Page 20 of Romeo

Ma Belle: Why?

My thumb hovered over the keypad.

Because six hours without hearing from you had me imagining all the ways you could be hurt.

Because this morning, I was five minutes away from calling half of Rosewood to find you.

Because I don’t know when the hell making sure one woman is safe became necessary for my own sanity.

Me: Because I care about you.

Ma Belle: That’s sweet

Sweet?

I let out a quiet laugh.

If she knew where my mind went when I worried about her, sweet wouldn’t be the word she used.

Ma Belle: I have to go. Granny’s calling me for dinner.

Me: Text me later.

Ma Belle: Maybe

Me: Definitely.

Ma Belle: Bossy

Me: You like it.

She didn’t respond.

I didn’t need her to. I could picture the eye roll from Nebraska.

I shoved my phone into my pocket and turned toward the clubhouse. I could do this. Give her room. Let her decide how much of me she wanted instead of burying her under all of it before she had a chance to figure that out.

It wouldn’t be easy. I sure as hell wouldn’t enjoy it.

But I could do it.

I walked back inside, the warmth hitting me like a wall. Jack and Blade were still in the common room, but their eyes stayed on their drinks.

Good.

The clubhouse door opened behind me, bringing another blast of cold air with it. King walked in with snow dusting his shoulders and his jaw set.

“Church in five,” he said, his eyes finding Gunner at the bar.

Jack straightened. Blade set down his glass. Whatever ease had been left in the room disappeared.

King’s gaze swept over his officers. “Move.”

They moved. I stayed where I was, watching them disappear behind the double doors just as my phone buzzed again.

I dropped onto the couch and pulled it from my pocket.

Ma Belle: Granny says I need to stop texting at the dinner table