“Because you told me you outgrew it.” He grasped her hand. “I’m so proud of you, sunshine. I know this has been fucking hard for you, goddamn grueling, but you’re seeing it through. You got spirit, and if you ever feel like you’re gonna fall, tell me. I’ll always be there to catch you no matter what, but you gotta fucking let me know.”
“I know that, Dad. I just did something real stupid, but I’m not gonna do it anymore. It’s finished.”
He scanned her face. Her eyes glimmered and he leaned over and kissed the lid of each one. “I hope so. I don’t wanna lose you,” he said against her skin.
“You won’t. All this is in the past. I’m ready to begin the present and look forward to the future.”
“Is that what they’re teaching you in rehab?” She nodded. “Just remember that I’m always here for you. I was thinking I’d go get us some double cheeseburgers, french fries, maybe some wings, and two thick milkshakes. You down for that?”
“Is salad a choice in your grease-fest menu?” She laughed.
“Sure, but only if it’s in addition to what I named.”
“Deal.” She placed her arms around him. They held each other tightly for a long while, and then she pulled away. “I’m starving. Can you go now?”
He laughed and rose to his feet. “I’ll be back in a few.”
“Ranch dressing for my salad,” she called out as he walked out of the room.
***
He stayed withChenoa until she fell asleep a few hours after they’d eaten. She’d told him that they made everyone get up at seven in the morning. She had so many therapy sessions, classes, and chores that by the time ninethirty hit, she was exhausted.
He bent down and kissed her head, tucked the covers under her chin, and headed out. When he got to his Harley, he decided he’d swing by Breanna’s and spend some time with her. He wanted to tell her about Chenoa and share his fear of her relapsing.What the fuck?He never shared anything with anyone, let alone a woman, and fear wasn’t part of his vocabulary. But this thing with Chenoa scared the shit out of him, and he wanted to talk to Breanna about it.
He wasn’t too sure what he wanted from Breanna. She definitely stirred him in a way no woman ever had, but he was ready to start a war with the Skull Crushers, and most probably the Demon Riders if Banger’s prediction of the club being the smack supplier were true.
Then he had Chenoa to worry about. She’d be out of rehab in less than two weeks; he couldn’t have a relationship with Breanna complicating everything.
He’d told her earlier that day that she was in his blood, and it was true. He knew he didn’t just want a fling with her. She meant something to him. He wanted her, but he didn’t want the permanence of a relationship. Anyway, he fucking stunk at relationships. He couldn’t commit 100 percent because he had the brotherhood, and he didn’t want a woman asking him to choose. Besides, Breanna’s dad fucked her up about the brotherhood; she had baggage, and he didn’t know if he could deal with it on top of everything else that was going on in his life.
He did know that he wanted to see her and talk with her. He wanted that very much, and the thought of having another session of awesome fucking made him ride that much faster to her house.
When he rounded the corner, he spotted Breanna on the front porch, the light from the overhead fixture basking her in a golden glow. A tall, skinny man stood close to her, his arms wrapped around her and hers around him. Anger roped around Steel as he watched them standing in silence, holding each other while the sounds of summer encircled them. Hardness replaced any tender feelings he may have been suppressing. His impulse was to jump off his bike and beat the shit out of the man who had his arms around his woman.Whoa.Mywoman?The truth was she wasn’t his woman; he hadn’t claimed her. But he thought they had something.
Fuck it! If she wants to fuck around fine, but I’m done.
With his jaw jutted out, he swung his Harley around and sped off, his back stiff and his insides churning. He took the road out of town, riding like a bat out of hell; he needed to ride hard and fast to burn off the anger that was threatening to spill over. He didn’t want to think of anything—not Breanna fucking another man, not the Demon Riders, not the lure of heroin for Chenoa. He just wanted to connect with the wind, the night, and the mountains.
He just wanted to be.
