Page 19 of Bringing Home the Bad Boy

“No, that’s not what I meant—”

“But it’s true, isn’t it?” Her voice cracks.

“Rosa—”

The doorbell rings, cutting through the tension. I hesitate, torn between finishing this conversation and answering the door.

“Go,” she says, wiping her eyes. “You and Noel had plans. I’ll see you tomorrow, like we decided.” Her smile doesn’t reach her eyes. “Because hey, nothing’s changed, right?”

I want to argue, to fix this somehow, but she’s already walking away. The doorbell rings again, and I run a hand through my hair in frustration before heading to answer it.Noel stands on the porch, snowflakes caught in her hair, cheeks pink from the cold. Just seeing her soothes something in my chest, even as guilt gnaws at me about Rosa.

“Everything okay?” she asks, catching my expression.

“Yeah,” I hedge, pulling her close. She lets me slide with the evasion. Stroking the side of my face and piercing my gaze. “Really, everything’s fine—or at least it will be.”

“You don’t want to talk about it?”

“Not now. It’s been a rough day. But seeing you, holding you—is all I want. It’s what I need.”

Her lips quirk up, and her eyes twinkle. “Aw, does my tough biker need me to kiss it better?”tonight,

I laugh. Didn’t think I’d have it in me to laugh tonight but her teasing pulls me out of my funk. I take her soft hand with my calloused one, place it over the zipper of my jeans, and growl. “Damn, straight.”

She bursts into laughter, and the sound mends the cracks in my breaking heart. I just wish there was a way to share that same magic with Rosa. Because the last thing I’d ever want to do is hurt her.

Later, at her place, I lose myself in her. Each kiss, each touch, each gasp of pleasure helps push away the heaviness in my heart. I sink into her warmth, needing her tonight more than ever, needing to remember why I’m making these choices, why I’m changing everything.

I hold her tighter than usual when she falls asleep in my arms. Tomorrow, I’ll figure out how to fix things with Rosa. Tomorrow, I’ll make this work, for all of us.

But tonight, I need this. Need her.

Chapter 9

Sunlight hits my face, and my eyes shoot open before I remember where I am—who I am with. In my bed, Trace. His arm is draped over my waist, heavy and warm. This isn’t our first morning together, but it feels different—like another piece has clicked into place.I roll over, studying his face. The worry lines are still there, even in sleep. Something had been bothering him last night, but we’d gotten distracted. Really distracted. Heat flushes my cheeks at the memory.

“You’re staring,” he says without opening his eyes.

“You’re avoiding.”

His eyes open then, dark and serious. “What?”

“Come on, Trace. Something’s wrong. You’ve been off since yesterday. Talk to me.”

He sighs, pulling me closer. “It’s Rosa.”

My stomach clenches. Of course it is Rosa. The woman who’s been raising his daughter. Who’s been there through everything. While I am just… what? The girlfriend? The interloper?

“She didn’t take it well when I told her about us,” he continues. “About my plans for our future.”

“Plans?” My heart skips.

“Yeah, Sunshine. Plans.” His thumb traces my cheek. “But Rosa… she thinks I’m trying to replace her. Push her out of Jelena’s life.”

“Are you?”

“God, no.” He sits up, the sheet pooling at his waist. “That’s not how family works. Not real family. We add people, we don’t subtract them.”

“Did you tell her that?”

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