Part 25 (1/2)

”I walk out and see you fighting with Nix, bloodied nose and you tell me I shouldn't be worried.”

”It was nothing, darlin'.”

”So you weren't fighting over me?”

”No. Nix was being an a.s.s.” Her brows rise calling bulls.h.i.+t.

”I told you it was a bad idea to not go in. The clubhouse was trashed. They needed us.” I know what she told me, but it didn't matter. We both needed the last few days.

”Best three days of my life.” I step up to her, and lightly push her shoulder.

”Yeah?” She falls back and smirks up at me, and I let it settle over me. This is what I need. Her playful, carefree, not worrying about club s.h.i.+t.

”Especially when I made you come with my mouth.” I lean over her, trailing kisses down her neck before settling my weight above her.

”Haven't you had enough?” Her breath hitches as she tilts her head back allowing me more access.

”I don't think I'll ever have enough of you, darlin',” I admit, letting the truth fall between us. We haven't said where this is going between us, but anyone can see this is moving hard and fast.

”You say that now, Beau.” Sadness flicks in her eyes before disappearing just as fast. It's not the first time it's happened. At first I thought it was about Chad. But sometimes it's like it's bigger than that. Over the last few days, I've seen it more than I care to admit. I've asked her about it, but she just shuts right down.

”I'll say it then too,” I promise her, knowing more than anything it's the truth. Yeah, it's barely been a week of having her in my bed, but this here, whatever the f.u.c.k it is, is more. More than s.e.x. More than helping her with her ex. It is more than both of us. Sy was right that night at the hospital. She is dangerous. She has gotten under my skin and buried herself deep.

And I'm not sure I want her out.

No, I know I don't want her out.

”So what do you think?” I ask Mackenzie a week later as she takes in our new venture. We're in town at Missy's Place, and I just revealed to her everything we have planned here.

”It's amazing, Beau. I can't believe you're doing this.” She spins, turning back to me. I don't know why it bothers me to know what she thinks, but it does. As much as I'm doing this for Missy, I'm doing it for her too. For all the women like her.

”It's something I've wanted to do for a long time.” I shrug, as she steps into my s.p.a.ce.

”You're incredible.” She reaches up, places her hands around my neck, and pulls me down to her lips.

”One day you're going to have to tell me Missy's story,” she whispers over my mouth and I can't stop the tension tightening my stance.

”Not much to tell, darlin'.” I press forward and deepen the kiss, stopping all talk of Missy. She knows my sister died. Knows her name is Missy. She just doesn't know the story.

”You're opening this place because of her, Beau. She's your someone special.” She reminds me of our past, and I'd be lying if I said the walls around my heart didn't shatter just a bit at the mention of the conversation back in the hospital all those months ago. I remember the night. She asked me why I did this. Why I risked everything to save women. I wasn't going to answer. I didn't want to. But she was lying in that hospital bed. She had no one and I wanted her to know why, understand why she was important. The words fell out before I could put them back in. And then she gave me something no one has ever given me before.

Grace.

f.u.c.king grace.

This woman who I knew nothing about me, gave it to me, and f.u.c.k if I didn't want to lie down in the bed with her and beg for more.

”No secret as to why I do any of this. Her a.s.shole husband killed her.” I shake my head from all those thoughts, reach up, unclasp her hands from my neck then take a step back.

”It's okay, Beau. I'm sure there's more to her story, but you don't have to talk about it with me.” She's not offended by my retreat. If anything, she's composed, rea.s.suring.

”I'm not trying to hide it from you, darlin'. Just don't like to talk about it.”

”Okay, honey,” she whispers, and then diverts her gaze back to the main room. I'm a f.u.c.king a.s.shole, especially when she's so f.u.c.king understanding, but I'm not getting into it with her today or here.

”Come on, I'll show you the rooms.” I take her hand and show her through to the rest of the house.

The shelter is big enough to accommodate ten residents with full staff at any one time. With twelve private bedrooms, large enough for mothers with children, two large communal dining rooms, and an industrial-size kitchen, they will have the privacy to come and go as they please, with the option to interact with anyone else in the house in the communal areas.

”You know, I wish I had this as an option.” Mackenzie steps into one of the bedrooms and walks around.

”Wish you did too, darlin'.” I watch her face as she takes in the room, running her hand along the freshly painted wall.

”I was lucky I had Heidi, and you.” She looks up, and I take a moment to see how far she's come. She's no longer this jumpy, scared woman in fear of her life. She doesn't let the past hold her back. She's stronger, braver.

”You did good, Kenz. Even without all this.” She shrugs, like the statement is questionable. But it's not. She's come so f.u.c.king far.

”Maybe, but I still wish I did some things differently. Wish I never went to her that night.” She's talking about Heidi.

”And who knows what would have happened to you then, darlin', if you didn't get away.”

”At least Heidi wouldn't be missing, G.o.d knows where she is because of me, Beau.” It's the first time she has spoken about Heidi in a while. I don't want to upset her, but maybe she's willing to open up about it. She's been so shut down, I don't know where her head is at.

”We'll find her, darlin'.”

”I doubt it.” She worries at her lip, and I wonder what the h.e.l.l that's supposed to mean.

”I understand your doubt in the sheriff's department, but I've told you before, Jackson is on our side.”

”You're right. I'm just over reacting. Heidi probably ran off and got married.” She steps up to me, and wraps her arms around my middle. My arms instantly wrap around her, pulling her closer into me.

Her apprehension rings out loud and clear, and I understand it. After all, the last conversation she had with her friend wasn't very comforting for her. I wish I could take it away. I wish I had more information to tell her, to ease the worry in her heart.

The truth is the chances of finding Heidi are slim. But I'm not telling Mackenzie that. She's been through so much, has lost so much. If we discover she lost her friend, too, I don't know if she will ever recover.

Not wanting to keep us in this moment, I don't push the conversation anymore. ”Come on, you've seen around. Let's go.” I take her hand in mine as we move back through the shelter to start locking up.

”We're going home?” She reaches for her bag.

”No, we gotta head to the clubhouse. Our presence is needed.”

”Great.” She sighs but grins when I turn to look at her reaction. She acts like she's uncomfortable around them, but we both know that's not the case. She's starting to become part of the family. The girls have accepted her into their fold, and once the guys find out I've claimed her as mine, it won't be long till they're giving her s.h.i.+t over me.