Surviving meant strength. It meant courage. It meant clawing her way out of the dark, even when life tried to swallow her whole. It meant breathing through the pain, choosing to stand when it would have been easier to stay down.
She swallowed a lump in her throat, refusing to cry again. “Yeah. I think I can do that.”
“Good.” He released her shoulders and grabbed his mug again. “Thank you for telling me, Beth. And thank you for coming home.”
“Please don’t lose your shit on Saint. He did what you asked. He rescued me, protected me, and brought me home.”
Copper pressed his lips together until they flattened into an unimpressed line. “He also withheld information.”
“BecauseIbegged him to. He also told me he wouldn’t flat-out lie. That if you asked him straight, he’d have no choice but to tell you.Please.”
“I can’t let it slide, Beth.”
Okay, she got that. Kind of. She nodded. “Just… please remember I’m the one who put him in a horrible position.”
Sighing, he looked out at the calming scenery. “I know, kiddo. I’ll try not to make him cry.”
She huffed a laugh despite the anxiety now swirling in her. Whatever consequences Saint suffered to keep her secret would plague her for a long time.
“Fuck,” Copper muttered, looking at his watch. “I have a dentist appointment in half an hour.”
That had a real laugh bubbling from her. “Even big bad bikers have to take care of their teeth, huh?”
“Such a smartass.”
She grinned, the first genuine smile of the day, and it did wonders to lift her mood.
Copper kissed her head before he stood. “I’m gonna go get ready. You good?”
“I am.” She looked up at him, towering over her. “Thanks, Dad.”
“Your mom and I are so glad you’re home, kiddo.”
“Me too.” And it was the truth.
He left her to her coffee and scenery, but she didn’t plan to sit idle for long. Now that she’d gotten one difficult conversation out of the way, she had to dive straight into another. Saint deserved to know Copper would be coming for him.
Her pulse quickened at the thought of seeing him again. Of being alone with him. Would he look at her the way he had last night, like he wanted to devour her? Would those talented hands find their way back to her skin?
She squeezed her thighs together and cursed under her breath.
This was a warning, not a booty call.
She needed to keep her head on straight and her panties firmly in place.
Easier said than done when it came to Saint.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
COPPER: ELEVEN A.M. Clubhouse.
That’s it. Short and sweet text command from Copper, which stuck to the president’s style, but something about the summons had Saint on high alert.
Maybe because you had your hands all over and in Beth last night.
Had Copper found out? Did someone drive by and spot them when he’d been too lust drunk to notice? Or was his guilty conscience playing tricks on him?
Fuck, he’d messed up royally last night.
