CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Baja—

The next morning, we lie in bed, cuddled together, and Baja strokes my hair.

"I've got something to admit. Something I never thought I'd admit," he begins, and a shiver of fear moves through me.

"What kind of thing?"

"I've never wanted to try again—I've never wanted to put anyone in danger. My biggest fear is being the cause of that again. I've tried to convince myself that my MC family is enough. But you make me think maybe it's not."

"You went through something awful. Of course, it's going to affect you. But you have your whole life ahead of you."

"I see the way you look at kids, Elaina. I know how badly you want them. Maybe I could give that to you."

"Give that to me?" I ask.

He shrugs.

"That's not something to joke about."

"Who said I'm joking?"

I fling the covers back and stalk to the chair, pulling on my clothes.

He's out of the bed in an instant. "Babe, I didn't mean to upset you."

"Having kids is all I've ever wanted. We've known each other, what? A few weeks?"

"Okay, you're right. Maybe I fucked up. I'm sorry. Come back to bed."

I relent, and he cuddles me close, stroking my head. "Elaina, you will always be safe here."

"You make me feel safe. You do. And I'm grateful you took me in when I had nowhere to go, when I needed time to think."

"Gratitude isn't what I'm after. You are my priority. I don't know when exactly it happened, but it's true. Hell, maybe it was the moment I saw you walking down that aisle, or maybe it was when I watched you running in tears from the reception. I wanted to rip my brother limb from limb."

"I don't want to talk about Elliott."

He nods. "Okay. Then how about this? You said something about getting this out of our system. I can't do casual sex with you, Elaina. I care about you too much. In fact…"

"In fact, what?"

He drags in a deep breath, looking everywhere but at me.

"Baja, what is it?" I cup his cheek and turn him to meet my eyes. "You can tell me anything."

"I'm in love with you, Elaina."

And just like that, the tension squeezing my chest eases. "I love you, too, Baja."

For two days, we don't leave the house.

Baja cooks us breakfast and orders us delivery for anything else we eat. We spend most of our time in bed or curled up on the couch, watching old movies and eating popcorn. We talk and laugh and cuddle. We have sex, and we sleep. Then wake and do it all over again.

He's the best I've ever had, and I can't get enough of him. I'm totally enthralled with him, and I know everything has happened so quickly, but it all feels so right. A part of my brain keeps telling me, be careful, be sure, be right , because I can't afford to make another mistake. I can't afford to pick the wrong man again.

But my heart doesn't listen to any of those warnings.

I'm enthralled in new love and the glow and euphoria it brings. Nothing is penetrating my blissful world. Life is rainbows and sunshine and unicorns, and I don't want anything to shatter my happiness.

Cuddled against Baja on the sofa, our self-imposed exile is intruded upon when he gets a text. It's the first time the club has contacted him.

He looks at it and straightens. "I've got to run by the clubhouse and talk to Rock. You want to ride along?"

"On your bike?" I perk up.

"Yeah."

"Okay." I stand, and he smacks my ass.

"Hurry up."

Half an hour later, I'm on the back of Baja's bike, my arms wrapped around him, loving the feel of the autumn wind in my face. All too soon, Baja turns into the clubhouse lot.

We park next to a couple of bikes, a pickup truck, and a white Mustang. Immediately, alarm bells go off in my head.

Baja leads me into the clubhouse and heads to the bar, where Darko is the only person sitting.

"Rock here? He wanted to talk to me."

"In his office."

Baja puts a hand on the back of my head and pulls me in for a forehead kiss. "Wait here. This shouldn't take long."

"I'll keep her company," Darko says, snapping his fingers for the prospect behind the bar to come over. "Get the lady what she wants."

I order a cola and sip on it, nonchalantly checking the room. There's not another soul in the place.

Darko grins at me. "You made quite the impression at the party."

"Did I?" I'm not sure if he's talking about my costume or Desiree.

"Impressed the hell out of most everyone in the place, but that girl sure is pissed. You might want to watch your back."

"That so?"

"Yep."

"What were you dressed as, Darko?" the prospect asks. "I don't think I remember seeing you."

The corner of his mouth pulls up, revealing a dimple. "I was the DEA Agent sitting at the bar, dumbass."

"Guess I missed that one." He wanders off.

We drink for a few minutes, and Darko leans over. "Your favorite person is here, by the way."

I know immediately who he means, and I'm thankful he's got my back enough to warn me, but still, I play dumb. "My favorite person?"

"Desiree. Apparently, since you broke her nose, she's not going to be able to dance for a while, and they cut her from the roster at the Cherry Bomb. She's pissed and came to tell Rock about it."

"Is that why Rock called Baja in here?"

Darko shrugs. Apparently, there's only so much club business he's willing to share.

I take a sip of my drink, then get up. "Gotta use the restroom."

Darko lifts a brow like he knows what I'm up to. "Sure. Down the hall."

We both know I know exactly where it is.

I scoot off my stool and cross the room to the hall door.

As soon as I'm through the door, I hear muffled voices and stop. I peer around the corner, and there's Baja outside Rock's door with Desiree.

They're talking, but I can't hear the words.

She steps closer to him and runs her palms up his chest. His hands latch onto her wrists, but he doesn't push her away, and my stomach drops like a stone. I move against the wall, anguish suffocating me. Because I can't stand it, I peek again.

Desiree goes up on her toes and kisses Baja's cheek. I dart back and press against the wall. I cannot believe this is happening. He told me she meant nothing, but there they are, kissing.

A door at the end of the hall opens and closes, then I hear heels clicking down the hall, coming closer.

I wait. It has to be Desiree. I contemplate punching her in the face the moment she comes into view, but I fight the urge.

When she comes around the corner, she's startled to see me.

Her hand flies to her chest. "Jesus Christ. What the hell are you doing?" She pauses, looks down the hall, then a smirk fills her face, and her hand lands on her hip.

"Oh, you saw us, didn't you?"

"Back off him. He's mine."

"Really? Then why was he at the Cherry Bomb the other day? Why was he taking my hand and leading me to a private room for a private dance? Let me tell you, bitch. He got his money's worth."

"That's a lie."

"Is it? You sure about that?" She leans toward me. "Do you know what you are? Revenge . That's all you've ever been. Baja plotted to ruin his brother's wedding. Did you know that? That's why he went. That's the only reason he went. And he came back with his brother's bride. Mission accomplished, I'd say."

"That's not true."

"You sure?" She huffs a laugh. "Payback. That's all you were. That's all you are. Baja will do anything to get even with his brother. The sooner you figure that out, the better. There's nothing here for you. Go back to Denver." She pushes through the door into the clubhouse.

I follow her as she heads outside. I move to a window and watch as she throws her car in reverse and roars off, throwing gravel.

A sick feeling fills my stomach. Is what she said true? Is any of it true? Is that why Baja was so determined to talk me into leaving with him the night of my wedding? Is that why he convinced me I needed time to think about everything? Is she right? Is that all this was?

Despair washes over me. Have I done it again? Have I picked the wrong man again? One who's only interested in getting revenge?

Everything Baja told me… It was all a damn lie?

I taste bile, my stomach churning, and suddenly Darko is standing by my side.

"You okay, sweetheart?"

"I think I need to get out of here." I turn to him. "Will you take me?"

He hesitates only a second, his eyes going toward the hall. "Sure, honey. Where do you want to go?"