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* * *
Francesca
I wake in the middle of the night and get a chance to take in his cozy space. It needs a woman’s touch, but otherwise, the room is neat as a pin. Everything has a place. I attribute it to his days in the military. I don’t want to wake Hammer. Although it’s as if he senses that I’m awake, and he wakes up to keep me company until I fall back to sleep.
The first few times I woke up in the middle of the night, Hammer would talk with me until eventually I would become drowsy. Lately, he’s become creative, most of the time ending with a lesson of the difference between making love and fucking. I can honestly say I’m a big fan of both.
Hammer makes me laugh. He talks openly about his family and his childhood. He shares his ideals and opinions, and although we don’t always agree, I see that he respects my opinion. Hammer’s trying to make me a sports fan, which isn’t going too well for him. I can’t get into American football, basketball doesn’t do anything for me, and I find hockey is too brutal for my liking. It doesn’t stop him from trying to explain the rules to me, so I pretend to listen because it’s important to him.
“Babe, can’t sleep?” he murmurs sleepily, pulling me down next to him, engulfing me in his warm bear hug.
“I’m okay. Go back to sleep.”
“What’s on your mind?” he asks, kissing my temple. Hammer says this every night I wake up. I used to keep my thoughts to myself, but it’s so easy to be myself with him that I don’t hold back anymore.
“This has been a perfect night. I don’t want it to end,” I tell him truthfully.
“The morning will come, but we won’t end.” He strokes my hair.
I sigh and close my eyes. We won’t end. I believe him.
* * *
I’ve never done the walk of shame, and I’m freaking out at the prospect of walking down the stairs wearing the same clothes as last night into a roomful of bikers knowing they know what we were doing.
“Is there a back way out?” I ask seriously, but Hammer keeps tugging me back the same way we came. I search frantically for another exit.
He lets out a roar of laughter. “Babe, no one cares.” He keeps walking. “Do you really want to miss Hanna’s waffles?”
“Hanna’s here?” I squeak.
“Don’t you smell the aroma? This place only smells this good when Hanna’s in the kitchen,” he says with a chuckle. We move around the corner and find the tables from last night have been brought inside and arranged in a long row. The members are bustling around it. Out of the kitchen pop Maddie and War. War’s carrying a huge platter of sausages and bacon. Behind him comes Risk with a big bowl of scrambled eggs, and Willow carrying yet another tray filled with croissants and pastries.
“Hey, Francesca, would you mind giving us a hand and grab the rest of the dishes?” Quinn asks as she sets down the condiments. I jump to it, wanting to be able to help. Quinn is so lovely. We finally had a chance to chat last night. She’s beautiful and smart and super in love with her man, Priest. The way they look at each other, you can see they’re meant for each other. “Thank God for Hanna or we’d all be having cereal for breakfast.” She laughs.
“Don’t say that.” Hanna pouts. “You all know how to cook and bake,” she stresses. “I love the soup you made for me when I was sick,” she tells Quinn.
“We can cook, but you have the passion. It’s your thing, and none of us put as much into it as you do,” Quinn replies.
“Don’t argue, Hanna,” Vi pipes in. “You’re awesome. Although I will say, Millie’s coffee is the bomb.” She looks at Hanna. “No offense.”
“No offense taken,” Hanna quickly replies. “We have the same supplier and machine. She must put a little magic in her coffee, because Millie’s just tastes better.” She giggles. “I love Millie.”
“I like her too. She was really nice to me. Gave me some good advice,” I say. They turn to me and smile in a way that makes me think they know something I don’t. “What?” I ask, suddenly feeling dread in my heart.
“Hammer picked Millie’s Diner not only because he loves it there, but because of who Millie is to this community. She’s motherly and has sound wisdom and always seems to know what to say to make you feel better. The second you said Hammer was taking you to Millie’s, we knew that you were the real deal for him,” Izzy says.
“I’m the real deal for him?” I repeat. “How’s that possible? We just?—”
“My brother’s not a stupid man. From the first time I can remember, Davey’s always known who he was and want he wanted, and he went to get it for himself. The only time I ever saw him falter was when he left the military, and even then, he was searching for purpose. He’s also not the kind of man to let the woman he loves walk away. He was ready to take a break from the club for you,” Izzy says.
Vi snorts. “Not that any of the brothers would let him.”
Izzy steps forward and looks me right in the eyes. “He loves you. If you don’t love him back, please let him go now, but don’t hurt my brother.”
“He hasn’t?—”
“He doesn’t want to scare you,” she answers before I can ask.
