I would be lying if I said sitting here in the hallway and watching Mila shuffle around my kitchen cooking dinner didn't spark something profound inside of me. I would be lying if I said I didn't feel a pull towards her. Watching my brothers Logan and Gabriel with their women, and seeing how happy they are makes me a little envious. Don't get me wrong; I'm beyond thrilled for them. They're both good men and deserve a good woman, but I'm envious because I know I may never have that. Especially with a woman like Mila. Beautiful, caring, and a great mother. A woman like her is out of my reach. Before the car accident where I lost my leg, I wouldn't have thought twice about going after a woman like her, but now…

About a year after I lost my leg, I started seeing a woman. I'll never forget the look of pity and disgust on her face when I told her about my prosthesis. We'd been dating for two months. I know she wanted to take the next step, so I finally worked up the nerve to tell her about my leg. Three emotions swept across her face. Shock, pity, and then disgust. I never saw her again. She's not a local living in Polson, she lives a few towns over, so at least we don't have to cross paths. Fuckin' bitch.

Since then, when I need to take the edge off I'll go to Charley's. There's plenty of willing woman looking for a good time with a biker. I don't pay for pussy- never have, never will. Is a quick fuck in a bar bathroom, or having my cock sucked by a club whore my idea of satisfying? Hell no. But I'll be damned if I let another woman look at me with pity ever again.

Hearing someone gasp pulls me from my thoughts. That's when I notice Mila has stopped what she was doing and is looking at me. We hold each other's stare for a beat before she speaks. "Dinner will be done soon if you're hungry," She says nervously. Rolling towards the dining room table I inform her, "I could eat."

I'll admit the smell of whatever she's cooking drew me out of my room. I know I've been a dick, hiding out like I've been doing. But I would rather be alone than to lash out at Mila. Hurting her feelings is the last thing I want to do. When Quinn was here earlier, he had no problem pointing out to me I was being a reclusive asshole. He was right. No matter what I may be dealing with, I have no right taking it out on the people around me. It's just the shocking realization Mila was going to be my nurse threw me for a fuckin' loop. The nurse I had in the hospital didn't affect me. She was a no-nonsense motherly type. Mila, on the other hand, does shit to me. Every time those hypnotizing eyes look at me, my insides clench. That alone pisses me off. I can't stand the thought of any woman having the power to make me feel anything.

"Are you going to eat wif me and Momma, Mr. Carter?" I hear a tiny voice ask. Looking to my right, I see Ava standing there holding a plate and looking up at me with the biggest blue eyes.

"Yeah, sweetheart. I'm going to eat supper with ya. Is that okay?" I can't help but chuckle when she bobs her head, and her blonde curls bounce all over her face. A few minutes later the three of us have settled, and I am eating some of the best spaghetti I have ever tasted.

"Did you like the sgeti, Mr. Carter? I helped Momma make it."

Turning my gaze away from Mila who has begun clearing the dishes from the table, I look at a spaghetti covered Ava. "Best I ever had, sweetheart. And if it's okay with your momma, you can call me Reid." When Ava looks over at her mom, Mila gives her a nod, and then Ava turns back to me giving me a toothy smile. I am so out of my element when it comes to kids. But I at least try.

"I'm going to turn in," I announce backing up from the table.

Placing the dishes in the sink, Mila strides toward me, "I'll help you."

"I got it," I bite out a bit too roughly causing Mila to jump. Clearing my throat, I glance back at her, I sigh, "I'm sorry, Kitten. What I meant was, I'm good. I'll see you two in the mornin'." When I see Mila step away from me with a hurt look on her face, I instantly feel like a dick.

Ignoring the pinch in my gut, I continue to my room. I was telling her the truth when I said I could get to bed on my own. I look like a fumbling idiot, but I want to be able to do some shit for myself. The two things I refuse help on are using the bathroom and getting myself to bed. A week before leaving the hospital, I gained some feeling in my right leg. With my prosthetic on, I can balance my weight on that one side for a few moments at a time. I was so fucking thankful for that too.

Letting out a deep sigh, I close my eyes and think about the events that led me here. I don't for one-second regret doing whatever needed to be done to help Alba. I know she blames herself for what that sick motherfucker did to me, but I would go through the events all over again if it meant saving the life of just one person I care about. My only regret… I failed her. The psycho was still able to get to her and Leyna. I failed them both, just like I failed my brother Noah.

I'm determined to get better. I need to prove to my club that they can count on me. When I lost my leg, I thought for sure my days as a King were over. The thought of not being a part of the club, of not being able to ever ride again, made me want to put a bullet in my head. I came damn close one time. I let self-pity control my decisions. Until Quinn. It's like my brother knew something wasn't right with me.

It was about six months after the accident that killed my brother. I had the day all planned out. I just wanted it all to be over. I felt I could not take the pain of losing Noah anymore. I was sitting in my apartment on the evening I was planning on eating a bullet when Quinn unexpectedly stopped by. He walked through my door and his eyes zeroed in on my piece, which was lying on the kitchen counter along with a single bullet sitting beside it. He took one hard look at me and told me, "That shit's not happenin', brother." He stayed with me the whole night, and the next day he showed back up with several bags. Quinn took it upon himself to move in and become my babysitter. Fuck, I was pissed. Who the hell was he to take over my life and tell me what I can and can't do?

Two months later, I had never been more grateful. Quinn saved my life. We haven't spoken of it since. My other brothers have never mentioned it either. I'm not sure if Quinn ever told them what happened. I never did. All I know is he brought me back to a good place, and I'll be forever indebted to him. The amazing thing about Quinn is, he knows people. He has some sort of intuition. And he always acts on it.

I remember when Logan and I met Quinn. I shake my head at the memory. Quinn and his family moved to Polson when we were in high school. Logan and I were ditching class and had passed by the boy's bathroom when we heard a commotion. When we walked in, we saw a skinny blond-haired runt getting the shit beat out of him. One thing I can't stand is a fucking bully. Anyway, I pulled the bigger kid off the smaller kid and then Logan and I gave him a taste of his own medicine. When we were finished with the asshole, he scurried out of the bathroom with a busted lip and a bruised eye. We both turned our attention to the kid who was standing against the wall holding his ribs.

"What's your name?" I had asked him. The skinny kid wiped the blood from his lip, "Quinn," he had replied.

"Well, Quinn that fucker won't be botherin' you anymore."

Logan and I turned to leave when Quinn hollered out, "Hey, wait up."

From that day on Quinn became our shadow. Here we had this skinny little runt following us around. No matter what, we couldn't shake him. Funny… he's not a skinny little runt anymore. But he's still a shithead, and I wouldn't want him any other way.

* * *

I'm rolling down the hall the next morning when I hear laughter. A smile tugs at my lips when I hear Mila trying to hush Ava. "She's alright, Mila. I've been up for hours," The sound of my voice startles her.

Throwing her hand over her chest and letting out a shriek, Mila spins around to face me, "Jesus Christ, Reid. Anyone ever tell you-you're like a ghost?"

"Sorry, Kitten." I apologize in a slightly amused tone. Today Mila is in a pair of navy blue scrub bottoms that on most people would be unflattering, but not Mila. She has paired it with a simple long sleeved black thermal top that fits snug across her breasts. And her midnight hair is pulled up into a high ponytail. When my eyes land on her face, I see a pink tint to her cheeks. She has obviously caught me checking her out. What the hell am I doing?

Wiping the smile off my face, I turn away from her and make my way into the kitchen for some coffee. Mila is here to be my nurse, and here I am acting like a fucking pervert. After a few awkward moments, Mila is the first to speak.

"Your first PT appointment is at 8:30 am. We can drop Ava off at preschool on our way if that's okay?"

Rolling past her, I nod my head, "I'll be downstairs."

* * *

I feel like my body is on fire. We just got back home from my first PT appointment, and all I want is to take a shower and go to bed. As soon as we got home, the first thing Mila did was fix me some lunch. She went to the refrigerator, pulled out some leftovers from the night before along with coconut water. Walking over, she sets a plate in front of me.

"Thanks," I mutter.

Picking her purse and keys up off the counter, Mila makes her way towards the door. "I need to pick Ava up from preschool. I'll only be about fifteen minutes. Will you be okay till I get back?"

"I'll be fine. I'm going to eat and then probably turn in early." Mila is quiet for a moment while she studies my face.

"I should be back before you finish your lunch. Then I will help you get settled. Your PT was hard on you today Reid-"

Before she can finish her sentence I cut her off. "I said I'd be fine." I defend, my tone sharp. Thinning her lips, Mila nods before shutting the door behind her. "God fucking damn it!" I roar and shove my plate across the table. My lunch forgotten, I wheel myself down the hall to my bedroom and into my bathroom, stopping in front of my walk-in shower. Leaning over, I turn the hot water on and wait as it heats up. Minutes later I'm still sitting in my chair as the steam from the hot water fills the room. I'm so fucking tired and so fucking weak. I'm a grown ass man that can't even shower himself. How fucking pathetic.

I don't know how long I have been sitting here when I hear a light knock on the bathroom door. "Reid?" Mila's soft voice calls through the door. I don't have it in me to answer. And I don't have it in me to look up when I hear the click of the knob turning and the door opening.