Her hands stilled over a box of action figures.
“I should’ve said it then,” he went on.“But I was afraid of ruining things.Of wrecking your life again.”
“You think you didn’t already?”she said, without looking up.
He exhaled.“I know I did.”
Ellie finally turned to face him, her eyes shining with barely restrained emotion.“You think I invited you on that trip for help?You think I just wanted muscle?”
“No,” he said.“I hoped ...I hoped it meant something.”
“It did,” she said, voice breaking.“And then you treated me like a mistake.”
Dasher opened his mouth, then shut it again.There weren’t enough words in the world to make up for what he’d done.
“I never stopped loving you either,” he said hoarsely.“I just didn’t know if I was allowed to anymore.”
She looked at him, searching his face, and for a second he thought maybe she’d let him in again.But then her shoulders drew back, armor snapping into place.
“Help with the wrapping station, if you want to help.Otherwise, stay out of the way,” she told him.
She turned and walked off.It wasn’t forgiveness, but it wasn’t goodbye either.
Dasher moved to the table and started unboxing donated items.He kept his head down and his hands busy, watching her out of the corner of his eye.She never looked his way again.
His heart sank a little more with every minute.Until his phone buzzed in his pocket.He pulled it out and stepped into the hallway to answer.“Yeah?”
“Dash, it’s Rooster,” came the voice of one of his MC brothers.“You still at the drive site?”
“Yeah, why?”
“Thought you should know.I spotted a couple Red Hounds down by that gas station on Third.Just hanging out, but they’re not exactly local.”
Dasher’s spine straightened.“Red Hounds?”
“Yup.Didn’t approach, but they were watching.One of them had a camera.Figured you’d want the heads-up.”
“Damn right I do,” Dasher muttered.“You still in the area?”
“About ten minutes out,” Rooster said.
“Swing by.Circle the site.Keep it low profile,” Dasher ordered.
“You got it.”
Dasher ended the call and stared out the window, jaw tight.
The Red Hounds MC weren’t known for subtlety.The fact they were sniffing around a family event, Ellie’s event, put every protective instinct on high alert.He turned back toward the bustling room, scanning until he saw her.Still working.Still pretending nothing hurt.
Ellie was completely unaware of the storm that might be headed her way.Dasher didn’t know if she’d ever forgive him, but he’d be damned if he let her or Maddy get caught in the crosshairs of club business.
