Page 86 of My Secret to Protect

‘I love you, pix.’ She pulls back a little and meets my gaze, her eyes watery, and I say it again. ‘Bree, I told you to tell me when I got home. I’m home, and I love you.’

She reaches up to wrap her arms around my neck, and I pick her up. She wraps her legs around my waist and peppers kisses across my cheeks, my nose, then my mouth.

‘I love you,’ she says, her voice filled with what sounds like relief. ‘I love you.’ I kiss her again, ‘Now, feed your woman.’

RaisingmywristwhenI open my eyes, I look at my watch to see that it’s after eleven. The black out curtains made it hard to determine the time, but at least they helped us sleep in. We managed to find my old air mattress and get it inflated, but the ache in my back draws my attention to the fact that it did not stay inflated, and we’re just sleeping on the floor. At least we slept a little though, I guess.

‘You need a new air mattress,’ Bree grumbles as she rolls over and lays her head on my chest. I chuckle at the observation until the reality comes rushing in. I need to figure out my next move. I’m not leaving Bree alone, and I’m not taking her anywhere near the club, so I need to think and make a plan.

‘Can I see your shop?’ she asks, pushing up to sitting and looking down at me, and I nod, yes.

‘Sure, you can, sugar.’

After showering and dressing, Bree, Beans, and I head down to the garage downstairs. The sounds and smells of engines being worked on, tires being changed—it’s all comforting as we head inside.

‘Excuse me, do you have an appointment?’

Grinning, I meet Calista’s glare and laugh at her stance, hands on her hips, oily rag hanging from one of them.

‘Cali.’

She holds out her arms to me, and I approach, wrapping her up in a hug before she says hi to Beans, and he runs off to make his rounds of the team.

‘Hey, boss man. You didn’t tell me you were coming back. I’d have rolled out the red carpet.’ She glances behind me, and her eyes sparkle as they land on Bree. ‘And who is this?’

‘Cali, this is Bree. Bree, Calista, my shop manager.’

‘Hi.’ Bree steps forward, holding out her hand, and Cali tries her best to wipe off some of the oil from her hands before realizing that Bree doesn’t seem to give a crap and accepting the handshake.

‘Nice to meet you, Bree, although I’m not exactly sure who I’m meeting.’ She widens her eyes up at me, and I laugh. Calista has been on at me for years to take my love life more seriously and try for something longer lasting than one night.

‘Bree is my girl, Cali,’ I admit, and my friend squeals as she throws her arms around me.

‘About damn time, you giant son of a bitch.’ I roll my eyes, but the sound of Bree laughing has me grinning like the cat who got the cream. I love that sound. ‘So, boss man, are you back? Am I demoted?’ Cali asks eventually, and I shake my head, no.

‘Nah, you still have the wheel if you’re good for it?’ I check-in, and she nods.

‘You kiddin’ me. I have this place running like a well-oiled ’79 Mustang.’ I grin and take a look around. Everything does seem to be running smoothly.

‘Show me what you’ve got in.’

She shows me the cars, the trucks, and the motorcycles she has in right now, and the team all welcome me back, saying hey to Bree. I make a note of the guys who look at her with a bit too much interest and consider firing them or at least docking their pay, but then Calista’s eyes sparkle, and she leads me over to the bay we dubbed the headliner spot. It’s the one we use when something special comes in, a classic car or bike or something with an engine that rocks the foundations of this old building. My gaze lands on the brand-new Harley-Davidson Fat Boy, and my mouth waters.

Calista chuckles and slaps me on the arm.

‘Beautiful, right?’

‘Beautiful and brand new. What the fuck is a brand new Harley doing in an auto shop?’

‘The genius who splashed thirty grand on this thing has no idea how to ride and wiped out the first time he tried.’ I feel her eye roll even though I’m not looking at her. It’s not the first time we’ve seen some over privileged dickhead in a midlife crisis buy a motorcycle or a sports car they can’t handle and wrap it around the nearest tree. ‘He’s picking it up tomorrow, so you picked a good day to stop by.’

Fuck, that’s a nice bike. I raise my hands to my hips as I look it over and feel Bree’s small hand land on my back.

‘Do I need to give you and this bike some privacy?’ I turn to meet her eye and see the moment it dawns on her that she forgot for a moment what happened last night. ‘Oh my god, Arlo. I’m sorry.’ She steps back, shaking her head as Calista leaves us, sensing something off, and I reach out for Bree, pulling her to me.

‘Don’t you dare apologize, Bree. I’ll get another bike. I’ll get a new TV. I don’t give a fuck about any of that stuff as long as you’re safe and by my side.’

Her arms wrap around my back, and I drop a kiss to the top of her head.

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