She had been to these streets before, but never had she truly paid attention to how stunning and different the properties were.

As Jessica walked down the one that Tank and his lovely children lived on, she was almost completely awestruck at how big and old everything was. The houses looked Victorian and wooden, as if they had found their way there from another place and time. She didn’t know a whole lot about the history of Slate Springs, but she was pretty sure the town hadn’t existed as far back as then, and she was eager to know whether they had been reproductions or a passion project of one of the town’s original settlers.

They were all set back from the road, with long driveways, and their fronts were all extravagant and impressive. She wandered along and tried not to fall in love with each and every one of them, and she stopped and smiled when she caught sight of Tank’s truck parked in front of one of the larger houses at the end of the street, with two bikes strewn across the lawn.

She made her way closer and gripped her bag tight on her shoulder. When she reached the driveway, she took a deep breath and braced herself to see him. She was nervous, but it was in such a good way she was finding it hard not to smile.

She rang the doorbell and ran her fingers through her hair to try and comb it out a little before she stood back and waited for the door to open.

She heard a heavy set of footsteps coming toward it and she knew it was him. There was no way Ella could have stomped around like that, and Jess remembered his boots and how big and mean they looked.

The door flew open and he stood there looking dark and angry, but so fucking sexy she could have eaten him.

His eyes focused in on hers and her heart raced again. He smiled, and she noticed the small wrinkles at the corner of his eyes and he reached out and took hold of her by the arm. The second his skin made contact with hers, her heart raced harder and she gasped. His grip was strong, and his movements were full of purpose. He closed the door behind her and smiled.

“Wow,” she said, trying to catch her breath. He had taken her so off guard by touching her like that, that she was sure she must have been blushing from head to toe.

“Hey,” he said as he smiled down at her.

He was tall and imposing, and his muscles, when she was this close to them, made her bones shake.

“Thank you for coming over and doing this,” he said with a gruff heavy voice. “You have no idea how much I appreciate it.”

“God, I don’t mind at all,” she said as she let her bag fall to the floor and she looked up and into his eyes. There was so much tension between them that she almost couldn’t bear it. She wanted to reach out for him, and she could tell he was feeling the same. But, for some reason, they were both holding back.

She had no idea what he had been through, but she could tell that it had scarred him deep.

She bit her lip and chewed it nervously.

Tank reached up and brushed a rogue strand of hair out of her eyes and pushed it behind her ear.

“I’ve got to go,” he said strongly as he looked down on her. “Ella is in her room fast asleep, she’s the third door down on the left.”

She could barely breathe as he looked at her, and then he dropped his head and made for the door. When he opened it and stepped outside, her heart was racing and she was going dizzy. She looked at him, and she knew with all her heart that she didn’t want him to leave. But this is what she had come for. To help him so he could go to work, and she was just going to have to be tortured by his absence.

When she heard the engine on the truck roar to life, she finally felt herself snap back into the moment and she looked up and around the incredible hallway she was standing in.

The floors were a deep, rich mahogany, and the whole place had been restored to resemble pure Victorian elegance and splendor. She wandered through the hallway and down toward what she could only assume was the kitchen and pushed the door open. When she stepped inside, she was blown away by the newly updated counter tops and appliances, and she smiled when she saw the stainless steel refrigerator and the dozens of paintings and pictures that the children had drawn stuck to them with novelty magnets.

She walked over to them and looked at them, some of them were clearly by Ella, pictures of a little girl holding her daddy’s hand and big love hearts, and some looked to be done by Jacob. He had painted big motorcycles with his dad sitting on the back of them, and of desert landscapes that looked wild and untamed.

She held her hand to her heart and sighed.

God, she could fall in love with him, he was almost too perfect.

She looked toward the clock on the wall and saw that it was approaching half ten, and so she ran the tap to rinse out a glass and then she made Ella an ice-cold orange juice.

As she went up the stairs, she ran her hands along the wooden bannister rails and found herself daydreaming of how romantic the house was, and how she could easily envision it as a wedding reception. She laughed to herself when she realized how over the top she was being, but she couldn’t help it.

Tank had inspired something in her, and now she was having trouble snapping herself out of it.

She stopped at the third door down and waited by it for a moment, before she reached up and knocked on it lightly.

It took a few moments, but eventually, she heard Ella’s little voice croak, “Yeah?”

“It’s me Ella, it’s Jessica…” she tried not to say it too loud because she didn’t want to startle her, and she was relieved when she heard Ella respond.

“Oh Jess,” she said in a much chirpier voice. “Come in, come in.” 

Jess pushed on the door slowly and peeked her head in. Ella sat up in bed and grinned back at her with glinting eyes and a wide Cheshire cat smile.

“I thought you were supposed to be sick?” Jessica asked with a raised eyebrow as she stepped into the room and tried not to laugh.

“I am,” Ella said defensively, but she still had a little smirk flitting across her own lips. “It’s just I had a bit of a nap and I’m feeling a little better now.”

Jessica crossed the room and sat down on the end of the bed.

“Good,” she smiled as she handed Ella the glass of juice. “I’m glad to hear it.”

Ella smiled at her and took a big sip of the drink. The glass looked tiny in her hands and it made Jess melt all over again.

“I love your room,” she said as she looked around at the pink walls and the fairies she had dotted around the place. “When I was your age, I loved fairies too.”

“I love them because they remind me that someone is always watching over me,” Ella said with her whole heart. “Sometimes I feel so lonely in this house that is just full of boys. It’s nice to remember that fairies are always watching us.”

“I like the magic in that,” Jess smiled.

“Ella nodded her head and sipped the drink again,” she was so sweet and innocent it made her heart ache.

“Daddy and Jacob both like motorcycles and other dirty things,” Ella said. “They like sports and getting muddy. I just want to play with my dolls and pretend I’m a fairy queen.”

Jess smiled and nodded her head.

“I can understand you on that one,” she said. “In my house, my dad was always trying to make me interested in his cars and motorbikes, but I was always a true girly girl.”

“What about your mom?” Ella asked with wide eyes. “Did she like the cars and bikes too?”

Jessica thought for a moment whether it would be the right thing to tell the little girl that she had grown up without a mother too. But she honestly didn’t see how it could do any harm.

“My mom died when I was younger than you,” she said sadly, but then she smiled to make up for it. “So, it was always just me and my dad.”

“Really,” Jess nodded.

“I’ve never met anyone else who didn’t have a mom,” Ella said sadly. “I’m so glad I met you, Jess.”

She reached out and wrapped her arms around Jessica’s neck and hugged her tightly. Jess had to blink away a tear and hugged her back. Ella reminded her of herself when she had been younger, and it was heartbreaking to think that Ella may have been going through anything like what she had gone through when she was a child.

“I’m going to leave you to rest,” Jess said as she tucked her back in and kissed her on the top of the head. “I’m just downstairs if you need me. But you should try to sleep.”

“Thanks, Jess,” Ella said with a smile before she rolled onto her side and closed her eyes.

Jessica closed the door halfway and then crept back down the hall, wondering what sort of fate had thrown these two families together.

“Everything happens for a reason,” she whispered as she reached the bottom hallway and went into the impressive living area.

She sat down on the couch and rubbed her forehead. She felt her phone buzz in her pocket and pulled it out and looked at the screen. She had a message, but it was from a number she didn’t know. She opened it up and read it with a wide smile on her face.

T: I hope she’s behaving herself. Your pop and I shouldn’t be done too late so I’ll collect Jacob from school. There’s plenty in the refrigerator, help yourself to whatever you like. Let me know if you need anything, T x

 

She bit her bottom lip and held the phone against her chest. Her heart was just as nervous as she was, but she knew that something amazing was on the horizon. It was the most wonderful feeling in the world, and she didn’t ever want it to end.

 

As the afternoon wore on, Ella started to feel much better and joined Jess downstairs where they sat on the floor of the front room with a selection of dolls and braided their hair. They had Beauty and the Beast on Blu-ray, and they both sang along to the songs.

“This was a classic even when I was a kid,” Jess said. “I used to have all the figurines.”

“I love this one,” Ella smiled. “I like the castle the best.”

Jessica looked down at the doll she was holding and handed it to Ella, just as the front door burst open and the sound of two sets of feet came clumping into the hallway.

“Hellooooo!” Jacob called as he bounced into the living room and dove onto the sofa behind them. “Urghh Disney, get it off!” he said with a laugh, and Ella shot him a scowl.

“Hi, guys,” Tank called through as he slammed the door and appeared around the corner with his hair all tousled, and his skin smeared in various places with black motor oil.

Jess swallowed and tried not to stare, but he looked so damned good. He was wearing a black vest and a pair of low-slung black jeans that had rips at the knees. He kicked off his boots by the doorway and went straight through to the kitchen and she heard the hiss of what sounded like a beer, and then another.

When he came back through he had a big smile on his face and he was holding two bottles.

“Here,” he said with a smile as he passed one to Jess.

She rose nervously to her feet and reached out for it, and as she took hold, their fingers touched. A spark of something passed between them and she felt a jolt rush right through her. He was staring into her eyes as, on the floor around them, Jacob and Ella played with each other and Jacob began to mess with his sister’s dolls.

“Thank you,” Jess whispered.

And Tank’s eyes never left hers.

“She’s much better as you can see,” she said as she looked down at Ella.

Ella ran toward Tank and wrapped her arms around his legs and stared up at him.

“I’m glad to hear it,” he said as he rubbed Ella’s head. “And I hope you’ve been good for Jess?”

“Yes, I have,” Ella confirmed with a nod of her head. “We’ve been braiding hair and watching Beauty and the Beast.” 

“We’ve had a lovely afternoon,” Jess smiled as she looked down to Ella.

“Well,” Tank said. “I hope you’re going to stay for dinner so we can say thank you?”

Jess hadn’t been expecting him to say something like that and she felt her jaw sag open. She looked up at him to try and gauge whether he was joking, but she could tell from the look in his eye that he most certainly wasn’t.

“Yay, please stay, Jess, please?” Ella said as she moved from her father’s to Jessica’s legs and wrapped her arms around them.

Jess looked up to Tank and he was smiling at them both warmly, and she felt something inside her ignite even further.

“I’d love to,” she smiled, and then Ella and Jacob began to jump up and down and run around the living area before swerving out into the hallway and up the stairs.

“Really,” Tank said as he took a step closer to her. “Thank you for today. You have no idea how tough it gets.”

He stared into her eyes and she could barely breathe. She wanted to reach out and take hold of his hand, she wanted to tell him she knew what it was like to hurt and to be angry with the world. But, at the same time, she knew she had to let him come to her. She still didn’t know what had happened to him and his children in their lives, and she didn’t want to assume anything.

She nodded and raised her beer to her lips before she took a swig.

“I wouldn’t even dare try to imagine,” she whispered. “But I hope you know I’m here if you ever need to talk.”

Tank nodded and took a swig of his drink before he motioned for her to follow him as he began to walk toward the kitchen.

 

The kids were upstairs and Tank and Jess were sitting in the kitchen at the island, still drinking beers and debating what would be the best course of action for an easy meal.

“I feel like I should cook something,” he laughed. “But I don’t know if I would dare subject you to it.”

Jessica threw her head back and laughed, and she rose to her feet and crossed the room to the refrigerator.

“There’s plenty in here,” she said. “I’ll make us some pasta.”

“But you’re the guest,” he said sternly.

“No, I’m the babysitter,” she shot him a cocky glance and smiled.

“I didn’t realize chef was part of that job description,” he held his bottle to his lips and took another sip, his eyes never leaving hers.

“I think everything falls under that job description,” she smiled. “Babysitter, cook, cleaner… superwoman…”

Tank shrugged his shoulders and cocked his head.

“I guess you’re right,” he grinned.

She closed the doors and turned back around to lean against it.

“I honestly don’t mind,” she said. “You’re doing my father a favor too, you know, by being there at the shop. He’s been struggling along on his own for years now and been too proud to take someone on. I can tell he thinks the world of you and you two obviously get on well. I appreciate everything you’re doing for him too.”

Tank nodded and held her gaze. Her heart was beating harder just by looking at him, and she felt a little twinge in between her legs and a rush of excitement that rolled out over her entire body.

“You don’t have to thank me for your father giving me work,” he said seriously, but with a strong hint of passion in his voice. “Again, it should be me thanking you guys.”

“You’re a biker, right?” she asked suddenly, not sure what she was hoping to gain from the question.

“Yes, Jessica,” he said as he sat up straight and looked rather imposing once more. “That I am.”

“Why do you want to come and work at a small little shop like Durrett’s? Surely, it all feels a bit small time to you?”

Tank laughed and shook his head.

“You’re missing the point,” he said with warmth. “The Forsaken Riders probably aren’t anything like what you’ve always perceived them to be. We do a hell of a lot for this little town, and we are always open to supporting our own.”

“I do know that,” she said as she crossed her arms over her chest and smirked at him. “I just still can’t figure it out.”

Tank took a deep breath before he raised the bottle to his lips and had another drink.

“It’s just been me and the kids for a long, long time,” he said as he lowered his voice. “And I feel the weight of that responsibility every single day. I want to give them the best life I can.”

“It looks like you’re doing a great job of that to me,” she smiled. “They adore you, they’re wonderful, and you clearly work hard.”

“Everyone can always work harder,” he said without a hint of jest. “And I don’t want to fall into the trap of taking it easy.”

“Is that why you wanted the extra work?” she asked.

“It’s why I do everything I do,” he said. “I want to make sure we have enough money to get by, and also, to be able to get the hell out of here if we ever need to.”

He looked down at the floor and she could see there was a concern there for him. It was as if he was hiding something.

“Their mother?” Jess asked, unable to hold in her curiosity anymore.

“She won’t be bothering us again,” he said with a sneer. “She never wanted to be a part of this family.” He looked off into the distance and then he shook his head and continued. “All she was ever bothered about was living the party life and never getting any older. She didn’t take to being a mother, and she never bonded with Ella or Jacob. I gave her an out and she took it. None of us have ever seen her since… the last I heard, she was in Vegas.”

There wasn’t any sadness to him as he said the words, it was just as if he were repeating a fact. As if he had forced himself to cut off any emotion to do with the situation.

“I’m sorry,” Jess said sincerely, she felt tears welling in her own eyes.

“Don’t be,” Tank said, and he smiled. “Who would want a mother like that for their children? We’re better off without her, and have been better off without her for a long, long time.”

Jess nodded, but she still knew how hard it must have been for them all.

“No… it’s not her who worries me,” he said as he raised the bottle to his lips. “It’s all the other crazy stuff we have going on around here. Being in a gang like I am, you get to learn a lot of things you would rather not know about.”

She felt the small hairs on her arms stand on end.

“Like what?” she asked in whisper.

“I don’t know if your pop has told you much, but all of us business owners in town have had to band together and form an alliance.”

He hadn’t told her anything, but she couldn’t wait to hear about it.

“There’s been some trouble around here over the past year. Outsiders trying to muscle in on the land out here and the economy. It’s been hard for us all trying to keep the wolves from the door.”

“Really?” she asked, barely daring to listen. The last thing she wanted to know was that her dad was potentially in trouble.

“Don’t worry about your dad,” he said. “He isn’t involved with us too much for it to be risky for him, but we all have to be on our guard. We don’t want these Russian mobsters muscling in on our home and turning it into something it isn’t.”

Russian mobsters.

Her heart pounded in her chest.

“That’s why I won’t put the kids in another nursery after school,” he said. “The one they were in, they didn’t just close for a training day, they’ve gone and shut down altogether. It’s like the very fabric of the town is falling apart through fear… and there’s no way I’m putting them elsewhere. The closest one apart from that one is in Iron Hill, and I’m not prepared to have my kids in another town, surrounded by strangers."

He loved them so much, he really, really did. She smiled and took a step closer to him.

“And that,” he said as he got to his feet and crossed the room so that he was closer to her, “is why I appreciate you and all you’ve done for us over the past couple of days.”

Jess looked up at him and into his dark, sad eyes.

Tank had lived a lot more years than she had, and he had clearly seen a lot in that extra time. He was a man of the world, he had been hurt and he had been put back together. He had responsibility and he had pride.

She held her breath as he took another step closer and they were so close their hands were almost touching. She could feel the energy between them and she couldn’t make herself look away. Her heart was racing so hard she was sure that he should be able to hear it, and the tingling sensation that was thumping through her entire body was so raw and exciting she felt as if she could unravel without him even touching her.

He reached up and brushed her hair behind her ear before he smiled and traced his thumb across her lips. She gasped and nuzzled into his hand. She reached out and took hold of his belt and he let his hands settle on her neck and in her hair before he pulled her face to his and kissed her so hard and passionately it took her breath away.

His kiss was strong, experienced and intense, and he slipped his tongue up against hers and made her go weak at the knees.

She was dizzy and all she could hear was a ringing in her ears. His mouth was hot and heavy, and he pushed her up against the refrigerator door The sensation of having a man’s hands on her again was so good she was on fire and aching for him.

When they broke apart, Tank looked down at her with brooding eyes and she gasped and didn’t know what to say. Their eyes never left each other’s, and he was the one who took the first step back, as if what he had just done was wrong.

She flattened her hair down at the back and then he turned around and looked at her.

“I’m sorry, I…” he began, but Jess smiled and shook her head.

“It’s okay,” she whispered. “There’s a lot of emotion in here tonight.”

He stopped and rubbed at the stubble on his chin before he went to move closer to her again.

“No, I mean… I…” he dived towards her again and pulled her back to him. She melted into his arms and let him kiss her, she let him open her soul with his tongue and explore her there and then, she wanted him so badly, she really did, and this was why she had to stop it. The children were just in the other room… they were in the house.

She reluctantly broke their kiss and smiled up at him, letting his eyes drink her in and just wishing that she hadn’t had to call time on such a passionate encounter.

“I better go,” she smiled.

He looked momentarily wounded, as if he was going to ask her to stay, but she didn’t give him the chance. She blew him a kiss and turned on her heel before she headed out the kitchen and into the living area. Her mind was a mess and she didn’t know where to look or what to say. She wanted him so much.

“See you soon, kiddos,” she smiled as she picked up her gym bag.

“Aww, are you going, Jess?” Jacob whined as he jumped up and looked over the back of the couch.

“I am,” she smiled. “But I will see you anytime you like, just give me a shout.”

Tank appeared at the door to the kitchen with his hands on the back of his head and a look of mischief in his eyes.

“What about Monday?” he asked with a wry smile. “It looks like I’m going to need a regular babysitter if I’m going to get these hours at the shop in.”

Jess bit her lip and smiled as she turned back to him. They stared at each other and she realized that if she wanted him badly, then and he wanted her more. But the children were there, and Jess knew she would have to leave. They couldn’t do all the things they wanted to do in that environment at that moment in time. 

“Sure,” she said. “Just text me the details.”

And then, she waved goodbye to the kids and headed for the door. Her heart was bouncing with excitement and joy, and she couldn’t wait to get home so she could call Kiara and tell her all about it.

She had just been kissed by a biker. A hot older man, with whom she had a connection, that she knew she would never be able to explain to anyone.

And it felt fucking amazing.