Page 53 of Gunner
I felt a cold, wet nose press against my back and turned to see Bear resting his head on the bed. I pushed up, and Sadie rolled to her side, mirroring my position until we both stood from the bed.
“I’ll get him while you get cleaned up.”
“Thank you,” she replied and kissed me before walking naked to the bathroom.
Her hips swayed, and you could see the confidence in her eyes when she glanced over her shoulder just before closing the door. I slipped on a pair of sweatpants and a long-sleeved shirt before letting Bear out the back door. The cold air blasted my exposed skin, and I quickly closed the door back, watching through the glass.
“Are you hungry?” she asked as she wrapped her arms around my waist and rested her cheek against my back.
“Is there any of the chocolate cake left?” I asked, and she giggled.
“Let me cut you a piece,” she replied and left me standing in front of the door while she opened the fridge and pulled out the last hunk of cake.
I watched her as she grabbed two forks and poured a glass of milk for us to share and prayed she never found out the truth. If she knew the club, and her uncle, lied to her, and now her brother and I were keeping a secret, she would never forgive us. I feared she would leave me, and I would become the same shell of a man I was before she showed me I was capable of love.
Bear scratched on the glass to be let in, and another chilly blast filled the small dining room before I closed the door and locked it. Pulling the curtain closed, I followed Sadie to the living room and joined her on the couch as we finished the cake. We took turns feeding each other bites, and Bear snored contently from the blanket in front of the fire.
We both had to work tomorrow, and I wished she would take a few more days off, but I knew she was eager to get back to work. The clock showed it was almost ten, and when I set the empty plate and glass on the coffee table, Sadie leaned against my shoulder and stifled a yawn. She was able to delegate more at the bakery, so she no longer went in at four in the morning. Still, she insisted on being in by six so she could make sure everything was ready at seven when the crowds started to show up, wanting fresh cupcakes and coffee to start their day.
I kissed her on top of the head and asked, “You ready for bed?”
She exhaled and replied, “Yeah. It’s been a long day.”
We brushed our teeth, and I helped her clean her ink before placing some of the goop he gave her to keep it moist and wrapped it back up with fresh cling film. We climbed into bed, and she turned off the lamp, casting us into darkness. Sadie rested her head on my chest, and I carefully rested my arm around her.
“Is Dalton okay?” she asked and I hesitated to answer.
“He will be. Just give him some time.”
“Promise?”
Her words were whispered with worry, and I swallowed the truth down to reply, “I promise.”
Now, if I could just keep my word without destroying her in the process.
Chapter 22
