The first thing I noticed after I managed to drag my eyes away from him was the new can of premium coffee beans sitting next to the coffeemaker. Definitely not the store-brand stuff Grandpa had always used. Then I spotted Brogan’s laptop open on the table, a neat stack of papers beside it. Little pieces of him were settling into the house like they’d always belonged there.
He handed me a mug without a word, then went back to whatever he was reading on his phone. We ate a quiet breakfast together, the easy silence feeling so domestic. Almost as though we’d been doing this for years.
Just as we finished the dishes, the rumble of a truck and several bikes pulling into the driveway drifted through the open window. I followed Stryker through the house and onto the front porch, surprised to find how many of his club brothers were here.
Cipher was already scanning the roof line with a critical eye. He barely glanced at me before grabbing a box of equipment from the truck bed. “You have at least three blind spots on the west side. I’ll get those cameras up and tied into the system.”
Bishop climbed off his motorcycle and dipped his chin at me. “Mind if I walk the property lines while the others unload? Want to check drainage and fence integrity.”
“Um, sure,” I agreed, feeling a little overwhelmed.
Ghost climbed the front steps and clapped Brogan hard on the shoulder. “We could just blow the whole back pasture clear and start over, you know. Be faster.”
The gleam in his eyes made me think he wasn’t entirely joking. So did the unimpressed look Brogan gave him. Ghost’s grin only widened as he joined the other men.
I quickly learned how much could be accomplished when the Black Crowns MC was determined to help you. My morning chores were done in no time at all, and I had a security system that could’ve rivaled the Pentagon before lunch.
Later, while I watched Brogan measure a section of fence with Bishop, Ghost joined me.
“I find it funny as fuck that he’s already spent the same amount Judge first recommended we offer you for the whole place just on repairs. And he doesn’t even look bothered.”
It had been pretty obvious he was spending way more than I could afford, but I hadn’t thought it was that much. “I can’t pay him back yet. Not until the rehab facility starts making a profit.”
Ghost shook his head with a deep chuckle. “You gotta realize there isn’t a chance in hell of him taking your money. He’s doing all this to take care of what’s his. And there’s no way to miss he’s laid his claim on you.”
I knew I should probably be annoyed by the assumption, but the idea of being his didn’t scare me. Not even a little bit.
“Is that why he’s throwing himself into the handyman role?” I asked, glancing toward where Brogan was working with Bishop. “I hope he doesn’t do this for every woman he gets involved with.”
“What women?” Ghost snorted. “He’s never acted like this before. And he’s not playing handyman. If I had to describe how he’s acting, I’d say he has the husband role down pat.”
I didn’t know what to say to that, so I just ducked my head as my cheeks burned. Luckily, Ghost just gave me a quick pat on the back before joining the other men.
I’d assumed Brogan would leave for the office once his men were settled into their tasks. Instead, he worked with them until he took a call out on the front porch. He paced slowly while he talked, completely focused.
I headed back toward the house, planning to grab him a fresh glass of iced tea. As I passed behind him on the porch, I reached out without thinking and gave his shoulder a light squeeze.
“—need the final numbers by—” Brogan’s voice cut off for half a second. Just long enough to be noticeable. He recovered almost immediately and finished the sentence, but the pause had been there.
I kept walking, a little embarrassed that I’d distracted him. When I turned at the doorway, I caught Hawkeye leaning against the porch rail on the far side, watching the whole thing with raised brows. Two other brothers nearby had stopped what they were doing and were staring at Brogan like he’d just grown a second head.
Hawkeye pushed off the rail and strolled over to me, grinning. “Men who’ve watched our prez stay ice-cold under gunfire just saw him lose his train of thought because you touched his shoulder. That’s priceless.”
I ducked my head, but I couldn’t stop the small smile that tugged at my mouth. It was such a tiny thing, but I realized that whatever was happening between us wasn’t casual for him either. And for the first time, I let myself start believing it might actually be permanent.
Late that afternoon,Brogan decided he needed more of his things from the clubhouse and told me I was coming with him. When we pulled through the gates of the Black Crowns MC compound, the place looked even more imposing than I remembered.
Twisting in the passenger seat, I looked over at him with a yawn. “Is it okay if I stay here? It’s been a long day.”
Brogan studied my face before leaning across the console to give me a quick kiss. “Whatever you want is fine by me. But you should know none of my brothers will ever judge you for being tired or not wanting to talk. You’re with me. That’s all that matters to them.”
I nodded, a little of the tension in my shoulders easing. He gave my thigh a brief squeeze, then climbed out and headed inside. I watched him disappear through the doors and leaned my head back, closing my eyes until he came back a short while later with a duffel bag over his shoulder.
I flashed him a sleepy smile. “That was quick.”
“Of course it was. I had you waiting for me, baby.”
My smile widened, and he reached out to rest his palm on my thigh. He kept it there the entire drive home. But when we turned onto the long driveway, his hand clenched.
