ie

“Two sisters. One of them practically raised me when my mom passed away. She’s a fair bit older than me.”

“Your mom passed?” I say softly, my heart aching.

He nods. “Yeah. I was fairly young.”

“I’m so sorry. It sounds like your sister did an amazing thing, then?”

He smiles, and it’s warm. “She’s a good woman, hey. She’d help anyone.”

“I already like her.”

“Yeah, she was good to my other sister and I.”

I study him. “Is your other sister older too?”

“Only by a year. We have a different dad.”

“Oh,” I say, nodding in understanding. “Right.”

“What about you?”

“My dad runs the Jokers’ Wrath MC, if that much isn’t already obvious.”

His brows shoot up. “Yeah, I knew that, but it’s still pretty impressive. Do you like being part of a club?”

I shrug. “Yes and no. I mean, I can’t complain, they’d do anything for me, but it can be ... overwhelming.”

“Because they’re so protective?”

I nod. “Yep, it can get a bit much, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

“They as scary as they look?”

I chuckle. “Yep.”

He grins. “Nice one.”

“Anyway,” I say, standing, “I should really get going. I have to work tomorrow afternoon, and this beer tastes way too good.”

He stands. “Let me call you a cab to get home, I’ll drop your car in the morning.”

“Thanks, that’ll be awesome.”

We both walk out to the front of his house and wait for the cab he dials. I lean against the fence, and he stands next to me. I can smell him. He smells incredible. Our arms touch and something passes over me, a familiarity I can’t quite pinpoint. I could swear I’ve known him forever.

“Do you want to come for a drive with me tomorrow?” he asks, turning and studying me.

“Yeah, where are you going?”

“I own a bit of land out of town, I just wanted to check in on it. I can show you around. Have you ever shot a gun?”

I shake my head. “My dad used to try and get both my sister and I to learn how to shoot, but being raised in the club, it was something I had seen so much of I just didn’t want to learn.”

“I’ll show you. It’s fun!”

My heart swells.

I smile. “Okay.”

“I’ll come pick you up in the morning,” he says when my cab arrives. “Thanks for tonight. I had fun.”

Our eyes meet.

Genuine warmth.

“Me too,” I say, sliding into the car. “’Night, Bestie.”

“Goodnight.”

As the cab pulls away, I glance out the back window.

Yes.

Whoever put us together, they most definitely had a reason.

~*~*~*~

R – Morning.

I glance with blurry eyes at the text message that just came through on my phone. I smile and groggily respond. Roman messages me every morning to make sure I’m okay. I like waking up and knowing there will be a message from him. It’s a nice feeling to have.

M – Don’t you sleep?

R – Lol. Not really. How did you sleep?

M – Pretty good. And I’m not hungover, winner.

R – Nice. You keen for today still?

M – Absolutely!

R – Cool. I’ll come past and get you soon.

M – Okay.

I climb out of bed and plod to the shower, turning it on as hot as I can handle before climbing in. I wash my hair quickly and then stand, soaking the water in for a few minutes before getting out and drying off. What do I wear? I open my closet and stare at the clothes. I end up going with a pair of black shorts and a black tee. Simple, yet not over the top considering we’re shooting a gun.

When I’m done, I head into the kitchen and turn on the kettle to make a quick coffee before Roman arrives. I hear the rumble of his truck only minutes later and smile. He certainly doesn’t waste time. A knock sounds out at my door a minute later. “It’s open!” I call out.

The door swings open, and Roman strides in.

He holds an air of confidence as he moves into my house, like he’s been here a thousand times. “Hey,” he says, eyes scanning the room. “Nice place.”

He walks over and glances at the photos on my bookshelf.

“Just make yourself right at home,” I tease.

He flashes me a grin. “Sorry, I’m a snoop.”

He moves about my living area, checking everything out, and I can’t help but chuckle as I drink my coffee. He’s not shy. That’s for sure. And yet he would have me believe it when we first met. I study him as he takes in my place. He’s so relaxed. So at ease. As if he’s known me his whole life.

“You ready to rock and roll?” he says, glancing at the coffee cup in my hand.

“I’m ready. Let’s do this.”

I pick up my phone and purse and lock up my house on the way out to his truck. We climb in, and he shoots me a wink before reversing the car out onto the road.

“So, have you owned this place long?” I ask as he pulls out onto the highway.

“Yeah a while. I’m trying to sell it.”

“Oh, how come?”

“Just like living here better.”

“Fair enough. It is nice.”

“I built the shed in myself, it wasn’t there when I got the place.”

“Wow, that’s pretty cool. I didn’t know you could build.”

He snorts. “I looked up YouTube videos until I could do it myself.”

I burst out laughing. “Well done, I’m so impressed by you right now.”

He chuckles. “I know, right? I fucked up the tiling a bit at first, but by the end I was a pro.”

I roll my eyes. “We’ll see.”

He grins. “I got some watermelons in the back. I’ve always wanted to shoot one. They say they’re just like a head.”

I half wheeze, half laugh. “Oh, my god. That’s a little disturbing, you know that, right?”

“I just want to see how they explode.”

“I’m concerned for you.”

He rolls his eyes. “Don’t say you don’t want to see what happens.”