“Anything else?” I ask when he relays the rest of the meet and fills me in on everything else that’s been happening. The shower’s been off for five minutes now and I just know Mackenzie’s retreated back to her room probably freaking the fuck out.

“Pretty much. Just checkin’ to make sure you’re eatin’. Looks of things you have it sorted.” He smirks, taking a look around. I take stock of the kitchen and notice the mess.

Jesus, we have gone off the grid.

“Okay, well, reunion is over. You can piss off now.” I finish my coffee and stand.

“Club’s having a BBQ on Friday. Can I let my wife know you’ll release Mackenzie for a few hours?”

“It’s been fucking three days, calm your tits.”

“Hey, you’re lucky it’s me and not Kadence here.” He stands and slaps me on the back before walking back toward the front door. I don’t stop his retreat, I want him out.

“Tell Mackenzie I hope she’s feelin’ better. Must have been some virus.” He flicks his wrist goodbye then opens the front door and leaves.

Smartass.

Not giving him a second thought, I head back down the hall to check in with Mackenzie. Her door is closed and the fact she didn’t come to my bedroom is not lost on me.

“Kenzie?” I knock once and wait.

“Just need a minute, Beau,” she calls back, but I don’t want to fucking wait a minute.

“Open up, darlin’.”

“Beau, I just need a minute.”

“And I’ll give you a minute. Just not behind a door, getting lost in your head.”

“Beau.”

“Mackenzie.” The air grows silent, and I contemplate kicking the door down before the door swings open. She doesn’t come out, so I step in.

“I’m really fine.” She looks up and finds my eyes. She’s already dressed in tight dark jeans and a black singlet. Her hair is wet from the shower, loose around her shoulders. I can see she wants me to believe she’s okay, but I know she’s lying. I can see her unease in the way she holds herself. It’s almost like she’s standing in front of me the first day she came back.

“You don’t look fine. You look scared.”

“I’m a little worried.” She turns and sits her ass on the bed with her gaze on the ground.

“You have nothing to be worried about.”

“I walk out and see you fighting with Nix, bloodied nose and you tell me I shouldn’t be worried.”

“It was nothing, darlin’.”

“So you weren’t fighting over me?”

“No. Nix was being an ass.” Her brows rise calling bullshit.

“I told you it was a bad idea to not go in. The clubhouse was trashed. They needed us.” I know what she told me, but it didn’t matter. We both needed the last few days.

“Best three days of my life.” I step up to her, and lightly push her shoulder.

“Yeah?” She falls back and smirks up at me, and I let it settle over me. This is what I need. Her playful, carefree, not worrying about club shit.

“Especially when I made you come with my mouth.” I lean over her, trailing kisses down her neck before settling my weight above her.

“Haven’t you had enough?” Her breath hitches as she tilts her head back allowing me more access.

“I don’t think I’ll ever have enough of you, darlin’,” I admit, letting the truth fall between us. We haven’t said where this is going between us, but anyone can see this is moving hard and fast.

“You say that now, Beau.” Sadness flicks in her eyes before disappearing just as fast. It’s not the first time it’s happened. At first I thought it was about Chad. But sometimes it’s like it’s bigger than that. Over the last few days, I’ve seen it more than I care to admit. I’ve asked her about it, but she just shuts right down.

“I’ll say it then too,” I promise her, knowing more than anything it’s the truth. Yeah, it’s barely been a week of having her in my bed, but this here, whatever the fuck it is, is more. More than sex. More than helping her with her ex. It is more than both of us. Sy was right that night at the hospital. She is dangerous. She has gotten under my skin and buried herself deep.

And I’m not sure I want her out.

No, I know I don’t want her out.

“So what do you think?” I ask Mackenzie a week later as she takes in our new venture. We’re in town at Missy’s Place, and I just revealed to her everything we have planned here.

“It’s amazing, Beau. I can’t believe you’re doing this.” She spins, turning back to me. I don’t know why it bothers me to know what she thinks, but it does. As much as I’m doing this for Missy, I’m doing it for her too. For all the women like her.

“It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a long time.” I shrug, as she steps into my space.

“You’re incredible.” She reaches up, places her hands around my neck, and pulls me down to her lips.

“One day you’re going to have to tell me Missy’s story,” she whispers over my mouth and I can’t stop the tension tightening my stance.

“Not much to tell, darlin’.” I press forward and deepen the kiss, stopping all talk of Missy. She knows my sister died. Knows her name is Missy. She just doesn’t know the story.

“You’re opening this place because of her, Beau. She’s your someone special.” She reminds me of our past, and I’d be lying if I said the walls around my heart didn’t shatter just a bit at the mention of the conversation back in the hospital all those months ago. I remember the night. She asked me why I did this. Why I risked everything to save women. I wasn’t going to answer. I didn’t want to. But she was lying in that hospital bed. She had no one and I wanted her to know why, understand why she was important. The words fell out before I could put them back in. And then she gave me something no one has ever given me before.