Page 56 of Dev

“No.” I shake my head frantically. That would cause Mom to have a heart attack.

“Dev, let’s just get used to us before we involve them. It won’t be forever, I promise.”

“And what about New York? You know I ain’t gonna let that happen now, don’t ya?” He cocks his brow at me, and I smile at the reassurance.

“I can win them over, I just have to behave.”

“Guess that means you can save all your bad for me.” He tugs at the bottom of my waitress dress while I attempt to button it up.

“You can count on it.” I flash him a smile, loving this new playful side to him.

“So you’re leavin’ to go home?” he checks, looking disappointed.

“How about I go home, get changed, and meet you at the club later?” I kiss him again, enjoying the warm tingle it gives me when his hands gather in my hair again.

“Or, how about I drop you home, then come back to pick you up when you're ready?” he proposes.

“My parents would kill me if they caught me on the back of your bike.” I feel so silly and immature saying that, but I can’t shy away from the truth if we’re gonna make this work.

“Then we best make sure we don’t get caught.” He leans forward and kisses me again, dragging me back on top of him, and ensuring that I’m another half an hour late getting home.

“Here.” Dev passes me a helmet when we eventually make it outside.

“You never wear these.” I take it from his hand and stare at it.

“No, but you do. It’s California state law, sweetheart.” He smiles at me, and I'm still getting used to how it feels.

“So you're above the law and I’m not?” I laugh.

“Oh, I don’t give a shit about the law, but this is my rule.” He takes the helmet and places it on my head, fixing the strap under my chin.

“Happy now?” I ask him, certain that I look stupid.

“I’d be happier if I wasn’t taking you home.” He kisses me and swings his leg over the saddle. “Afternoon, Jean.” He holds up his hand to the old lady on her porch next door, before kick-starting his engine and helping me onto the back.

“Hold tight, baby girl.” He steadily steps us back out onto the street, before revving the hell out of the engine and taking off so loudly it makes the old lady watching spill her drink all down her front.

I keep a firm hold of Dev’s cut as he rides us toward my place, enjoying how it feels to be close to him and taking in the scent of his leather, mixed with the Long Beach sea air. For the first time in so long, I feel content. Dev is a different person from who he was yesterday. He’s accepting of the situation, and dare I say it…happy.

He comes to a stop at the end of my street and waits for me to climb off. I take the helmet off my head and hand it back to him, ruffling up my hair and trying not to look windswept while he hangs it over his bars.

“Call me when you need picking up. I’ll pick you up from here and text when I get here; don’t leave the house until then, okay?”

“I don’t have your number,” I remind him of how distant he’s been with me up until now.

“Give me your cell.” He holds out his hand, and I watch him type it in.

“You want me to call so you have mine?” I check as he hands it back.

“I already got it.” Taking out his phone, he calls me, and when I see the name he stored himself under, I can’t help but smile.

“The Big Bad Boyfriend?” I turn the screen around to face him.

“Just in case you needed a reminder.” He leans forward like he’s gonna kiss me, and I quickly pull away.

“Not here, prying eyes are everywhere, and they report straight back to my mother,” I remind him, taking his hand and squeezing it instead. “I’ll see you later.” I resist the temptation to kiss his cheek and rush off down my street, looking back and seeing him still waiting when I get to my gates. I make sure I’m not in view of the camera when I blow him a quick kiss and wave before I head inside.

The gates open when I key in the code, and I practically skip up the path, still unable to believe that things have changed. I’m his old lady. He called me it, himself, and he seemed really happy about it too. The smile quickly drains from my face when I open the door and see three big suitcases lined up at the bottom of the stairs.

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