Page 22 of Doc's Decision

As if sensing my gaze, he looks over, and our eyes meet, electricity arcing between us.

I swallow hard and quickly look away, my heart thudding erratically.

Zoe watches the exchange with a knowing smirk. “Uh-huh, you just keep telling yourself there’s nothing going on there. I’ve got eyes, babe. That man wants you something fierce.”

“Can we not do this right now?” I mutter, my face heating. “All of this is complicated.”

She snorts inelegantly. “Doesn’t look that complicated to me. He wants you. You want him. Seems pretty simple.”

If only it were that easy.

She and Spark start bickering about something that’s not overly important when Damon calls everyone to eat.

The mouth-watering scents of roasted turkey and savory sides waft in the air.

My stomach rumbles in anticipation, and I gratefully seize the distraction, knowing Zoe is nowhere near done with this topic.

But it buys me a little time to get my swirling thoughts and hormones under control.

We all gather around the heavily laden table, a mishmash of folding chairs and stools, paper plates, and real china.

Kash smiles excitedly in Doc’s arms, reaching chubby hands out for the colorful dishes.

Warmth spreads through me at the sight of Doc with his son. So natural and loving.

He’s an amazing dad, even if he doesn’t always see it himself.

As if drawn by my thoughts, Doc glances up, his mossy green eyes finding mine.

A thousand unspoken words pass between us in that charged moment.

Questions and confessions, fears and desires, all tangled up in a complicated web.

I ache to unravel it all, to lay myself bare to this man who’s come to mean so much to me.

But I’m terrified of what I might find on the other side.

Doc’s lips quirk faintly, ruefully, and he inclines his head just slightly as if to say ‘later’.

I nod back minutely, both relieved and disappointed.

We’ve been dancing around this growing thing between us for weeks now, both too chickenshit to upset the delicate balance we’ve found.

I can feel us teetering on the edge, the point of no return looming closer each day.

Clearing his throat, Damon immediately silences everyone.

All eyes turn to him expectantly as he stands at the head of the table, Kat tucked into his side. “Normally, this is where I’d give a long-winded speech about brotherhood and loyalty,” he starts, his gravelly voice carrying easily. Chuckles ripple around the group. “But I figure you assholes know that already or you wouldn’t be here.”

“Damn straight!” someone calls out to raucous laughter and agreement.

Damon grins and flips them the bird before continuing. “In all seriousness though, this here,” he gestures to encompass the room, “this is what it’s all about. Not just the club or the bikes. It’s family. The ones we choose to let in, to fight for, to die for. And I’m fuckin’ thankful for each and every one of you sons of bitches. Now, let’s eat!”

A chorus of “hell yeah!” and the clatter of serving spoons signals the feast kicking into full gear.

As I load my plate with glistening turkey, creamy mashed potatoes, and the stuffing I slaved over, I can’t help but steal another glance at Doc and Kash.

Doc is attempting to juggle filling his own plate while preventing his wriggly offspring from face-planting into the cranberry sauce.

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