Her eyes widened. “For good?”
Yes. The word sat heavily on his tongue. “For now, to start.”
“And the third?”
The one she’d have the hardest time accepting. “You tell your parents eventually. Not today or tomorrow, but when you’re ready. It’s not a secret that can be kept forever.”
Her gaze drifted to Jason, and Saint clenched his teeth against the urge to snap at her not to even look at the shitbag. Her defeated sigh had him close to wavering, but fuck that. There was no way he’d leave her in this town alone with this jackass still breathing.
“All right. Okay. I…I can do that.”
“Good.” He climbed to his feet and extended a hand for her. “You get cleaned up and pack while I take out the trash,” he said,pointing to Jason, who groaned and began to stir. His fingers flexed, wanting another round.
She narrowed her eyes at him, but as she let him help her to her feet, he swore she muttered something about damn bossy bikers. He’d take her fire and sass any day over the traumatized state she’d been in when he arrived, though he had a feeling her road would be rocky over the next few weeks.
As soon as she was on her feet and steady, he released her hand. “Good?”
“Um, yeah.” She nodded, glancing around the apartment with a lost expression. “Just… processing. Are we going to head back tonight?”
Much as he loved riding, his ass had sat on his bike enough for one day. “Nah, I’ve been riding too fucking long. I’ll get us a room for the night, and we can head out in the morning.”
Beth gnawed her lower lip as a troubled cloud crossed her face. He was sure she didn’t love the idea of being in close quarters with him, a man she barely knew, but two rooms were out of the question. She’d have her own bed and could erect a damn electric fence between them if it made her feel safer, but she wouldn’t be out of his sight. Not with this asshole still breathing, a decision he prayed he wouldn’t come to regret.
“Okay, I shouldn’t need more than thirty minutes or so,” she said.
“Take your time, babe. I’ll chat with my man, Jason.”
She opened her mouth as though to warn him not to hurt Jason again, then shut it with a nod. “Okay.”
Then she lifted her gaze to his, and something twisted low in his gut, something he had no business feeling right now. He dug his fingernail into his palm to redirect the sensation.
She didn’t seem to realize her effect on him, and he needed to keep it that way. Some lines didn’t get crossed, and Copper’s daughter was one of them.
After a final frown at Jason, Beth turned for her room, then stopped before stepping away from him. “Lee?” she said as she spun back.
He raised an eyebrow.
“Thank you. If you hadn’t shown up when you did…”
The vulnerability in her voice stabbed his heart. His jaw ticked. Despite giving Beth his word, it would take every ounce of strength he had not to break Jason’s neck the second she walked into her room.
“Babe…”
“I know.” She shook her head. “I shouldn’t think that way. You’re here. I’m safe, and I’m actually excited to go to Tennessee. It’s been way too long. Just… thank you. I know I’m asking something huge of you, keeping this from Copper.”
“Well, maybe just put in a good word for me if your dad ever decides to murder me,” he said.
Her lips twitched. “I can do that. Thank you, Lee.”
“Saint.”
He couldn’t handle hearing his given name falling from that sexy mouth. It made him imagine her saying it for other reasons, in different positions, in a much breathier, pleading tone, and that way lay death.
His literal death.
Her nose wrinkled, and his damn dick twitched.Why did she have to be so damn attractive?“Saint?”
“No one has called me Lee in years.”
