Page 55 of Single Mom's Biker Brigade
Soot stained my neck where I’d missed it with the washrag last night, too intent on helping Cody settle in to worry about myself. Breathe. Just breathe.
Cody’s laughter came again. “You can’treallyeat a whole pound of bacon for breakfast, can you?”
My stomach gurgled and twisted at the same time when Colt’s voice answered. “I can. And a whole stack of pancakes.”
“Wow.” The awe returned to Cody’s voice, and my heart tripped right down to my feet.
I smoothed my rumpled shirt and turned left toward the kitchen, following the sound of Cody’s questions and the smell of food.
Cody sat at the kitchen table with a plate of eggs, bacon, and pancakes in front of him. He picked up a bottle of hot sauce and dashed it over his eggs.
Colt gave him an appraising look but didn’t stop him.
I could interrupt and tell him that Cody had been using hot sauce since he was three. Instead, I let Colt figure out a few things on his own. He’d earned that right, despite me keeping Cody away from him all this time. It had nothing to do with Colt as a man but everything to do with their unwillingness to bend or listen when it mattered most. I couldn’t trust a man who told me my fears were unfounded and tried to talk down to me like I wasn’t smart enough to take care of myself.
Cody ate his eggs in slow, methodical bites, his eyes never leaving Colt.
I pressed my lips together and stared at the white ceiling. No water stains in here, just a long stretch of pristine white that ended at a row of cabinets.
Hawk walked in through the back door, poured two cups of coffee, and handed me one.
“Do you play poker?” Cody twirled his fork through a puddle of syrup and licked his lips. He kicked his feet back and forth, his toes skimming the floor.
“Why?”
“Because you don’t have a very good poker face.” Cody commented without a shred of fear.
Colt sat back with a surprised snort. “Where’d you learn to play poker?”
“Mom taught me.” Cody shot a look toward the door, realized I stood there, and flushed. He stood and rushed over, throwing his arms around me. “Sorry I left the room without telling you. I was hungry, and I smelled food. Colt was in the hallway. I think he’d been there all night. He showed me the kitchen, and I forgot to come tell you where I went.”
Ah. So he’d been the one to unlock and open the door. I cupped his face in my hands and held eye contact long enough to make him squirm. “I understand you wanted to let me sleep, but you absolutely, under no circumstance, can ever do that again. I need to know where you are. At all times. I know that feels ridiculous to you, but I need you to respect what I’m asking. Okay?”
His chin quivered, and his arms tightened around me. “I didn’t mean to scare you. I thought we were safe here.”
Damn it. How did I tell him without giving him nightmares?
“You are safe here. No one will ever bother you here. I swear it.” Colt stood and made an X over his heart. “I swear on my life, Cody.” His eyes met mine over Cody’s head. “You’re both safe here.”
I wanted to believe him. I wanted it so badly my entire body vibrated with a deep, resonating hum. But I didn’t dare give in to the temptation of trusting them with Cody’s life…with my life.
I blinked and tore my gaze away from Colt, dropping it to Cody. “Finish your breakfast.”
He nodded and skipped back to his seat. “Will you play poker with me?” He shot the question at Colt. “Mom always knows when I’m bluffing. She says she knows when anyone is bluffing. It’s a life skill, and I want to learn.”
I hated how natural it felt with all of us in the kitchen. Diesel hadn’t made an appearance yet, but he would. The sight of Colt and Cody laughing together soured the coffee in my stomach, and I dumped the last of it down the sink.
“Take a walk with me?” Hawk phrased it like a question, but he wasn’t the kind of man who asked for anything.
I should deny him just for the sake of it, but I had too much to talk to him about. I nodded once. “Colt?”
“I got him.” His hand rested on the back of Cody’s chair, their matching blond heads bent toward each other. “We’ll be right here when you come back.”
“But I want to see the shop.” Cody wiggled in his seat. “Can Colt show me around?”
Ugh. “Yes, but stay with him at all times.” I’d rather keep him with me, but the things Hawk and I needed to talk about were not suitable for him either.
I hugged Cody and followed Hawk onto the porch, then down the steps and toward the east edge of the property, away from the front lot full of bikes. Trees swayed overhead, the early morning sunshine created a dappled effect on the leaves.
