Page 12 of My Single Dad Biker

"Soon?"

"I don't know."

She pulls her legs up and wraps her arms around her knees. The motion pulls the sweatshirt tight across her breasts and I notice before I can stop myself. I look away.

"I don't know anything about this world," she says. "Motorcycle clubs. How you operate. I've lived in Bloomfield three years and I know Vigil exists but I've never thought about what it actually means."

"Most people don't need to."

"But I'm thinking about it now."

"Yes."

"Because of today."

"Yes."

She looks at me, her face open and serious. "Are you worried being associated with me will cause problems for you?"

"No."

"Then what are you worried about?"

I could lie. I tell the truth instead. "That being associated with me will cause problems for you."

She's quiet for a long moment. "Is that why you're here? To warn me away?"

"No."

"Then why?"

I look at her in my porch chair with her hair falling over her shoulder and her eyes on me like she actually wants to know.

I don't have a good answer. I have the truth.

"I wanted to make sure you were okay," I say.

"I am."

"Good."

We sit in silence. The crickets are loud. Katherine lets her legs drop and leans back, her body relaxing. I watch her profile against the dark yard.

"I should take you home," I say.

"Okay."

We walk through the house. I grab my keys and check the locks. Old military habit. Katherine waits by the front door.

The drive is quiet. She looks out the window. I focus on the road and try not to think about how I don't want this night to end.

I pull up to her curb and put the truck in park but leave the engine running.

She reaches for the door handle and stops. Turns toward me. I turn toward her.

We're sitting in my truck in the dark looking at each other.

"Thank you for dinner," she says. "And for checking on me. And for letting Louis show me his airplane."