CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Cody—
I’m on top of the world, all because Heather is about to climb on the back of my bike. I lean over and dig a spare helmet out of my saddlebag and pass it to her.
“You’ll need this.”
She fastens it on. “How do I look?”
“Badass,” I reply with a grin, then pass her a pair of riding glasses. When her arms go around me, I pat the back of her hand and swivel my head to say over my shoulder. “Hold on tight.”
Then I lift it off the kickstand, drop it in gear, and twist the throttle, roaring out onto the street. Dawn is just breaking, and the sky is a stunning purple. I’ve always loved this time of day, that moment just before the sun’s orange starts to color the sky.
I head into the hills west of town. I know a spot where we’ll have a clear view to the east of the sunrise breaking over the horizon.
It only takes about five minutes to get there, but with every passing moment, the sky is getting lighter.
Finally, I pull to the side of the road and shut the bike down. We both climb off and walk to the guardrail on the edge of the pull-off.
“Come on. There are some boulders just there that we can sit on.” I take Heather’s hand, and we step over the guardrail.
She glances around. “Wow. You can see for miles from up here.”
The glittering lights of San Jose are spread out before us.
“Yeah. I’d love to have a place up here. My brother, Jake, has a place not far.”
“I bet these places go for a mint with a view like this.”
“He got lucky. Bought a real fixer-upper.”
“Still, it takes money.”
I chuckle. “I’m workin’ on it, girl. Someday.”
“It’s a nice dream.”
“Hopefully, it’s more like a goal than a dream.”
“Those are even better, huh?”
“What’s your dream?” I ask.
She shrugs. “I’ve kind of been in day-to-day survival mode for so long it's hard to even think of anything more.”
“I hope that changes. Now that you’re here, I hope you can start to relax and feel safe again.”
“I hope so, too.”
“You know, I’m here for you if you ever need anything. All you gotta do is ask.”
She chuckles. “Really? ‘Cause I’ve got a sink that won’t drain.”
I grin. “You serious?”
“Yep. And a car that needs a new timing belt.”
I lift a brow. “Anything else you want to add to that list?”
“I’m just teasing. I don’t expect you to do any of that.”
“Too bad. I’m already on it. When’s your next day off?”
“Tomorrow. Wait… I mean today. I don’t work again until Friday night.”
“Then I’ll come over after we both get some sleep and take a look at the sink, and we’ll go from there.”
“You’d really do that?”
“Babe, I told you I was layin’ my cards on the table. I don’t know if you’re ready for a relationship, but if you are, I’m in this for the long haul. All I’m askin’ for is a shot. Think you can give me that?”
“I have a son to worry about. I don’t bring men around him because I don’t want him to get attached to men who are only in it for sex—who don’t see a future.”
“That’s not what I’m offering. I’m not those guys, Heather.”
“I’ve been burned before.”
“I get that.”
“It’s hard for me to trust.”
“I get that, too.”
“I’m kind of a package deal. That doesn’t scare you off?”
I chuckle. “Babe, I’m a package deal, too.
I come with an MC full of brothers who are not afraid to barge in on each other at all hours of the day, grab a beer from the fridge, and ask what’s for dinner.
And they’ve all got ol’ ladies who’ll get up in your business…
but in a good way. It’s like having this really big family.
They’re crazy, but they’re family. That’s the baggage I come with, so a five-year-old boy doesn’t even compare. ”
By the time I finish, she’s grinning, looking happier than I could hope.
“You like big families, Heather?”
“Yeah, Cody. That sounds like heaven.”
“Good. Glad we got that out of the way.”
“Oh, look how pretty it is,” she says, pointing at the sunrise.
“It’s almost as beautiful as the woman sitting next to me.”
She lays her head on my shoulder, and I kiss the top of her head.
I feel like this is the start of us.
Ryan, I hope you’re good with this, brother.
After I drop Heather at her car, I follow her to her apartment building. It’s a luxury complex, and I’m glad it’s not some sketchy dump. She deserves a nice place. I suppose that’s why she does what she does, so she can provide a life like this for her son.
I walk her to her door and kiss her goodbye. Just a chaste kiss on the lips. Before I let her go, I grab her phone and punch my number in.
“Now you’ve got my number. Call me when you wake up.”
She smiles and presses her mouth to mine again. “I will. Goodnight, Cody.”
“Good morning, Heather,” I say as I walk backward toward my bike.
She blows me a kiss, and I snag it from the air.
Twenty minutes later, I walk into the clubhouse and head to my room, whistling a happy tune in the quiet clubhouse. Not a soul is up and about. There’s a prospect asleep on one of the couches. He barely cracks an eye as I walk past.
Cole wants to talk to me at noon. I’m sure he’s going to ream my ass out again like he did last night. At this moment, I don’t even care. I’m so high from being with Heather.
I can’t wait to get back there later today.
I’ve never been so excited to fix a sink in my life.