He gets out of bed, pulls on his jeans, and leaves his shirt on the floor because the man apparently cannot suffer fully clothed. His face is closed down, but not the old way. Not hiding. Holding.
At the bedroom door, he stops.
“I’ll leave you alone.”
“Okay.”
“But there are prospects downstairs.”
I whirl. “Excuse me?”
His jaw tightens. “Not in your apartment. Not at your door. Downstairs. Building garage and lobby.”
“Still?”
“Yeah, still. You can hate me for it later, but after roses at Eclipse, Carmen texting, and whatever the fuck is going on, I’m not leaving your perimeter empty. Not now. Maybe not ever.”
I stare at him.
He stares back.
“Who?” I ask.
“Finn and Dusty.”
“Dusty talks too much.”
“I told him if he runs his mouth, I’ll duct tape him to his bike.”
My mouth twitches before I can stop it.
His eyes catch it.
Don’t.
Don’t soften.
I lift my chin. “Fine. Lobby and garage. No hallway. No elevator. No one speaks to me unless I speak first.”
“Yeah. Got it. Lobby and garage. I ain’t sending anybody higher unless you say.”
“And you’re leaving.”
“Yes.”
He looks down at his bare chest, then back at me. “I’ll find my shirt.”
“Do that.”
He nods and steps out. “I’ll see myself out.”
I close the bedroom door between us.
Then I lean back against it, press my hand to my mouth, and try not to cry over a biker who finally told me the truth after the lies already ruined us.
Chapter 10
Shady
