Page 108 of Peaks and Promises

I shook my head.

After a moment’s hesitation, his posture changed. It looked as if he’d decided something. Straightening, he reached out, taking my hand.

“Come on.”

“Where are we going?”

“Bed.”

Leading me gently by the hand, he took me to the bedroom. There was nothing seductive about it. If anything, he seemed resigned—like he was simply doing what needed to be done. He shut the door behind us and let go, turning his back toward the room.

“I’ll stay so you can sleep.”

“You’re not going to stand there all night.”

“I will if it helps.”

I had a feeling it would. Already, the tension in my back had begun to unravel and my heart rate was slowing.

“You don’t need to stand.”

With a glance at me over his shoulder, he nodded.

I put the water glass on the nightstand, took off my robe, and got back in bed. Reese sat on the floor between me and the door.

We sat in silence for long moments, a sense of calm permeating the room. My racing thoughts trailed off, and my body finally relaxed.

“Sorry,” I whispered. “I know I shouldn’t be so scared. It wasn’t Axel. It was just some bikers. Nothing happened.”

“I get it. I’ve known plenty of men like him. Men with oversize egos who want what they want and will do anything to get it. Who think they deserve it, whatever it is.”

“But I don’t want to live the rest of my life looking over my shoulder, afraid that the next biker who rides through town will be him.”

“You won’t.”

“How do you know?”

He paused before answering. “I’m not sure how, but I won’t let you live like that forever.”

“What if Nate decides to go after him someday? What if he gets rebellious, or even just curious? At a certain point, there’s going to be nothing I can do.”

“He won’t. That life doesn’t hold any allure for him. He hates your ex too much.”

“I feel bad about that, too. A child shouldn’t hate his father.”

“A father shouldn’t fail his son.”

“No. He shouldn’t.”

We lapsed into silence again. Turning over, I tried to get comfortable. I was tired, but sleep still wouldn’t come.

Reese’s presence made me feel safe, but was he going to sit there all night? He needed sleep, too. It wasn’t like I was in danger. He didn’t have to stand guard.

But I didn’t want him to leave.

Finally, I scooted over to the far side of the bed and whispered, “Reese.”

“Yeah?”