Page 22 of Demo

“I can’t help you with the divorce. Pennsylvania doesn’t acknowledge a legal separation or divorce without the signature of both spouses.” Paige nodded; unfortunately, she already knew that. “However, I can hire a private investigator to help find him. I know of a few in the area who might be able to help.”

Paige immediately shook her head. “I can’t afford that?—”

“I don’t think you heard me.” Steel’s voice was stern but held no irritation. “Ican hire a private investigator to help find him. You would not have to pay a penny.”

“No,” Paige insisted. She tried to keep her voice steady, but it wavered. “Steel, no. I can’t have you do that. That could cost thousands?—”

“The club has contacts with several PIs,” he told her smoothly. “Keys has his license for his security business, though he doesn’t do active cases often. Let me do this for you, Paige. Let me help you get the distance and separation you deserve. Let me help you be free of him.”

Paige bit the inside of her lip. It was so tempting, but she couldn’t allow Steel to take on such a burden. It didn’t matter that Steel was ‘claiming’ her—whatever that meant. Her morals could not let him carry such an expense on her behalf.

“I really appreciate the offer, Steel, but I can’t let you do that for me.” Even if he never asked for payment, she would still feel obligated to pay him back.

Steel shrugged offhandedly. “Well, it’s a good thing you’re not doing the hiring then. You see, I have a reason to find Richard myself so I’m doing the hiring and the finding. I’m just offering you the opportunity to serve him divorce papers once he’s found.”

Paige’s eyes narrowed. She’d never heard such a load of horse crap in her life. Steel had never even met Richard. What reason could he possibly have to need to find him?

“Please, Steel, whatever misplaced guilt you feel you have for not ‘claiming’ me earlier is not worth the money it will cost to find Richard.Heis not worth it.” Steel seemed like the type of man who would argue if she saidshewasn’t worth it. “I can wait for my divorce. I appreciate the additional business. That will definitely go a long way towards helping me. You don’t need to do more.”

Steel leaned closer. “You’re family, Paige Hannigan. There are no limits to my aid, no expense too high, no risk too great. I will guide you and protect you with all that I am. You need to wrap your head around this—preferably sooner rather than later.”

She swallowed hard. “Why sooner than later?”

Despite his nearness, there was nothing romantic about his declaration. Steel was a happily married man and loyal to his core. Paige truly believed he meant it with every fiber of his being. Like a vow that went deeper than mere words.

That rare Steel-smile she’d heard the others talk about tipped the side of his lips up. “Demo made another appointment without me having to blackmail, hoodwink, or bully him into returning. As much as I believe that your treatments could and did help him, only one thing would make that man end his stubborn streak and make another appointment to see you.” Steel tipped his chin down towards her phone on the desk. “You should probably answer his text messages before he finds a reason to stop by again to ensure you’re still alive.”

Paige’s cheeks flushed. Steel knew those flirty text messages were from Demo!

“I hope you’re prepared for his attention, Paige. When my boys fall, they fall hard and fast. Nothing will stop them from protecting and claiming their women. Demo’s no different.”

At that moment, her phone alerted to another text message. Paige glanced down to see another message from her unknown caller.

Unknown Caller: Did you eat yet? Don’t make me come back and force-feed you. You need to eat, beautiful!

Though his expression did not change, Steel’s eyes held a glimmer of arrogance. They seemed to screamI told you soat her.

Paige turned her phone over so the screen was down without responding to the text message or the ones from earlier. “Demo and I are just friends.”

Steel nodded once. “Keep telling yourself that, Paige. I give it a month before you’re wearing his patch.” Paige shifted uncomfortably. She liked Demo—she really did—but a month? That was too fast. Harper had told her being an ol’ lady was irreversible. There was nodivorcein the MC world. “Still want me to not hire a PI to find your husband?” Steel asked with a raised eyebrow.

Paige fiddled with her lab coat. “I suppose finding him couldn’t be a bad thing,” she hedged slowly. Maybe she’d be able to convince him to take on his own debts and relieve her of their burden.

Steel wrapped his knuckles on the desk twice in quick succession. “Great to hear. Now, on a more serious note, what do you know about late onset multiple sclerosis?”

Paige’s back stiffened. Her eyes looked up and down, assessing Steel’s strong body. The most outwardly signs of MS were fatigue, dizziness, and muscle spasms. She saw none of that with Steel. Which meant he wasn’t asking for himself. Was it someone in the club?

“Many with MS seek out alternative medicines, including Chinese medicine. Acupuncture, acupressure, and even daily uses of certain herbs can help with MS symptoms and even slow down flare-ups.” The amount of hope on his face made her add, “I’ve seen acupuncture work miracles, Steel, but there’s no evidence that it can slow the progression.”

“But it can help relieve her pain?”

Her. Paige got a very sick feeling at the pronoun. There was no doubt in her mind whom he was asking for. Harper had mentioned more than once how rundown and tired Jenna had seemed since the holidays.

Paige nodded. “Yes. I can devise her a schedule and recommend some supplements to also help flare-ups.” She was sure he knew this already but felt the need to add. “There is no cure, Steel.”

“Do you have any more appointments this afternoon?”

His voice revealed none of the pain in his eyes. Paige couldn’t imagine Steel without Jenna or Jenna without Steel. They seemed like the perfect couple with the strength and fortitude every other couple should strive to be.

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