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For a moment I wonder if he sees it. The resemblance… But a quick glance at Wolf’s face and all I can see is just the shock that I have a kid. I guess he heard about the divorce but not the rest.

Wolf was always the kind of guy to find out just enough information to point him in a direction before moving forward. Everything else, he trusted himself to figure it out on the way.

And I wonder when he will figure it out. That Artie is more than he seems. That the tiny boy with dark hair and an inquisitive blue gaze looks more like a certain biker than he does me.

“Mommy? Who’s that?” Artie peers past me at Wolf, staring openly.

Mom is also staring, standing quiet with her eyes sliding from me to Artie, to Wolf. There’s a lot of staring going on, because Wolf is, too. And I’m sure I am, that I’m like a deer caught in the headlights. Do I tell the truth, or do I continue to hide it, as I have done all this time? He deserves the truth, but am I ready for what that entails?

Wolf shifts on his feet and I make my decision.

Clearing my throat, I say, “Mom, you remember Wolf.”

“Yes, I…” She blinks rapidly. “I do remember,” she finishes.

“Artie, this is my… um, my friend, Wolf.” With that, the secret is kept for just a bit longer. I hope, I pray, that I’m not making a terrible mistake, because I’m already doubting myself. This was an easy secret to keep when I was away from here. Now that I’m back, though, all these loose threads in my life have the chance to knot themselves together and I’m not sure I’m ready.

Artie tips his head back, studying Wolf. “Wow, you’re really tall,” he declares.

Wolf makes a small huffing sound, a mix of laughter and surprise.

“Wolf.” I can’t get over how saying his name makes me feel. It’s a primal, animal word that gets my blood pumping. “Wolf, this is my mom, Ruby. You remember her. And this is my son, Arthur.”

“I’m not Arthur, I’m Artie,” Artie protests. He wriggles around in my arms until I let him down. He scuttles up to Wolf and fists a small hand in the worn denim of his jeans. “Are you a motorcycle-man? I seen lots of motorcycle-mans today. Vroom!”

Wolf licks his lips, his jaw working. He doesn’t seem to know what to do or say. Is his face even turning a little pink? It’s sweet, somehow. I know that the MC members often have their own families and kids. Surely Wolf has been around them before? Or does he not like children? I never asked him about that when we were together. I had been too young to think about having kids and expected to have more time. But that’s how life goes, isn’t it?

Wolf runs a hand back through his hair. Though short, the strands still have a little bit of curl to them, which comes out when he messes with them. “Uh, yeah, I’m a motorcycle man. Vroom.”

Artie beams. “Cool! Can I touch your jacket thingy?”

“Artie,” I begin.

“It’s okay.” Wolf crouches down and twists to offer a wider expanse of leather to my son. “It’s called a vest.”

Artie runs his fingers over the worn leather and the various patches, an awed look on his face. “Pretty pictures.”

“Yeah, I agree. I like the pictures, too.” Wolf straightens. His eyes are lowered, his lashes thick and dark against his cheeks. A little extra color flushes his earlobes and cheeks. He’s definitely blushing. My heart skips and my stomach tightens, while my core seems to loosen. I can’t help it. His embarrassment is just such a sweet contrast to his usual gruffness.

I realize that my mom has disappeared. She’s probably gone to her room which is where she spends most of the time. It took hours of persuasion to get her to go to the hair salon. I thought it might help her, that if she felt better about her appearance she might start caring again. But her problems run deeper than anything a color refresh can solve.

“So.” Wolf clears his throat and turns to the coffee pot. “We were talking about what I can do to help. You got a vacuum? A carpet-cleaner? If not, I think you can rent them cheap.”

Suddenly, like a switch has been flipped, I come to my senses.

What am I doing?

Why do I have him here in my mother’s house?

I’m not the girl I used to be. I shouldn’t be letting my hormones distract me. I am a grown woman who should be perfectly capable of taking care of herself. It’s not right to be outsourcing my responsibilities like this, and it’s dangerous. It’s dangerous to play with the truth like this.

“I changed my mind.”

Wolf shakes his head. “What about?”

“I don’t think I need any help, actually.” I know it doesn’t make any sense to him, the way I’m backpedaling. I feel awful. At the same time, I don’t know why he expected that it would be so easy for him to walk back into my life like nothing happened.

“I think you should go, actually. I can give you a thermos for the coffee.” As if coffee is the reason he came here.