Chapter Five

O ut of the corner of my eye, I catch Kaitlyn looking at me as I put the car in park.

"Okay, spit it out. Why do you keep looking at me like that?" I ask as I shut the car off.

A small smile plays on her lips. "I'm sorry, it's nothing really."

"Oh no, it's something. Tell me."

"I've just only ever pictured you driving a bike and never in a car. So it's a little odd to see."

"You know, it does get cold in Vegas, and there are months that I can't ride, right?" I tell her, raising a brow.

"I guess I never thought about that. What do you have?"

"I'm a man, so I have a truck. Not some little box like this," I tease her, making her laugh.

"There is nothing wrong with my car."

"Babe, the car seat just barely fits in the back seat. Seriously, I think it's time we look for something else."

Kaitlyn rolls her eyes and opens her door. "There is nothing wrong with my car, Colt, and it's paid off. I would rather not have a car payment if I can avoid it."

"Just think about it, babe. Hell, I'd pay for it if you say yes."

We both get out of the car, and I walk around to her side while she gets Kolby's car seat out. Once it clears the door, I take it from her and hit the lock button on the key fob before dropping it into my pocket.

"Ready?"

"Is it weird that I'm excited to see how much he's grown?" she asks as we walk into the doctor's office.

"No, I don't think it's weird at all. I'm kind of excited too, to be honest."

"I'll get us checked in. Find us a place to sit?"

"Sure."

I take Kolby and make my way to an empty corner with an uncomfortable-looking couch. I sit down and take Kolby out of his car seat.

"Be good, little man, and don't cry like the other little rugrats in here," I murmur to my son.

I don't miss the way some of the women's eyes linger on me. Especially the ones who are there alone. Hell, the nurse at the front desk leaned around Kaitlyn to get a better look at me. I used to like the attention, but now I want to scream at them. How dare they blatantly show their interest with my woman right there?

"Someone needs to stick a pacifier in it," Kaitlyn says under her breath as she takes a seat next to me, making me laugh.

I immediately put my arm around her shoulder, glaring at the nurse who blushes as she looks away.

"I was thinking the same thing. Everything go okay?" I ask her, noticing that she is tense.

"Yeah, I just need to fill all of this out." She has a packet of paperwork.

While I keep Kolby calm, Kaitlyn fills out the information the doctor's office needs. Right as she finishes, they call us back. They take us into a room and have us strip down Kolby. Little man starts to make a fuss, so Kaitlyn gives him his pacifier, and we share a smile when he stops.

They have us step back into the hall and weigh him before heading back into the room. Thankfully they don't make us wait long. The doctor comes in and checks Kolby out and asks us if we have any questions or concerns, and then tells us the nurse will give little man shots and he will see us again in a month.

The nurse offers us a smile. "Fair warning, Mom and Dad, the shots are worse for you than they are for him."

She has Kaitlyn hold him down while she jabs him in the leg. Kaitlyn flinches when Kolby starts to cry.

"It's over," I murmur against Kaitlyn's head as I rub her back.

"I know."

"That's it. I'll see you guys again next month," the nurse says before exiting the room.

Gently, I push Kaitlyn out of the way and redress our son. I put him back in his car seat, and we head out. We stop by the reception desk on the way out and then make our way back to the car. I put Kolby's car seat in the base and then get in.

"Do you want to stop and get food on the way home?" I ask as I pull out onto the road.

"God, yes, I could go for some tacos after that," she says.

"Works for me."

"There's a food truck around the corner from my place, and it's delicious."

I reach over and rest my hand on her knee. "Consider it done."

In record time, I make it to the food truck, and I leave the car running with Kaitlyn and Kolby inside while I order our food and some extra for Fang.

When we get back to the house, I spot Fang in the garage as he makes his way over to us.

"Has he been sleeping in the garage?" she asks suddenly.

I hadn't considered that she didn't know he was always around.

"Yeah. I hope you don't mind. I like knowing he is here watching our backs when we need it."

She frowns. "It's hot as hell right now. He's going to die in there."

"Nah, he hooked up a window unit. He's good."

She shakes her head as Fang stands outside, waiting for us.

He opens Kaitlyn's door when I shut off the car.

"Thank you," she says as she gets out.

"You're welcome," he says as he moves to get my son out of the car.

I move around to the trunk. "I'll meet you up there."

"Want me to take him with me?" Kaitlyn asks.

I shake my head. "I got him. Take the food and get started without me."

"Okay." She hands me the extra bag of food before she waves at Fang and walks away.

"How were things here?" I ask as Fang joins me.

"Quiet."

I smirk as we trade my son for the bag of food. "Just the way we like it. Kaitlyn is worried about you in the garage. Maybe mention to her that you are comfortable so she doesn't worry."

"Will do, boss. Thank you."

"You're welcome. Anything else?"

He shakes his head. "Nah, go inside and spend it with your family."

I nod and pass by him and do as he says. I make my way into the house.

"That didn't take long," Kaitlyn says from her spot on the couch, holding a taco.

"I just wanted to check in with him," I tell her as I flip the lock in place.

"You think we are going to have issues?" she asks.

"You never know. Especially with my welcome here being contingent. I'd rather have a layer of protection for both of you."

"So Fang will be here all the time?" she asks.

"Think of him like a protection detail. He will be around in case he is needed, but he will give you space."

"Okay. I can handle that." She tips her chin toward the bag on the coffee table. "Eat while it's still warm."

"Don't mind if I do."

I take a burrito out of the bag and take a bite. "Fuck…" I groan as I take a bite.

"Good, right?" Kaitlyn giggles.

"So fucking good. I'll give Texas credit for one thing, their Mexican food is better than Vegas's."

"Mark that as a con for Vegas, then," she teases.

"Ah, are we starting a pros and cons list?"

She shrugs. "Maybe."

"I like the way that sounds."

"I'm sure you do."

"So there I was, in New Orleans, drunk off my ass with a psychic reading my palm."

I laugh as I take a bite of my food. "And what did she read?"

A wicked grin covers his face. "That I was going to find the woman of my dreams and have dirty, dirty sex for the rest of my life."

I push his shoulder with my free hand. "There's no way that she said that."

Colt chuckles. "I'm serious! Trigger was there with me."

"Uh-huh," I hum as I put my empty plate on the coffee table next to his. "You know, I've always wanted to go to New Orleans, do the whole Bourbon Street thing."

"Then why haven't you?" he asks as he puts his arm on the back of the couch.

"Traveling alone has never been something I've wanted to do."

Colt nods as he starts playing with my hair. "I get that, but why not go with a friend?"

I shrug. "I haven't had anyone I've wanted to go with. Growing up the princess of an MC doesn't really give you many opportunities to find friends. They were either scared of my father or they wanted an in with my father."

"That's terrible," he says softly, caressing my cheek. "Maybe we can change that. I'll take you anywhere you want to go."

"Anywhere?" I murmur as my heart races.

He wants to go places with me. Together.

Right now, the only place I want to go is the bedroom. It's the first time since giving birth that sex has appealed to me. It's not the right time, though. We need to figure our shit out before we add more sex to the mix.

"Anywhere, Little Mama," he whispers, pulling my attention back to him.

My body is heated all of a sudden.

"Is there anywhere you want to go but haven't yet?" I ask him, needing to break the tension.

Colt tilts his head as he thinks about it. "I've always thought that one of those Alaskan cruises would be cool."

I lean toward him and tease, "So you aren't a car guy, but you would be okay being trapped on a boat?"

He lifts one shoulder, and the corner of his mouth tips up. "It's good to make yourself uncomfortable from time to time. Don't you think?"

I nod slowly. "I'd agree, depending on the circumstances."

"What about you? Do you think an Alaskan cruise sounds like a good time?"

I tilt my head from side to side. "In theory, yes, but it also sounds cold. I don't know if you've noticed, but I'm a Texas girl and have thin blood."

Colt throws his head back and laughs, making my skin tingle.

God, his laugh is addicting, and he doesn't do it nearly enough. It reminds me of the night we met. My body heats just thinking back to that night.

"I'd love to know what you were just thinking about," he rasps.

I duck my head and hide my smile. "I'm sure you would."

His hand flexes, pulling my hair just enough to give me a bite of pain that I crave. "Care to share with the class?"

"But teasing you is so much more fun," I quip, making him smile.

Kolby makes a sound, breaking the moment, and we both turn and look at the monitor. We watch him stretch before falling back to sleep.

"I love him so fucking much."

I sigh. "Me too."

Colt's hand moves to the back of my neck as he turns back to me. "You did a good job, Momma."

"With what?"

"Growing him and taking care of him now. All of it."

"I'm not doing it alone, you know. You're doing an awesome job too, and I couldn't imagine doing it without you."

His hand flexes on my neck. "As long as I have anything to say about it, you never will."

"I like the way that sounds."

"Me too, babe, me too."

His phone rings, and his eyes darken. "I need to answer that."

"I know."

"But I don't want to."

"I know that too, but we both know you have to," I tell him.

It's even more crucial now since he is only here conditionally. While I hate that he has those obligations, I know that I must endure them if I want this time with him.

He pulls away and grabs his phone off the table.

"Yeah?" he says when he picks up.

I get up and grab our plates. I walk them into the kitchen and rinse them off before placing them in the dishwasher.

"I'll be there soon," he says right as I walk back out.

He hangs up and drops his phone into his pocket.

"You need to go," I say as I cross my arms over my chest.

He nods and clenches his jaw. "I'll be home as soon as I can. Fang will be here."

I nod and bite my tongue. I want to ask him to stay, but I know I can't. I know how this life works and when called, you have to go.

He walks over to me and kisses me on the forehead, lingering.

"Be safe," I whisper.

"Always. I'll come home to you, don't you worry."

"I know," I say, offering him a brittle smile.

Colt pulls away and grabs his cut off the hook by the door and shrugs it on.

"Lock it behind me," he demands as he slips outside.

I blow out a breath and walk forward, doing as he asked. Shaking my head, I move back to the couch and flop down onto it, covering my face with my arm.

I don't know what to do.

When Colt's around, everything is good, perfect even. I remember why I fell for him when I met him. When it's just us and Kolby, I can see us being together. I want it so bad that I can taste it. Then reality slaps us in the face and he's called away to handle business.

Business that I've always silently promised myself I would never get involved in. Growing up, I hated watching my father storm out in the middle of the night, despite my mother begging him to stay. Time and time again, he chose the club over my mother, breaking her heart.

Colt tonight unknowingly proved to me that the club will always come first, and I won't play second fiddle. Even if I understand the reasons he has to go, it hurts knowing that he can't ever put me first.

While this is the first call he has had to take for his club, I know it won't be the last. Can I live with myself if I give in and give our lives to him, knowing that we may never be his priority?

It makes me wonder what his club is like in Vegas. Will they be more demanding of him there? They have got to be, right? He's their VP.

Then again, he hasn't talked to anyone from there since he got here. At least, I don't think he has.

Groaning, I rub my face. I need to stop making mountains out of molehills.

Two months.

I have two months to see where this goes.

Let's just hope, in the end, I make the right choice because it won't only affect me but my son as well.