The grave tone of my threat indicates how serious I am, and Deacon takes a step back. “Fine. If she’s really your ol’ lady, keep her outta my territory from now on.”
“Not a problem.” I hold my hand out and Kadence, thank fuck, takes it.
CHAPTER TWO
“Thank you, Bolt,” I whisper as Blaise leads me past my ex-stepfather.
His hand shoots out and grabs my arm. “Are you okay? Did they hurt you?”
“I’m okay. I was just…I didn’t think you’d come get me, you know?”
“You divorce wives, not children, Kadence.” My heart squeezes with those words. In the short time they were married, Bolt showed me more fatherly kindness than my real father has shown me my entire life. “Now, go home with my son and lay low for a few days, until I’m sure we’re square with these assholes.”
And with one order, he wipes away any daughterly tenderness I was feeling toward him. My jaw clenches. I hate being bossed around. Told what to do. But Bolt risked himself and his crew to come rescue me, so I nod and thank him again.
Blaise—the fucker—overheard everything his father said. As I expect, he’s wearing a smug smirk when he leads me to his bike.
Then he surprises me by placing a tender kiss on my forehead. “I’ll take care of you, Kady,” he says.
It melts the wall around my feelings for Blaise, enough for me to accept the helmet he pushes into my hands. “What about you?”
“I’ll be fine. Get on.”
He straddles his bike, and I rest my hand on his shoulder to balance myself before throwing my leg over the bike. It’s unnerving how easily I slide into my old spot. My thighs cradle his hips, and my arms automatically wind around his middle. He takes a second to rest his hand over mine, gently squeezing.
Then we’re off.
I remember all too well how good it feels to be on the back of his bike. The wind whipping against us. The feeling of flying. Blaise let me claim this spot when we were in high school.
Sometimes…many times over the last few months, I’ve wished I hadn’t given it up. A few tears leak from the corners of my eyes, but thankfully they’re carried away by the wind. I’m going to need a lot of mental strength to keep my distance. I can’t let my emotions get in the way.
That’s how we ended up here in the first place.
My body leans and sways with the bike. Every molecule in me remembers the way to his house.
All too soon, he pulls into the driveway and shuts down the bike. After I dismount, Blaise sits there staring at me for a few seconds longer than necessary. “What?”
He pries the helmet from my hands. “Nothing. It’s nice to have you back here.”
“Don’t get used to it.”
He sighs, but a small smirk tugs at the corners of his mouth.
I’m so jittery, standing there staring at his gorgeous face. It takes everything I have not to reach out and run my fingers over the stubble along his jaw.
I turn, the heels of my little ankle boots digging into the gravel. My legs wobble, but Blaise is right behind me, placing his hand on my lower back. Steadying me. Guiding me into the house.
Our house.
The house he bought for us.
I’m all too familiar with the front porch, the way the lock has to be jiggled before you can turn the key.
He motions for me to enter first.
As if I’d only been out for the evening, instead of gone for the last few months, I set my purse down in its regular spot. Blaise glances at the entry-way table. The corners of his mouth tilt up, but he keeps his comment to himself.
Instead, he points down the hall. “You know the way.”
