This chat had been brewing. Frankly, Beth was impressed by how long her mother held out before coming in for the what-the-fuck conversation.
Sighing, Beth righted the recliner and then curled her legs beneath her. “I know.” She glanced out the large window into her parents’ vast backyard before focusing back on her mom. “I’ve been home for five days, and I’ve been a waste of space the entire time. I need to get out of the house and touch grass. I need to see people.”
I need to stop hiding away and licking my wounds.
Shell frowned. “Okay, that’s not at all what I was going to say.”
“Maybe not, but I’m sure you’re thinking it.”
“Wrong again.” Shell had concern written all over her face. “I’m worried about you. That’s all. I can tell you’re processing something big, something upsetting, and that’s fine. Take all the time you need to get your head on straight and be in a good place. You need time to process and maybe heal, which means something happened that you need to heal from. Something I don’t know anything about. And that’s fine. You are an adult who no longer needs to tell your mommy your problems, but I want to make sure you know that you can. You can always talk to me, no matter how old you get. You don’t have to go through anything alone.”
“Mom…” She blinked away moisture. How did she get so lucky to have the most incredible mother?
Shell stood. “That’s all. I’m not here to pressure you into talking if you’re not ready.” She leaned down and kissed the top of Beth’s head. “Just know I’m here if you need me. And I’m so happy you’re home.”
Her throat thickened, making it hard to swallow. “Thanks, Mom,” she croaked. “I think I’m going to take a walk into town to try to drag myself out of this funk.”
“Really?” Shell’s forehead wrinkled. “It’s about two and a half miles to town.”
Perfect.A five-mile walk should help clear her head. It’s exactly what she needed. Fresh mountain air, sunshine, and movement were better than growing stagnant in her parents’ house.
After changing from sweatpants to shorts and an athletic tank, since Copper kept the house like a damn ice box, she headed out on her way. Once she got to town, she’d grab a bottle of water for the walk back. Hopefully, she wouldn’t run into anyone she knew. Some friends from her childhood still lived in the area. They’d probably be pissed once they found out she came home and didn’t make contact, but the truth was too awkward to share, and she didn’t feel like lying to everyone.
Hey, Beth, it’s so great to have you back. What made you decide to come home?
Oh, well, my abusive boyfriend was choking the life out of me, so I figured it was finally time to end things.
Not exactly how she wanted to jump back into the social scene around town, being the daughter of an outlaw biker meant she’d spent plenty of time as gossip in her younger years, but those were awed whispers and wild speculation about what went on in the club. This would be pity and cattiness disguised as sympathy.
No, thank you.
This walk was supposed to pull her from a negative headspace, and so far, despite the gorgeous blue sky and warm sun on her skin, she remained maudlin.
“Enough,” she muttered aloud. “No more thinking about Jason and what happened in Texas for the rest of the walk.”
She inhaled as deeply as possible, held it for a few seconds, and then let it out slowly. Something about the mountain air hit different. It had a freshness she’d missed living in Texas. Slowly but surely, the tightness in her neck and shoulders began tounwind. Tension bled from the muscles as the sun warmed her skin, and her mind began to wander.
She’d need to get a job soon. Over the past few years, she’d fallen in love with her career at the pet grooming salon. Working with animals made her endlessly happy. One of her goals was to open her own salon one day. Saint mentioned they didn’t have a good grooming salon in town. Apparently, Screw constantly complained about having to bring his dogs over forty minutes away for a quality groom.
And now she was thinking about Saint.
It irked her how he’d skipped out on the barbecue, leaving without so much as a see-ya-later. It also irked her how she hadn’t heard a peep from him in the five days since she’d come home. Most of all, it irked her that it irked her.
“God, you’re ridiculous.”
Still, was what Gator told her true? Did he get all hot and bothered with her riding behind him? Did it get him so worked up that he passed on the barbecue to sleep with some random? And if so, why did it bother her? Saint was nothing more than a friend to her. Instead of being annoyed, she should be happy for him. The man gave up days of his life to drive halfway across the country and rescue her ass. The least he deserved out of the deal was a good orgasm.
Because you want to be the one to give it to him.
“No. No, I do not. And now I’m full-on talking to myself like a crazy person. Fantastic.”
The rumble of a Harley, a sound she’d know anywhere, came from far up the road. Shielding her eyes, Beth squinted to bring the rider into view. He wore a cut, but his distance and helmet made it impossible to distinguish which of the Handlers rode toward her. Not that it mattered, she’d be happy to run into anyone in the MC.
As the rider drew closer, she stopped walking and lifted a hand to wave hello. He slowed and, within seconds, came into full view.
“Oh shit,” she muttered as they pulled off to the side of the road, then came to a complete stop next to her. He wasnotwearing a Handlers’ cut. She frowned. He wasn’t wearing a cut she recognized. Devil’s Dominion? What the hell? Did he not realize they were in HHMC territory? “I’m so sorry,” she said as the rider lifted his visor. “I thought you were someone else.”
His dark, unfriendly eyes made a slow journey from her sneaker-covered feet to her face, pausing along the way to give her chest a longer leer. Her stomach turned, and she took a step back on instinct.
