Page 38

“It’s hot.” She waves her hand at the stove. “You saw it come off the griddle.”

“It looks too good, though.”

Laughing, she sets a small bowl of pickles and olives next to my plate. “I don’t really have anything else to go with it.”

“This is fine. You didn’t have to cook for me.”

“It’s a grilled cheese.” She rolls her eyes. “Not a prime rib.”

How’d I forget to tell her this part? “Speaking of. He wanted to go to Southwest Steakhouse for lunch.”

“Nice. I’ve only been there a few times, but the food was good from what I remember.”

“It was. Little shit ordered the most expensive thing on the menu.” I laugh, still amused by his brazenness. “All the extras.”

Concern, not humor, lines her expression. “Probably the most he’s eaten since he left home.”

That wipes the amusement off my face. “Maybe. He told me he thought it was a ‘fuck off’ lunch, and later admitted he ordered the big steak to get what he could out of me.”

“Awww.”

The warmth in her voice sinks into the darkest parts of my heart. “See, I told you he’s clever.”

“And a survivor.” She sips her own water. “What else did you do?”

“Took him shopping for a few things. The apartment’s furnished but he needed food—obviously.”

“Good call.”

“Took him to get a heavier coat, boots, sneakers, and some clothes for work.”

“That’s really sweet.”

“I can’t let my brother work at my friend’s place looking like a scruffy puppy I found under a bridge.”

“Jensen.” She drags out my name like a scolding.

“What? It’s true.” I chew a bite of sandwich and pop an olive in my mouth. “Still need to get his bike registered up here if he’s staying. Figure out how to get insurance for that crotch rocket. Gonna cost a fortune.”

“He’s lucky to have a road captain for a big brother.”

“Yeah, I guess,” I mutter, making a mental list of phone calls for tomorrow. “He was a little intimidated by the gym. But Sully’s a patient guy. His fiancée, Aubrey, is a sweetheart. Unless Cain’s a total dumbfuck, he’ll be fine there.”

I’ve been running my mouth since I got here. I set my final quarter of the sandwich down and wipe my fingers on a napkin. “Tell me about your night.”

She doesn’t respond right away. Just nods, eyes on her water bottle. The silence stretches, not uncomfortable, but somehow heavier than before.

“You said you went to the movies with April?” I prod.

She nods slowly. “We saw this frustrating movie. But it was nice to hang out with her.”

“April’s the one you went to school with?”

She nods quickly. “She was helping out at Whisper’s funeral, but it didn’t seem like the right time to introduce you.” Pink spreads across her cheeks and she ducks her head. “She noticed you watching me, though.”

“Couldn’t take my eyes off you.”

Her lips quirk. “Well, she really wants to meet you now.”

Shit, all I’ve thought about is how to introduce her to my family—my club. Haven’t made much of an effort to get to know her cousin or friend. Only ever had like one conversation with her dad. I need to do better. “Sure, whenever you want.”

A shy but hopeful smile curves her lips. “I’d like that. She might grill you, though.”

“That’s okay.”

Silence settles over us. I finish the last bite of my grilled cheese.

She twists the water bottle cap on and off a few times. “We stopped to get coffee after...”

Why does she make that sound so ominous? I swallow and take a sip of water.

“The news…we saw a report…uh, Daniel was arrested.”

I choke on my water, bubbles shooting up my nose. “What?” I grab a napkin and wipe it over my face. “You let me ramble on about my afternoon?—”

“You and your brother are infinitely more important to me than Daniel,” she says with a quiet conviction that drives home her point sharper than a knife.

I reach over and rest my hand on her thigh. “I appreciate that. But this is…”

“Crazy? Embarrassing?” She exhales hard. “I know it’s not about me, but—ugh. And then April told me she never liked him or the way he treated me, which just made me feel stupid all over again.”

The crack in her voice guts me.

I slide off the stool and pull her into my arms. “You’re the kindest, fiercest woman I know.” I press a kiss to her temple, lingering there. “Sweet doesn’t even cover it.”

Her breath shudders against my chest, but she doesn’t pull away. She slides her arms around my waist and hugs me just as tight.

“I think I wanted to believe it wasn’t true,” she says quietly. “But I should’ve known the cops wouldn’t have come here to interview me if it was nothing. And they wouldn’t have arrested him without some compelling evidence, right?”

“He’s a rich, white dude. If they arrested him, I’m going to bet the evidence is overwhelming . They wouldn’t risk a false arrest on such a pillar of the community ,” I finish with a sneer.

“True.” She pulls away, lifting her gaze to mine. “I’m scared of what it means for my dad. For the business. And I feel awful because I know that’s selfish.”

“No, it’s not. You haven’t done anything wrong.”

“I talked to my dad briefly the other day. There’s no way he knew. He seemed surprised when I told him Daniel wasn’t very nice to me.”

“You told him that?”

“I did.” Her brow creases. “He didn’t say much. Just seemed surprised. Sad, maybe? He said he didn’t want to pry into why I ended the engagement.”

Engagement. Just the word in connection to that piece of shit stokes rage in me. I clench my jaw. How could her dad not fucking know? “If you had told your father how badly Daniel treated you, what would he have done?”

“I don’t know. I don’t want him to blame me if this affects the business for some reason, though.”

“That’s bullshit.” I tighten my arms around her, unwilling to let her mind travel down that path. “You’re not responsible for whatever Daniel did.”

She nods against my chest but doesn’t respond otherwise.

“Your family’s run a respected business in Pine Hollow for generations. Someone tries to link Daniel’s crimes to your family’s business, it will get shut down fast.” Probably by my club.

She nods slowly. “You’re right. My father knows a lot of people. Has a good reputation.”

“What we need to worry about, is if he gets off,” I say, hoping she follows my line of thinking. “Does he take a plea that lets him out in five years, or does he get life behind bars where he belongs?”

A tired but warm smile curves her lips. “Don’t think I don’t know what you’re hinting at.”

“I’m not hinting at anything. I’m outright saying it. He better pray he gets a long prison sentence.”

She lets out an exasperated sigh. “You know what? I’m not even going to argue with you.”

“Good.” I smooth my hand over her back but the fury simmering in my chest doesn’t ease. “The system fucks up all the time. If Daniel gets out?—”

“He’s a walking dead man,” she finishes.

I love the way she gets me.

What a twisted kind of relief—knowing I don’t have to hide who I am when we’re together. I’m free to be my murderous self with her.

How can one woman be so perfect for me?