“Missed your face,” Knox says as the men on bikes whoop and holler.
“I missed yours too. Are you okay?”
Knox takes my hand. “Yeah. I’m good. Made it back to the clubhouse last night. Went to see Vandal before his surgery, then headed back to the clubhouse to join everyone getting ready to leave.”
I squeeze his fingers. “I’m sure Vandal will be okay.”
Lines appear between Knox’s brows. “We’ll bring him back to us, no matter what.”
“Of course, you will.” I shield my eyes as I look at all the bikes on the road. “You off somewhere?”
A smile touches the corners of Knox’s mouth. “Let’s just say, there’re some things that are best not left sitting around here waiting to be found.” He boops the end of my nose affectionately.
“So, you won?”
“We handled it,” he says. “Trouble’s done. For you and the shop.”
A tightness I hadn’t realized I’d been carrying relaxes in my chest. I’m safe again. Thanks to this man. “Good.”
His hand shifts, pulling me close to him. “I’m not gonna be home tonight. Showing these guys from out of state their route home, taking ‘em north through Lakeland to avoid Tampa.”
I don’t need to ask why. Fewer cops and less traffic than headed up through Tampa. “That’s quite the ride.”
Knox shrugs. “About five hours’ ride. We’re gonna turn around and rest up in Gainesville for a few hours before riding back. Won’t be until the early hours of tomorrow before I get home.”
I place my hand on his cheek. “You sure you’re not too tired?”
He places his hand over mine, for a second. “Sooner I get them out of here, sooner you and I can relax. You’ll stay at the house?”
I shake my head. “I think I’ll stay here tonight.”
His expression drops into something seriously close to a sulk. “Why?”
“Because you told me you wanted me to move in.”
He stills. “Sleeping here seems like the fucking opposite of you sleeping at our home.”
I smile at that, the use of the wordsour homemaking me feel complete in ways I didn’t think were possible.
“I figured, if you’re going out of town for the night, I could start packing up. Get my stuff together so I could, you know, properly move in.”
His hand sinks around the back of my neck, grabs a fistful of hair, and he kisses me almost indecently, given our company. Even as the bike engines begin to rev and the men start to hoot and holler, Knox doesn’t slow or rush the kiss.
“I think I just got pregnant,” Sunny shouts, which brings even more laughter.
“Don’t take too long?” Knox murmurs against my lips. “We’ll move you in tomorrow.”
“Bossy,” I reply.
“Damn straight.” His nose brushes against mine. “Lock up tight. Keep your phone on you.”
“Always do.”
His gaze holds mine, for a second, like he doesn’t want to leave, and then, he steps back. “See you tomorrow, sweetheart.”
“Ride safe. I won’t accept anything other than you coming back to me in one piece.”
He salutes, and North chuckles. “What about me, Maren?”
