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“That’s okay. I know it’s late, so I’ll just get this out,” I tell him. “You were right about the Savage Kings. We voted again, and everyone is in, even though Hank is concerned he’ll be lost in a sea of pretty boys.”
“Seriously?”
“I’m sorry I didn’t give your opinion more consideration when it first came up,” I say to him, then to Fulton, “Tell your brother all the Devil Hounds are in and that we want new leather and patches for a new beginning.”
“Sure. Okay.”
Thane is still staring at me like a puzzle he can’t figure out. “Why now? What changed your mind?”
“I finally realized it was time for me to take responsibility for my actions. Bringing this down on the Devil Hounds was my fault. I had to shove aside my pride to do what’s best for the club.”
“Good. I’m glad you came around. It would’ve sucked to have been a prospect again,” he says with a grin that tells me he won’t be holding any grudges. He’s a bigger man than that, a bigger man than me.
At least now I’ve made amends with at least one person I care about.
Now I just have to figure out how to convince Holly to give me another chance.
CHAPTERTHIRTY-SEVEN
Holly
Ithought after seeing Isaac last night that he would’ve been banging down my door within minutes or at least called to ask the question I know he’s desperate to know.
But he didn’t do either of those things.
Instead of being sad, I try to hide my disappointment by playing hide-and-seek in the fenced-in play area with my preschoolers.
Covering my face with my hands, I tell them, “Hurry! I’m only counting to twenty!” before I begin.
When time is up, I lower my hands and try to avoid looking directly at where they’re crouched down behind slides, LEGO castles, swing poles, or the sandbox. Instead, I let my gaze wander around as if searching for them, unsure of where to start.
That’s when I seehim.
His tattooed forearms are resting on the top of the five-foot-high fence, eyes staring right at me.
I can’t even recall if I’ve ever seen the sun shining on him since we’ve either been out at night or inside for every date.
The light brings out more of the gray in his hair and beard than I realized he had. It’s the markings of a man who has seen twenty more years than I have, raised two grown daughters and was glad to be finished with the responsibility.
When I don’t go searching, Lily comes running out from behind the small concealment of the swing pole to me, throwing her arms around my bump. “Tag, Miss Holly!”
“We’re playing hide-and-seek!” I remind her with a smile as I sweep her blonde hair out of her face.
I lift my eyes again to Isaac, who hasn’t moved. I’m not even sure if he’s breathing. Lily follows my gaze and says, “Who’s that man?” Before I can come up with a response, she says, “He looks big and scary.”
“Maybe so, but he only looks like that to try and scare off any bigger, bad men to keep us safe,” I assure her.
And then, for now, I try to forget he’s there as I find the rest of the kids in their hiding spots, trying to buy more time before I have to face him.
* * *
Isaac
I should’ve come here before now.
Seeing Holly playing with the kids on the playground…she looks like a different person. A carefree, happy, glowing young woman who doesn’t stop smiling and laughing.
I barely could get a single one of those out of her because I was so busy being selfish, too enthralled by the rest of her body to see her heart and soul.
