for you to be snatched away again.”

“I know. I don’t want that either. I’m playing with fire right now, trying to get out of the business.”

“How much longer?” she asked. “What’s the risk?”

“We’re almost done,” I said. “There’s been some complications.”

“That’s hard to swallow. How do I know there won’t be more complications? How can I know it won’t go wrong and end with you being locked up again?”

I pressed my lips together. “You can’t.”

“That’s what I’m afraid of.”

“Hawk wants out, too. He doesn’t want to risk getting put away while Bella’s young. The plan has been in motion for a long time. But you’re right. We’re not all the way there. And while we’re not there, there’s always a risk.”

Harley leaned back in her chair and swirled her wine in the glass.

“It’s a risk, not a guarantee,” I said. “But I promise you, all of the clan businesses will be legitimate. I won’t leave Dylan anything illegal. There won’t be a single dirty dollar. Whatever it takes. I promise you that.”

“I want to trust you. I really, really do.”

My dragon whined. I wanted to move closer, to reach out and touch her. Then do it, I thought. Trust me. Trust us, Harley.

But I didn’t want to pressure her. This was her choice. Her life.

Silence grew between us. After what felt like years, she finally set her wine glass down and lifted those pretty blue eyes to meet mine. “If we try again, we have to take it really slow.”

My dragon wanted to spread his wings and soar. “We can take it slow.”

“We’ll see how things go,” she continued. “Until the businesses are legitimate. At least.”

“Deal.”

She laughed. “Is that what this is? A negotiation?”

“You’re a tough one to crack,” I teased. “What can I say? I accept your terms.”

“They’re not terms!” She was laughing louder now, almost giddy, and delight flooded through me. “It’s just the reality.” Then she stood and sauntered into the kitchen. “Another glass of wine? Should we celebrate?”

“We should.” I followed her into the kitchen and stepped behind her, pressing my chest to her back, caging her in against the counter. Her hands trembled and fell still on the wine bottle.

Leaning down, I nosed at her temple, inhaling that sweet, delicious scent that was all her. I exhaled, my lips close to her ear, and her whole body shivered against mine.

“Stephan,” she whispered.

God, I loved the sound of my name in her mouth. It was the only sound I ever wanted to hear.

“Slow, I promise.” My voice was a low rumble deep in my chest.

She turned around and looked up. Her blue eyes were sharp, pupils slightly dilated. Her plush lower lip was dark, like she’d bitten it.

I set one hand at the curve of her waist and squeezed gently. It was the perfect fit, like our bodies had been meticulously crafted for each other.

Then Harley set both hands on my stomach, right above my waistline. She slid her hands up, flat over my abs, my chest, until she reached my shoulders. Sighing, she wound her arms around my neck and parted her lips.

What else could I do?

I kissed her.

Gripping her waist, I stepped forward until she was flush against me.

Her lips opened, and she let out a soft, delicate sigh that I swallowed hungrily.

I kissed her hard, desperately. It’d been ten years since I’d tasted her lips.

I’d forgotten how good they tasted, how soft they felt—I’d forgotten the pressure of her body against mine, her sweet sounds, her warm skin.

It was better than I could’ve dreamed. My dragon demanded we get closer, kiss harder.

I wanted to kiss her breath away. I wanted to lick every inch of her skin.

I wanted to drop to my knees and taste her center.

I wanted to make her come harder than any man she’d been with, and I’d make it happen right here in the kitchen in front of the big glass windows.

I needed her. And finally, after all these years, I had her.

Maybe not all the way. Maybe not forever. But for now, I had her, and I was in heaven.

Harley raked a hand through my hair, then broke the kiss with a sigh. “Slow, Stephan.”

“This is slow,” I growled.

She laughed, and it sounded even prettier up close. “Dylan will be back soon. Will you help me clean the kitchen?”

It took every ounce of self-control I had, but I let go of her perfect waist and took a small step back. “What do you want to tell Dylan?” I asked.

“Nothing tonight,” she said. “But I don’t want to hide anything from him. He’d figure it out, anyway. He’s too smart.”

“Just like his mom.” I tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

“I hope so,” she whispered.