24. Summer
Summer
I had a lot of practice pretending everything was fine in front of my child. Most parents probably do.
Although most parents don’t have to worry every time they hear a group of motorcycles drive by.
Nate sat on the couch watching TV while I kept myself busy by making dinner. My eyes were drawn like a magnet to the clock on the microwave, and I reflexively checked my phone, hoping to hear from Reese. He hadn’t been gone that long, but every minute felt like an hour.
It couldn’t have been Mayhem. It was too soon. If Axel did find a way to trace where I’d gone, it would take time to find us. Wouldn’t it?
It was probably just a group of guys on Harleys, not even a club. I didn’t need to succumb to fear every time I heard a bike engine.
But if they were harmless, why hadn’t Reese come back yet? Or sent a message?
At least they hadn’t seen us.
The front door opened, and in the split second between hearing the dead bolt and Reese appearing, anger flashed through me. Not at Reese. At Axel. I was furious that he thought he could take my son.
As Reese shut the door, he asked me, “Are you okay?”
Brushing a strand of hair from my forehead, I took a deep breath. “Yeah, fine. Did you find them?”
“They stopped for a drink at the Timberbeast. Nothing to it. They were just passing through.”
“Thanks for making sure.”
“Of course.”
“Are all bikers bad?” Nate asked.
“No, buddy,” I said. “A lot of them are just regular people. Probably most. We just can’t take any chances right now.”
“What are you worried about?” His tone was nonchalant. “If the bad ones come, Reese will take care of it.”
Reese met my eyes, but I couldn’t read his expression. I wanted to believe that, but Reese was only one man. And I knew what Mayhem members—especially Axel—were capable of.
The house was silent. I rolled over and looked at the clock next to the bed. It was after one in the morning, and I couldn’t sleep.
Counting down the hours until my alarm would go off didn’t help. Neither did staring at the ceiling, seething with frustration. Those bikers had been harmless. Just some guys riding through town.
But my heart rate wouldn’t slow. And every time I closed my eyes, I pictured Axel riding away with Nate.
I was angry. At Axel for coming back into our lives. And at myself for being so afraid.
One group of bikers should not have been keeping me up at night. Yet there I was.
Annoyed, I threw off the covers, got up, and put on a robe over my tank top and shorts. I didn’t want to wake Reese, but maybe a glass of water would help. Tossing and turning wasn’t doing me any good.
As quietly as I could, I eased open the bedroom door and crept past the couch where Reese slept. He didn’t make a sound. I went to the kitchen and filled a glass of water, wincing slightly at the noise.
Turning, I gasped, almost dropping the glass. Reese stood just outside the kitchen, his large frame a dark silhouette in the dim room.
“Sorry,” he said, his voice soft. “Didn’t mean to startle you.”
“It’s okay. I didn’t mean to wake you.” I held up the glass. “Water.”
“Can’t sleep?”
I shook my head.
After a moment’s hesitation, his posture changed. It looked as if he’d decided something. Straightening, he reached out, taking my hand.
“Come on.”
“Where are we going?”
“Bed.”
Leading me gently by the hand, he took me to the bedroom. There was nothing seductive about it. If anything, he seemed resigned—like he was simply doing what needed to be done. He shut the door behind us and let go, turning his back toward the room.
“I’ll stay so you can sleep.”
“You’re not going to stand there all night.”
“I will if it helps.”
I had a feeling it would. Already, the tension in my back had begun to unravel and my heart rate was slowing.
“You don’t need to stand.”
With a glance at me over his shoulder, he nodded.
I put the water glass on the nightstand, took off my robe, and got back in bed. Reese sat on the floor between me and the door.
We sat in silence for long moments, a sense of calm permeating the room. My racing thoughts trailed off, and my body finally relaxed.
“Sorry,” I whispered. “I know I shouldn’t be so scared. It wasn’t Axel. It was just some bikers. Nothing happened.”
“I get it. I’ve known plenty of men like him. Men with oversize egos who want what they want and will do anything to get it. Who think they deserve it, whatever it is.”
“But I don’t want to live the rest of my life looking over my shoulder, afraid that the next biker who rides through town will be him.”
“You won’t.”
“How do you know?”
He paused before answering. “I’m not sure how, but I won’t let you live like that forever.”
“What if Nate decides to go after him someday? What if he gets rebellious, or even just curious? At a certain point, there’s going to be nothing I can do.”
“He won’t. That life doesn’t hold any allure for him. He hates your ex too much.”
“I feel bad about that, too. A child shouldn’t hate his father.”
“A father shouldn’t fail his son.”
“No. He shouldn’t.”
We lapsed into silence again. Turning over, I tried to get comfortable. I was tired, but sleep still wouldn’t come.
Reese’s presence made me feel safe, but was he going to sit there all night? He needed sleep, too. It wasn’t like I was in danger. He didn’t have to stand guard.
But I didn’t want him to leave.
Finally, I scooted over to the far side of the bed and whispered, “Reese.”
“Yeah?”
“Get in bed.”
He glanced at me over his shoulder. “What?”
“Just come here. Lie down. You don’t have to stay awake.”
After a moment’s hesitation, he got up and climbed in bed.
He settled on his side, facing away from me. The queen-size bed didn’t leave much space between us; Reese was too big. And how good it felt to have him near probably should have scared me—much more than the bikes had.
Trying not to move too much—I didn’t want to bother him—I kept my back to him and did my best to get comfortable. But my skin tingled at his closeness, and the memory of his kiss flooded through me.
“Are you okay?” he asked, his soft voice interrupting the silence.
“Yeah. Why?”
“You’re fidgeting.”
“Am I? Sorry, I didn’t even realize.”
He let out a long breath and turned over. Without a word, he slid his arm around my waist and hauled me against him, my back to his front.
Melting into him, I let his strength envelop me. His warm embrace felt so good, my head swam with pleasant euphoria. It was unfair, really, that a man’s body should feel that good. But I’d never experienced anything like it.
His even breathing helped me relax, and my eyes drifted closed. Sleep stole over me, almost without warning.
Tucked away in Reese Haven’s arms, I was safe. Nothing could hurt me there.