“You need me to come in with you?” I ask Rory.

She might be the single, most stubborn woman I’ve ever met. True to her word, she hasn’t said anything to me the whole ride here. I tried a couple of times to start a conversation, but she didn’t even look up. She just kept staring out the window.

I’m already feeling pretty fucking stupid—not to mention guilty. When I heard through the paper-thin wall that she had a job interview today, I saw a way to begin the thaw between us. I stupidly let the air out of her tire—and I know how childish that sounds.

What would I have said if she caught me?

“Oh, don’t mind me, I’m just trying to get you to talk to me so I can fuck you and get my fill of you.”

I don’t see many women going along with that—at least not women like Rory and for some reason it’s her my dick wants. Besides, if I have to hear her come one more time and not be able to enjoy it I’m going to go bat-shit crazy. That’s just the truth of it.

I’ve never had trouble with women giving me what I want. Hell, usually they fall at my feet. But, I’ve always been Diesel, a President of an outlaw club, and that kind of life attracts women—even good ones who wonder what it would be like to walk on the wild side just once… or twice.

Fuck, I’ve not been Noah in so long, I don’t remember how to be the bastard now. I never liked him to begin with. It didn’t help my case that I put Rory in her place from the beginning. It needed to be done, however. There’s not a bitch alive going to get close to my son again. I don’t care who she is. Fuck, before I left the club, I was beginning to rethink letting Dani watch him—and I actually trust her and Crusher. But then… that’s how fucked up I’ve been for way too long now—and the main reason I decided to leave the club.

“Thank you for the ride,” she says—instead of answering me. She opens the door and gets out.

“I take it that’s a negative about coming in with you.”

She studies me from across the seat of the truck. Her gaze is locked with mine and she’s betraying nothing on her face. She’s locked down tight. For some reason I find that intriguing. I’ve never known a woman could lock down her emotions and not giveaway something. Even Violet did that to some extent. She was good, but I would have caught on much earlier if she hadn’t spent a lot of her time on her knees sucking my cock.

“That’s a negative,” she says.

“I’ll be here when you get out,” I respond as she starts to walk away.

“There’s no need,” she argues, looking at me from over her shoulder.

“You got another ride that I don’t know about?”

“I’ll call an Uber or something.”

“I’ll be here.”

"Honestly, you don’t need to bother. I’ll be fine.”

“Woman, I’ll be here and you’re wasting time.”

“What about Ryan?

“He’s in school. I have nothing but time. You on the other hand… I thought you had to be here at a certain time?”

“I did, I’m just—”

“You’re just going to be late if you don’t get inside,” I tell her shutting this conversation down.

“You’re very confusing,” she mutters, stalking off.

I’m not sure if she was just saying that to herself or to me. Either way I don’t respond, because she’s right.

Hell, I even confuse myself.