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“You don’t have to say it yet Rae,” R.J. whispered in the dark, his voice low. “Let me have this one moment. Let me pretend there’s more, just this once my love.”
His love? I nearly cringed with guilt.
“Oh R.J., don’t be sad,” I pleaded, “I know I love him more but that doesn’t mean I don’t care for you.”
“Rae,” he whispered, agonized, “I’ve always known. I was stupid today, foolish, but –”
“Stop,” I ordered with my finger pressed against his lips. “Don’t fill the air with words I haven’t
spoken. I love you too, maybe not the way you want but you’re important to me.” I sat up and pressed a soft, chaste kiss to his cheek. “You’ve got to give me time R.J. This was a lot to find out all in one day.”
He smiled one of his famous cheesy grins that I’ve always loved, “sure thing darlin’.”
“Do me a favor,” I joked, shaking my head, “Don’t call me that in front of Peter.”
R.J.’s soft chuckle rumbled his chest as the two of us sat up against the headboard, content to be together, even if we didn’t know how to define what it meant.
Nothing mattered at that moment but my happiness and so I latched onto it, knowing reality was a malicious bitch and would soon catch up.
Chapter 19
I could hear the faint roar of a motorcycle engine outside in the small dimly lit parking lot of the hotel. At first I thought one of the RRMC was here, maybe with Pete and then I realized he probably didn’t know where I was yet.
More hogs joined the first one.
I immediately stiffened, afraid to wake up Rae after she fallen asleep but knew I had to check. If Pete was outside, I would have heard the Nova or Beckett’s truck, unless these were Outlaw bikes. Several more motorcycles revved their engines as they rode past. The noise was deafening. Rae must have been really tired to sleep through it.
Sensing her fatigue, I knew she was especially tired of all the bullshit lately and the chaos that surrounded her on a daily basis. At least the rest of us knew what was happening and we had each other to vent our frustrations to if we needed to talk to someone. Pete and Jake had my six on anything. That was MC life, but Rae was on her own. We couldn’t bring her into our lives and put her at greater risk.
My brothers and I shared a connection. We were close, more than best friends or brothers, we shared a link that was . . . special, if you could call it that. Fuck, we were like the same damn brain most of the time.
I approached the window and hid out of sight, moving the curtain just enough that I saw the group of Outlaws huddled on the blacktop in a wide circle, talking and drinking.
Shit.
Good thing I hid Jake’s bike.
Tucked into the surrounding forest, the private property behind the inn was sectioned off and gated. I managed to find a hole in the fencing big enough to stash the bike out of view, even if someone was searching for it. Now I could only hope that the Outlaws didn’t find out Rae and I were here.
I turned to check on Rae and smiled completely in awe of her, as I always was and probably always would be. She was out, sleeping deeply and unaware of any danger. I longed to crawl back into bed with her, but I knew that denial and longing would once again be my daily companion, so I thought it best to stand guard as long as possible.
Texting Pete, I let him know the situation and where we were located. The Outlaws didn’t leave for several hours, but none looked in my direction even once. The only thing I could surmise was that they were clueless that Rae had left the safe house.
Someone had tailed us from the highway though, and I was curious to find out who followed us to the hotel. Not the Outlaws. Not Beckett or Shane. Too soon for Peter or any of the RRMC.
Mack? It was possible.
Maybe he sent someone to tail our group. For safety? Hell no, probably because he was a nosy fucker. Mack made a habit of knowing everyone’s business.
Close to dawn I climbed back into bed and slipped my arm around Rae. As my eyes fluttered and closed, I smiled, hugging her body tighter as I relaxed. All too soon I had to take her back to the safe house, but for the next few hours I would enjoy the feel of her in my arms and hope that it was enough to sustain me for a long time to come.
“R.J., wake up.”
I felt a soft little nose nuzzle my own.
“Wake up sleepyhead.”
My eyes shot open as she laughed. “I’m starving. You need to feed me,” she giggled, slapping my arm, “and you snore too much.”
