I sip the coffee in front of me first. “Well, I don’t actually know how he knew to come when he did. We’re neighbors, you know. For a couple of weeks this car I didn’t recognize kept parking at the house beside Dean’s. I’ve never met the people there, so I didn’t think much of it. Apparently, Dean knows them, and they are out of town.” I sigh and swallow my pride. It’s hard to admit things are out of control with Brett. “The calls have started here at work from Brett. I really don’t know how much Dean knows about my ex, but I have a feeling he knows more than I’ve shared. Which alarms me, but I haven’t had an opportunity to discuss it with him.” I watch Sara study me. She’s worried. I don’t want my friends to worry about me. “They aren’t regular, the calls that is. But I got a call Justice was sick. I picked him up from school and took him home. Thank goodness he was asleep and slept through the whole interaction. I wasn’t even home thirty minutes when my doorbell rang, Brett was there. I stepped outside; things were far from comfortable. Before I could get him to leave, Dean pulls up on his Harley. Into my driveway, not his own.”
Sara nods enthusiastically. “I bet he did.” Then she lets out a little laugh.
“Sara, this isn’t funny.”
“Josie, yeah, it is. He’s for sure going to put Brett in his place.”
I feel the heat on my cheeks. “Sara, he kissed me. He marched right up and kissed me.” Dropping my face in my hands I hope I can hide my embarrassment.
“And?”
I peek up at her. “And what? I’m an idiot and kissed him back. Next thing I know, he’s sending me in my house so he can talk to Brett after telling my ex-husband I’m with him. He told me to take a bath, and he would join me, in front of Brett!”
Sara leans forward in the chair. “Wait, did Raff say you’re with him? Or you’re his?”
“What’s the difference?”
Sara shakes her head. “A lot in their world.”
“You wanna share that handbook with me then, because I’m in over my head.”
She falls back into the chair laughing, “I can’t do that because I’m still learning about this ol’ lady stuff. But did Raff claim you?”
I bite my bottom lip. “He did say that. It was after he kissed me stupid. He said, everyone has baggage. He then said he was making his play, but he was patient. After assuring me this would be at my pace, he said he needed me to know he claimed me and meant it. He didn’t explain what it meant other than I would have a Hellion ‘on me’ to keep Brett at bay. Then he made sure to tell me, Brett was going to learn what it means too. All this me being some possession makes me uncomfortable. Except I haven’t heard from him since so I don’t think any of it much matters.”
Sara’s eyes are wide. “I have a meeting in twenty minutes, otherwise I would be dragging you to lunch because it’s a lot to process. Bottom line, Josie, Raff isn’t a man to play games, none of the Hellions I’ve met so far are anything but gentlemen to the women they care about. Being claimed, you’re his ol’ lady. If he takes you somewhere you are a representation of him. However, he’s not going to try to control you. He is going to protect you and so will the entire club. Now, it makes sense why Country Boy gave me my orders. That’s why they’re on this rotation and why Country Boy wants me close. Until they can assess the threat Brett is. Which, he’s only a threat to you and Justice. But my man likes any reason to keep me close, and the Hellions don’t actually know the only one in danger is you, hence this new rotation among them. I love you to pieces so I’m happy to be here. This couldn’t work out better,” she tells me exuberantly. “Raff is gonna keep you safe and you’re about to be on the ride of your life.”
“Sara, this is the worst. I don’t have time for a relationship. Especially one I didn’t agree to be in. Plus, how does a man say that kind of stuff and then not call.”
She stands, “Josie, this is going to sound absurd. Hear me out, he’s not gonna call. He told you it’s at your pace. Babe, he’s waiting on you to make your move.”
“And if I don’t,” I challenge, “make a move?”
“Girl, you’re missing out.” She winks. “If I knew then what I know now, I would still hands down go through every bit of it and more to be with Country Boy. Raff is no different. They are cut from the same cloth. And the way he kisses you stupid is only the beginning.”
I gasp. “Sara, this isn’t about some spicy book we’re reading, this is my life.”
Her face turns serious. “Josie, there are a lot of not-so-great guys. A lot of frogs to kiss out there. You’ve had a taste of Prince Charming with Jonah. Consider a Hellion like the Beast in Beauty and the Beast. Raff’s gonna be rough around the edges. But the man inside is the total package. Loyal, kind to the ones close, protective, and not afraid to take a chance. You just gotta be willing to consider taking the ride with him.”
“I can’t do that,” I whisper.
She gives me a soft expression. “The heart is capable of a capacity to love and overcome loss more than we can imagine. We have to be open to it. I never thought I could find a genuine partner in life, and I did. You can have love again. It won’t ever be what you had with Jonah. No one can replicate that. But it doesn’t mean you can’t have good again, Josie. Just think about it. And let me tell you, there is no one who will keep you safe the way a Hellion will. You gotta make the next move. Raff made his. Up to you babe.” She pauses and I don’t speak. “We regret one hundred percent of the chances we never take. He’s worth the risk.”
I can only nod as tears pool in my eyes. Her work cell phone rings and she motions she needs to get it as she exits my office.
Taking a deep breath, I push back everything I’m feeling. This isn’t the time or place to be letting my emotions take control. Exhaling, I look at my laptop. The emails don’t answer themselves.
Twenty minutes later, I haven’t done a single thing. The screen has timed out to the wallpaper, and I’m still tied up in knots inside.
It’s up to me. He’s waiting on me to make a move. I don’t know how to make a move. I can’t do this. I need to focus on work not Dean.
A knock on my office door has my attention. I stand, moving to it, opening it to find Dean O’Neal on the other side.
He is tall. At least six feet three inches as Jonah was six feet. He stands in front of me in a black t-shirt that fits him like a second skin, not hiding the definition of his abs and muscle cut chest. He has on dark blue jeans, black boots, and of course his Hellion vest, that Sara taught me they call a cut forever ago. His beard is long but not tangled or unkept. His hair is not long but the ends curl a bit in a cute way. His face is chiseled like a statue and his eyes, they are green in this way that I lock onto and can’t seem to break away from.
I stand in front of him awkwardly as he reaches out cupping my neck to tip my head to look at him. Before I can think, his lips hit mine, and as if I have kissed him my whole life I give in.
He pulls away and I instantly feel the loss. “Gotta eat babe. That shit you pack, it’s good for you, but not filling. Let’s go to lunch.”
