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She hesitantly nodded, and I leaned up on my elbow. “Listen,” I said. “If you don’t want to ride on the bike, we can take your car.”

Her teeth sank into her lip, and a smile tilted the corner of her mouth. “Since I’m your old lady, and can I tell you, I prefer you call me baby to old lady.”

I hooked my arm around her and pulled her closer. “Old lady when you’re on the back of my bike, and when we’re at the MC, baby when I have you in bed.”

“Just so you know, I’m okay with being your whore in bed, too.”

I smiled. “Those Heller girls got to you.”

She rested her hand on my chest. “McKelle and Jazzy make being a Heller whore sound appealing.”

“Good, because your boyfriend wants you on the back of his bike.”

Chapter Twelve

Jaymi

Early morning sunshine burned the mist from the yard and reflected off the light blue water of the swimming pool. I sat on the Adirondack chair next to a small round mosaic table and sipped a cup of coffee.

Brett was in the shower. Last night, he’d worked at the bar, but he’d still come over. He still planned to meet my family. I knew I should be nervous. Not only had I told Ryan I wouldn’t be there today, but now, I was springing my boyfriend on him when, less than twenty-four hours ago, I’d sworn to him that there was nothing serious between me and Brett.

But then Brett had whispered the words I didn’t realize I’d become desperate to hear because I felt them, too. I had fallen in love with him, but I still didn’t know what that meant for us.

Maybe whatever we had wouldn’t last. But what if it did? Maybe he’d get tired of our secret late nights. Maybe I would. After losing Matti, I’d learned that you couldn’t live for maybes. Because maybe we’d found enough friendship to make being together like this enough.

I couldn’t hide him, not from my mom. Not when they worried that I’d prefer to be with Matti in heaven than here with them. I wasn’t ready to be a part of Brett’s life, but I loved how he’d slipped into mine. Forever I’d be a grieving mother, but I could try to be me when I was alone with him.

“Hey.” He joined me on the patio. Sunshine reflected off the dark, wet sheen of his hair. When he’d gotten his respectable haircut, he’d lost the golden highlights. I lifted my hand over my eyes and squinted up at him.

A tight shirt and his leather cut pulled across the muscles of his back. He turned and stepped in front of me, blocking the sun. I swallowed, staring at the fly of his dark jeans molded to his lean hips. My gaze slowly tracked higher, over the leather belt cinched just below his waist, his sculpted abs, the breadth of his chest, and the tattoos crawling onto his neck. When I finally reached his face, he smiled and took a sip of his coffee.

“You having dirty thoughts, teacher?”

I shrugged.

“You need to go to church and repent,” he teased.

I smirked. “I’ve already been on my knees this morning.”

His lips twitched. “You’re going to have to confess you’ve had the devil inside you.”

I stood, wrapped my arms around his waist under his cut, and tipped my face to stare into his. “We’re terrible.”

“We’re locked in. Official and shit.” He kissed my forehead. “You should worry that your family is going to see how much I’ve corrupted you.”

I snorted. “I’m not. Besides, my brother is the troublemaker. He only looks respectable.”

“You ready?” he asked.

I nodded, and a few minutes later, I locked up the house while he rolled his motorcycle out of the garage and unhooked a helmet from the side of his bike.

“Where did you get the helmet?” I pushed my hair from my face.

“I picked it up at the MC last night.”

I smiled. Jazzy’s name was written on the inside. “Will she care that you took it?”

“Nah. It was in the basement. I’ve seen Kiss wear it a few times.” He buckled the strap under my chin. “We won’t be able to hear each other well. I want you to hold on around my waist, so if you need to get my attention for anything, tap my stomach.”