He pressed in closer, his nostrils flaring. “You’re supposed to think that your man is doing everything he can to take care of his family. That I won’t rest until that happens. Jesus Christ, Layla.” He stepped away, ripping a hand through his hair in agitation. “How could you fucking think this is all for anything but you? For Riley?”
The conviction in his words and the torment on his face that I’d ever think such a thing had relief and confusion sweeping through me in equal measure. If it wasn’t another woman, and I’d never thought it truly was, then why was he keeping me in the dark? Why the secrecy?
“All what is for me?” I demanded. “I have no idea what you’re even talking about. Because you haven’t told me anything! Goddammit, Cash, I’m not some delicate snowflake!”
“You think I don’t know that?” he countered. “You’re strong as hell. But you’ve also had to be. I want to take that off your shoulders, baby. I know you can fight for yourself, but I want to be your shield.”
He was so utterly sincere, so impassioned in his plea, that my anger melted away, replaced by understanding. This partnership, the family we were building, it was new to him. Hell, it was new for me too. I pictured a beautiful blond-haired boy with striking blue eyes bouncing from home to home with no one truly looking after him. My heart broke at the thought.
“You are my shield,” I assured him. “But I’m also yours. And I know you have your brothers and you all look out for each other, but this”—I gestured between us—“this is different. This is you and me and Riley and whoever else may come along. This is your family.”
He cocked his head, his eyes alight with an awareness I hadn’t yet caught on to. “Whoever else might come along?” he practically purred.
My cheeks heated. I hadn’t even realized I’d said that.
His hand splayed across my hip, pulling me closer. “You sayin’ you gonna give me a baby?” he rumbled. “Chief?” he pressed when I still hadn’t formulated the words to reply.
“The thought has crossed my mind,” I admitted. And it had. Though I thought of Riley as my own, I’d always wanted to be pregnant. And the idea of expanding our family, of having Cash’s baby, made something in me practically vibrate with want.
“It’s more than crossed mine,” he replied, surprising me. “The image of you round with my baby, my ring on your finger, makes me harder than stone. Never wanted anything more in my life.”
“Really?” I couldn’t hide my surprise.
“Really,” he confirmed. “So how about this? I’ll tell you what’s been going on. I admit I should have—I thought I was doing right by you, but clearly my chief doesn’t want to sit idly by,” he added with affectionate exasperation. “And how about we make things official and have the same address?”
“The same address?” I asked in confusion.
He chuckled at my confusion, his eyes shining with a joy I loved to see. “Yeah, babe. How about I stop paying rent on a place I haven’t slept in since we met. How about we make a home together where we raise Riley and put more babies.”
I buried my face in his chest, clutching the fabric of his tee, overcome with emotion. “Yeah,” I managed, my voice a muffled whisper.
He pulled me back, tipping my chin to meet his gaze. “Didn’t catch that, Layla.”
He wanted my eyes. “I said yes,” I confirmed with a grin.
He stooped slightly, both hands spanning my waist as he touched his forehead to mine. “Can’t wait to hear those words on another ask, baby,” he murmured.
My heart pounded triple time but not with fear. “Yeah,” I repeated.
“I’m gonna take you out tonight.” He swept my hair back from my face. “Back of my bike. Boys will watch the house. We’ll get the rest of my shit from my apartment tomorrow. Seal the deal.” His mouth quirked deliciously.
“Is it safe?” I asked worriedly.
“I’ll make it safe,” he promised.
And I knew he would.
****
“Are you sure?” I asked Em for the tenth time that evening as she and Riley sat at the kitchen table painting their nails with Gunner looking on from the couch.
“Mommy. It’s fine.” Riley sighed in exasperation, sounding more like a teenager than a five-year-old.
Gunner chuckled from where he sat watching football. He’d volunteered to keep an eye on things, and something told me it was an excuse to spend time with Emmie.
Emmie smothered a grin at Riley’s response. “We’re good, Layla. I’ve been looking forward to it,” she assured me just as the rumble of a motorcycle sounded from down the street.
My heart pounded in anticipation, not only to ride a motorcycle for the first time, but the promise of Cash always seemed to do that to me.
“Go have fun. You look hot. Cash is gonna lose his tongue.” She winked.
I’d been unsure what to wear but had settled on my black jeans, calf-length boots, and a purple blouse I’d been told was flattering. I slid on the black leather jacket Emmie had brought for me to borrow just as Cash let himself in.
He paused by the door, appearing frozen as he took in my appearance, swallowing visibly. Any doubt left me as his gaze flared with lust.
“Da-Cash!” Riley squealed, squirming in her chair.
Had she just been about to call him Daddy? I wasn’t sure if he’d caught it, but Emmie shot me a warm look indicating she had.
“Your nails are wet, honey,” she reminded Riley, holding her gently in place.
Cash tore his gaze from me, shooting Riley a heart-stopping grin as he strode in her direction. “Looks good, baby,” he murmured, dropping a kiss to the top of her head.
She beamed at him, adoration shining in her eyes.
He turned back to me, and I swore his voice was deeper when he spoke. “You ready to go?”
I nodded. “Riley, be good, okay? Listen to Emmie.”
“I will, Mama.” She nodded.
“Thanks again, Emmie.” I waved gratefully. “And Gunner,” I added.
“See you later, bean,” Cash added before turning his gaze to Gunner. They had some sort of nonverbal exchange before Cash lifted his chin in parting.
“Let’s go, chief.” He slid his palm under my jacket to the small of my back, his skin warm on mine as he guided me through the door. “Where’d you get the jacket?”
“Em,” I replied, eyeing his bike at the curb a bit warily.
“Might make you wear that for me later with nothing else,” he rumbled in my ear. “You look amazing.” I blushed as he handed me the spare helmet on his seat. “Just wrap yourself around me, baby. I’ll take care of the rest.” He grinned as he clipped the helmet under my chin.
I couldn’t believe this was our first ride together, but with always having Riley it hadn’t been possible until now.
He swung a leg over his bike, the motor revving to life a moment later. I put my hands on his shoulders, lifting up behind him, feeling a bit uncoordinated.
But once we shot off from the curb, my arms around him and feet squarely on the pegs beneath me, I felt exhilarated and incredibly alive.
The way he handled the powerful machine with such confidence was a huge turn-on. That, coupled with the motor revving between my legs and his muscular body in my arms, meant I could think of little else than getting him home later.
I was smiling so wide my face hurt as we barreled through town. I hadn’t even asked where we were going. I didn’t particularly care.
When we pulled up to a steakhouse Grace had mentioned as being the best in town, I wondered if my legs would work when I got off the bike. He cut the engine. “Stay put, baby,” he instructed as he swung off the bike and unclipped his helmet, hanging it from the handlebars. “Up you go,” he coaxed, reaching a hand out and helping me off the bike.
My legs were in fact a bit shaky as he unclipped my helmet for me, placing it beside his on the bike. “Aren’t you afraid someone could steal those?” I worried as he took my hand and began t
o head toward the restaurant.
He snorted as though I was crazy to ask. “No.”
Well, okay then.
“How was that?” he asked expectantly.
“Amazing,” I gushed. “I loved it.”
He looked down at me with a gorgeous grin. “I’m glad.”
The host’s eyes widened when we walked in, and he nearly tripped over himself to see us to our table.
I’d only just begun to understand the reach of the Knights and wasn’t surprised by his wide-eyed, fumbled greeting.
“How was the rest of your day?” Cash asked as we sat across from each other at a romantic table toward the back of the restaurant.
“Fine,” I replied, taking a quick perusal of the menu only to find that everything looked delicious. “I got some work done before I picked Riley up. She was in a great mood.”
“Were her and Charlotte wearing matching outfits again?” he asked with a raised brow.
Charlotte was Riley’s new best friend, and the two often coordinated outfits ahead of time.
I laughed. “Yes, that. But she also got partnered with Eli.”
“Seriously? That kid’s still sniffin’ around?” he grumbled, looking genuinely upset at the thought.
I muffled a laugh. “Babe, he’s five. There is no sniffing around.”
“You can never be too careful,” he said just as our waiter appeared beside our table. Only, he never once looked at me, even going so far as to ask “For the lady?” while only looking at his notepad.
“What the hell?” I fumed when he’d walked away. “That was some sexist bullshit right there.”
“No, baby,” Cash replied, looking amused by my outburst. “That was respect.”
“How is pretending I don’t exist respect?” I demanded, genuinely confused.
His expression grew serious as he leaned forward. “Because he knows I don’t want another man’s eyes on you.”
“How on earth would he know that?” I asked in genuine confusion.
“Because you’re mine.”
“And how does he know I’m yours?”
“We sleep under the same roof, you’re on the back of my bike. Small town, baby. People talk.”
I sensed he wasn’t going to elaborate, not that he really needed to. And there was another subject I was more interested in him delving into.
“The men who attacked you were Black Riders,” he began, as though reading my mind—or my impatience. “Our clubs have a fucked-up history but we haven’t had trouble with them in years, not since before I joined. We’ve met with their prez and top soldiers. Turns out the attack on you wasn’t sanctioned. The two who attacked you were dealt with and ousted from the club. Like we thought, you did capture something with your camera a few weeks back. Turns out the assistant DA has been bribing the Black Riders. He has some shit on them they don’t want getting out. You inadvertently snapped one of their bribes taking place.”
I sat back in my seat in shock. “I had no idea.”
“You wouldn’t have. Took Gunner a while to even find what we needed, and he was lookin’. We know Marty’s part of this too, acting as the ADA’s errand boy. Probably why he’s come by with no excuse. The two of them are likely looking for dirt on our club so they can do the same shit to us.”
“Are they the dumbest people on the planet? To go after two different motorcycle clubs?”
He snorted. “More like power hungry motherfuckers who think they’re above consequence. We’ll be changing that and soon. But for now, I want to keep eyes on you and Riley. I doubt the ADA would come out and do something, but I’m not gonna risk it. I don’t know if he thinks you still have the photos or not.”
“Okay,” I replied, trying to stay calm while I took this all in. “I still don’t understand why you’ve had to be on the road so much.”
He sat forward, his hands clasped on the table, eyes blazing with an intensity I hadn’t seen in him before. “Because the Riders may have dealt with the man who put his hands on you but far as I’m concerned, he’s still breathing so it’s not enough.”
I swallowed hard. It was the first time I’d had to face head-on what Cash was capable of, and I wasn’t sure how I felt. “You’ve been looking for him.”
He nodded, his bright blue eyes fixed on me, assessing my reaction. “I can see you’re unsure—maybe a little scared.” His tone was low and hoarse with feeling as he continued. “But this is the man I am. Justice has a very specific purpose for me, it always has. I will see it carried out. That man could have taken you from me. I can’t allow that to stand. I won’t. You have to decide if you can live with that,” he stated.
This was why he’d avoided telling me. He was worried I could walk away from him because of it.
We sat regarding each other as the waiter placed our food in front of us, wisely assessing the gravity between us and skittering off without a word.
“I don’t want you putting yourself in danger because of me,” I murmured, voicing the main concern I had once I’d had a moment to collect myself. Maybe it made me a bad person, but I trusted Cash’s code of honor and I respected the hell out of the man he was.
His mouth quirked as though amused I’d be worried about him. “Baby, the only danger will be coming from me,” he assured me darkly. His eyes dropped to my untouched plate. “Food’s getting cold.”
And there it was, a comment so seemingly simple and yet incredibly weighted. I could let this divide us, even end us. Or I could press onwards. And so I did the only thing I could. I picked up my fork and took a bite.
Relief flashed in his eyes along with something much more powerful. Joy.
“When should we tell Riley you’re moving in?” I asked, wanting to change the subject.
“How about tomorrow over breakfast? I’ll make pancakes. We can tell her at the same time we tell her about the new pool goin’ in the backyard.” He dropped the last bit so casually, it took me a minute to catch on.
“Wait, what? What pool?”
He grinned. “The pool you want that I’m gonna give you.” He leaned closer. “My movin’ in, it doesn’t just mean sharing a space. It means we can put our mark on things together. I know you loved your nan, but babe, you gotta admit some of the shit in that house is dated as hell. I know you’ve been holding off and I get why. But I’m here now. We just made things permanent. And that means we’re gonna make some changes, including a pool.”
“But a pool is super expensive,” I murmured.
“Good thing we have the money for it then,” he answered without hesitation. At my look of confusion, he leaned forward, reaching for my wrist, his thumb stroking leisurely over my pulse point. “The gym does well, chief. And I’ve lived pretty simply. I haven’t had anything worth spending money on aside from my bike.” His gaze smoldered as he continued. “Until now. I know you’re used to doing things on your own. But you just let me into your home and into your life in a way that I don’t ever plan to turn back from. Only direction we’re going is forward. So, those days of you worrying over finances? Of having to provide for you and Riley alone? They’re over.”
Cash had been saying as much from the beginning but something about this felt different; for the first time, his words truly took root. Now, as my future flashed in front of me, birthdays, Christmas morning, the first day of school and all the insignificant but no less beautiful moments with Riley, Cash was there. My eyes filled with tears as it all hit me like a lightning bolt.
“Babe?” he asked in concern, moving to my side of the booth and wrapping an arm around me.
“You’re really going to be there.” I hiccupped. “I mean, I knew it, but I didn’t really know it,” I rambled.
He kissed my head, holding me as I tried not to make a scene and likely failed miserably.
I pulled back to look at him, wiping at my eyes and hoping makeup wasn’t all over my face. “It’s just, when I adopted Riley, I accepted it would be the two of us. And that was okay. Scary and som
etimes lonely, but okay,” I explained. “The hardest parts weren’t when it was most difficult but actually, the beautiful moments, not getting to share them with anyone. And now….” I let out a shaking breath. “Knowing I get to share them not just with someone but with you, it’s overwhelming.”
He pressed his forehead to mine. “I love you so fucking much.”
“I love you too,” I murmured as his mouth crashed down onto mine in a soul-searing kiss. And then I didn’t care if we were making a scene. Let them look.
When we came up for air, he still held me close, his hands cupping my face. “Will you teach her to drive? I think I’d be shit at it,” I admitted.
He chuckled warmly. “Yeah, baby. I’ll teach her to drive. And how to ride a bike and how to throw a mean right hook.”
A throat clearing next to our table pulled his attention from mine. The look he shot the waiter conveyed just how much he didn’t appreciate that. “Get us the check.” His gaze returned to mine before he spoke next. “We’re headed to the club.”
He didn’t leave room for argument, not that I would have. I wanted to be part of his world, all of it.
Chapter 17
CASH
Can you get to the club? Or I can get to you.
Gunner’s texts hit my phone the next morning as I was pouring cereal for Riley. My brows knit at his insistence. Then realization hit; maybe he’d found my mark. He’d been helping me search, virtually at least. That’d be a damn good thing. I was tired of hunting for the bastard.
Yeah. Dropping Ri at school first.
Right.
“Eat up, baby.” I slid Riley’s bowl of cereal in front of her as she swung her legs with an early morning enthusiasm I wished I could tap into. The kid was always moving. She had two speeds: off and on.
“When is the pool coming?” she asked for the tenth time since we’d shared the news.
I chuckled. “Summertime. Remember?”
Her nose scrunched adorably. “And how long is that again?”
“It’s a little ways away, baby.” I reached over to tweak her nose. Her concept of time was still developing. I’d learned that the hard way. Generalizations were far more successful.
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