Chapter 5
Smokehouse
I grinned at the almost carbon copy of Danica who was peeking out from her bedroom as I stepped inside the house.
This woman’s hair was a brighter shade of blonde and her eyes were deeper blue than her sister’s, but it wasn’t hard to see they were related.
This was obviously Keely Bradford, the owner of the house.
Riptide found, through the post office, that Danica had forwarded her mail to this address.
Rip had looked into who owned it so I’d have an idea of what I was walking into.
It had only taken him a few hours yesterday to track Danica down, but I’d waited until this morning to come here.
Last thing I’d expected to find was Eli.
I wasn’t happy knowing that he was her ex-husband, or soon to be.
If Danica hadn’t stopped me, I would have easily followed through on my threat to maim him.
No one fucking threatened my woman and kid and got away with it.
I ignored the voice inside my head trying to remind me that she wasn’t my woman. For now, she was. Whether either of us liked it or not.
“You’re welcome to have a seat,” she offered, motioning to the dining room table. It was small and I frowned at the chairs, wondering if they could hold my weight.
The house was small, so the table was crunched into a tiny area just off the kitchen. I was used to living at the clubhouse in a dorm-style room, so I was used to small. It didn’t bother me, but I was certainly used to more sturdy furniture.
Sitting cautiously, I waited to see if I’d end up on the floor. I was shocked when it held my weight. Taking the cup of coffee Danica poured for me, I watched her over the rim as I took a long drink.
She sat and was staring at me as I set the cup down. She licked her lips and it was all I could do not to groan. The look on her face was purely carnal.
“Sorry,” she said, tearing her eyes away. “I gave up coffee the other morning. It’s not going well.”
My laughter bounced off the walls of the small kitchen and dining room. Shock flitted over her face. “And here I thought you were just glad to see me.”
“No,” she said with her own small laugh, then she looked horrified. “I mean, yes, I’m glad to see you.” She sucked in a deep breath. “I thought maybe we should talk again.” Her brows pulled low into a deep frown. “Wait, how did you find me?”
“I had the same thought,” I told her, ignoring her last question. “I was hoping we could talk without throwing pregnancy tests this time.” My grin slid over my face when she blushed.
“Sorry about that. I was a little…upset.”
“Understandable.” I searched her face before finally asking, “What’s your plan?”
She gave me a confused look. “My…plan?”
“Do you want to keep the baby?”
Anger sparked in her gorgeous blue eyes. “Of course I do. Even if you don’t intend to stick around, I’m not getting rid of my baby. You can-”
I reached out and covered her hand with mine, squeezing to end her tirade. “Fuck right off. I remember.”
Her eyes narrowed, but she didn’t pull her hand away from mine. I ignored the spark of electricity touching her soft skin elicited. There was certainly chemistry between us. There was no denying that.
“That’s not what I meant. I just wanted to make sure it was what you wanted before we decided what to do.”
“We? You’re planning on…sticking around?” There was hope and worry there in her gaze.
I couldn’t blame her. Honestly, I wasn’t sure if it was best that I was in my kid’s life, but I couldn’t walk away. I’d always promised myself that if I ever became a father, I’d be there. No matter what. “Yeah. I’m here for you.”
“Why?” she asked suspiciously. “You didn’t even believe the baby was yours.”
“No. I was just asking if you were sure it was mine. There’s a difference.”
She huffed out a breath, but finally nodded. “Sorry I hit you.” She bit her bottom lip, then continued, “And screamed at you.”
“Apology accepted.”
She settled back in her chair, breaking the contact of our hands. She folded her arms under her breasts, making it difficult to keep my eyes on her face, but I managed. She looked so…exhausted. And sad.
I wanted to pull her onto my lap and cuddle her until she cheered up. It was an unusual response for me, one that left me uncomfortable enough to shift in my chair. The thing let out a squeaking moan of protest at the motion and I froze.
“What kind of involvement do you want to have?”
I broke off the study of the wooden rungs beneath me and looked at her.
“Uh. I don’t know. Full involvement?” I sighed at the dubious look on her face.
“Look. I don’t have any kids. I’m single.
This is the last thing I was expecting.” Anger filled her expression, so I held up a hand.
I didn’t need her tossing hot coffee on me.
My mug was within easy reach on the tiny table.
“This is all new to me, but I’m going to do my damndest to be here for you.
And the baby. Guaranteed I’m not going to say the right things, but I’m trying. ”
She relaxed a little at that. “I thought I’d be divorced by now. Or at least on my way to having it over. I never thought Eli would be so stubborn about signing those papers. Does that…bother you?”
My brows rose. “That you’re still married?
Not for the reason you might think.” When she gave me a questioning look, I shrugged.
“I don’t like the fucker.” I wasn’t about to tell her that I was feeling incredibly possessive of her already.
I didn’t want her running for the hills before I managed to convince her to stay. Not for my sake, but for the baby’s.
She let out a choked laugh. “If it makes you feel better, neither do I.”
I chuckled and nodded. “I can see why. If he gives you any problems in the future, I want you to call me.” I frowned, thinking about the threat he’d made. “In fact, maybe it would be best if we got you out of here.”
“What?”
“He knows you’re here and he’s already threatened you once. If he comes after you, he’s going to end up dead.”
She blinked slowly as she processed my words. “You mean…you’d beat him up?”
My eyes searched hers. She lived in a completely different world than mine. Scaring her off would only ensure that I had no part in my baby’s future, or hers. “Sure. Let’s go with that.”
“He’d call the cops on you,” she said. “He wouldn’t fight. Either way, I don’t want you getting into trouble. He wouldn’t dare do anything to me.”
“I’d feel better if you stayed somewhere else.”
She shook her head, her hair shining like a golden waterfall in the late morning light. “I don’t have anywhere else to go. My parents live in Florida now. My sister is my only family here.”
“Not anymore.”
“What?” She looked so perplexed. It was so damn cute.
“You have me now. You can come stay with me.”
“That’s…sweet. Insane. But sweet.”
Laughing, I picked the coffee back up and took another drink. “What’s insane about it?”
“I don’t even know you.”
“No, but you’re about to. It would let us get to know one another before the baby comes. And I’d be able to help you through the pregnancy.”
“I think it’s a good idea.” We both looked over at her sister, who was now standing in the doorway that separated the kitchen from the living room.
“You know Eli isn’t going to give up,” she told her sister.
“And since you won’t let me do anything about keeping him away, this is a good compromise.
He’s going to be a lot less likely to try anything if you’re staying with… ”
“Smokehouse,” I said, standing up from the death trap to shake her hand.
“That’s an interesting name. I’m Keely.”
“It’s my road name,” I told her.
She looked back over at Danica. “You’re always welcome to stay here with me. Or come back if things don’t work out.” She gave me a pointed look. “But if you’re going to do this co-parenting thing together, it’s best if you get to know one another.”
Danica gave her sister a worried look. “You really think he’ll cause trouble?”
“Yeah, Sweetie. I do. He’s not used to you pushing back against him.” Keely looked hesitant to say that to her sister, but it obviously needed to be said.
“I can’t believe you’re advocating for me to move in with a guy I hardly know,” Danica said with a shake of her head.
“That just tells you the lengths I think Eli will go to get you back.”
“If he wanted to cause trouble he could still come to the school,” she pointed out.
“School?” I asked.
“Oh. I’m a teacher. Out here at the elementary school.” She gave me a smile.
Now Eli’s earlier comment about ‘her kids’ made more sense. “Then you’ll take some time off,” I told her.
The smile slipped off her face. “No. I won’t.” There was a hardness to her tone.
Seeing her like this, arms folded, a scowl fixed on her face, I had a hard time believing this woman had bent to any man’s will.
Let alone a man like Eli. Of course I’d only met the guy twice, and I could tell what a slimy, manipulative bastard he was by the way he spoke.
I’d seen plenty of men like him during my time in the military.
Cowards who got their way through lies and tactics designed so they’d never have to do the work needed.
“School is only in session for less than three weeks,” Keely pointed out.
“Then you’ll be off for summer. By the time it’s over, you can reevaluate whether you want to take an early maternity leave, or go back.
” Her eyes danced between us. “You can finish out the next few weeks and then it won’t be a problem. ”
She was waiting for us to agree. I didn’t like it.
Not if that weasel ex of hers was going to be coming around.
But there wasn’t much I could do about it.
I hadn’t even brought up the subject of what we would be to each other, relationship-wise, because I could see that Dani was already overwhelmed.
Getting her to move in was the next step.
It just made sense, to me at least. And her sister was on my side.
I’d talk to her later about what would be the best for the baby.
As long as I could keep her from walking away completely, I’d be able to have a relationship with my kid.
Dani sighed, but then asked her sister, “I can come back if he proves to be insufferable?”
“Hey,” I said with a chuckle.
She gave me a teasing smile, laughter making her eyes shine. “You never know.”
“Of course. I really don’t even want you to go,” Keely admitted. “I just don’t think Eli is going to give us a choice and I’d rather you go now before he causes more issues.”
“Okay,” Dani sounded bewildered, “I can’t believe I’m agreeing to this. It’s crazy. But…okay. I’ll go.”
“Perfect,” I told her. “Pack a bag.”
“Now?”
“No time like the present.” I had the weekends off.
This would give me time to help her get settled in and for us to spend some time together.
There were still so many damn things we needed to hash out.
But this would work for now. In a way, I owed Eli for forcing Dani’s hand in this.
Not that I wanted her in danger. And now she wouldn’t be.
If that cocksucker came snooping around, I’d stomp his ass to the curb.
Dani and our baby were now under my protection. And by extension, my club’s protection.