Page 122 of One Night with the Biker

“Hi,” I said simply, not knowing what else to say after a month of no contact.

He grinned, softening his features. “Hi,” he mimicked.

Reese placed a hand on my lower back and lightly pushed, encouraging me to go closer to my brother. I obeyed, and as soon as I was in arm’s length, Roman took his turn hugging me.

“I’m so goddamn sorry, Ainsley,” he said with feeling, repeating his words from the hospital. “I was such an asshole to you.”

“You were,” I agreed, just the memory of his anger cutting me. “But it wasn’t without cause.”

“Didn’t make it right,” he said with a sigh, releasing me from his hold and stepping back. He ran a hand through his hair, his curls flowing freely for once. “I wish I could take back what I said, but it’s too fucking late for that. Just know I regret my words. I’ll be the best damn uncle to your baby, and if you want Sinclair in your life, then you have my blessing.” He looked overmy shoulder, pinning Reese with a hard stare. “Just don’t hurt her, or that’ll be your ass.”

I couldn’t help but giggle. He’d forever be overprotective.

“I won’t,” Reese vowed, making me look back at him, the hope blossoming within me a scary feeling. He shifted his focus to me. “I made some mistakes with you myself, sweetheart. But when you were taken…I…fuck, I thought I’d lost you, and I realized what a stupid motherfucker I’d been by pushing you away.”

“Understatement,” Roman whispered.

I shot him a glare over my shoulder. Seeing as he hadn’t been there for me, he didn’t have a damn thing to say.

“Can we have a moment alone, Roman?” I requested, knowing things would go smoother if he were absent.

“Let him stay,” Reese said, interrupting whatever reply my brother would’ve had. “I want him to hear what I’m about to say, so I have a witness to hold me to my promises.”

“Make sure you don’t make promises you can’t keep,” Roman warned, earning another nasty look.

“Your commentary isn’t needed,” I sniffed, crossing my arms over my chest.

He just shrugged. With an eyeroll, I looked back at Reese, my heart pounding in my ears as I waited to hear what he’d say next.

“I love you, Ainsley Valois,” he declared, stealing my breath away. “So damn much.”

Words eluded me, and I wondered if I’d heard him correctly.

“I want to make an honest woman out of you, to stop fucking around and do right by you. Maybe not now, but—”

“Before the baby is born,” Roman interjected.

Despite him being the one to insist Roman stay, annoyance flashed across his face.

“We’ll see,” I said quickly, my arms dropping to my sides. I gave Roman a pointed look. “I-I love you too, Reese, and I’d lovea future with you. But I don’t want to rush things, or for you to feel obligated to marry me. I want to be a wife one day, but at our pace, not because of others’ expectations.”

At the big, goofy grin on his handsome face, I wondered if he heard a thing I said.

“You love me,” he repeated, as if he hadn’t been the one to say it first.

“You wouldn’t be standing here if she didn’t,” Roman said.

I whirled around to face him. “You have one more thing to say before I lose my goddamn mind, Roman. I love you, but please, be quiet right now.”

As happy as I was that we’d made up, he didn’t get to abandon me in my moment of need, then shit on the man who’d been there to protect me. Sure, Roman made up for his mistakes with the blood of those who’d wronged me, but it didn’t fully erase his initial reaction.

He’d earned my forgiveness, but forgetting would be another matter entirely.

Roman was silent for a moment. Then, he nodded, sighing as if the simple task pained him. “Fine. I have a phone call to make anyway about an important matter.”

He and Reese exchanged knowing looks.

My curiosity removed the shock I felt that Roman had actually given in, but he was gone before I questioned him.

---