Page 130 of Beyond the Badge: Nox

ChapterTwenty-Nine

After losing Jackie,he never thought he’d ever find anyone he’d want to spend as much time with as he did Aaliyah.

While it still surprised him, it no longer made him feel guilty.

He was allowed to live his life. It took him a while to believe that, but now he did. And it wasn’t because the therapist convinced him of that. Or his brothers.

Or anyone in particular, actually.

He simply found someone hewantedto spend time with. Wanted to sharemorethan time with.

In truth, he simply wanted her.

But, of course, Liyah wasn’t an island. She had two sons, as well as a father who was a member of an outlaw MC.

That could be an issue. So, being with her wasn’t actually simple.

For the last few weeks, after the Wednesday night meetings, they’d sit in her Mercedes Benz and talk. Sometimes they’d not say much of anything. Either way, afterward she’d send him home with baked goods he smuggled into his place so he wouldn’t get a million bullshit questions from his nosy as fuck brothers.

But with every bite of a perfectly baked cookie or brownie, with every damn treat he ate, he thought of her.Hell, he thought of her even when he wasn’t eating any of her food.

She was on his mind constantly.

Besides talking in the car after the meetings, he met Liyah twice for a quick dinner at a diner nowhere close to where either of them lived or worked.

Once, he even took her for a quick ride on his bike when her boys were at school, and she told the agents at her office that she had an appointment with an important client.

The ride might have only lasted forty-five minutes, but straddling his Harley, along with the fresh air combined with Liyah wrapped around his back soothed his soul.

Her smile was so damn big once she climbed off his bike, his own spread across his face. He did not miss it when she did a doubletake, then hugged the shit out of him.

And,fuck, did that feel good.

It took him a little longer to let go than it did her. But she leaned into it and allowed him to hang on for as long as he held her.

He appreciated that about her. She seemed to always know what he needed, sometimes before he did.

Tonight, once everyone was gone, the room in the community center cleaned up and the chairs and tables put away, he once again accompanied Liyah to her car. After she clicked the fob to unlock her luxury sedan, he opened the driver’s door for her.

She paused before getting in. “Are you joining me tonight?”

Of course he was, this was his favorite part of his Wednesday nights. The chance to spend time with her was basically the only reason for him to still show up. “Yeah.”

With a nod, she climbed in and shut her door while he circled the Mercedes and slid in on the other side. Once he closed the passenger door, the interior became dark and quiet.

“Music?”

“No.” Nox pulled a long breath in through his nose and leaned his head back, closing his eyes to simply enjoy the alone time with her. And the peace and quiet after sixteen grief group members spilled their guts, shed some tears and shared a few laughs.

He understood that some people had to talk things out. He was not one of them.

Proof was him breaking down in Liyah’s kitchen about a month ago. That had been ugly, and he never wanted that to happen again.

“Hey,” she whispered. Reaching over, she snagged his hand and pulled it into her lap. After intertwining their fingers, she gave them a gentle squeeze.

Between that and hearing her pull in a deep breath of her own, he braced. Because unlike him, it meant she was gearing up for something.

Something he might not want to discuss or deal with.

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