Page 25 of Worth the Risk

“Me? I wouldn’t think of it,” Dan exclaimed, sounding serious, but his grin gave him away.

“Easy for you to laugh, Dano, old man. You and Dex have built-in nicknames.”His eyes cut to her. “I heard about where you’re living, Bella. The club owners pride ourselves in looking out for our own, and that won’t do.”

Dan’s hand slid up under her ponytail and around the back of her neck. His fingers tightened meaningfully as he declared, “That’s why she isn’t going back. When I pulled into the parking lot, there was a drug deal going on, and they didn’t even spare me a glance.” More quietly, he reassured her, “If this isn’t what you want, we’ve got other options. We’ll find something to get you out of that shithole today.”

From the steely resolve in his voice, she knew she had a choice of where she’d go, if not when.

“It’s not that I don’t like it. This place is amazing, but I was hoping to get something furnished. I’m starting over, you see—”

“You’re in luck,” Lil T interrupted as he fished a set of keys out of his pocket and held them out to her. “Me and Angie have everything we need, and the furniture stays.”

“You’re serious?” she asked, glancing from T to Angie.

“Yep. The big guy was afraid to sit on my frou-frou girly stuff, as he calls it.”

“When you’re six and a half feet and two hundred sixty-five pounds, you gotta have sturdy man-sized couches and chairs.”

T eyed Dan, who was lighter and shorter, by about twenty pounds and two inches respectively, but not exactly small. “The bed is sturdy, my friend, but watch out for the blue chair in the corner. It shimmies and creaks, especially if she’s on top riding.”

The assumption he’d be visiting her bedroom for something other than helping her move in set Bella’s cheeks on fire. Dan took it in stride, stating simply, “Thanks for the tip.”

Angie didn’t take exception to the riding remark. She elbowed him in the ribs for defaming her stuff. “That creaky blue chair is an antique rocker that belonged to my nana, T. It’s going with us but has been and always will be off-limits to behemoths like you.” The twinkle in her eyes when she glanced Bella’s way said she was teasing. “It is frou-frou, I’ll admit. But everything else is solid.”

“You won’t find anything better in the listing you showed me,” Dan prompted. His fingers exerting gentle pressure on her neck was a clear sign he wanted her to take it. And so did she.

“I say pinch me, so I know I’m not dreaming.”

“Is that a yes?” Lil T asked.

“I never expected to find anything this nice.” She took the keys he extended again, proclaiming, “Absolutely, it’s a yes.”

***

IT TOOK HER AND DANlonger to ride back to the motel than to pack her meager belongings. He frowned at the single duffel bag she gave him to stow in his SUV but didn’t comment. While there, she noticed her car wasn’t where she’d left it.

“My car?” she asked, dreading the answer.

“In the shop. It needed more than a boost,” Dan replied, his tone apologetic. “My guy said he’d call with an estimate.”

The thought of the repair bill, which now included a tow charge made her stomach sink. It was yet another hit to her already dwindling budget. They never seemed to stop coming.

On the way back to her new home in north San Antonio, they stopped by a grocery store to stock her fridge and cupboards, which, despite her objections, Dan insisted on paying for.

Two hours later, they were relaxing on the cushioned love seat on the air-conditioned sun porch with the move done, and it wasn’t even lunchtime yet.

“I don’t know how to thank you,” Bella announced into the comfortable silence. She had known him a little over a week and felt more at ease around him than the family she knew her entire life.

He picked up her hand and brought it to his lips. “A good night’s sleep without worrying that the only thing separating you from becoming a crime statistic is a thin wooden panel, a weak-ass chain, and an inadequate dead bolt is thanks enough.”

“Seriously, Dan. I’d probably be moving into something a step up, but not by much, if not for you and your friends.”

“You’re saving Angie from paying rent on an empty townhouse.”

“If not for me, she could have rented this place in a second.”

He shrugged. “You don’t know that.”

“You’re a hard man to thank.”

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