Page 88 of The Deals We Make

Ti grabs me around the back of the neck and tugs me to him, a move that does little to prepare me for the sweetest brush of his lips across mine.

It’s gentle, and kind, and reassuring. The kind of kiss you really want to believe in.

“Nothing will happen to you, Cal. I promise you. Like I told you this morning when I invited you, I’ve got you. I’ve also got two Glocks and a large knife on my belt that have got you. And my best friend, Switch, has got you too. If you’re that uncomfortable, I can take you home.”

I bite the tip of my tongue. Then, I realize I’ve got to drop the front I’m putting up. “I’m actually terrified, Ti.”

He takes both my hands in his. “Then we have two options: I turn the truck around, we go home, I order some pizza, and we watch a movie. Or I walk around the truck and lift you down and hold your hand until you want to leave. As long as you and I end up in bed together at the end of this day, I don’t care how we get there.”

A snowball hits the windscreen, making me jump.

Ti lets go of one hand to flip the bird at the one with the facial scar named Niro, who runs inside the clubhouse with a chuckle.

“Will you get into trouble if you don’t go in?” I ask.

Ti smiles one of those smiles that always made me want to lean into him when we were younger. It warms the icy layers around my heart. “Let me worry about that.”

How can I bear it if the answer to that is actually yes?

“Remember what I said.” Ti kisses my knuckles. “Cue Ball and Wrinkle are dead. We did clear out many of the oldmembers recently, so the chances of you seeing someone you know is slim. You see anyone you recognize, you tell me, and I’ll remove them, not you.”

He gave up a chunk of his life to be an Outlaw because my actions pushed him there.

Come on, Calista. Find your spirit.

I look over to the Iron Outlaws Clubhouse sign on the exterior wall, certain I’m going to be overdressed for a place that doesn’t look any more impressive than a roadhouse bar. I see two prospects blowing warm air into their hands as they wait for anything the arriving bikers might need.

“We can leave if I don’t feel safe?” I ask. I’m almost embarrassed by how small my voice sounds.

This isn’t like me, and that’s as unnerving as everything else.

“In a heartbeat,” Ti reassures.

“And you’ll protect me?”

Ti places his hand to my cheek. “With my life. The only people who know about your past are King and Switch. No one else. Just promise me that no matter what happens today, you’ll communicate with me. Part of what happened last time was because we didn’t communicate when shit hit the fan. I need to know you won’t run in a panic. Not with your stalker still out there.”

“I promise. I won’t.” I blow out a breath. “Okay. Then let’s get this over with.”

Ti grins, then kisses the back of my hand. “Wait there.”

He jumps out of the truck, then hurries around to my door. The lot has been shoveled, and the rough asphalt has enough grip that I won’t slip and fall in my heeled boots.

But as soon as the truck door is unlocked, I squeal as Ti lifts me into his arms. “I have an idea to make this a little less overwhelming.”

He walks us around the rear of the building and in through a door that leads us into a kitchen.

“What are we doing?”

“Thought I’d show you my office before we make our way to the bar. Fewer people this way. Fewer cuts. More slow and steady.”

I step up onto my toes and kiss him. “Thank you. And I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

“For making today harder than it needs to be for you.”

“If I get to spend today with you, whatever it takes is worth it.”