I find myself relaxing and can’t seem to keep the smile off my face.
“Look, I hope you don’t mind but I looked at your phone before I went downstairs and read the update on Rick. Not knowing got the better of me.”
“Of course I don’t mind, it’s just a temporary club phone. I’ll set up an automatic forward on their updates to your phone. That way you’ll know everything in real time.”
“Rigs said Mattie’ll bring your old phone back today seeing as the cops got everything they needed from it,” Bear says.
“I hope it helped,” I say. Then I remember my brother. He’s in the hospital because of me.
“I don’t know where you’re going in that pretty head of yours, but don’t. None of this is your fault, you got that, darlin’?”
I glance up at him over my coffee cup. His hair is still damp from a shower. He’s wearing a black shirt that clings to his muscular shoulders and his Legion cut. His square jaw is sporting a neatly trimmed beard. He looks like the same man he was yesterday, but somehow happier and more lighthearted. And the best part is he can’t take his eyes off me.
“You’re staring,” I say, smothering back a smile.
A soft smile slips onto his face. “You were doing the same thing.”
“That’s because you’re looking extra nice this morning.”
He lifts his chin and smooths one hand down his beard. “I have an old lady now. I need to look good for her, so she’s not embarrassed to be seen with a big bastard like me.”
The words come out before I think, “I’m proud to be yours, no matter how well-groomed your beard is.”
He goes still. “I’m glad to hear you say that. I brought you something to mark the occasion.”
He reaches under the tray, pulls out the paper bag he carried in earlier and holds it out to me.
“What’s that?” I ask curiously.
Bear exhales slowly. “Something I should’ve offered you last night, but I was too chicken shit.”
I take the package from him and the paper crinkles softly as I open it. I pull out a black leather vest. It’s heavy and the shape is familiar even before I unfold it fully. It’s a property cut. I’ve seen the other old ladies wearing them. Mine says, ‘Property of Bear’.
My stomach flips. “Bear, are you sure you want me to wear your cut?”
He jerks his chin in a way that means yes. “Last night meant something to me. You said you wanted to be my old lady. If you still want that, you wear my cut.”
I lift it up with both hands. The leather is high quality, and the script is elegant and feminine, unlike the bold block letters on Bear’s cut. My fingers trace the edge, careful like it might burn.
“It’s really beautiful, Bear. But you know that if I wear this people will see it. They’ll know we’re together.”
“I’m counting on it.”
I look up at him. “Are you sure now is the right time?”
His jaw tightens slightly. “I know that Rick’s not gonna take this well. But after last night, there’s no more pretending that we’re not meant to be with each other. Making love to you was my point of no return.”
His words make me feel claimed in the best way.
“You were afraid of being… what did you call it?” I say, watching him closely, “a dog with a bone.”
His gaze locks on mine. “That still worries me. But now that I’ve had you, I’m not giving you up.”
Not giving me time to respond, he reaches for the fork, spears a piece of bacon, and holds it out towards my mouth like it’s the most normal thing in the world. “Eat. We’ve got a busy day ahead of us. You’re going to need your strength.”
I stare at the fork. “Are you serious? You’re going to feed me?”
He doesn’t flinch. “Yes, but only on special occasions.”
