Page 26 of Coast

Chapter Eight

Mac

Isnuggled closer andlaid my head against Emery’s back to absorb the warmth that flowed from him. The air had turned colder as the sun went down, which made the ride toward his home on the Black Hawk compound more than a little chilly, and I was thankful for the large body in front of me blocking most of the wind.

When I bumped into Emery at the hospital, literally, I’d been caught off guard at first, but then worry struck me that he might be hurt and was waiting to be seen. I’d discreetly checked him over to make sure.

In true form, though, he’d taken control of the moment and led me out of the hospital. My mind still reeled from the Winston delivery and their tiny little girl in NICU. But by the time I realized what the man was doing, I was seated behind him on his bike.

As my head cleared from the brisk air outside, I knew he purposely left out that when he was talking about taking me home, he hadn’t meant my home. He’d meant his.

Heat touched my calf and I opened my eyes, I hadn’t even realized I closed and saw Emery’s gloved hand on my lower leg. He rubbed his hand up and down, then gave my calf a squeeze before he moved his hand back to the handlebar of his bike. And the heat of his touch went with him.

As the miles ate away, my stomach tightened. I’d run from the man every time I saw him for the better part of a year. Dodged him because deep down from the minute he sat in the chair beside me in the diner, I’d known. I’d known if I allowed him to get close to me, it would be so easy to lean on him. I grinned at how ironic it was that I now was doing that very thing.

I’d called him arrogant at every opportunity. Part to get under his skin with the hope he’d walk away. Then another part to remind me he wasn’t for me. I’d moved to Shades Valley because it’d been a place that I’d enjoyed as a child when I’d visited my grandparents with my parents and brother. A place of comfort when I’d needed it most. I’d left Maryland without a backward glance, drove across the country, rented a condo, then invested the inheritance from my parents and bought an already established practice from its previously looking to retire doctor. None of my planning had included the man I held on to.

The bike slowed, then started to turn left. I lifted my head and grasped tighter onto Emery. When we reached the gate that stood open, he slowed as we rode through, giving a wave to the young biker who’d walked out of the small building that sat to one side. We’d passed the clubhouse, then headed down the road where six nicely build cabin homes sat.

I knew they were each similar in the inside, though I’d only been in three; Sami and Speed’s, Carly and Crusher’s, and Bailey and Devil’s homes.

As we rode past, I noticed lights on in each of the homes, signifying the others were there. Emery drove around his home and to the back where a two bay detached garage was. He stopped in front of one of the doors.

“Jump off,cariño,” he said. I had to hold onto to his shoulder and slide to the side until my foot touched the ground, which allowed me to swing my other leg over. As I worked to get myself off the bike, one of the doors on the garage began to open.

When I stood on the ground, Emery chuckled and shook his head, then turned the bike and began to back it into the garage. I held the helmet out to him after he had gotten off the bike. Once they were secured, we walked out the opening, and the door began to close behind us.

“Yo!”

I jumped at the voice, and Emery put his arm around my shoulder and pulled me into his side.

“Sorry, Mackenzie. I didn’t mean to scare you,” Flirt said as he cut across the yard and into view.

“It’s okay. I didn’t see you, it’s pretty dark out here even with the house lights on. Plus, I’ve noticed none of you men make noise when you walk,” I said as he walked up. Emery and he both chuckled.

“What has you out wandering around?” Emery asked him.

“Power blinked a bit ago. Thought I better check on the generator. Filled it up in case power decides to go out for real. When I saw you pull in, I wanted to let you know about the power and that I checked on your generator, too. Didn’t know how late you would be out?”

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