Chapter One

Collette

I rub my hand over my expanded stomach and drag in a deep breath. I don't know how I got here. Mathematically speaking, my life makes zero sense. I avoided danger. I took the safe bet. I went with the guy that made the most sense both financially and emotionally. Yet here I am, sucking back seltzer water at the diner, trying to tame the heartburn that's been pushing its way up my esophagus for the past nine months—no man in sight.

Who needs a man, anyway?I'm perfectly capable of working hard, providing an income, and caring for this baby all on my own.

Dishes clink against tables and forks scratch against plates as the bubbly squish of ketchup bottles and waitresses calling out orders hum in the background. I've been sensitive to smells lately so I've been avoiding the diner at all costs. The thought of grilled onions frying with a background smell of coffee and melted butter makes my stomach turn, but the allure of a slice of sky-high apple pie is too much to resist. So far, so good.

I slice into the thick, gooey goodness of the Rugged Mountain classic and let the flavors explode. Cinnamon, lemon, nutmeg, brown sugar, and a slight bite of cranberry. There's nowhere else on Earth you can find this kind of taste. I've tried so many times to replicate it. They must use some secret ingredient I can't figure on taste alone.

The bell on the diner door dings and I glance up like everyone else to see who's walked in. It's starting to warm up, and more and more folks are venturing out of hibernation and back into town. I think it helps that most all the repairs are finished from the damage that bear did a few months back. He wrecked nearly all of the bakery and part of the general store, but folks really pulled together to fix everything, and now, the bakery is reopening and the damage to the general store is patched up nicely. If there's one thing I love about this small town above everything else, it's the community. When something happens, we all pull together to make it right again.

I slice into the pie and shove another giant bite in my mouth, staring ahead as whoever's walked through the door makes their way down through the aisle to find a booth. Having grown up here, I know nearly everyone in town. Some days, that's good. Today, not so much.

Max makes eyes with me immediately. He's a big, brooding, and freakishly tall guy with tattoos covering his body. He wears a leather jacket and jeans with a pair of cowboy boots, and his beard is long and salted.

"I heard you were back in town." His graveled tone sends a shock to my thighs. He's always had this effect on me.

I swallow the giant bite I'm working down and stare at him, unsure of what to say. It's been so long since we've seen each other. Even longer since we really talked. Unfortunately, I already know my feelings for him haven't gone away. I wish they would, but they haven't.

He slides into the opposite side of my booth without an invitation.

My clit throbs again.

Why does he do this to me? Of all the men in all the world, why him? I've already done the math. Max is bad news. He's reckless, arrogant, and doesn't shy away from arguments. He's way older than me, and he's constantly challenging everyone. I don't need that kind of drama in my life.

"You're pregnant. When did that happen?"

"What?" I look away. "I'm not pregnant."

He laughs and reaches onto my plate, grabbing a piece of crust from my pie.

I poke him with my fork and shoo him away. He can barge in on my meal, but he's not stealing my pie. Apparently, that's where I draw the line.

"What makes you think I'm pregnant?"

"I've seen that body inside out, little cat. I know you're pregnant."

Little cat.My thighs ache. I miss him calling me that.

"Wow! That's insulting."

"How is the truth insulting?"

"Well, I for one, I—"

"Knock it off. What's going on?" He drags his paw toward my plate again, but I poke him just in time.

"I'm not back so you can boss me around again."

"No? You didn't miss it?"

I roll my eyes and suck back a sip of cold tea. "You're stupid."

"You're beautiful." His tone is so deep, I might come right here. This is why I stay away. I can't control myself around him. "Who knocked you up?"

I huff out a sigh and push my pie away. Suddenly the scent of bacon grease and coffee is getting to me. "None of your business."

"Are you with him? Does he love you?" Max laughs. "I know you don't love him."

"And what makes you think I don't love the father of my baby?"

He laughs. "Because you love me, and… I'm glad you're admitting you"re pregnant."

I stare toward him and sneer. "You're ridiculous. Thanks for reminding me that you haven't changed."

"You wouldn't want me any other way. So… where is this guy? I'd like to kick his ass."

"You're not kicking anyone's ass. You lost the right to defend me two years ago when, you know, you started killing people for money."

He rolls his eyes. "I'm a bounty hunter, not a murderer."

"You favor dead over alive, though. Can we at least admit that?"

He laughs, then settles with a straight face. "Being good at my job means that I do what's necessary. Never more. Never less." The way his mind works will always intrigue me. The guy could be stealing puppies from orphans, and I think he'd find a way to make it sound gallant.

"Look, as you can see, I've got a lot going on. So, forgive me if I steer clear of drama."

He leans in, bringing with him the scent of warm cedar and leather.

My panties are soaked.

"Who's the guy that knocked you up? Why isn't he here?"

I stand from the table and pull my jacket on. I don't need to answer his questions. Doing that will only lead me down the same rabbit hole I'm always hiding in. The escape hatch where I come to the same fucking conclusion every time.

I laugh to myself at the stupid thoughts racing through my head. Max and I don't work, and the sooner my clit realizes that, the better off we'll both be.

Max slides out of the booth and stands with me, tossing a twenty-dollar bill down on the table. "If you don't tell me, I'll find out on my own."

I narrow my gaze. "Is that a threat?"

"I don't make threats, little cat. I take action. This guy isn't here with you for a reason. What's the reason?"

"How do you know I'm not with him? Maybe he's at work. Maybe he has a real job. Maybe he's putting together baby gear while he stirs a pot of soup on the stove top. Maybe he's so sweet that he told me to take a break and go get some pie."

"Is he?"

My stomach turns and I push past him, walking out of the diner with purpose. Max may have owned me in the past, but not my future.

"Little cat," he growls at me. God, I loved it when he called me that. I felt so small, so dainty, so… his.

But… I'm not his! "Stop calling me that!" I drag in a deep breath of cool mountain air and turn toward him.

He's in my space, big and wide, rough and brooding. "Are you in danger?"

I glance away and back again, pinching my lips together slowly. "Stop. I didn't come back here to start things up with you. I came back because I had nowhere else to go. All I want is for my baby girl to be born in peace. That's all." A tear tumbles down my face.

His rough, cracked thumb reaches up and catches it. "What did he do to you?"

Our eyes meet and a lump forms in my throat. A lump that reminds me of the secrets I'm keeping and the feelings I'm never going to stop feeling for the big, bad-ass biker who won't let go.