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“I know,” she grins. “I was waiting to see if today’s lesson is even better.”
“Fuck, you are perfect,” I moan and then I set about trying to top last night.
Hayden
“You ready?” Michael asks me for the millionth time. Okay. He’s not really asked that many times, but right now it feels like it. We’re sitting in the SUV outside of Michael’s old club. This time, Connor is sleeping and Ryker is singing along with a DVD in the back. My stomach feels like I have the worst case of sea sickness in the history of sea sickness. “Beauty,” Michael says, his voice low, kind of sweet but definitely growly. “Look at me.”
I have to force myself to look at him. I’m freaking out and I don’t even know why I’m freaking out. We’re here to celebrate Michael’s birthday and we’re staying a few days. I’ve visited his club before, but this is the first—the very first—time that Michael has agreed to stay at the club. Always before, we’ve stayed at a hotel. To me that sounds like he misses the club life. It’s okay. The kids and I would be happy as long as Michael was. I could adapt to living in Kentucky and living with his club. I could.
I mean, I already sold my bakery in Wyoming to Jenn and D.D., when I moved back to North Carolina and started a bakery there. It was an adjustment, but I agreed with Michael. North Carolina felt more like the place we belonged. Moving to Kentucky wouldn’t be a lot different…
“Yeah?” I respond, trying to get my courage up to open my car door.
“Whatever is in your head, you need to get rid of it,” he says and he sounds tired. I bite my lip and force myself to look into his eyes.
“Michael, your brothers love you,” I whisper.
“Babe, I know that. I don’t understand why you’re so nervous. We’ve been here before,” he says and he’s right. It’s time I come clean. It’s time I just tell him what I know and make sure that he realizes he has my support.
“Beth called me the other day while you and the boys were playing outside.”
“And?”
“Skull is going to try and talk you into coming back full time. They all are. Your brothers want you back in the fold, Michael.”
“Fuck.”
“She thought it best to warn me because…”
“Because?”
“Skull and the rest… I guess even Beth, though she did, but she doesn’t now and I—”
“Hayden, sweetheart, I normally love it when you rattle on, but if you don’t hurry they’ll come out and ask why we’re sitting in the vehicle and not coming inside,” Michael says gently. I bite my lip, take a breath and try again.
“They all assumed it was my fault you were staying away. Michael….is it my fault?” I whisper that last part, my secret fear.
“I told you it wasn’t. We just had that conversation yesterday, Beauty. Fuck. You’ve been worrying about this for days, haven’t you?”
“Michael you love me. It’s not like you’re going to come right out and tell me that I’m the reason you’re staying away from your club.”
“I would. Have you ever known me to not tell you the truth?” he mumbles and I can see a muscle twitching along his jawline. The same muscle that twitches when he gets angry, or upset with something—or someone.
“I’ve known you to put my feelings above your own,” I tell him truthfully.
“Beauty—”
“Michael, you have to know that I’d follow you anywhere. The boys and I will be with you no matter where you go, or what you do.”
“Beauty, we’ve just now settled in North Carolina. We have our new house… Hell, you finally have your business going the way you want.”
“I could open up the Beast Bakery in Kentucky. It’ll be a huge hit.”
“Beast Bakery?” he laughs, one eyebrow going up in humor and question.
“It’s a working title,” I shrug. “The point is, if you’re happy, I’m happy and I don’t care where that is,” I tell him.
“Lean over here and give your man a kiss,” he mutters.
“My man knocked me up, so I’m having a little trouble with the whole maneuvering thing,” I warn him.
“Do the best you can, Beauty,” he tells me, his lips twitching.
I twist in my seat and lean toward him. He ends up pulling me into him and taking my mouth. Before we’re done, I curse the console between us.
“Daddy kissed Mommy,” Ryker laughs.
“Gross,” Connor mutters. I look up at Michael, my face red, but I do it smiling. Michael is grinning down at me.
“I love you,” I whisper.
“Love you, Beauty. More than anything, understand?”
I nod. I know he has a message he’s trying to deliver. I get it. I also know that our family means as much to him as it does to me. Which is to say, it’s the whole world. I’ve never doubted that, not once.
