“I will,” Katie speaks up, and suddenly I’m nervous. It shouldn’t matter, but I’d like Izzy’s mom to like whatever I fix.
Christ, what has become of me? I’m trying to impress my woman’s mother.
“Damn. You’re pretty good,” she says, sounding impressed.
“I try, although chicken casserole isn’t really in my wheelhouse. You should try my Tuscan spareribs with a balsamic glaze.”
“A biker and a chef. You’re very interesting,” Katie murmurs, but her gaze is centered on her daughter before sliding back to me. I get the feeling she sees more than Izzy would like her to, but I don’t back down. I just return her stare.
“I’m a man of many secrets,” I confirm.
“That you are,” she says mysteriously. “Izzy, come help me set the main dining room table and distract your Aunt Beth.”
“Okay, Mom,” Izzy says, giving me a brief glance before following her mother. I resist the urge to grab her hand, pull her to me, and kiss the hell out of her. Tonight needs to hurry and be over so I can get that woman back to my hotel …
Because I have to, I watch her walk away. I can’t take my eyes off her—especially the way her jeans cling to her ass. God, she’s so perfect and the woman has no idea just how deep I am already in when it comes to her. There’s no way to tell her either. It would more than likely scare the hell out of her. Hopefully tonight will be my first step to making sure she has faith in me. That she trusts me.
I just wish I had an idea of how to accomplish that.
13
CALLING OUT CAPTAIN CAVEMAN
IZZY
My first thought when I saw Caleb walk in with Beau and BB was that I was going to kill him. My second thought was that tonight was going to go really badly. I had visions of it completely blowing up in my face. Instead, I watched the man charm my mother—the one woman who supported my need to build a life away from the club. Not only that, but he also fits in so well with my family that it was scary. He was currently talking to my brother, dad, and uncle like they were long-lost friends. It’s like he belongs here. That, in turn, gives me a vision of a future I never let myself think about. A future that a very big part of me wants—yet is afraid of at the same time.
I take one last look at him laughing with my family and then sneak into the hall that leads to Gabby’s mudroom. I need some fresh air. I’m out their back door in a flash, leaning up against the back of the house. I take a deep breath, listening to the frogs croaking in a nearby pond. My gaze moves up to the stars above me. They’re shining like small sparkling diamonds against a silky black background. I close my eyes, allowing myself a moment to just be … I’m not sure how long I’ve been out here. It doesn’t feel that long, but when I hear Caleb’s sexy, gravelly voice.
“What are you doing out here, Isolde?”
I give a half-hearted smile. He’s called me Izzy all night. I’ve hated my name my whole life but hearing him call me Isolde when we’re alone makes me feel warm all over. This man is so much trouble. I’ve wanted this kind of connection my whole life. I just never imagined I’d get it, and I didn’t want it from someone attached to a club. My whole life is turned upside down when he’s around and, as good as it feels, it also scares the living hell out of me.
“I just needed a little time alone,” I answer.
“Are you upset I came?” he asks.
“No. Besides, you performed a minor miracle making Aunt Beth’s food taste good. She was so proud tonight,” I say with a smile, remembering my aunt’s face as everyone was asking for seconds.
“I think they were asking for more to make her feel good, more than I performed a miracle. I just made it passable,” he says, downplaying how he changed the entire dish.
“Modest, too. Beau never told me what a miracle worker you are.”
“Well, she doesn’t know me as much as you do.”
“We’ve barely spent time together,” I point out.
“Quality over quantity, but we talk every night, Isolde. It may just be over the phone and through texts, but we’ve been together a lot. Even you can’t deny that—no matter how much you’re dying to.”
“I told you, C. I’m not looking for a relationship. You obviously are,” I rebut. My heart squeezing painfully in my chest with the words.
“First, I’m off-limits because I’m a player with too many women, and now I’m off-limits because I’m looking for a relationship. Your brain must be exhausting, baby.”
“You have no idea,” I mutter, more to myself than to him.
“How about you quit worrying about shit and we just take this day by day? We had a plan for this weekend, and I swear, Isolde, if I have to chain you to the hotel bed, it’s still happening.”
“Chain me?” I laugh. “I’m not one of your club bunnies, Caleb. I’m not going to agree to every kink you have. As for spending the weekend in a hotel with you. It could still happen, or I could develop a very big … headache.”
