Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 63967 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 320(@200wpm)___ 256(@250wpm)___ 213(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63967 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 320(@200wpm)___ 256(@250wpm)___ 213(@300wpm)
I roll my eyes and release a heavy sigh because this is the talking part of being together, the true test of what our future might be. “I’m all right. I’m just tired and hungry all the time.”
I smile and place my hand over his. “Are you really okay with this?”
He nods, a smile stretching across his face. “I’m more than okay with it, Sophie. I’m fucking thrilled. It’s scary. I mean, what the fuck do I know about being a dad? But I’m looking forward to learning.”
My heart swells so much I think it might burst. “That’s how I feel, too,” I admit in a whisper. “It was a shock at first, a big one, but I’m happy about it.”
“Good because I am, too.” His words are genuine and the look in his eyes is enough to melt away my reservations about having a baby, having a baby with a biker, and all the other stuff we need to talk about.
“So,” I sigh and run my thumb along the bruise on his jaw. “How did you do in County Jail?”
He sighs and pushes away, putting some distance between our naked bodies, leaving me instantly cold.
“I did all right. A couple of fights, but I’m in one piece, just a little bruised.” It’s an abbreviated version of his time in lockup, and I can sense he doesn’t want to talk about it. But we have to if we’re going to be honest with each other and build this relationship.
“Tank, are you sure you’re all right?”
He nods. “There’s shit that I’ll have to deal with now that I’m out, but I’m fine. I’m here with you, and I’m good. Right now, I’m fucking great.”
“That is good news. But,” I nibble my bottom lip, unsure how to ask what I want to know.
“But?”
“But, what happened? Why were you arrested, and how did you get out?”
He sucks in a deep breath, sitting up and sliding closer to me. Tank gathers my hands in his, his gaze meeting mine head-on.
“I said I did something I didn’t because it was the best thing for the MC.”
“What? Why would you do that?”
He smiles, bringing one of my hands to his mouth. “Because I’m more expendable than the other person.”
“You’re not,” I insist. “You’re not fucking expendable, Tank.”
“I’m glad you think that, but it’s not about self-esteem, honey. It’s a brotherhood and what it means to be in a club. Luckily, Ace hired a kick-ass lawyer who doesn’t like to lose. She found evidence, hard evidence that the judge couldn’t deny, to prove it was self-defense. From me or the other guy.”
I blink in shock. “So, is it totally over?”
“It is.”
My body sinks in relief. “But what about the other guy. Is he going to prison?”
“No, Soph. He’s not. But, that particular shit show is now in the past.” He pulls me forward and brushes a soft kiss against my lips that is exactly the distraction I need. “Tell me something about you, Sophie. Something that’s not serious but something I should know.”
I smile. “First date talk?”
He nods. “We haven’t had a first date. Yet.”
“We kinda had a date at the bistro.”
He chuckles. “I guess we could call it that. Wish we could have had more sunrise breakfasts before I got locked up.”
“Well, you’re here now, and I’d love to have an early morning breakfast with you.”
Tank runs his thumb against my cheek and asks, “What else would you like to do?”
“Eat? I’m fucking starving. I want tacos. Anyway I can get them. Hard or soft. Corn or flour. Shrimp, steak, chicken, or fish, give it all to me. With extra salsa.”
“Is that good for the baby? The salsa? Not too spicy?”
I roll my eyes. “A girl’s gotta eat, and I have fierce cravings. I’ll lay off the salsa. What about you, Tank? Are you a taco kind of guy or a steak and potatoes guy?”
“I’ll fuck up a good steak, sure, but give me fried chicken and real mac and cheese any day of the week. None of that boxed shit, either. I want it cheesy and bubbly and a little brown on top, fresh from the oven.”
“Noted.” I smile at him like a lovesick fool, feeling my heart double in size at the shared moment of silence. “Is your family in Angel Harbor?”
“No. My sister and my nephew are up in Sacramento. She’s doing really good these days, working at a cooking school.”
“Wow. That’s great. My brother and sister both live in Angel Harbor. He’s a single dad and works at the port. She’s, well, now she’s a social media girl, but last year she was a chef. She wanted to open up her own restaurant, but she found out how hard it is, so now she takes pictures of food for restaurants.” It’s nice, getting to know each other like this.