"Whaddya mean?"

She laughs softly. "Rock's drivin' her nuts."

"Well, she did almost die."

"Yeah."

She's quiet and I assume she's fallen back asleep.

"Wyatt, do you want kids?"

I don't have to think about the answer to that question. "No."

Even though it's dark, she tips her head up, settling her chin on my chest. "Really? You're so good with the ones at the gym."

"Yeah, 'cause they go home after an hour and are someone else's problem."

She makes a hmm noise and I take a minute to frame what I want to say. "I always worried with all the fuckin' beatings I took as a kidall the fuckin' rage inside of meI didn't want to have a kid and risk doin' that to 'em."

"Oh, Wyatt. You're sogood to the people you care about. I don't think you'd ever-"

"It's not the same."

"But you don't drink like that."

"Are you trying to talk me into something, babe?"

She snorts and shifts away from me. "No. I'm not mother material."

"What are you talkin' about? Look at the way you take care of everyone here."

I'm not even finished speaking and she's shaking her head to disagree. "What would I do? I couldn't raise a kid here hearing how their mom was the club-"

My hand closes over her mouth. "Don't. Don't fuckin' call yourself that ever again. No one would ever say that about you."

She moves my hand away. "Thank you."

"Just the other night Rock and I were talkin' 'bout how Sparky and Stash would have starved to death if it wasn't for you lookin' after 'em."

She snorts. "Someone has to."

After that she falls back to sleep. I get out of bed and make my way to the kitchen. The weight bearing as tolerated order the doctor gave me is some bullshit. Largely because, so far, I haven't been able to tolerate it at all.

I find Birch sleeping on top of the bar in the dining room and give him a nice shove. I'm rewarded with a solid thunk when he lands on the floor.

"Go make some coffee, prospect," I bark at him.

Fifteen minutes later, I'm sipping my coffee when Rock trudges in. From the set of his shoulders he's got something weighing him down. Don't we all?

"Can I talk to you for a sec?"

I kick a chair out for him. He takes it and gives me a questioning look.

"You all right?"

"Yeah, just pissed I can't go on the run. You shouldn't have to do it. Shouldn't be leavin' your girl after everything you two just went through."

He sort of cracks a smile. "Something tells me she'd like some space."

"Yeah, you've been overdoing it a little, playin' nurse."

Leaning forward, he gets this serious look about him and I just know whatever he's about to say is gonna piss me off. "Listen, this is stupid, but if anything happens-"

Is he nuts sayin' that shit right before leaving? "No way. Shut that shit down right now, prez."

"Wyatt, I'm serious. Come on. You never know. She fell apart after her husband died. You gotta promise me if something happens-on the run, next year, ten years from now-promise me you'll take care of her."

"Fuck, why you gotta do this to me? Of course I'll take care of her. The club will take care of her. Now, knock it the fuck off. You're drawing bad mojo your way."

He snorts and looks away, clearly debating whether he should say whatever else is on his mind. "One last thing-and I swear to fuck if you make a joke about this, I'm going to break your other leg."

"This should be good."

He stares me down so I know he's serious. "She's still hormonal and stuff, so could you please try not to give her shit. She's liable to either rip your head off or cry. And if you make her cry, I'm going to kick your fuckin' ass."

If I had feelings, they'd be hurt that he thinks I'm such a jackass. "I'm not completely stupid. Girl almost died. I'll behave myself."

"Do your best."

I'm about to reassure him that Trinity and I will watch out for Hope while he's gone, when I notice her sneaking up behind him.

I lift my chin at Rock. "Fuck you."

As if I'm not even here, the two of them get each other worked up into a frenzy from a simple good morning.

"You sure you want to get him all horned up, then send him on his way, Hope?" What? I promised Rock I'd play nice after he left.

"What's that supposed to mean?" she snaps back.

And there's that rip your head off thing Rock mentioned.

"Ignore him, baby doll." Rock pulls her into his lap and they're all over each other again.

"Let's get on the roaaad!" Z shouts as he enters the dining room. Thank God, I was starting think I should throw some cold water on these two.

We engage in some predictable, filthy joking around after Hope goes into the kitchen. Well, Z and I do. Rock's not in a joking mood.

I get mine a few seconds later when Trinity walks by and they razz me. Secretly, I enjoy every second.

"Did you make Trin kick me out?" Hope yells a few minutes later. Girl rarely raises her voice, so her tone's damn funny.

"Get over here," Rock calls to her.

She settles in his lap and then they proceed to do disgusting lovey-dovey shit that no one should have to sit through at the dining room table.

Trin chuckles at them when she sits down and joins us. I take a risk and throw my arm around her. She actually leans into my side, and stays that way while she polishes off her breakfast. It feels really fucking good to touch her out in the open like this. Z glances at us and smiles, then focuses the rest of his heckling on Rock.

Without Rock, Z, and Murphy around, the house is quiet. Hope retreats to Rock's room. Trinity tries to check on her without being annoying.

I'm wrapped up in watching Trin work on her book covers when I get a text from Teller a couple days into Rock's trip.

Hope just dropped Heidi off. Why she out alone?

"Godfuckingdammit!"

Trinity spins around. "What's wrong?"

"I don't know. Teller says Hope just left his house? When the fuck did she sneak out?"

"You know she's a grown woman, right?"

I glance up in time to catch her lip quiver with laughter. "You've been hanging around her too much, that sounds like something she would say." I'm holding back my own laughter as I say it.

She snickers and stands. "I'll run up and check."

"You think Teller's lying?"

"No, I guess not."

"Should take her about an hour to get here. I'll ream her out then."

She shakes her head goes back to what she was working on. "You better not."

After more than an hour goes by, I'm halfway between pissed-off and worried. She just got out of the hospital, what if she runs off the road or something? Stupid, fucking Teller should have driven her home.

Where the fuck are you?

Thankfully she answers right away.

On my way back.

Twenty-five minutes later, she strolls in.

"Where the fuck did you go?"

She drops her gaze to the floor, making me feel like shit for being so sharp. "I, uh, took Heidi out."

Great, now I feel even worse. "You didn't think to tell me? Rock's gonna have my ass."

"I didn't want to bother you." Her gaze bounces around the room.

No, princess, Trinity's not here to save your butt.

"I figured I'd be back before you noticed I was gone," she says with a smile.

"Teller told me."

"That little fucker," she mutters.

I gotta laugh at that. "Agreed. But still, not cool, Hope. You took so long getting here from his house you had me worried."

Her eyes well up and I remember Rock's warning too late. Christ, he really is gonna skin me alive.

"I'm sorry. I stopped by my house to grab a few things."

I work my voice into a gentler tone. "Okay. You need to go anywhere else, though, just tell me."

"I think I'm done. I'm exhausted."

Yeah, she looks pale and I can't believe she risked driving bratty Heidi around in her condition. "Go get some rest, Cinderella."

"Did you properly scold Hope?" Trinity snickers at me when I return to her room.

"Shut up."

I said it with a smile, so she laughs and comes over to hug me. "Poor Wyatt. Responsible for all these pain-in-the-ass females."

I love seeing Trinity in a lighter mood. Grinning down at her, I grab a handful of her ass and squeeze. "I'll show you a pain in the ass."

Pink spreads over her cheeks. "I might like that," she says with a raised eyebrow.

Wrath's still staring with an intensity that sends a throb of pleasure through me. What I said off the cuff, I realize is true. But I can't figure out how to explain what I want.

There are things in my past I need to talk to him about. He hasn't pushed me to announce that we're a couple, but it's there simmering just below the surface. Every day I feel it getting closer and it's only a matter of time before he either flips out or gives up on me all together.

"How are you doing with your book covers? Are you caught up yet?"

The question surprises me. Wrath has asked me about my work once or twice every day since I came clean with him. At first I thought he was just trying to be nice, but I'm starting to realize he really is interested.

I don't know how to handle that.

"Okay. I'm almost caught up, but I got a few new requests that came in. One of them is super-picky, so I've been back and forth with her a bunch of times about what she wants."

"Anything I can do to help?"

Oh. Wow, that's- "You're awfully sweet for a Wrecking Ball, you know."

His mouth curls up in a sensual smile that makes my panties scream Take me off now!