Page 59 of Rocky Top

But now? She wouldn’t even look at me.

Knox joined me, handin’ over a bottle of Tennessee whiskey. I took a drink and gave it back.

“She’ll come ‘round,” he said after a long pull.

“She don’t trust me,” I muttered. “And perhaps she shouldn’t.”

“She’s human, man. She ain’t gonna understand this world overnight.”

I watched the stars blink overhead, the scent of some rogue’s blood still clingin’ to my skin.

“Yeah,” I said. “But it ain’t the danger that scares her. It’s me.”

Knox slapped my shoulder, then offered the bottle. “Then give her a reason not to be scared.”

I took another swig, the burn searin’ all the way down.

“God help me,” I muttered. “But I think I’m already hers.”

And that terrified me more than any rival ever could.

Chapter 14

Birdie

I never thought I’d find myself in this situation. Sitting across from a man who could turn into a wolf, sippin’ sweet tea like it was just another lazy Sunday. But here I was, and there he was. Rocky. The gruff, brooding biker whose blue eyes made my stomach do somersaults every time they landed on me. Eyes that didn’t justlookat me. Theysawme.

And I wasn’t ready for that kind of honesty. Not after everything.

If someone had told me a month ago that I’d be spending my days learning about shifters and supernatural biker clubs, I would’ve laughed ‘em straight outta Knoxville. And now? Now I was neck-deep in a world I hadn’t even known existed, and the worst part? I didn’t know if I wanted out.

“Alright, Sunshine,” Rocky drawled, that deep, sinful voice knocking me outta my spiraling thoughts. He leaned back against the porch post, the golden late afternoon sun catching in his sandy-blond hair. “You ready to learn about the world you’ve stumbled into?”

I nodded, though my heart was thumping loud enough to feel in my fingertips. Curiosity, fear, want, all tangled up like my insides were in a tug-of-war. “Lay it on me, wolfman.”

A smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth, just shy of cocky. “First thing you gotta understand is that the world ain’t as simple asyou thought. There’s shifters like me, yeah, but also vampires, witches, things that go bump in the night that you’d swear were just stories. But they’re real. They’re out there. And most of ‘em know how to keep real quiet.”

I blinked. “Vampires and witches too? What is this, some supernatural soap opera?”

He chuckled, low and rough, like tires on gravel. It shivered all the way down my spine. “It’s a hell of a lot less glamorous than you’re imagining. Royal Bastards MC in Knoxville, my club? We ain’t just an outlaw biker gang. We keep order. Protect what’s ours. And that means managin’ what the rest of the world don’t know.”

I sipped my tea, fingers curled tight around the mason jar. I didn’t know what to say to that. The idea of a club of supernatural guardians riding around in leather jackets, keeping monsters in check? It was insane. And yet, I was living it.

“So, what does that make me?” I asked finally, my voice quieter than I meant it to be. “Some clueless human stuck in the middle?”

His blue eyes, usually stormy, softened, revealing a hint of something akin to affection. “You’re more than that, Birdie. You’re…” He looked away, jaw flexing. “You’re important.”

The way he said it made my breath catch. My face flushed, and I had to look down, pretending to mess with the condensation dripping off my glass. I could feel the heat of him even from across the porch, and it was doing things to my privates.

“Alright,” I said after a beat, trying to shake off my nerves. “What are these rules and routines you keep mentioning? Am I supposed to follow some supernatural handbook now?”

“This ain’t a movie Birdie.” He leaned forward, arms crossed over his broad chest. Lord help me, the man had shoulders that could block out the sun. “It’s about safety,” he said. “There’s things out there you don’t know how to fight yet. Like that rogue who came after you in the woods.”

I stiffened. “So what, now I need to fight?”

“No.” His tone was calm but firm. “You need someone watchin’ your six until you know how to handle yourself.”

“A babysitter?” I bristled. “I’ve been taking care of myself just fine, thank you very much. I don’t need some big bad wolf looking over my shoulder.”

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