“He doesn’t know about my illness,” I confess, and she leans closer to me, resting her hand on my knee.

“I know he doesn’t. You told us not to bring it up around him, which we haven’t because you are a woman—a grown woman who needs to make her own decisions about these kinds of things,” she says quietly before leaning in and moving her hand up to rest against my cheek. “But with all of that, honey, you need to tell him so he can show you that he is exactly the man he’s shown you he is, the kind who will stick by you when you need him.”

“But what if he’s not that guy? What if he finds out and decides he can’t handle it? What then?” I ask, voicing my biggest fear.

“I think you need to ask yourself what you will be missing out on if you don’t give him the chance to prove you wrong.” She leans back, and I pull my eyes from her and look out over the lake through the glass windows behind me. Even knowing she’s right, fear has my hands balling into fists. I want to cling to him; when he’s close, I find myself going to him without thought, but I don’t know if I can trust him. I don’t know if I trust myself right now.

“Sorry, ladies,” Sage says, and I swing my head around to find him standing in the open doorway with his eyes on me. “Can you come in for a sec? I need to talk to you.”

“Um… sure.” I start to stand, but my mom gets up, putting a hand to my shoulder to keep me down.

“I’m going to go check on the boys’ progress.” She gives my shoulder a squeeze before moving past Sage, who gives her a small smile as she pats him on the abs and moves past him into the house. Once she’s inside, he slides the door closed behind her and walks to where I am, taking a seat. Dropping his eyes to the floor, he runs his hands over his head in a move that screams he’s frustrated about something, and that puts me instantly on guard.

“Is everything okay?”

“I gotta leave town for a few days,” he says, turning to look at me. “Jax just called. He got a call on a skip, and I can’t afford to pass this one up. If I could, I wouldn’t take the job.”

My muscles relax, and I let out a quiet, relieved breath. “Please don’t worry about me,” I beg, reaching over and taking his hand. “I know you have to work. I’ll be fine.”

“Your parents are leaving tomorrow,” he reminds me quietly, and I nod.

“I know, and I have to get back to work, too. This…” I shake my head, trying to find the words to express how much everything he’s done has meant to me. “I really appreciate everything you’ve done, for letting me cry on your shoulder and giving my parents a place to stay. For being so cool around Chris… when he’s Chris and could annoy the Pope. I appreciate it all more than you know. You’ve been a really great friend,” I finish, and he studies me for a second before he shakes his head, leans forward, and places his mouth over mine. The kiss is deep, hard, wet, and over way too soon, so when he pulls his mouth away, my eyes are still closed and my hands are wound into his shirt to pull him back for more.

“There is nothing friendly about the things I want to do to you Kimberly,” he growls. My eyes pop open and I find his face an inch from mine. “We’re not friends, If you haven’t figured that out by now, I’ve still got work to do. It’s my job to take care of you. I didn’t do any of that shit out of kindness. I did it because I look out for mine. And make no mistake about it, baby, you are mine.”

And with that, he leans in, pressing his mouth to mine once more while untangling my hands from his shirt before he stands. “I gotta pack. I’ll be out to say goodbye to everyone before I go. You’re welcome to stay here as long as you want. I already put a key on your key ring.”

Sitting here blinking at his retreating back, I watch him go into the house, wondering what the hell just happened. A few minutes later, I still have no answer to that question when he reappears and kisses me goodbye.

Chapter 6

Kim

“HOW ARE YOU?” Ellie asks as we start to clean up our stations at the salon. From the moment we opened the doors to the shop this morning, we’ve been slammed with clients and walk-ins, so we haven’t had a chance to really talk.

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