Baby knocks on my door. It’s ten in the morning, the exact time he said he’d be here to walk Easton and me to Gracie’s. I open the door, Easton’s bag in one hand, and his hand in the other. Baby didn’t come by yesterday, and I’m glad. I needed the day to just be with Easton, and to think. Especially after Crooner’s phone call late Saturday night.

He said what I wanted to hear, but I can’t help but wonder if it’s too late. Sure, his words made my belly dip and my heart race, but what if he doesn’t back them up? What if I throw this chance with Baby away, and Crooner does what he’s done for the past year? Pretends he’s no good for me and pushes me away. I can’t keep going through the same shit over and over with him, it’s exhausting.

“Hey,” I smile up at Baby.

He frowns, but then shakes his head before leaning down to brush his lips across my cheek. “You working all day today?” he asks as we head toward Gracie’s.

“I am, but I have a lunch break at one,” I shrug.

Baby wraps his hand around the back of my neck and squeezes. “Meet you at your trailer?”

A thrill shimmies up my spine at his question. A thrill I didn’t think that I could have for him. It’s excitement and I can’t stop myself from smiling. “Yeah,” I breathe.

“Good.”

It doesn’t take us long to drop off Easton and then make our way back to the bar. Baby’s lips graze my temple before he says goodbye, and then he’s gone, leaving me at the back door of the bar.

Pressing my lips together, I dig out my key and head inside. I shouldn’t feel disappointed that he didn’t check the place out to make sure I was alone like Crooner always did. They aren’t the same person. I can’t expect Baby to do what Crooner would, or vice versa.

The workday passes by quickly enough. The regulars come in and I greet them with a smile and their favorite drinks of choice. Traci left the bar impeccable from the weekend, so it doesn’t leave a whole lot for me to do, which is fine by me, because I seem to be spending every free second I have been thinking about the phone call I had with Crooner.

With my back to the door, I’m cleaning one of the tables in the middle of the bar when I feel strong hands wrap around my hips. I freeze, my breath hitching as my heart begins to race. Fear prickles my entire body and I whimper.

“Beautiful?” Baby asks, releasing me.

I straighten my back and slowly turn around to find him directly behind me. “You scared me,” I admit with a shrug.

His brows knit together, and he drops his chin slightly. It’s obvious he doesn’t quite believe me, but I’m not going into any further explanation. “Ready for lunch?” I ask brightly.

He holds up a bag of takeout and shakes it around slightly. Looking toward the bar, I wave to Ned who covers my lunch shift every day and make my way out the back of the bar. Baby is right behind me, his hand pressing against my back.

When we arrive inside of my trailer, I walk straight toward the kitchen. Baby drops the bag of food on the counter, but I don’t hear the paper crinkling. I turn around and he’s just standing with his ass pressed against the countertop.

“Baby?”

His arm reaches out and his hand wraps around my wrist, tugging me against his chest in one swift move. I place my hands on his chest for stability and tip my head back to look up into his eyes. Without a word, he lowers his face and his lips touch mine. My eyes widen, and I make a noise in the back of my throat in surprise.

Baby’s tongue snakes out and gently caresses the seam of my lips. My eyes slide closed as my mouth opens slightly. Baby’s tongue slips inside of my mouth and sweeps through me, tasting me. Excitement shimmies up my spine, but desire doesn’t.

Deciding to help things along, my tongue matches his own strokes and I lift my arms, sliding them around his neck and pressing my chest against his. Still, I feel nothing. One of Baby’s hands slides down to my ass and he grabs a handful, squeezing. His other hand slips up the back of my shirt, grazing along my skin.

His fingers quickly unfasten my bra and I yelp, taking a step back. “You’re killin’ me here, Hayden,” he rasps.

“Baby?”

He shakes his head once, pulling me by his hand that’s still grabbing ahold of my ass, against his chest again. He lowers his head, his lips finding my ear before he growls. “We can make each other feel good, beautiful. We don’t have to fuck, but I need something.”

A wave of guilt washes over me. I’m sure that he’s never slept on a couch with a woman and not had sex or taken her and her kid out to breakfast, without anything either, for that matter. We’re here, alone, and it’s my lunch hour. Maybe I should just let him do, whatever.

Pressing my lips together, I give him a nod, but he grunts and pushes me away a little. “Never mind, obviously you’re not into it,” he grumbles.

“I’m sorry,” I whisper.

He shakes his head, letting out a bark of laughter. “Don’t be. It’s cool. Hey, I gotta go, see you around?”

Instantly, I deflate. I watch as he runs his hand along the back of his neck and refuses to meet my gaze. “I’m sorry, Baby. I just, I wasn’t expecting that right now.”

Baby’s eyes lift, and his gaze meets mine. I hold my breath, waiting for him to say something as he searches my face. “You’d lay down right here and let me fuck you, wouldn’t you?” he asks.

I blink, pressing my lips together. I don’t want to answer him, because I’m not sure what my answer would be.

“I mean, if I pushed the issue, you’d let me inside wouldn’t you, Hayden?”

I nod. I know myself well enough to know that if he pushed, I wouldn’t tell him no. Unfortunately, my past dictates that part of me, and I don’t know if I could ever change. Maybe one day, but right now, I would be with him if that’s what he wanted, even if I didn’t. It wouldn’t be anything new, granted it’s been almost two years, but I doubt I forgot how to fake anything.

“Fuck. I don’t want that,” he mutters. “I need to think. I’ll see you later,” he states.

He doesn’t give me a chance to say anything else. I watch as he walks away, and I know that nothing will become of us. I’m relieved and sad, all at the same time. Reaching for the bag of takeout, I open it and frown. I was hungry just a few minutes ago, but now, nothing seems appealing.

The door flies open, and I let out a small scream. Baby is standing in the doorway, a frown on his face and his eyes pointed at me.

“That felt like shit, Hayden,” he announces. I don’t say anything. I’m not sure what to say. “It felt like shit, but what are we doing here?”

“I don’t know,” I admit.

“You aren’t attracted to me, are you? I mean I said I’d wait, but I don’t think I can really wait that long,” he grimaces, walking back into my kitchen, his boots stomping with each step he takes.

My teeth sink into the corner of my lip. “I want to be. I’m sorry, Baby.”

He shakes his head. “You were going to get with me, and try, why?”

I’m glad that his tone isn’t angry, he’s more baffled I think than anything. I shrug, unsure of how to answer him. “I’m tired of everything. I’m tired of the looks of pity, and I’m tired of being alone,” I admit.

Baby closes the distance between us and pulls me into his arms. “Hayden, fuck,” he curses. “You in love with Crooner?” he asks, his lips touching the top of my head.

Pinching my eyes closed, I nod against his chest.

“Then, let’s get him off of his lazy old ass, and in your bed, beautiful.”

Lifting my head, I tilt it back and look into his eyes. He smirks. “He’s obviously not going to charge in here on his own and claim you. I see the way he watches you but, beautiful, we’re going to have to make him jealous.”

“Why would you do this?” I ask.

He chuckles. “I like fucking with him, first of all. Secondly, you deserve happiness and if he’s the man that makes you happy…” he shrugs. “Besides, we all saw how you stood vigil over him when he was shot and nursed him back to health. You’ve been in love with him since day one, it was wishful thinking on my part to think I could swoop in on that,” he shrugs.

Lifting my hand, I cup his cheek with my palm. “I don’t deserve someone like you in my life,” I admit.

He shakes his head. “I’m not that good, Hayden. Maybe I do this for you, when I find someone to be my Old Lady, you’ll put in a good word for me,” he winks.

“You know I will,” I smile.

He clears his throat, straightening, and grins. “Okay, it’s set. Operation Jealousy is in full effect,” he chuckles.

“This feels like it’s going to be trouble,” I murmur.

Baby’s grin widens. “I’m sure it will, beautiful.”

“Fuck,” Motorhead curses.

I feel the same fucking way. This place isn’t just remote, it’s monitored, and locked up tighter than a military base. We can’t even get a good view of the entrance gates. Free spotted the first camera almost immediately and we had to keep on driving. We head back to the cabin without finding out a fucking thing.

“I’m calling, Snake. We need technical shit here, and I’m not the man for the job,” Free chuckles.

After a fifteen-minute conversation, Free tells us to load up the van. We’re heading home. This shit is going to have to wait for another day. As much as that fucking blows, I can’t deny that I’m glad to be headed back home—back to Hayden.

Once we’re loaded up, we decide to take turns driving. Motorhead is ready to be back to his woman, too. My decision has been made about Hayden. I’m going to make her mine. I don’t give a fuck about anything else anymore. She’s nineteen, she’s a mother, and she’s never been able to make her own decisions and she never will. I’m her man now, she just doesn’t know it yet.

The drive back is long, and we take turns napping, restlessly. When we arrive back at the clubhouse, none of us speaks to one another. It’s four in the morning, and I reluctantly drag my ass to bed. Hayden will have to wait until later this evening, after she gets off work and I’ve had a few hours of shut-eye.