Page 28 of My Single Dad Biker

I lead him to the couch and we sit facing each other, not touching. His hands are resting on his knees and I can see the bandages I put on his knuckles last night. The bruise on his shoulder is hidden under his shirt and jacket but I know it's there.

"I need to tell you some things before this goes further," he says.

My heart is pounding. "Okay."

He's quiet for a moment, organizing his thoughts. Then he says, "I don't know how to do this slow. I've never been good at slow. When I decide something matters I commit completely and I don't have room for halfway."

"Okay."

"I want you. I've wanted you since I saw you in that parking lot and it's only getting stronger. If we do this, if we actually do this, I'm going to want you in my life in ways that complicate yours."

"How?"

"Louis is going to know. He's eight but he's not stupid. He'll figure out you're important to me and that changes how he sees you at school."

"I can handle that."

"Your job might not be able to. You're his teacher. There are policies."

"I know. I've thought about it. There are ways to manage it."

He nods. "The club is part of this too. Being with me means being connected to Vigil. That makes you visible to people who shouldn't notice you. What happened with those prospects on Wednesday, that's going to happen again. Maybe not exactly like that but the danger doesn't disappear because we want it to."

"I understand."

"Do you? Because I need you to really understand. Marrow is escalating. They're not stopping because we burned one warehouse. Victor Crane is going to retaliate and when he does, people around Vigil brothers become targets. That could be you."

I take a breath. "I'm scared. I'd be stupid not to be. But I'm more scared of not trying than I am of what might happen if I do."

He looks at me for a long moment. "There's one more thing."

"Okay."

"I'm not good at things people usually need in relationships. I don't talk about my feelings much. I'm not emotionally available in ways you might expect. My ex-wife needed me to be warmer than I am and I couldn't be that person. I tried. It wasn't enough."

"Do you think I need you to be warmer than you are?"

"I don't know. That's the problem. I don't know what you need and I don't know if I can give it."

I lean forward. "Holt."

"Yeah."

"I'm a grown woman. I can tell you what I need. And if you can't give it to me I can tell you that too. But I don't need you to be someone you're not. I need you to be honest with me. Can you do that?"

"Yes."

"Then that's enough."

He's quiet, looking at me like he's trying to decide if I mean it.

"What are you scared of?" he asks.

The question catches me off guard. "What?"

"You told me what you're willing to risk. Tell me what scares you."

I take a breath and tell him the truth. "I'm scared Louis is going to get attached to me and then this won't work and he'll lose someone else. I'm scared being with you will cost me my job and I've worked hard to build my career here. I'm scared I'm going to fall for you completely and six months in you'll decide I'm too much or not enough."