Page 15 of The Biker's Last Rodeo
“I get it…I think. I don’t know.” I glance toward the humming fridge then back again. “I was raised by a bunch of foster families. For some reason or another, no one house really stuck. So… I don’t have the same attachment to family.Sometimes, even the thought of falling in love scares me. It’s like I’m afraid of being abandoned again.”
“Yeah, I learned a long time ago that wantin’ something too much is a sure-fire way to lose it.” He lets out a hard breath and scrubs his hand over his beard as though there’s more he wants to say but doesn’t know how. “Anyway, loves a luxury. One I sure as fuck can’t afford.”
For some reason in the midst of a conversation about how love could never work, I find myself wondering what a life would be like with Duke. Would he cook like this every night? Would he always want to play little games out in the field? Would we have deep conversations like this one on the regular? Would he somehow make me feel as safe as he makes me feel, forever?
God, what’s wrong with me?
“Same,” I finally say before a hard knock hits the front door and I jump.
Duke goes on high alert, gripping the pistol he keeps tucked into the back of his jeans. “Stay here.” His stance shifts as though he’s preparing himself for the worst.
Why, though? We’re at his house in the middle of nowhere. What’s there to be afraid of? It’s almost like muscle memory has taken over, like he so used to being on edge and he doesn’t know what it feels like to let his guard down.
Outside, the wind rattles a loose piece of tin against the porch rail. I watch his silhouette blur into the shadow of the hallway, one hand on the gun, the other near the doorknob.
Maybe it’s just a delivery guy with no business being out here. Then again, it could be the past finally catching up to him and I’m here for all the fabulous glory of it all. Most likely though, it’s another Chaos Brother looking to tell him something.
The door creaks open just enough to let in the tension.
My heart hammers against my chest. I can’t tell if I’m excited for the blow out or if I’m terrified of the same thing. My brain is playing bumper cars with thoughts, throwing sparks of warning and thrill with equal measure.
Duke stands like a statue carved in caution, eyes locked on the figure beyond the threshold. I lean forward instinctively, my tea forgotten, heart thudding like it’s trying to kick through my ribs.
Then I hear it. “Is Maci here?”
That voice. Polished concern. It’s funny that leaving like I did put me on his list of things to do.
Nick. Dear God, it’s Nick.
Of course it’s Nick.
Duke doesn’t answer right away. The silence between them stretches, sharp and taut, and for a second, I swear the air loses its oxygen.
I step into view, barely. Nick’s eyes meet mine, and whatever dynamite Duke carries inside, Nick just lit the fuse.
“Hey, Maci. You okay? Kera said you were chasing some dark cowboy. I asked around town and folks sent me up here.”
“Left the fuckin’ gate open.” Duke groans under his breath. “What do you want?”
Nick tucks his hands into the pockets of his khaki pants. I hadn’t realized before how small he is, how weak his biceps are, how annoying his voice sounds. “I came to bring Maci home.”
Duke rolls his eyes to the side and groans as he scrubs his massive hand down over his beard. “You think I’m holding her hostage, little boy? I’ve made her dinner. We’re eating.”
I step forward, stomach churning as I say, “Nick, what are you doing?”
He takes a step forward, his jaw tightening like he’s trying to swallow pride and fury at the same time. “I’m… I’m taking you home, Maci. You’re… you’re not safe up here.” He leans forwardslightly, talking out the side of his mouth as though he’s telling me a secret. “The man has a gun.”
Duke doesn’t move, doesn’t blink. “I have a gun because you’re trespassing on my property.”
My heart hammers against my ribs like it wants to break through the tension physically. “Nick,” I repeat, firmer now, “you need to leave.I’m fine.”
He looks at me, searching, like my words don’t equal the equation he’d already calculated in his head. “You’re not fine, Maci. You’re spinning out.” He glances toward Duke. “She does this. She’s not okay.”
I laugh. “Not okay? How the hell am I not okay? I’m not okay because I dumped you?”
“You run into traffic on purpose! You play with fire because you want to feel something! That’s not okay.You’renot okay.”
“Looks okay to me,” Duke groans, tone low and serious.
