Page 36 of Klutch's Kryptonite

A wave of gratitude washes over me. I don’t know what I would have done without him these past twenty-four hours. He’s been my rock in the middle of this storm, and I barely know him.

“Thank you,” I say softly.

He gives me a slight nod, his eyes conveying it’s not a big deal. But it is. To me.

Pee Wee clears his throat. “Hate to break up the moment, but we need to get to church, brother.”

Klutch straightens up and the shutters come down. He’s no longer the sweet guy who has been taking care of me. He’s Klutch. SAA of the Bastard Saints MC. A chill rushes down my spine. One that he notices instantly.

“Give me a minute.”

He crosses the room to where McKenna and I are sitting. Leaning down, he presses a kiss to my lips, soft but possessive. “I won’t be long.”

As soon as the door closes behind them, McKenna turns to me with wide eyes. “Oh. My. God. Spill. Now.”

My cheeks go hot. Shoot. I turn my head away from her, but it doesn’t make the lie any easier. “There’s nothing to spill.”

“Bullshit,” my best friend scoffs. “He just kissed you in front of Pee Wee like it was the most natural thing in the world. And your hair is wet and so was his, which means you showered together, which means...” She wiggles her eyebrows suggestively.

“Fine,” I sigh, unable to keep the smile from my face. “We slept together.”

She squeals, bouncing on the bed. “I knew it! Was it good? He looks like he’d know what he’s doing. He has that whole ‘I’ll ruin you for other men’ vibe going on.”

I laugh, shaking my head at her insanity. “It was...” I pause, searching for the right word. “Perfect.”

“Details, bitch! I need details!”

For the next hour, I give her a heavily edited version of last night and this morning. I tell her about finding my apartment trashed and Klutch bringing me here.

“What about you?” I ask, eager to get the attention off of me. “Did you stay here last night too?”

A smile spreads across her face. “I stayed at Pee Wee’s place.”

My eyes widen. “You slept with Pee Wee?”

“Not in the biblical sense,” she clarifies, rolling her eyes. “He was a perfect gentleman, if you can believe it. Slept beside me all night and never made a move.” She pushes out her bottom lip in a pout.

I raise an eyebrow, surprised. “Really?”

“Really,” she confirms.

Before I ask what was the point in taking her home with him if he wasn’t going to make a move, the door swings open, and Klutch and Pee Wee step inside. The meeting must have gone well because both men look relaxed, though Klutch’s eyes immediately seek me out as if making sure I’m still here.

Pee Wee walks over to McKenna. “Ready to go, darlin’? I’ve got errands to run.”

McKenna hops up, grabbing her purse. “See you later, Dems. Call me if you need anything.”

After they leave, Klutch sits beside me on the bed. “You okay?”

I nod, leaning into his solid warmth. “Just thinking about work tonight. I should go.”

He stiffens beside me. “You’re still planning to work?”

“I need the money, Klutch,” I remind him. “Now more than ever.”

He’s quiet for a long moment, his jaw working as if he’s grinding his teeth. “Fine,” he finally says. “But only if you let me put a prospect on you for protection.”

I pull back to look at him. “I don’t need a babysitter.”

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