Brae looks up at me and rolls her eyes, and that’s when it really hits me.

Her showing up. This thing between us. Having her be a part of my business and permanent in my life.

It’s everything I never knew I wanted.

“Want a beer?” I glance over my shoulder at Brae curled up on the couch.

She looks up from the baby book she’s been working on and shakes her head. “No thanks.”

I grab one for myself and shove the refrigerator door closed.

Dropping down beside her on the couch, I lift her legs onto my lap.

“I’ve been thinking,” I say before taking a swig of my beer.

“Well, that’s dangerous.” My lips turn up. Over the last few days, Brae’s found her sass that was missing when she showed up. Not going to lie, I fucking missed it.

“Wiseass. I’m being serious. I’ve been thinking about you coming to work for me and I think it’s a great idea.” I like the idea of having her close. In my world, shit can go sideways ina split second. Working together feels like an added layer of protection.

Braelynn closes the book with the pen wedged inside and sets it to the side. “I do too, and honestly, I'm excited about it.” Her face sobers, and I start to worry a monkey wrench is about to get thrown into the mix. “Except that paint color has got to go.”

My head falls back against the couch and I laugh. She’s told me a dozen times the puke green has got to go.

“No, seriously. All kidding aside. I really am looking forward to it.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.” She smiles. “It'll be good to get back to work, you know? Plus, it’ll be good having Ryder come to work with us.” It’s one of the things she brought up earlier and I’m in agreement. It’ll save us a lot of scratch not having to fork out money for a sitter.

She scoots closer. “I'm glad you want me involved. I was worried when I got on that bus and came here.”

I frown, setting my beer down on the side table. “It guts me you felt that way. But I want you to know that I thank the gods every fucking day you did. You and Ryder are everything to me. Understand? You're my family. I’m thrilled you’re jumping in with both feet, but if all you wanted to do was stay home and raise our kids, that would be perfectly fine with me.”

Her brows shoot up to her hairline. “Kids?”

I smirk. “It’s too soon to knock you up again, babe. But it’s gonna happen.”

She shakes her head, a grin tugging at the corner of her lip. “You’re crazy.”

“Crazy about you, woman.”

Brae climbs onto her knees and throws a leg over my lap, my hands settling on her hips as she makes herself comfortable. She closes the distance, her lips a whisper from mine. “I’m crazy about you too.” I knew before I got sent in that she was. I think it’s why I made it a point to put so many roadblocks between us. I wasn’t ready to settle down before, but after sitting in a concrete box for a year, everything has changed.

I cup her face in my hands, my thumbs brushing across her cheeks. “I’m never letting you go, baby.”

I lean in, capturing her lips.

She responds immediately, her hands gripping my shirt, pulling me closer. I deepen the kiss, my tongue exploring her mouth as my hands roam her body.

Just as I’m about to move this party to our bedroom, Ryder's cry breaks through the baby monitor. Fuck. My boy had the worst timing.

“I should...” Braelynn starts, her cheeks flushed.

I nod, reluctantly letting her go. “Yeah, go ahead. I'll be there in just a second.”

As she heads to the bedroom to tend to our son, I lean back on the couch, running a hand through my hair. It's crazy how much both of our lives have changed in just a few days.

A week ago, I was getting out of prison, unsure what the fuck I was going to do with myself, and now I have a son, a woman I'mfalling hard for, my club at my back, and a partner to help with my business.