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I was so used to saying no because I never had time it almost slipped out, but I caught myself. “Sure, here I will give you my number, and we can work a time out.” So I put my number on his phone, and he put his on mine.

Marcus leaned closer until his mouth was at my ear. “You’ll be hearing from me, Sophia.” And then walking away.

I continued to the breakroom, wishing that just once, my heart would speed up for someone other than Rowen. I liked Marcus, but he didn’t get me excited. I no more than made it into the break room when the door slammed shut with a bang causing me to jump with a screech. Turning to see who would do that, I came face to face with an enraged Rowen, who was slowly stalking toward me until my back was against the wall.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” he fumed. Caging me in with his arms.

I had never seen Rowen this angry I was stunned for a minute. “What do you mean?”

“Marcus fucking Humphry. Stay away from him, Sophia, or I don’t know what I’ll do,” he growled, putting his forehead against mine, looking right in my eyes, his nostrils flaring.

“You can’t tell me-.” Rowen cut me off.

“I mean it, Sophia, I have my limits. Stay. The. Fuck. Away. From. Marcus,” Rowen snarled, jerking away from me, throwing the door open, and stomping out.

What in the ever-loving hell was that about? I didn’t even know Rowen knew Marcus. So, where was that kind of anger coming from? I shook myself and moved away from the wall, taking a seat at the table. My heart was beating so fast from the encounter with Rowen that I needed a minute to get myself together before returning to work.

I STORMED OUTof the break room, going out the back exitto the alley. I leaned against the brick wall, trying to get my shit together. I watched Sophia all night. I tried damned hard not to, but my eyes followed her as she went about her job. Sophia is a graceful woman. She moves like she is walking on air; it has a way of hypnotizing you. I didn’t lie to myself that I wanted Sophia; I did badly, and my heart and cock yearned to be back with her. But I fought it and would continue to. I had been interrupted by Claudia, who for some reason seems to be everywhere I am lately and acting like we have something going when I’ve never even really talked to her. I’ve seen her strip, but that’s as far as it goes. Strange as fuck. But, once I had gotten rid of Claudie, I scanned the room looking for Sophia, and my blood boiled when I saw who she was talking with by the bar.

Marcus Humphry, old boyfriend and co-star of the video I had on my phone, and I saw red.

I saw Marcus lean down and say something in her ear, and I could tell it was something intimate by Sophia’s expression; I knew her that well. I had not seen Marcus in all the years since things went to hell because if I had, he would be a dead man. But, as much as I wanted to follow him and kill him with my bare hands. I couldn’t; I now had Rowena to think about and be around as her father. So, I went after Sophia. Rage and lust are what I felt when I had her against the wall, I wanted to angry fuck Sophia, but I didn’t go there. Instead, I forced myself out of that room.

I breathed deep, calming myself down and heading back into the club. I took my position in the back of the room against the wall. Sophia was back to work; although her smile was more forced, she didn’t glance my way the rest of the night. But I meant what I said. I don’t know what I’ll do if I see them together. The image of those two fucking each other is imprinted in my mind, and I can’t control my anger. It has festered for the last three years and will explode and take us all out.

Be very careful, Sophia. I’m watching.

CHAPTER FIVE

I NEEDED TOget moving. I had to get Rowena from Sophia. My parents will be here soon. My parents were great. Everyone always thinks men who join motorcycle clubs do so because they had a lousy childhood, trauma, or some shit. But, I loved riding my motorcycle and was always enamored of club life and brotherhood. So, I prospected when I was nineteen and hadn’t looked back. I had the kind of parents who loved you no matter what. They only wanted me to be happy and never looked down on the club. They were accepting and loving people.

Sophia had met my parents several times when we were dating, so she knew they were safe for Rowena to be around. So our plan today was if Rowena took to them, they would take her home and keep her until Friday night. I had no doubt Roe would be going home with mom and dad. They had a warmth I knew Rowena would be drawn to; they would love each other.

I knocked on Sophia’s door and waited. She opened it and waved me in, not saying a word, her face hard. “Daddy, me ready,” Rowena ran to me to pick her up. I had been spending time with Roe daily, and now she was comfortable with me alone.

“Are you ready to have lots of fun with Grams and Pap?” I asked her, giving her a big hug and kiss.

Rowena started clapping her tiny hands. “Yes, yes, I excited.”

Finally, Sophia spoke, “Here is her overnight bag. I put my number in there in case your parents have any questions while they have Roe, along with basic information about her likes and dislikes. They can call me anytime. Give me a big hug before you go, Roe,” Sophia said, holding her arms out for her. “I’ll miss you, little smurf, be good for your grandparents, and I will see you tomorrow. I love you, Roe,” Sophia murmured, hugging her tight.

“Love you too, Mommy,” Rowena said, giving Sophia a big wet kiss.

Sophia handed Rowena back to me and turned to tidy the room, dismissing me without another glance. It shouldn’t bother me, but it did. I would rather have her anger. I walked out of the room and downstairs to wait in the common room. It was empty, being it was only nine in the morning. Rowena sat coloring until my parents sent a text they were there. I went to the door, letting them in, bringing them to Roe. Just as I knew my mother would, she took one look at Rowena and gushed with excitement.

“My word, Rowen, she is the spitting image of you. Look, Tom, the first girl in your family for generations to get light green eyes. She is beautiful,” My mom beamed. My mom was still a good-looking woman at fifty with her short blond hair, brown eyes, and slender figure. My dad was an older version of me at fifty-two. All the O’Rourke men had pale green eyes so light they were lime, but before Rowena, it had not been gifted to any O’Rourke women.

My dad leaned down in front of Rowena. “I see that, Linda. Do you know who we are, Rowena?” My dad asked her, keeping his voice soft.

Rowena gave him a big smile. “You my pap, and she my grams,” she said, pointing her tiny figure at my mom, causing my mom to sigh.

“That’s right, and we love you and can’t wait to get to know you,” my dad told Roe.

My mom bent down, picking Roe up, holding her. “I made up your very own bedroom. Your daddy said you love unicorns, so I know you will love it, and pap put a swing set in the yard for you to play on. We are going to have so much fun.” They were going to spoil Rowena rotten.

“Yay, I go now,” Rowena said to me, ready to leave me behind. But I knew she would love them.

“Not so fast, Princess. We are going to the park and have lunch, then you can go with grams and pap,” I grinned as we made our way back out front to leave. Rowena is already chatting to my mom and dad with that vibrancy that is all Sophia.

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