I gripped her hips, bringing her back flush to my chest. She was pissed at the idea of me being with a woman, and as absurd as it was because Maura is my daughter, who was grown and married; I fecking loved that Marie was upset. Maybe I’d been getting in there more than I realized.

There was something about Marie. Something different from all the other women. She looked younger than she was, but that wasn't it. It was the depth in her green eyes. It was the way she carried the weight of the world and did it with class. It was this strength. I wanted her like no other, but I knew if I moved too fast, she’d run and she’d run fast.

“Walk with me,” I demanded not taking my hands from her waist.

She shook her head. I could smell berries from her shampoo. “I need to check on Talon. It’s my first night working late, and I know she’s a teenager and can be left alone, but I worry.”

I reluctantly released her. “Go, check on her, and I’ll walk over. We can talk.” She quickly moved away from me, as if checking on Talon was her out. I did not doubt that she was going to try to avoid walking with me.

I didn't even wait for her to drive away before I began walking to her cottage and I knew a shortcut. I was sitting on her steps by the time she pulled up. She looked bewildered as she exited her car.

“Oh, um. I’ll be right back.” She looked unsure as she walked past me. She took out a key to open the door and was shocked when it opened without her putting the key in. I watched her body stiffen, and was beside her in a flash. “What is it?”

“It’s probably nothing, but I told her to lock the door. She probably just forgot.”

She was scared. The tremble in her hand that made me acutely aware that she was hiding from someone. I mean, you don’t come to the foothills of Pennsylvania without knowing a soul, and with no job just to relocate. You just don’t, that is unless you’re hiding; and she was definitely hiding, and I knew it was from a man who put his hand to her.

I put my hand on top of hers to stop her from entering and pulled out a small handgun I always had on me. Her eyes widened for a second, “Really, that won’t be necessary.”

I placed my finger over her lips to silence her. If there was someone inside, she was alerting them to our presence. With my gun gripped in my right hand and Marie’s hand gripped in my left, we entered the cottage. It wasn't a big place. Living room and kitchen were clear. Bathroom, check. I moved into Marie’s bedroom noting that she had a twin sized bed and the smaller of the two rooms. Her bedroom checked out fine as well. We moved to Talon’s room. Marie’s hand gripped mine even tighter, and I could sense the fear rolling off of her. I slowly opened her door and spotted Talon asleep in the middle of a queen-sized bed. I did a quick, yet quiet search of the room and made sure that the windows were locked, then I led Marie out of her daughter’s room closing the door behind us.

We moved to the porch, and I was grateful that it was warm enough out here. I sucked in a breath and held onto Marie’s hand taking a seat on the top stair. She wasn't going to like everything that was about to come out of my mouth, but enough was enough. It needed to be said. “I need to say some things, and I need you to listen. Don't talk. Hear me out.”

“But,” she began to say, and for the second time in a few minutes, I found myself putting my finger over her soft pink lips that I desperately wanted to suck on, but not yet.

“Shh. No talking. I think ye get that I’m interested in ye. I think ye see that I’ve been making that pretty clear; and based on yer reaction to thinking I had an old lady, I think you might be a little interested in me too.”

Her face turned a shade of pink that even in the moonlight, I could see as it covered her cheeks. She opened her mouth to say something again, and I shot her a look that made her snap it shut.

“I know yer hiding from someone. I reckon it’s Talon’s dad. I also figure he rides and isn't on the right side of the law, seeing as ye didn't flinch when I pulled out a gun. Most lasses, they have questions about a motorcycle club. Either dat or they have stars in their eyes because of Sons. Not ye. Ye look at me like ye been around it. Like ye understand it. I’m the Sergeant -at -Arms for my club, and I’m guessing I don't even have to explain to ye what dat means. I’m guessing by the hardness behind ye eyes, dat ye old man, dats put his hands to ye more than once, is part of a club. I want to know who he is. I want to know what we’re up against. I want to have my eyes open as to who I need to protect ye from. Tell me, so I don't have to look and find out on my own.” I stopped talking and gave her the opportunity to reply. “Now, ye can talk.”

“No.”

“Pardon?”

“No, to all of it. No to me liking you. No to me knowing anything about bikers. No to me talking to you about why I’m here. You’re a nice guy, but no. It’s not your business.”

I squeezed her hand. This time not in comfort but frustration. “I’m no nice guy. I’m helping you because I want something out of it, not because I’m a nice fecking guy.

“Oh yeah. Mickey? And what is it that you want?” she asked with steel in her voice. I admired her courage. She was a woman who’d been beaten down, but any thoughts I’d had earlier of her being broken were obliterated. She was a lioness. So, I did what I wanted because her bravado told me to.

“I want ye.” I simply said and did what I’d been thinking about since the moment I set eyes on her. I kissed her. It was hard and punishing, and she resisted until she didn’t.

Slowly, she relaxed under my touch and she kissed me back with so much fervor. My hand still held hers while my other hand gripped her hip and pushed her back towards the porch rail. Her hands were on me. One in my hair, the other running along the ridges on my back. I broke my lips from hers and kissed her along her neck.

“I should feck ye right here. Ye make me so crazed with need.”

She moaned. I grabbed her thigh and lifted her tiny frame onto my lap so that she was straddling me. She let out a surprised gasp. I was hard as a fucking rock, and I knew she could feel how big I was. She ground against me. We were clothed, but I could feel the heat from her. I couldn't wait to be buried inside of her. Jesus, just the thought of her milky white skin pressed against my own.

The cottage front door swung open. “Mom?” her daughter sleepily said, but there was an undertone filled with unsaid accusations. Marie skittered off of my lap. “Fuck,” she hissed and went inside after Talon. I heard arguing from inside. A minute later, Marie came back out, “You should go.”

She looked defeated and frustrated. “No, ye can’t let her decide what we’re doing.” I could see it written all over Marie’s face. She was filled with regret. I wanted to punch something, I was so frustrated, but I knew I could never let Marie see that. So, I gritted my teeth.

“There’s nothing wrong with us kissing, Marie.”

“There is,” she let out a frustrated sigh, “I’m married.”

“Fecking hell.”

***

I WAS SITTING AT THE clubhouse having a beer with my daughter. It had been two weeks since Marie dropped the bombshell that she was married. In that time, I’d been keeping myself busy moving around the States trying to find out more about Tank. The pieces were falling in place, and they were doing so in a way I really didn't like. What had appeared to me to be a club gone bad, was now beginning to look more and more like a setup. I was pissed. I didn't give those men the honor they deserved.

Jules had already been out to visit Tank’s old lady who wasn't that upset considering she did hear that he was with a woman when I showed up. Apparently even if dope wasn't something he was doing on the regular, other women were. So, I'd been moody.

I didn't like being wrong about something and worse than that, I’d heard a rumor that a club we were on good terms with, The Angry Jacks, had been duped similarly. This felt strategic.

I was also pissed because of Marie. I had a severe case of blue balls that wouldn't go away whenever I thought of her, but besides that, she was a married woman. He might’ve been a son of a bitch bastard, but he was married to Marie, whoever the fuck he was. She couldn't belong to me. Worse, since that night, a mask had come over her. If I saw her, she would turn the other way. If I showed up at Benny’s, she would be polite, but would barely look at me.

The only time I was able to be near her was when she was sitting on my damn deck, and even then I was silent. She let me give her comfort by my presence, but it wouldn’t last. I’d have a few minutes in silence with her and then she’d leave. It was like a wall had been thrown up on her end, and I'm not going to lie, once those words “I'm married” passed her lips, maybe one slammed down on me too. I’m not the type of man to fuck another man’s wife.

“Are you going to be in this mood all night? I’ve been here for weeks now, and you’ve been gone most of it,” Maura complained. “Corbin called me, he’ll be home in three days, so I’ll be heading out soon.”

I suddenly felt bad. I always made time for Maura, and I hadn’t been lately. “I’m sorry. It’s just I’ve been a wee bit occupied with club stuff.”

“And woman troubles,” she added.

I hadn’t talked to her about Marie, but I knew she could tell that whatever was starting to happen was no longer happening. “Dere’s no trouble. I had a pretty little thing just last night,” I said, even though it wasn't true. I wouldn't have been able to be with another woman. My mind would've been too distracted.

“Ugh, Dad. Way too much information.” It worked. The mention of her dear old dad getting laid made her drop the subject.

“So, when Corbin is home will ye be seeing to making me a pappa?”

“If he has his way,” she laughed. “I could wait a few more years, but I'm not going to lie, the idea of a miniature Corbin isn’t all that bad.”

“Ye’ll make a wonderful mom, whenever dat is. I know ye, Maura. There is something dat’s making ye afraid. So, what is it?”

“I thought we were talking about you and your woman troubles, not my uterus.” Looking away, Maura grabbed her beer and took a large swig, .

“Do not change the subject. I’m not letting ye off that easy.” I gave her my all-knowing father look that in all her years she’s never been able to deny opening up to.

“Alright. Don’t get mad, okay?”

“Maura, what’s got ye scared?”

She sighed, “You’re the best. I mean every girl would be thrilled to have a dad like you. But...” she paused and looked away like she was nervous. “I really don't want this to come off wrong.”

“Go, on baby girl. Nothing ye say will upset me.”

With a deep breath, she let it out, “Well, it was just us. I never had a mom. I don't know how to be maternal. What if I screw it up? Screw him or her up? Don't get me wrong, we had an awesome life, but there were times I really needed a mom, and I never got that. What if I don't know how to be one?”

I was pensive for a moment, thinking about my words before I spoke. “First, don’t ever think that I will be offended that ye think about the fact that ye were not raised with a mum. I know dat ye missed out on dat, but I refused to bring a woman around who wasn’t worthy of ye. Ye have girlfriends and bonds with women don't ye?” I waited for her to answer.

“You know I do.”

“Did a mum have to show ye how to be a best friend?”

“Well, no.”

“And the club, we're yer family, right?”

“You know you are.”

“And did a mum have to show ye how to love them?”

“No.”

“Ye don't love because a mum needed to show ye how. Ye love because of who ye are. Ye don't judge. Ye have fun. Ye love with all yer heart and Corbin already knows dis about ye, but I’ll tell ye because ye need to hear it. Ye’ll be da best damn mum der is. And dat’s a fact.”

She reached over and squeezed my hand. She knew what I said was true. She appreciated it. Aubrey approached with a huge grin on her face. “Have you seen Daws?”

“He’s in the back with Jules.” I tilted my head letting her know it was safe to go back. She was a good woman. She'd been through some horrible stuff, but she was stronger than hell because of it. The pause in our conversation was all Maura needed to shift the conversation again.

“So,” she began.

“So,” I mocked tearing off a small part of the label from my beer.

“You never bring women around me. Even your speech you just gave me, you admitted that they were never important enough, but you let Marie drive me home. You could’ve driven me home, you know I can handle my liquor, but you didn’t. What is it about her? What happened?”

Just the mention of Marie’s name had me closing my eyes. The thought of what could’ve been created a deep longing in my chest. I’m getting fucking soft in my old age. Maura squeezed my hand again. “Did she do something to you? Do I need to have a word with her?”

“No, no. It’s nothing like dat. She’s married.”

“So.”

“What do you mean so?”

“I mean, it’s clear as day her husband’s not here. A woman doesn't find herself moving up here because she wants to be found either. As far as I’m concerned, her husband shouldn’t matter.”

“That’s the thing. It’s not yer concern.”

Maura laughed, even though my tone told her I was in no mood for jokes. “You got it bad! Not my concern, ha. Anything to do with you is my concern. We’re family.”

I slammed back the rest of my beer, not liking how this made me feel and threw some money on the bar. Little Titty Rhonda snatched it up, and I kissed Maura on the head.

“Let me know when yer leaving.”

“I will, Daddy. Just think about what I said. He doesn't matter. Only here and now matters. Not her past. You taught me this lesson so many times over.”

I needed to get out of there and clear my head. Once I was outside, I noticed that there was a chill in the air. I pulled on a beanie and goggles, then zipped up my vest and left. I rode for a while, and before I knew it, I found myself parked outside of Benny’s.