Chapter Three
N ova
A week into my forced stay at the clubhouse, and I still couldn't get used to waking up in a stranger's bed.
Well, not exactly a stranger's bed. I’d been staying in the apartment Banner had assigned, only to learn it was also where Kane and Haze stayed when they didn’t leave the compound. That was how I learned the bed actually belonged to Kane; though, he'd been sleeping on the couch since I moved in.
And to be honest, I wasn't exactly sure how I felt about that, which was a problem in itself.
I barely knew the man, well, either of them really. But I had to admit, they were definitely having an effect on me.
My life usually revolved inside my safe little bubble.
I wasn’t one to deviate from my comfort zone. Work and home. That was it for me.
“Nova?” A knock at the door had me pulling the covers up to my chin. “You decent, Kitten?”
“Yes,” I called out, my voice still scratchy with sleep.
Kane pushed the door open, looking unfairly gorgeous for the early hour.
I sighed.
That was what I’d been subjected to every morning for the last week.
Him.
Waltzing around the place in low-slung gray sweatpants and nothing else.
First world problems?
Uh, yeah. I know.
My tongue swept across my bottom lip as my eyes traced the tattoos decorating his chest.
It should be a crime to look that good.
“You're staring.”
I quickly looked away, feeling the heat spread across my cheeks.
“Breakfast is in ten,” he said, amusement coloring his voice. “And Hunter's already here. He’ll be taking you to the shop again today.”
I bit my lip and nodded, not trusting myself to speak just yet.
This had been another part of the torturous routine for the last seven days.
Me, trying not to stare at Kane's bare chest while attempting to form coherent sentences, and him, entertained by me making a fool of myself.
“And, Nova?” He paused at the door, his green eyes intense. “No arguments about the prospect today, yeah? He stays with you.”
“I know the rules.” I sighed, finally meeting his gaze. “Stay at the shop or the clubhouse. Don't go anywhere alone. Keep Hunter in sight at all times.”
“Good girl.”
The praise sent an unexpected shiver down my spine.
Kane's lips curved into a pleased smile before he disappeared, leaving me flustered and confused.
“I need a cold shower,” I whispered to myself as I threw off the covers and stumbled to the bathroom.
After the quickest shower in history, I pulled on one of my favorite flowery sundresses and made my way to the kitchen.
“Morning, Kitten,” Kane said, glancing over his shoulder from his position in front of the stove. “Haze called. He'll be stopping by the shop later.”
My heart skipped at the mention of Haze.
Since the attack, he'd been different—less distant, more protective. And the way he looked at me now... I didn't think there were words to describe it. All I knew was that sometimes, the intensity he watched me with made it hard to breathe.
“How... How is he?” I asked, sliding onto a barstool. I hadn't seen him in a few days and wondered if I'd done something wrong.
“Healing. Stubborn as hell about taking it easy.” Kane set a plate in front of me. “Eat up.”
The domesticity of these mornings was starting to feel dangerous.
Not in a bad way.
More like... this was getting way too comfortable and could be dangerous for my heart kind of way.
“Sophia wants you to help with the... Anderson wedding arrangements? Armstrong? Fuck, I can't remember now. Somebody's wedding shit needs to be done today,” Kane continued, leaning against the counter as he sipped his coffee. “That okay?”
My lips twitched. I was starting to learn that he had a horrible time remembering names. Seeing as every morning he told me what was happening at work and never could remember who the customer was.
“It's the Culvers.” I giggled. “And the bride wants sunflowers... in January. It should be fun.”
Kane's face softened. “You're so fucking adorable, Kitten. My dick gets hard every time I hear you laugh.”
I could feel heat radiating out of my ears. Kane's tendency to word vomit was another thing I'd learned about him. He didn’t care what it was. If he thought it, he was going to say it, and it usually made me blush.
Looking away, I ignored his comment and dug into my breakfast.
“What are the rules again?”
I swallowed the eggs in my mouth and chased it down with the orange juice in front of me then narrowed my eyes. “I know, Kane. You don't have to keep drilling it into my head,” I groused. I knew the dang rules. I wasn't an idiot. He didn't have to worry about me running towards trouble.
“There's them claws,” he mumbled under his breath as he came around the bar to stand next to me. He gripped my chin and forced me to look at him. “Just stay inside the shop,” he reminded me, his tone brooking no argument. “Hunter!”
The prospect appeared, looking eager to please. “Yes, sir?”
“Nova needs to be at the shop in twenty. You don't let her out of your sight. Clear?”
“Crystal clear.” Hunter nodded.
The walk across the forecourt to the flower shop was quiet, but my mind was racing.
Everything had changed since finding Haze left for dead behind the flower shop.
The club had closed ranks, pulling me into their circle. I was someone else they felt they had to protect.
But from whom?
The question had replayed through my mind for days, and every time I tried to bring it up to one of the guys, they'd quickly shut me down, claiming it was club business.
It was frustrating. They were fighting an enemy I didn't even understand. And to add to the madness, Kane and Haze had made it their mission to infiltrate my normally quiet life.
“Inside, little girl,” Hunter teased, reaching around me for the door handle.
The bell above the door chimed as we entered, and Sophia's warm smile greeted us.
Banner was standing behind her, his hand resting on the side of her growing belly.
“Nova!” Sophia patted Banner's hand then came around the counter and threw her arms around me.
This was new as well. Growing a baby had made Sophia extra huggy. “I've got the Culver's order all laid out in the back.”
“Gotta handle some shit, Mouse,” Banner rumbled, stalking over and drawing her into his body. She smiled as he lowered his head to place a kiss on her forehead.
I couldn’t help but sigh.
What they had was what every woman wanted.
When he pulled away, the shutters went down, and his gaze swept over to Hunter. “Keep sharp, Prospect. Eyes open.”
“Yes, sir,” Hunter replied, taking up his post by the door.
The rest of the morning passed in a blur of flowers and wedding arrangements.
Rae came down for a few minutes, but Payton was nursing a cold, so she'd mostly been MIA.
“He's watching you again,” Sophia said softly around noon.
I looked up to find Haze standing in the doorway, his massive frame filling the space. The bruises on his face had faded to a yellowish green, but he still moved carefully, favoring his right side.
“Nova.” He crossed the room. “You ate?”
I shook my head, suddenly unable to find my voice. He was so close I could feel the heat from his body.
“Got you something.” He set a paper bag on the counter. “Eat.”
My fingers brushed his as I took the bag, and that familiar spark of electricity shot through me. His deep blue eyes darkened, and for a moment, neither of us moved.
“Thank you,” I whispered.
He grunted in response, but his hand lingered near mine. The moment stretched until Sophia's giggle broke the spell.
“I'll just... give you two a minute,” she said, retreating to the front of the shop.
“You okay?” Haze asked quietly once we were alone.
“I'm fine,” I assured him. “Hunter's been very... thorough with his protection detail.”
Another grunt, this one approving. “Good.” Lifting his hand, he ran his knuckles across the apple of my cheek, and my breath caught at how gentle his touch was. “Have to leave.”
“Be careful,” I blurted, feeling my cheeks grow warmer again.
His lips twitched.
I watched him go, my skin still tingling where he'd touched me.
What was happening to me? These feelings for both Haze and Kane were becoming impossible to ignore.
After Haze left, the afternoon felt like it dragged by until finally it was closing time.
“Let's go, ladies,” Hunter said, taking Sophia's bag and escorting us back to the clubhouse.
When we stepped inside, I instantly pulled up short when I heard the grunting and the sound of flesh hitting flesh. My eyes flew to the right, where I knew the gym was located.
Kane.
He'd been preparing for his upcoming fight.
As if tethered to an imaginary string, I moved through the common room and into the large gym with a cage in the center of it.
And there he was.
Kane, shirtless, glistening with sweat as he worked the heavy bag in the corner. Each powerful strike highlighted the rippling muscles of his back, making his tattoos look like they were dancing.
Watching him like this—in his element—was a sight to see.
I should have walked away.
Should have gone next door to the safety of my borrowed room. Instead, I stood transfixed, watching him beat the heck out of the hanging bag before he turned around to catch me staring.
“See something you like, Kitten?” His voice was pure sin as he ran his taped hands over his sweaty abs.
Before I could stammer out a response, I felt Haze behind me. I hadn’t seen him when I came in, but I knew it was him. His solid presence always felt comforting.
“Nova,” he growled, his deep voice sending shivers down my spine.
Caught between them, I finally understood what Rae had meant about having two admirers.
Though, the question was...
What was I going to do about it?