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I’ve never had a woman wrapped around me on my bike. I’ve never wanted one.
Now I want Journey there. I even had my brother change out the seat on my bike for one that’ll be more comfortable for her.
That was the last straw and the moment I knew I needed to do something. Because I was making plans, but I wasn’t making them with her.
When I asked Petrol to change out my seat, he looked at me like I had lost my damn mind. He wasn’t far off. His voice was full of gruff disbelief, “You got a bitch we don’t know about?”
I fought against the need to beat the man. “Maybe,” I hedged and didn’t hold his gaze.
He grunted, “She know that?”
And damn if it wasn’t a good fucking question.
Which is why I asked my club brother to find out her address and I’m now walking up to the door of the small home where Journey lives. It’s not much and I know it’s a rental because the club bought out the management company a while ago. We kept the same name, and we don’t advertise that we run it.
I wonder how long Journey has been right under my nose.
I’ve been back in Christmas Falls for the last two years. At 30, I spent the end of my teen years and almost all my twenties serving. I don’t regret it or the skills I gained, but there’s something about knowing that life went on without you.
Would I have met her sooner if I hadn’t joined up?
Maybe it doesn’t matter. Life has a way of working out the way it’s supposed to.
I knock on Journey’s door and take a step back, not wanting to scare her even though my arms already ache to hold her against my chest. Unless, of course, it was all in my head and I’ll be able to walk away because the connection between us was an illusion.
I hear footsteps practically running to the door and then a raised voice full of warning, but not anger. My brow furrows when I hear Journey’s voice on the other side of the door, “I won’t know who it is until I open the door.” There’s a pause before she adds, “Go and sit at the table. I’ll be right there.”
It’s only a few seconds later, even though each one feels like a lifetime, when the door swings open. I’m punched right in the gut when I look at Journey. The same way I was when I saw her on my porch. Oh, how the tables have turned.
I swallow hard, but my mouth and throat are so damn dry that it’s difficult. Her hair is down this time, chocolate tresses that look soft. I want to see it draped across my chest while our naked bodies are entwined and we’re panting for breath.
Journey squeaks, “Tanner?” She clears her throat and shakes her head, “I’m sorry, I mean, Peacemaker. What are you doing here? Is there something wrong?” I should be able to talk, but I can’t seem to get my shit together. Her voice goes up an octave, close to something almost like panic, “How do you know where I live?”
I hold up my hands, hopefully showing her I’m not a threat to her. I’llneverbe a threat to her.
There’s something between us; it wasn’t a fluke the other day. It’s like nothing I’ve ever felt before and I’m desperate to find out what it means and where it leads.
“First off, you can always call me Tanner, pretty girl.” She blinks up at me, surprise all over her face, but there’s a wariness in her eyes. I get it, and I’m glad she’s not naïve, but I don’t want her to be cautious of me. Never of me. “Nothing’s wrong. I had my club brother track down your address.”
“That’s kind of creepy,” she narrows her eyes at me as her hands go to her hips.
I know she’s trying to look menacing, but she’s fucking adorable. I bite my lip to stop myself from smiling at her and telling her how fucking cute she is. From the way she’s all ruffled, I doubt it would go over very well.
Pick your battles and all that shit.
“Mommy,” comes a voice from right next to my woman before a miniature version of Journey shoulders her way into the doorway. “Oh,” she gasps as she looks up at me and I’m not sure who is more surprised right now—me or the girl. “Hi,” she greets me with a grin, “who are you?”
“Baby girl,” Journey tries to gently pull her back into the house, but the kid is not having it, “this is one of my clients.”
With two sets of big brown eyes looking at me, I get myself together quickly. I was not expecting to find a child on the other side of the door at Journey’s place. Seeing the kid has me curious though because of how young Journey is. How old is the girl? And where the fuck is her dad?
Another man would run, but I’ve never run away from anything in my fucking life, and I’ve rolled with the unexpected more times than I’d like to think about. I can do it again right now.
I hold my hand out for the young lady, and she gives me a big smile as she slides her hand into mine for a shake. Considering her size, she doesn’t skimp on the handshake at all.
“Hello, little one. I’m Tanner. It’s nice to meet you,” my voice comes out gruffer than I want it to, but she still smiles up at me. A feeling lodges itself in my chest, one I’ve never felt before.
“Hi, Mr. Tanner,” she chirps. “I’m Shiloh. It’s nice to meet you. We were just about to eat dinner, wanna come in and eat with us?”
