That sadness slams into me, but then his large hands are cupping my face and I’m looking into his eyes. “Hey, none of that,” his voice is tipped low. “Only at night,” he reminds me gently, “and now you’ll be there.”
Tears prick the backs of my eyes, but he laces our fingers together and hustles me out of the room, like he knows it’s too much and is giving me an out. Maybe he needs one too. Either way, I’m grateful for it.
“No one has been near your house, so we have the all-clear to head over there after grabbing something to eat,” he tells me, his voice far too casual.
“How do you know that?”
He eyes me out of the corner of his eye. “Pretty sure you’ve already figured that out, Teach,” he drawls lazily. “But if I need to spell it out, I’ve had someone keeping an eye on your place too. I wasn’t going to leave it unprotected because desperate people are sloppy and messy as fuck.”
“I think that’s the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard,” I gush just as we step into the main room of the clubhouse.
A woman’s cackle has me turning to find Lorraine Martin sitting close by. Her eyes sparkle as she looks at me.
She’s known around town as a no-nonsense kind of woman. I’ll be honest, she’s kind of terrifying.
“Hi, Nana,” Titus’ voice is soft and I can’t help but look up at him.
When I look back at Lorraine, I smile and barely stop myself from doing a curtsey. “Hello, Mrs. Martin,” my voice is polite, probably too polite if you know what I mean, “it’s nice to see you again.”
“I’m sure it is dearie,” she chirps.
Titus groans, “Nana, be nice.”
“I am being nice,” Lorraine seems actually affronted. Titus leads us over closer to her and she stands up. Her eyes are shrewd as she assesses me.
Honestly, I have no idea what she thinks of me. Unable to help myself, I fidget slightly and she smiles. It’s not cruel; it’s like a crack in the foundation.
“You’re not like your father, Ezra,” her voice has a finality to it, like she’s already measured me and found me to be exactly as I am.
Not wanting.
Not less than.
Not the polished woman my father conjured up as the person I should be.
“No, ma’am,” my voice is low and tinged with something like hope, “I’m not.”
“Lorrie,” she corrects me before glancing at Titus and then me again, “or Nana.”
She pats my cheek and then turns her full glare onto my biker. “Don’t be an idiot,” she levels him with blunt words.
His mouth falls open and then snaps closed, but I wouldn’t say he looks surprised. I’ve never known her to mince words.
The look Lorrie gives him leaves no room for interpretation. “She’s far too good for you. Don’t be an idiot and make sure you make sure she knows you are very aware that you’re leveling up here.”
Titus runs a large hand over his face and grunts. I have to bite my lips together to stop myself from laughing. When she catches my eye, she winks and I can’t keep the laughter inside of me anymore.
He looks between us with affection and amusement before shaking his head and leading me toward the kitchen.
“If you’re done torturing me,” he throws over his shoulder, his voice good-natured, “I need to feed my woman.”
When I glance back at Lorrie, she’s smiling from ear to ear and it feels like a victory.
CHAPTER 14
RYKER
I have never stepped foot inside of a room quite like this. It’s chaotic, but I have no doubt that Ezra knows where everything is and knows what stage each project is in that is housed here. The explosion of fabric, paper, sparkly things, pens, and items I don’t even have names for, is overwhelming.
