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She nods, like she’s heard this story a million times, but when I glance at her again, there’s no judgment. Just curiosity. “Tell me about the Steel Sinners.” She hesitates, then says, “I know there’s rumors. Some stuff’s probably true. But what do you actually do?”

I weigh my answer. I could lie, but that’s not how I want her to see me.

“The MC runs the casino and other legit businesses. Some of the guys get into trouble—drugs, guns, stuff like that. But I keep it clean, as much as I can.”

She holds my gaze, searching for the lie.

“I’m not a choirboy, but I keep my nose as clean as possible.”

She grins, slow and wicked. “Did I ever tell you I have a fantasy involving a choirboy?”

The tension breaks, and I realize I’ve been bracing for her to bolt. She’s still here. Still giving me shit. “We can work on your choirboy fantasy after we watch our movie.” I wink at her. “But first, I want to hear about you.

She sighs, like she knew this was coming. “I bounced around, too. Foster care, group homes. My record for one place is sixteen months, and that was only because the state didn’t have anywhere else to send me.” Her voice is flat, almost clinical. “Got my GED at seventeen, started working right away. Office jobs, mostly. Nothing special but I have a plan. I’ve been saving up so I can go to college at some point.”

I squeeze her arm, just enough for her to feel it. “You’re not stuck, Eden. You can do whatever the hell you want.”

She laughs, but there’s no bitterness in it. “Yeah, well. This is the first time I’ve had the breathing room to even think about that.”

We sit in silence, the night closing in around us. The wine is almost gone, the desert cold creeping up the back of my neck. I’d give anything to have her stay here, in this moment, forever.

She turns to me, eyes bright in the light. “What comes next, Bones?”

I know what she’s really asking. I finish my wine, set the glass down, and say, “I thought you’d never ask.” I pull her into my arms. “Next, I make you mine.”

“About freaking time.” She smiles and leans up to kiss me.