Page 62 of July 27

She sat down, wishing she would've taken Brooke up on the offer for another coffee. At least then, she'd have something to do with her hands. Instead, she scrolled through her phone to keep her attention off the women.

The urge to text Ruger and ask how his search was going left her legs shaking under the table. She refrained from contacting him, though. All his attention was needed to search for Shady.

If only there was a way to contact Corbin. After the scare with the police coming to the house, he was probably hiding out, too.

Katrina approached the table. "I don't think I've ever seen you without my dad."

"He's riding," she said.

"I know." Katrina lifted an eyebrow. "How long have you been here?"

At least two hours. She rubbed her lips together. Ruger never told her she had to keep the truth of his actions away from the others. But she wasn't comfortable talking about private business, even if it was Ruger's daughter.

"A couple of hours."

"Why don't you walk over to the clubhouse with us." Katrina hitched her thumb over her shoulder. "It's better than sitting here alone."

Ruger had told her that someone from Havlin could walk her to the clubhouse if she got bored at the coffee shop. She nodded. "Thanks. I'd like that."

"It's not like we're doing anything big. Just waiting around for the guys to get back." Katrina led the way to the door. Cora walked behind Rachel. She looked over her shoulder and slowed down on the sidewalk. While Katrina kept up with her, Cora lagged behind, holding a hand to her back.

"How do you like living at the cottage?" asked Katrina.

"It's peaceful and quiet."

Katrina stepped off the sidewalk. "After living at the clubhouse, it's probably a break from the chaos. The guys are rowdy twenty-four/seven."

"Did Ruger always live at the clubhouse?" she asked.

Katrina glanced at her. "You'd have to ask him."

She regretted asking. Her question made it sound as if she wasn't aware of him spending time in prison for eighteen years. She was more curious to know how he lived before that when Katrina was a baby.

Not wanting Katrina to believe she was prying, she stopped outside the clubhouse door and put her hand on Katrina's arm. "I love your dad. I don't know how much he's shared with—"

"Not as much as you're sharing with me." Katrina crossed her arms. "You barely know him."

Cora stepped between them. "Excuse me. I'll leave you two out here to talk alone."

Rachel's heart raced. She hadn't started trying to confront Katrina and had no desire to defend her relationship with Ruger. What they had together was private and not to be shared with anyone, not even Katrina.

"I haven't even told your dad I love him." She swallowed hard. "The only reason I'm telling you is because I know you hate me for the condition your dad returned in—and that's your right. It was my fault. I blame myself every second of the day, and I'm in no way excusing what happened, but when we took care of each other, I fell in love with him. That was something I had no control over. I've never met someone so selfless, caring, and kind."

Katrina's brows shot up. Rachel got defensive. She was many things, but she wasn't a liar.

"Whatever you think of me, I'm stronger than what you've seen." She stood as tall as she could. "I didn't have an easy life. I grew up fast and fought for everything I had in life, and I'm prepared to fight for your dad. So whether or not you approve of our relationship, I'm not going away. All I can promise is that I won't hurt him."

Katrina inhaled swiftly and looked away. Rachel was done. She was no longer going to try and win over Ruger's daughter. When Ruger saved her, she was weak and broken, scared of everyone and everything.

She was stronger now. The only thing that scared her was losing Ruger.

She understood how much his daughter meant to him. She would never do anything to take his family away from him.

If she couldn't prove to Katrina that she was good for her dad, then in the end, she and Ruger would never make it because it was unfair of her to ask him to love her if it meant losing his close relationship with his daughter.

When Katrina stayed silent, looking at the trees lining the back lot, Rachel stepped around her and opened the clubhouse door.

"He needs someone strong," said Katrina, stopping her.

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