“Momma’s boyfriend.”
“He owns a motorcycle?”
“Two of them. He’s a biker.”
My son is so helpful and just full of details.
“A biker?” Robbie asks, knowing what it could mean.
All of his trouble started with bikers in Santa Fe. Bikers are the reason I moved away from the area when I found out I was pregnant with Harley. It’s why I choose to drive several hours to come visit instead of living closer.
“I don’t want my son around bikers,” he says, his voice as calm as he’s able to manage.
I take a deep breath. I know where he’s coming from. I know what he’s thinking. I just need a minute to get my thoughts in order. Robbie and I don’t argue. We never really have. Even when he was on the outside, we didn’t argue. He was always too high. If I told him to get out and leave, that I was tired of his shit, he just left. He had other places to be, other women he could be with. He was too laid back to worry about me. There was no reason to argue. He was nonconfrontational. Fights weren’t worth the wasted energy.
Robbie is no longer high. He’s invested in his son as much as he possibly can be.
He lowers his head, inching closer. “You promised to protect him from that life.”
“Harley,” I say, looking Robbie right in the eye, no sour inflection in my tone as I reach for some of the change in my pocket. “Can you go see if the snack machine has any candy you like?”
“I’m not—”
“I’d really love something chocolate,” I interrupt.
He takes the change from my hand.
The second he scoots away, I give Robbie my full attention. “Micah is nothing like the men you got tangled up with. They’re good men. They help the community. They do fundraisers and buy playground equipment for local schools. He served eight years in the military.”
“My cellmate served twelve years in the military, and it didn’t stop him from killing his wife, Lucy. Who do you have around my son?”
“The Cerberus MC is well respected in the community, Robbie Farrow. You do not get to dictate who I date. I’d never put Harley in danger.”
“M&Ms, Momma,” Harley says as he returns.
“Those are my favorites. Thanks, sweetie,” I tell him with a smile as he sits back down beside me.
Robbie clears his throat, and I know it’s his attempt to get his emotions back under control. The visit continues, and he doesn’t say another word about Micah or motorcycles.
“I’ve got a release date,” he says when they announce the five-minute warning.
Harley squeals in delight, gaining a glare from one of the guards. He settles when I place my hand on his arm.
“Really?”
“First week in January.”
“That’s really soon.” My heart rate skyrockets.
“Less than a month,” Harley whispers. “I can’t wait.”
“I’ll be coming to Farmington.”
“I figured Las Cruces,” I say. “That’s where your family is.”
“My family is in Farmington.” His eyes challenge me. “I’ve served my entire sentence so I won’t have to worry about parole, so I can go where I want.”
“You can meet Micah!” Harley adds helpfully.
“Can’t wait,” Robbie says, his eyes on mine.
Chapter 10
Snake
“Hey,” Lucy says when she opens the door.
She looks tired as she steps to the side.
“Where’s the little man at?”
“In his room getting his shoes on.”
I don’t waste a second pulling her to my chest and pressing my lips to hers. In seconds, I’m hard in my jeans, the heat of her body warming me up. I’m glad I drove the truck today instead of the bike. It means I’m not wearing leather, making it easier to feel more of her.
We’ve spent at least two hours together every weekday morning this last week after she got off work and sent Harley to school. I was worried about her being tired, but she assured me she slept better after spending time with me. Wednesday, she fell asleep before I left, so I just stripped right back down and crawled in bed with her. Staying up late to text her on her breaks has been wearing me down as well, so we both slept until her alarm went off to go pick Harley up from school.
She wasn’t upset at all that she woke in my arms, so we did it again Thursday and Friday.
Yesterday, however, was her day to drive to Santa Fe so Harley could visit with his dad. When I offered to take them, she turned me down immediately. Now she’s pulling back from the kiss way too soon.
“What’s wrong?”
“Just tired,” she says as she steps out of my arms.
I trace the shadows under her eyes, pressing my lips to each of them.
“Are you going to tell me what you two are up to today?”
I shake my head, leaning in to whisper, “Christmas surprises.”
She grins. I step closer to kiss her again, but the sound of Harley’s excited feet pounding down the hall makes me take a step back.