Chapter Twelve

Kyla

Nothing said misery like grocery shopping with a broken heart. I filled the cart with spicy Cheetos, more candy bars than any one woman needed, and all manner of junk food that I hoped would fill the void in my heart. My soul. As I made my way to the cash register, I grabbed a couple bags of salad just to make myself feel better. Yeah, I was a goddamn champ.

The past week had been filled with tears, bargaining, and just trying to figure my shit out. After about two days it became clear Torch was happy to see the back of me, so I brushed away my tears and started looking for a job and an apartment. My options were limited in Brently, but between the surrounding towns and online work I’d be able to support myself and my baby. Hopefully. Because I had to leave Daddy’s house. Not that he’d ever kick me out, but living at home with a baby on the way? Totally tacky. Besides, I knew if I stayed I might never leave.

So the first thing I did when the insurance check arrived was buy a new car. A four door Subaru because I needed to make sure me and my baby were safe. With Stash in prison, all I had to worry about now was distracted drivers. The Forrester might not be a good looking car, but it was mine and completely paid for which meant one less bill to pay each month.

At least when I woke up this morning, I felt less disappointed. Less rejected and aimless. All that despite the alarming amount of junk food packed in the back of my car. And as soon as I got home, I’d fix a salad before settling in for a day of job hunting and emotional eating.

Apparently, the universe hated me because I pulled into Daddy’s driveway and groaned at the familiar motorcycle parked in my spot. He must have been talking with Daddy, and that was just fine with me since I didn’t really have anything to say to him. Well, other than telling him about the baby. Dammit. This being an adult thing sucked. Hard.

“What are you doing here?” I glared at him sitting there having a beer with my father, feet kicked up in the recliner like he didn’t have a care in the world. Looking too damn handsome for my peace of mind.

“I came to see you, sugar.” He stood and made his way across the room.

“I’m not your sugar, and I don’t want to see you.” Eventually I would have to whether I wanted to or not, but that would be any other day but today.

Instead of responding, he took the bags from my arms and herded me into the kitchen. “We need to talk, and I want to show you something.”

I closed my eyes against his proximity. His scent, leather, and bergamot teased my senses and made me remember things best left in the deep dark recesses of my mind. “Not interested.” I didn’t know how I was able to grit those words out, but thank heavens for small fucking favors.

“Liar...” He grinned as he began to unpack the bags, dimples popping out gloriously to remind me of what I’d been missing. “Having a party?” he asked, eyes on the junk food spread across the counter top.

“No.” His lips twitched, but I couldn’t give in, no matter how much I wanted to leap over the counter and crawl into his arms, climb the length of his body and kiss him silly. “What do you want to show me?”

Shaking his head, his icy blue gaze settled on mine. “You have to see it, Ky. One hour and I promise to bring you back here.”

It sounded reasonable. Unfortunately, I didn’t feel all that reasonable. “No, I’ll drive so I can leave when I want, and you can have one of your prospects pick up your bike.”

He grinned like he was proud instead of being upset. “Deal, let’s go.” Torch grabbed my hand and locked our fingers together so we were palm to palm. The weak part of me couldn’t pull my hand away because I craved his touch. His warmth. It felt too good and as exhausted as I felt, I knew I didn’t have the strength to fight what I felt for him. He whistled. “Nice car.”

“I bought it with my insurance check.”

He nodded, giving it careful examination as he circled the car. “Nice. Far cry from the little convertible you drove at the start of summer.”

Shit. “Yeah. I just felt like it was time for something more grown up.” Before he could ask any more probing questions, I hopped in the driver’s seat and started the engine. “Where are we going?”

He smiled and reached across me, pulling the seat belt across my chest, and locking it in place. So gentle and careful like he knew my secret. “Home.”

One simple word. It meant so much to me because his place had felt like home. Instantly. As though I were meant to be there. Until I wasn’t. The drive over should have been quiet and awkward, but Torch wouldn’t allow it. Not with constant questions.

“Have you missed me, Kyla? I’ve missed you.”

“I doubt that since I haven’t heard from you.” At all.

“I needed to sort some shit out. What have you been up to?” His hand rested on my thigh, not moving and not sexual. Just there. Reassuring.

“Just trying to figure out what I’ll do next. Where I’ll go.” I knew I needed to tell him about the baby. It wouldn’t be fair to move away without letting him decide what he wanted to do. “I need to tell you something,” I told him as we pulled up to his gate and drove up to the door.

“After I show you everything we’ll talk.” He hopped out and opened my door for me, helping me out and holding my hand as we walked inside.

I froze in the foyer as my eyes struggled to take in all the changes since I left. A week ago. “This looks like…a home.” It really did. An oil painting of a Viking hung in the foyer, big and strong with long blond hair and piercing blue eyes. “He could be your twin, if your head wasn’t slick.”

“Come on.” He grabbed my hand again, and we were on the move. More art hung on the walls, some of it nature and some of it badass disturbing biker art, but it all worked together. He’d filled out the living room, adding two recliners to the sofa plus dark cherry end tables and a painting of a sexy Grim Reaper whose hood only came to her collarbone leaving her in nothing more than black lingerie holding her scythe.

“Weird choice of art but it fits.” A black and gray throw was folded on the back of the sofa. The walls had gothic style lighting fixtures that went with the theme of the décor, and he’d even had skids added to the staircase. “What prompted all this?”

“This place felt empty without you, and I figured if I made it more homey you might want to come back.” I stopped at the bottom of the stairs at his words, but his hand on my lower back urged me up. “I fucking missed you, Ky.”

“I missed you too, Torch. But you know I didn’t leave because of your lack of décor and furnishings.”

He nodded. “You left because you think I don’t love you.”

I nodded because I couldn’t say anything around the lump in my throat. He didn’t love me and it hurt like hell, but I’d get over it. “What else?”

“This.” He stopped outside one of the guest rooms that we’d never used. Last time I checked, the room had no furniture, no art. Nothing at all other than really great lighting. “Open it.”

I pushed the door open and gasped. “You know. But how…?” I looked up into smiling blue eyes, filled with pride and maybe love. But maybe that was just wishful thinking. So instead of addressing it like the adult woman I aspired to be, I stepped inside the room, now painted a soothing blue-green color with a balloon border. The theme was bikes, of course. Bicycles, tricycles, unicycles and even pint-sized motorcycles. “It’s amazing. But how did you know?”

He walked over to where I stood between the crib and the changing table and wrapped his arms around my waist. “I came back to talk to you. To explain, but you were gone. The doctor came in with your prenatal prescription and didn’t stop his words in time.”

Dumb fucking luck. I shook my head. “He said six weeks when he confirmed it, but I have an appointment next week with the OB/GYN.” Making that call had made it all real for me, and it solidified my decision to have this baby.

“Kyla, I got scared when you said you loved me, but you have to know it wasn’t because I don’t love you back. I can’t ask you to give up your life, your bright future for me.”

“Who asked you to?”

He blinked. “Honey, you just got your degree and if not for the crazy turn this summer took you’d already be working on your future.”

“That’s true. But that was before I fell in love. I’m having a baby, Torch, so I’m staying close to my family.”

“I’m your family, Kyla. At least I really want to be. If you’ll have me.”

He caressed my face and like the weakling I am, I leaned into his hand, soaking up his warmth. His big strong hand. “What’s changed?”

He barked out a laugh. “Darlin’, only every fucking thing. You. Me. Together we changed everything. I knew I’d never fall in love because the type of women who hang around the club aren’t the forever kind, and women like you, hell you don’t stick around this life very long.”

“So you walked away before I could?” He nodded, pressing his forehead against mine, his beard scratching my cheek. I couldn’t resist running my fingers through it, loving the way it felt in my hand.

“I’m so goddamn sorry I made you feel that you weren’t worthy, Kyla, because you are. I’m so fucking in love with you that I wanted you to have the life you want. The life you deserve even if it wasn’t with me.” His lips brushed mine, gentle at first and then more insistent like he could pour every ounce of love he felt into that kiss.

I pulled back with a gasp. “Say it again.”

“I love you, Kyla.” He smacked another kiss against my mouth. “I love the hell out of you. So fucking much.”

“It’s about damn time, because I love you too. I love how you’re so tough but so gentle with me. I love that you put up with your father’s controlling ways to make sure your siblings got what they deserved. Hell, I just love you, Torch.”

“Well now, sweetheart, that’s the best damn news I’ve heard in a week.” Torch gathered me in his arms where I felt safe. Loved. Desired. Hands roamed down my back, squeezing my ass and pressing me against the other part of him my body missed dearly. “Now that we’re all in love and shit, how about some makeup sex?”

I could only laugh as I held his face in my hands and kissed him long and hard, so hungry for more of him I ravished his mouth until we found ourselves naked in the master bedroom, making mad passionate love.

It was the perfect way to start our twisted happily ever after.

And I fucking loved it.