Page 28 of Burly Biker of Misty Mountain

Hillbilly circled around the bar and retrieved two beers from the refrigerator, placing them on our table.

“Insults come with the territory, sweetheart,” he said. “As long as nobody starts swingin', it’s all in good fun. Pretty Boy chases a few club bunnies once in a while to scratch the itch, but his heart ain’t in it most of the time. He’s been moonin’ after my Lila like a lovesick calf for years, and she won’t give him the time of day.”

Pretty Boy scoffed and pushed away from the bar.

“She’s stubborn like her old man.”

Hillbilly shook his head.

“If you think that will ever change, you’re in for a world of disappointment, son.”

Katie glanced at me with a questioning look at the mention of club bunnies. I shifted closer, pressing my leg against hers, and hooked my hand over her thigh. Clearing my throat, I changed the subject.

“Where are those burgers you promised, Prez? My girl here is starving.”

Time flew as I swapped stories with the Reckless Order. Hillbilly tried to rope me into a game of pool, but I didn’t budge from Katie’s side. I didn’t want anyone making a move on her when I wasn’t looking. Even though she was my guest, I had no claim on Katie, and an unclaimed woman in a club would have men sniffing around like hounds on the hunt.

Katie remained quiet, observing, her big blue eyes taking it all in. At one point, I caught her staring at the tattoos on my arm, tracing the lines with her fingertip. I brushed my knuckles against her cheek, nuzzling into her neck in the hopes I could pull her out of whatever reverie she’d drifted off into.

“How are you holding up, dove? Sick of these rowdy assholes yet?”

Katie gave a tired smile but she shook her head. Wrapping her arms fully around my bicep, she rested her head on my shoulder.

“You could stay, you know,” she whispered.

Fuck. A kick in the gut would have hurt less than the raw hope in her voice. Unguarded. Vulnerable. I sighed.

“Katie—”

“You’ve been enjoying yourself,” she continued. “Aside from Pretty Boy, you seem to get along with everyone here. And Pleasant View isn’t that far away from Misty Mountain. You could move in with me, or I could move in with you if you decided to be closer to the club…”

I should have been prepared for this. Should have seen it coming a mile away. Katie was the type to fall in love hard—the kind of love that lasted for a lifetime. And she was already planning out a future between us that was never supposed to exist in the first place.

It would break her heart when I had to leave.

And for the first time, a tug in my gut said,I don’t want to go.

I scrubbed the back of my neck, unnerved by that revelation.

As a boy, home had never truly felt like home—an abusive father who abandoned us, a sick mother so desperately trying to pour her love into me before she was gone, poverty, endless hunger, and the anger seething in my gut that none of it was fucking fair.

Life on the road was easier. Since I never put down roots, I never had anything to lose. I didn’t have to be that helpless boy again, watching what should have been my home and my family crumble beneath me and I was powerless to stop it.

“Just because I can play nice for an hour or two doesn’t mean it would work out long term,” I countered.

“But what if it did?” Katie protested.

I blew out a breath. Before I could reply, Hillbilly called from across the room.

“It’s now or never, Maverick. We’re takin’ bets and money is on the table. Pretty Boy, Viper, and Brass say you’ll remain a nomad until your dyin’ day. But I still believe I can wear you down, and I’m stakin’ three hundred bucks on that.”

“All you do is bleed cash when I’m around, Hillbilly,” I said.

“Katie, sweetheart, back me up. Work your wiles on Maverick, bat those pretty eyes at him. Convince him to join the Order. We could use him in our ranks.”

Katie met my gaze, chewing the inside of her cheek.

“They want you here,” she said softly. Lowering her voice, she added, “I want you here.”

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