“Mylo,” he responded, poking his chest with his thumb proudly.
“Nice to meet you, Mylo. You’re being very brave.” Her natural warmth and ease with him took my breath away, flooding my mind with a fresh wave of longing and attraction even stronger than before. Watching her care for Mylo felt intimate in a way I hadn’t anticipated, drawing me to her in ways that went far beyond physical attraction.
Before I could stop myself, I pictured Aubrey with our own kids one day—holding a child who looked like her, laughing softly as she read bedtime stories, and tucking little ones into bed with the same gentleness she now showed my “nephew.” The image hit me square in the chest, the clarity and intensity almost painful in its immediacy.
This wasn’t mere desire anymore. It was something far more dangerous, an emotion that went deeper than I’d ever expected or wanted. Somehow, just watching Aubrey with Mylo had irrevocably solidified my feelings for her, and in that instant, I knew beyond a doubt that she was mine.
It complicated everything, though, because when Aubrey eventually realized that our meeting wasn’t a coincidence, she would likely never forgive me. And there was no universe where Tripp didn’t find out about us eventually.
My original intentions would hang over our heads, tainting whatever we might build, making it impossible to explain away what I had once planned.
Yet as I watched her finish carefully applying the superhero Band-Aid to Mylo’s knee, offering the little boy gentle praise and reassurance, I realized with absolute certainty that I couldn't walk away. She was mine, and regardless of the risks or consequences, I wouldn’t let her go.
Mylo scampered off to rejoin Kylan, none the worse for wear.
“Thank you for that.”
Aubrey lifted her gaze to meet mine, her expression softening further as curiosity lit her blue eyes as they settled on my face. “You’re welcome. I’m glad I could help.”
A soft smile curved her lips, and a gentle flush filled her cheeks. The late afternoon sunlight brought out the warmth in her eyes, turning them an even deeper shade of blue. The sight of her looking at me like that made my pulse quicken, sending another strong rush of desire rolling through my body.
“So do you come here often, or is this just a special occasion?” I asked, a slight smirk tugging at the corner of my mouth.
She laughed, her gaze lingering on my face for a moment before she pointed at the children she was in charge of. “It’s part of our routine, actually. I’m the nanny for those little squirts over there. The kids love it here, and it’s a nice break from the usual chaos.”
I nodded, holding her gaze for a moment longer than necessary. “I can see why. It’s peaceful.”
She glanced briefly toward the playground, then back to me, her eyes sparkling with humor. “Well, as peaceful as any place filled with a dozen screaming kids can be, I guess.”
I stepped slightly closer, just enough to feel the faint warmth radiating off her body. “Fair point.”
The silence between us stretched for a moment, comfortable but charged with an unspoken curiosity. It was the perfectopportunity. I glanced down, briefly clearing my throat as if deciding something. “Can I see your phone for a second?”
She tilted her head slightly, looking amused but intrigued. “That’s an unusual pickup line.”
My mouth curved into a slow smile. “Trust me.”
With a soft, playful sigh, she reached into her pocket and pulled out her phone, handing it to me carefully after she unlocked it. I took it, quickly navigating to her contacts and adding my number without hesitation, then sending myself a quick text from her device. When I handed the phone back, her gaze dropped briefly to the screen.
Her brow furrowed gently, a curious smile appearing on her lips as she read the contact name I’d entered. “Canyon?”
“Yeah.”
Her brows lifted slightly, surprise flickering in her blue eyes. “Oh. I thought Mylo called you Blitz.”
“Road name. Canyon is my real name.” I smiled, holding her gaze but offering no further explanation just yet. She didn’t realize the significance of what I’d just given her; after I’d patched with the Redline Kings, no one besides my parents and siblings ever called me Canyon unless they were given specific permission. Allowing her to use my real name meant more than she could understand right now. But the quiet spark in her eyes and the faint, curious smile on her lips told me that, eventually, she would.
As I stood there looking down at her, everything I’d intended for this day faded into the background, replaced entirely by the realization that the future I wanted was right in front of me. And whatever had brought me here no longer mattered, because Aubrey had just changed everything.
5
AUBREY
Iknelt in the grass to help Jenny tie her shoe, but my mind kept drifting back to the hot biker who had just left the park. I should’ve been completely focused on the kids, but I couldn’t stop replaying our encounter in my head. The way he’d looked at me had lodged itself in my thoughts and refused to leave.
He was really big, at least six-three with a powerful athletic build that made him stand out. Dark brown hair and bright blue eyes were a killer combo that drew my attention right away. His scruffy beard and the black tattoos wrapped around his left forearm gave him a rough edge. The black leather vest declaring him a part of the Redline Kings MC only added to it.
I was still surprised by how strongly I’d reacted to him. The intensity in his eyes had sent butterflies swirling in my stomach that I wasn’t used to. I’d never felt that kind of instant pull toward anyone before and had kind of started to wonder if I ever would.
