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Frowning, I asked, “So you’re not here for that?”
“I am, but I wouldn’t use the word force. I don’t make it a habit of forcing women into shit, Lily.”
I lifted my brows. “So what word would you use, because it feels like you’re trying to push me into this. Especially since you came here tonight rather than calling me in the morning to discuss it.”
“We weren’t getting anywhere over the phone, and this couldn’t wait until tomorrow. I’ve spent the last hour trying to calm Skylar’s anxiety over the fact she won’t have someone coming to see her tomorrow. I’m here now to fucking beg you to work with her.” His eyes flashed with determination as he added, “And I’m not the kind of man to beg for anything. But she wants you, and I’ll do whatever it takes to make that happen.”
My fierce resolve not to cave to his demands crumbled at the sight of him standing in front of me begging for my help. There was no doubt in my mind as to his sincerity. I didn’t know this man, but from everything I’d seen of him at the hospital, I knew he cared for his sister. And if there was one thing in this world I respected more than anything, it was someone who would do whatever it took to provide and care for their loved ones.
“Shit,” I muttered. “Shit, shit, shit.”
The tension he carried in his shoulders appeared to loosen as he lifted his brows and said, “So that’s a yes?”
Against my better judgement, I nodded. “It’s a yes. I’ll start tomorrow after work.” I couldn’t believe the words falling out of my mouth, but I also couldn’t stop them. It was like he’d cast a spell over me.
“Thank you,” he said, the hard, determined tone vanishing from his voice. I didn’t know him enough to be sure, but his words seemed to be laced with relief and gratitude. He definitely didn’t appear as strained as he’d been at the beginning of the conversation.
“Right, so now this is sorted, can I please go to bed? I’ve had a long day and need some sleep.”
He nodded. “I’ll text you the address.”
As he turned to leave, I said, “And King?” He glanced back at me. “Don’t make it a habit of calling on me late at night. I’m not a fan.”
His lips twitched with a smile that didn’t quite form. “I have no fucking idea how your ex gets away with the shit he pulls on you.”
With that, he was gone, the rumble of his bike signalling his departure a couple of minutes later. I was left staring after him, hoping that working with Skylar didn’t also mean seeing a lot of him. King had a way of contradicting himself that revealed more about him each time we talked. With each new layer I discovered, I couldn’t help liking him more. And that could prove bad for me, because while being attracted to him was one thing, liking him more than I already did would be a whole other situation to deal with.
I hardly slept that night. I couldn’t get King out of my mind. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw his eyes, his lips, his scar and those muscles of his. And I heard the growl of his voice, because even when King talked to you in an everyday conversation, his voice held a trace of the growl I suspected lived deep in him. The growl that would be kryptonite to a woman.
By the time I finished work the next day and drove to his clubhouse, exhaustion had claimed me. Thank goodness Brynn had an early day on Tuesdays—she’d offered to cook dinner for us all at my place tonight so that when I got home, I could put my feet up and relax. I’d be having an early one tonight, and if King stopped by late again, I’d freaking tell him where to go.
His men let me through the gate, and I continued along the driveway to find the parking space near the front door that they’d kept free for me. I passed a line of about ten parked bikes before I arrived at my destination. A few bikers eyed me as I passed them. None smiled. I didn’t expect them to, but I also didn’t expect them to look so serious. I should have anticipated that, though, because King was the most intense man I’d ever met, so it made sense his men would be the same.
The Storm MC clubhouse was huge. Black paint covered the entire building, with not a window in sight. My gaze was drawn to the Storm MC sign painted on the building high above the front door. I found it all to be a little intimidating—entering the world of bikers who I knew nothing of except for what I’d read in the papers. But King had won me over with the way he cared for Skylar, so I trusted him enough to do this.
“Lily,” a voice I knew called out as I exited my car.
Turning, I found Devil standing at the front door. I’d spoken to him a few times at the hospital and quite liked him. Where King seemed fierce, Devil seemed a little lighter. He definitely smiled more.
Locking my car, I headed his way. “I found the place, but I’ve gotta tell you, you guys are kinda hidden in here. I like the forest you built around your clubhouse.” I’d almost driven straight past the property due to the trees hiding it from the street.
He grinned. “It keeps the assholes out.” He jerked his chin towards the front door. “Skylar’s been hanging out for you all day.”
I knew this to be true. She’d texted me five times throughout the day with different questions about her recovery. King hadn’t been exaggerating when he’d said she was anxious.
Devil led me inside, down a maze of hallways to Skylar’s room. It surprised me how quiet the clubhouse was. I’d kind of expected with the size of it, that there’d be a lot of bikers inside, but I saw only four men along the way. They were all as subdued as the men I’d passed outside. I wondered if they ever smiled and had fun.
Skylar’s eyes lit up the minute I stepped into her room. “Thank God you’re here.”
As I moved further into the room, I wondered what it was usually used for. Completely masculine with photos of bikes on the walls, men’s clothing hanging in the open wardrobe, and filled with dark wood and leather, I guessed it to be one of the bikers’ rooms. Do they live here? That seemed a strange idea to me. Did their families live here? I couldn’t imagine wanting to live here if I were married to one of the men.
“Do you need me to get anything for you?” Devil asked, cutting into my thoughts.
I smiled at him and shook my head. “No, I’m good.”
“Just yell out if you need me,” he said. “I’ll be down the hall in the bar.”
“You guys have a bar here?”
