Zach gripped her arms and looked at her, his expression serious. “Only until you have a chance to do it, Kayla. He’ll tell her tonight if you don’t.”
Kayla’s belly was a ball of nerves. “I didn’t want this crap to touch her,” she gritted out. “I just wanted her to have her perfect wedding and be happy without me fucking it all up.”
“You aren’t fucking anything up, Kayla. Bailey loves you and she deserves to know what you’re up against.”
He sounded stern, and she knew he meant it. “I know,” she whispered, even though it tore her up to think about telling Bailey what was going on.
“You can do this, Kayla. You’ll be fine.”
She managed a smile. “I know. I just hate how this is going to affect her.”
“I know, baby, but you have to tell her. She can handle it.”
Kayla nodded, knowing he was right but hating it anyway. When she managed to push herself away from him, she realized that three pairs of eyes were staring at them. Chloe was smiling like the cat that ate the canary. Avery looked intrigued. And JoJo waggled her eyebrows and hooted beneath her breath as Kayla went past her to retrieve her purse from the back.
Kayla blushed. “Stop it, Jo.”
JoJo fell in beside her. “Honey, I’d have climbed that last bad boy like a tree—but this one, shit. This one I’d tie to the bed and not let up again. Please tell me that’s your plan.”
For the first time all afternoon, Kayla laughed. “I don’t know my plans yet,” she said truthfully. “But I’m definitely not letting him go.”
“Atta girl,” JoJo said.
Chapter Thirteen
“Wait just a minute,” Bailey said, her eyes flashing between the two of them. “Some asshole from the fucking Kings of Doom motorcycle club threatened you today and now you’re moving in with Zach?”
Beside him, Kayla stood stiff and still. She had his hand in a death grip though. From all appearances, she was scared of her sister. But he knew that wasn’t really the problem. She was scared for Bailey. Scared that Bailey would somehow sacrifice her own happiness and her dreams yet again in an effort to protect Kayla.
Kayla had a huge heart and she loved her sister very much. And she felt like Bailey had done enough over the years. He understood where she was coming from. If he could prevent Lesley from sacrificing her dreams or her happiness for him, he’d do it in a minute. Not that they’d ever faced that choice, but if so, he’d be as fierce as Kayla in trying to stop it.
“Yes, Bale. That’s exactly right. I’m moving in with Zach because I want to be with him—and he wants to be with me. The Kings are secondary, but you don’t need to worry about them. Zach will protect me.”
Camel stood beside his girl, calm on the outside but no doubt boiling on the inside. Boiling because his girl was upset, not because he was. Neo was pretty damned sure that Camel trusted him to protect Kayla. They’d had the same defensive training, with the exception of Camel being the team sniper. His shots over long distances were more accurate, but Neo didn’t have any trouble hitting targets. Or winning in close combat situations.
Bailey’s eyes fixed on his. “Will you, Zach?”
“I think you know I will.”
Bailey frowned. Hard. “I really like you a lot, Zach. I know what you are and what you’re capable of. But this whole thing seems sudden. Like you two are trying to pull one over on us.”
“What possible incentive do I have to ask your sister to move in with me unless I care about her?”
Bailey didn’t have an answer.
“It’s not sudden, Bale,” Kayla said softly. “Zach and I have had a complicated relationship over the past few months. We’ve been off and on, for reasons that I’m not explaining to you, but we’re on again. And this is what we’re going to do. I don’t need your approval.”
“Babe,” Camel said softly. Bailey looked up at him. “The Kings have found her again. If I were running this op, I’d move her to a new location until we could hunt them down and put an end to the threat.”
She didn’t say anything for a long moment. Then she sighed. “I know.”
Neo could hear the defeat in her voice.
“But how are you going to end the threat?” she continued. “Those assholes are supposed to be in prison, not out starting their club again.”
Camel shot Neo a look. They both knew that sometimes the bad guys didn’t stay down. Sometimes they crawled out from under their rocks again. And sometimes you had to wait for them to make another mistake before you put them down once more.
“We took down as many of them as we could,” Camel said. “We dismantled their operation and freed the women they were holding. This guy is starting from next to nothing, but there are a few of them left and they’ve been trying to rebuild their network. He wants money so he can do that. We’re not going to let it happen.”
“I feel safe with Zach,” Kayla said. “Alexei has you to take care of. He doesn’t need to spend all his time looking out for me and Ana too.”
Bailey’s brows drew together. Then she threw her hands up and her head back. “Okay, okay. It’s three against one. I get it.” She went over and wrapped her arms around Kayla. Kayla hugged her in return. “You’re the only sister I have, Kay-Kay. I already thought I lost you once and I don’t ever want to go through that again. You’re too important to me. You and Ana and Alexei are the only family I have.”
“I know, Bale. I’ll be fine with Zach. He’s the right man for me. I love him and I want you to be happy for me.”
Neo’s gut clenched at hearing her say she loved him. She was saying it for Bailey’s sake, but he wished it were true. What would it be like to have the kind of love in his life that Camel clearly had? And then there was Dirty, living across the street and head over heels with Chloe. Not to mention the rest of Neo’s teammates. It was only him and Shade left in the bachelor category.
And he wasn’t going to be a bachelor much longer, though Kayla hadn’t mentioned that part to her sister. Neo had left it up to her. She’d clearly decided that springing two things—a threat from criminals and moving out—was enough of a blow for her sister in one night.
“I am happy for you. Both of you,” Bailey said, stepping back and giving him a look that contained both a question and a threat. “Take care of my baby sister and my precious niece, Zach. I need them.”
“I need them too, Bailey. Both of them.” He put his arm around Kayla and pulled her close. She clung to his side as if it was the most natural thing in the world to be there. She made him feel fiercely protective. He’d do anything for her and Ana.
“I know it’s sudden,” Kayla said, “but after the visit from Dal today, I think it’s wise to go now. I don’t know that he knows where to find me other than the salon, but I’m not taking any chances.”
“You can’t keep going to work,” Bailey said. “It’s too dangerous.”
“I have to for now. It’s my job, and I won’t leave the girls in a bind.”
Neo gave Kayla’s shoulder a squeeze, signaling her not to keep protesting. “We’ll figure something out, Bailey. I won’t let her put herself in danger.”
“We’re going to track down this Dal Gentry,” Camel said. “Find out where the club is hanging these days and precisely what the state of it is.”
They’d already talked to their team commander about it. Dane “Viking” Erikson was taking it up the chain to see what they could do.
Hell, if he had to, Neo would pay Ian Black a visit. He knew where to find the man’s HQ building and he wasn’t too proud to ask for help. He’d probably find his ass in a sling with Viper and Ghost, aka General Mendez and Colonel Bishop, if he did that—but when he said he’d do anything to protect Kayla and Ana, he meant it.
“I guess I can’t argue with that,” Bailey said, still frowning. And then her frown faded as if she’d made a decision to put it behind her. “Hey, do y’all want some dinner before we start loading up your car? I made meatloaf and mas
hed potatoes with gravy, green beans, and rolls. Oh, and Chloe gave me her strawberry pretzel salad recipe, so I made that too.”
Neo’s belly growled like Pavlov’s dog hearing a bell. “You made Chloe’s dessert recipe?”
Bailey grinned. “Sure did. And I’ll be honest and tell you she gave me the meatloaf recipe too, so it’s not the dry brick I usually end up with. My cooking skills are improving beyond breakfast these days.”
“Baby, you always make a fine breakfast,” Camel said. “Those pancakes of yours. Mmm.”
Neo wasn’t sure, but he thought Bailey might have blushed.
She gave Camel a little smack on the arm. “You’re too sweet to me. But I swear y’all will love tonight’s meal. Promise. So will you eat with us?”
Neo wanted to stay for dinner for the strawberry thing alone. But he waited for Kayla to decide. She was the one whose opinion mattered. If she wanted to leave, they would.
She glanced up at him. “I’m willing if you are.”
“Oh yeah,” he replied before she changed her mind. “It sounds delicious to me.”
“Okay then, we’ll stay. I’ll help set the table,” she said to Bailey.
She and Bailey headed for the kitchen, though she stopped to scoop Ana from her playpen before disappearing through the door. Once the clatter of plates and silverware sounded, Camel turned to him.
“Come on, dude, what’s really going on with you two?”
Kayla was spent, but too keyed up to fall asleep right away. After she put Ana down for the night in the master bedroom, she emerged to find Zach waiting with a glass of white wine.
“Thank you,” she said as he handed it to her. “How did you know I wanted wine?”
He lifted an eyebrow. “After the day you’ve had?”
She sighed. “True.”
He put an arm around her and hugged her to his side. “Proud of you, babe. You did good telling Bailey about Dal Gentry, and about moving in with me.”
Kayla took a sip of wine. “But I didn’t tell her we’re getting married.”
“Yeah, I noticed that.”
She glanced up at him. “You’re not mad?”
“Why would I be mad? I think you had enough to tell your sister tonight.”
“Me too. Hey, I want to see the room.”
He grinned. “Thought you might.”
He pushed open the door to the bedroom across the hall from hers and stepped back so she could enter first.
“Oh, I love it.” The creamy white paint was even richer now that it had dried, and the pink on the feature wall was so light and airy and perfect. “I can’t wait to finish it. But it looks really good for only one coat,” she added.
“I painted a second coat,” Zach said. “I woke early this morning and I had time, so I rolled it on. It’s ready.”
Her heart filled with love as she walked over and examined the feature wall. “It’s perfect, Zach.”
“Yeah, I kinda like it too. All you gotta do is take the painter’s tape off the trim. I left that on in case we needed another coat, but I don’t think we do.”
“No, I don’t think so either.”
She carefully picked at one corner of the painter’s tape and pulled it off. Zach started pulling off the others. When they were done, they stood in the middle of the room and looked around at their handywork.
“Love it,” she said. “I can’t wait to decorate it for Ana.”
She’d set her wine on the window sill when she was pulling tape and now she turned and flung her arms around Zach. “Thank you, Zach. Thank you so much for making my dream for Ana’s room come true.”
He caught her and held her to him. His body was big, hard, and she felt a little thrill deep inside as she pressed up against him. Her nipples tightened. She ached for a repeat of their single night together, but her emotions were high and it might not be the best time. No telling what she’d say to him in the heat of the moment.
“You’re welcome, beautiful. But we aren’t done yet. We need to shop for that crib, and for the accessories and shit you’ll want.”
“I know, but I’m just so happy about it. I mean I showed up at your house with a half-baked plan only a few days ago, and you’ve been nothing but terrific since. I have to admit I didn’t expect it would be like this, even after you agreed to help me.”
His hands roamed over her back and down to her hips where he gripped her and pulled her lightly against him. “I don’t do anything half-assed,” he said. “Once I’m in, I’m in.”
Kayla couldn’t help but laugh. She was so incredibly happy at this moment, even with the stresses of the day. “Is that innuendo? Because it sounds like it could be.”
He grinned and pressed closer. She caught her breath at the evidence of his growing arousal. Her body responded with a surge of liquid heat, making her wet and oh so ready for him.
“If you’re asking if I want to be inside you, yeah, I really do. But I’m not planning to pursue it tonight. You’ve had a shitty day and you’re tired. I’m not taking advantage of that.”
She threaded her fingers into his hair. It was short, military-style, but she’d seen him with it shaggier too. She liked both ways. “Maybe I want you to take advantage of me. Did you ever think of that?”
So much for her heightened emotions and her fear of what she might say in the heat of the moment. The thought of having him inside her was fast chasing out other considerations.
“Honey, I’ve wished for it harder than you know. But I want it to be right, not rushed.” He kissed her, a chaste peck on the lips that had her aching for more.
Kayla couldn’t stop the jaw-cracking yawn that hit her at that moment. Zach gave her an I told you so look. Then he reached past her to where her wine was sitting on the sill and handed it to her. She took a sip and turned around slowly to take in the walls again.
“Come on, beautiful. You look like you’re about to fall down,” Zach said. “Let’s sit on the couch for a few minutes.”
She followed him to the living room and sank onto the couch beside him. It wasn’t a great piece of furniture, but it was comfortable enough. “Is this yours or did it come with the house?”
“It’s the landlord’s. Most of the furniture is, with the exception of the stuff in my bedroom. And the bed in the master. That was Dirty’s but he left it when he moved in with Chloe.”
Kayla yawned again, feeling drowsy and secure as she snuggled in beside Zach. “It’s a comfortable bed. And a lonely one…” She jerked as the words left her lips. Had she really just said them aloud?
“I know, honey. I’m lonely too.”
A hot feeling rushed over her. She didn’t want to be alone. Not tonight. Not when she would probably wake up a million times in fear that someone was coming into the room to steal Ana away. “Then sleep with me, Zach. Just sleep. I’ll keep all my clothes on and everything—”
God, what was she saying? Begging him to sleep with her? Sounding desperate and pitiful at the same time?
But she’d said it and it was out there now, hovering between them.
He sighed and skimmed his fingers down her cheek. “I don’t know if that’s a good idea.”
Heat flooded her cheeks. “It’s okay. I understand.” She sipped her wine to cover her disappointment.
He put his fingers beneath her chin and turned her to face him. “Is it important to you?”
She started to tell him no, it was fine, forget it. Instead, she nodded.
He dropped his chin. Sighed. “Okay, honey. I’ll sleep beside you tonight.”
Chapter Fourteen
Neo had to ask himself if he’d suffered a moment of temporary insanity when he’d agreed to sleep with Kayla all night. Especially once they were in bed and lying quietly in the dark. He could hear her breathing and he knew she wasn’t asleep. He lay on his back, staring up at the ceiling, and his dick was harder than stone.
Her small hand groped for his, and he closed his fingers around hers.
&nbs
p; “It wasn’t fair to ask you to sleep here,” she said softly. “I’ll understand if you want to go.”
“I said I’d stay. I just need a moment to get things under control.”
A moment? Hell, what he needed was to bury himself inside her and take them both over the edge into that wild heat they’d explored before. Barring that, he needed a few minutes alone in the shower so he could jerk off and release some of the pressure.
He wasn’t getting either of those things, though.
Kayla turned onto her side and put a hand on his chest. She didn’t move it and she didn’t snuggle up to him.
Thank God for small favors.
“I’m sorry, Zach. I seem to cause you nothing but trouble.”
He put his hand over hers and held it. He liked touching her, even such a simple touch as this. “I’ll live, Kayla.”
She didn’t say anything in response. Soon after, he heard her breaths lengthen and he knew she’d fallen asleep. Considering how exhausted she’d seemed earlier, he wasn’t surprised. He thought about slipping away now that she’d passed out, but even though he convinced himself he was going to do it, he never moved. He listened to her breathe, listened for Ana’s breathing, and felt himself relax. It took a while, because his body had a primal need to mate with hers, but it wasn’t the first time he’d been horny with no relief and it likely wouldn’t be the last. That was life.
Camel had asked him earlier what was really going on between him and Kayla. He’d told his teammate the truth: he didn’t really know, but it was intense and emotional and he’d put his life on the line to keep her and Ana safe. Camel had frowned for a second, but then he’d nodded and said, “Okay, brother.”
Neo didn’t remember falling asleep, but when he snapped awake sometime later, it was still dark. Kayla was beside him, softly snoring. She’d curled up to him, and he’d turned onto his side to bring her closer. They were tangled together like the roots of a tree.
A sound came from Ana’s crib, and he jolted into greater awareness, listening hard. Sure enough, she was starting to fuss. It was a small sound, but he suspected it would grow louder quickly if not attended to. He disentangled himself from Kayla without waking her and padded to the crib. Ana’s eyes were wide open and she was snuffling.
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