Page 68 of The Biker and the Baker
We’re doing life together. Onyx and I. Just like that. No childish bullshit. Just two grown-ups deciding to spend the rest of their time with each other. Well, okay then. All right. Yup. Uh-huh. This is happening.
Also, he’s well on his way to falling in love with me. Does he know I’m already there? In love with him? Waiting for him at the end of the road?
Don’t ask me when it happened. It could have been last night, last week, last month, or last year. But my stupid, foolish heart is there, bare and unprotected, waiting to be broken by him.
“So?” he prods, poking my thigh with his finger. “Tell me.”
“Well,” I start carefully, “I think it makes sense that you miss the brotherhood. It’s what you were brought up in, the only life you knew, how you spent almost all your life. But, it’s also the same lifestyle that chased your mom away and killed your dad.
“I don’t think it’s the lifestyle you miss so much as the relationships—your brothers. But you said it, most of them are dead and the rest are behind bars. Compare that to the ones who got out in time. What are their lives like now? Are they happy? Do they regret leaving?
“Just know this: rebuilding the club won’t ever bring those feelings back. You can chase it all you want but you’ll never catch it. Because these new guys aren’t the ones you grew up with. What you had before islonggone. As long as you understand that, I would be perfectly fine with you running acleanclub, if that is what you genuinely want to do.”
“But…?”
I laugh.He knows me too well. There’s always a but with me. “But, I think Cookie is right. I don’t believe clubs can stay clean for long. And while I have nothing against motorcycle clubs, it’s not what I envisioned for my life. I didn’t fall in love with a club member.
“That compound is huge, Onyx. There are so many things you could do with it. You could put up apartment buildings, or a mini-mall, or maybe even expand The Metal House, build and sell custom bikes, whatever. You’re great at business, and people seem to like you for whatever reason. Doesn’t matter what you put there, it’ll flourish. I know it.”
He’s grinning at me. A grin so rich it reaches the very depths of his eyes.
“What?” I ask.
“You’re in love with me?”
I open my mouth then snap it shut.Did I say that out loud? Holy crap. “No, I—”
“Nuh-uh.” He sets the mug down. “Nope, you can’t take it back.”
“You must have misheard me, I didn’t—”
“Nah.” He tackles me and pins me on my back. “I heard you loud and clear. And you meant it.”
Giving up the fight—because what’s the point?—I sigh. “Okay, the cat’s out of the bag. I’ve fallen in love with your big head and your ugly face. Now what?”
“Now, it’s official. You’re mine forever.”
“You should know I’m extremely fickle. I can fall out of love with you tomorrow.” I snap my fingers for emphasis. “Just like that.”
He scoffs at that. “Sure you can.” And then he’s kissing me.
There are no more words for the rest of the night. Only gasps, and moans, and grunts, and groans. And wordless promises we both intend to keep.
~
But when I wake up at 4:00 AM the next morning, with Onyx sound asleep beside me, I wake up as therealPia, not the faker he’d fallen asleep with.
Dammit. I’d hoped this side of me wouldn’t come rearing its vicious, ugly head.
I’m jittery, twitchy, terrified. I’ve told this man that I love him and agreed to spend therest of my lifewith him. Because I’d believed it to be true.
It was supposed to last two weeks. It lasted three and a half months.
That’s three months too long.
I’m Pia Saxena and I’m a commitment-phobe, a liar, a promise-breaker, and I’m about to shatter this man’s heart.
Chapter 17
